The dire condition of infrastructure today is a major challenge not only for the state of West Virginia but for the U.S. as a whole. Last year, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Committee on American Infrastructure published the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, ranking the U.S. based on the following key criteria: capacity, condition,…
Broadband access continues to be a challenge in West Virginia due to the state’s low population density, mountainous topography and limited long-haul fiber, or fiber that spans extensive geographical distances. Currently ranked 44th in the nation by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in terms of the percentage of population with access to broadband, only 82 percent of West Virginia residents have broadband connectivity.
It only takes a spark to get a fire going, as the old hymn says. In other words, one person can truly inspire others to get up, get out and make a difference in the name of whatever is most important to them.
The Appalachia Storage and Trading Hub is gaining momentum. What once may have seemed like a fantasy is now growing closer to reality, and the fight to revolutionize energy and manufacturing in Appalachia is taking place—with West Virginia right in the middle.
In West Virginia, across the country and around the world, the fourth industrial revolution has arrived. Smart manufacturing or manufacturing 4.0—the use of big data and the artificial intelligence needed to sift through it—gives managers the information they need to be proactive rather than reactive with just the tap of a finger on their cell phones or computer screens, making their processes responsive and transparent and their operations sleek and profitable. Smart manufacturing could also be a catalyst for jump-starting the Mountain State’s economy.
In celebration of those who have relocated to West Virginia, embraced our beloved state and now help us work toward a brighter future, Talent Transplant recognizes those who have adopted our Mountain Mama as their own.