The tide is turning in West Virginia, and change is on the horizon. The prospect of the Appalachia Storage and Trading Hub has the potential to bring a revival not only to the natural gas industry but also to West Virginia manufacturing.
The West Virginia Legislature convened on January 10, 2018, to begin what would become a closely-watched and at times divisive session characterized by the first teacher strike since 1990.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 is the most significant tax reform legislation in a generation. Unfortunately, like all tax legislation, compliance with these new provisions will still require taxpayers to seek guidance from their advisors since the goal of achieving simplicity in our tax code does not appear to have been attained.
Over the past few years, West Virginia’s leaders have been working to create an inviting business environment to attract
new companies and create much-needed jobs in the state. Now, thanks to several pro-growth measures, a variety of big-name businesses have announced new facilities and expansions in the Mountain State.
Infrastructure and job creation: these are two topics at the top of nearly everyone’s list of priorities when it comes to addressing West Virginia’s current economic struggles. The state needs jobs, which require business start-ups and expansions and out-of-state companies relocating to West Virginia. In order to draw businesses—and people—here, the state’s struggling infrastructure must be addressed.
With the Appalachia Storage and Trading Hub, the quad-state region of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky could attract $36 billion in new industry investments and create 100,000 new jobs by 2025. With bipartisan support, the hub might be the game changer the region has been looking for.