Engines of Economic Development: West Virginia’s Airports
The aerospace industry is one of West Virginia’s fastest-growing economic generators. With nearly $2 billion generated in annual economic impact, airports and related aerospace companies are critical components of the state’s economy.
The Startup State
In 2018, Brad Smith, chairman and CEO of Intuit at the time, announced a $25 million gift to the Marshall University Lewis College of Business. Within 24 hours of the announcement, West Virginia University (WVU) announced a gift of time, talent and resources by alumnus John Chambers, former executive chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems Inc. and founder and CEO of JC2 Ventures, to its college of business and economics.
A Community Connection
Morgantown is teeming with economic development. With the ongoing expansion of West Virginia University (WVU), WestRidge Business + Retail Park, Mylan Park and the MorganÂtown Municipal Airport, the city’s growing footprint is a bright spot in the Mountain State.
The Urgency of Cybersecurity
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed the world to rely even more on the internet, forcing West Virginia’s business community—especially small businesses—to re-evaluate and grow their online presence and government agencies and educational institutions to brainstorm new ways to train and engage students. Amid opportunities for transformation and innovation, however, the pandemic also opened West Virginians up to online exploitation.
