While coal has long been the crux of West Virginia’s economy, the industry’s decline has left the state’s future waiting to be reshaped. Intuit President and CEO Brad Smith believes the Mountain State should embrace high technology as its next standout industry. By Samantha Cart Landscape and topography have long driven the businesses that thrive…
There’s a murmur of dissatisfaction running along our hills and through our hollows in West Virginia, and you don’t have to lean in far to catch it. There’s also a hint of hope in the air. As the political parties conduct their local and national campaigns, voters are preparing to answer the call of their…
As some of the most controversial political campaigns in history continue, many Americans are registering to vote, switching party affiliations and considering third party candidates for the November general elections. These infographics illustrate past and present trends in West Virginia politics.
Broadband access and connectivity are major concerns for individuals and small businesses alike in West Virginia. Although this topic has gained a lot of traction within the state Legislature over the last few years, a plan for progress has yet to be finalized. While the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 2016 Broadband Progress Report states that the number of West Virginians with access to the minimum connection speed of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) and download speed of 3 Mbps increased from 44 percent to 70 percent between 2013-2014, there is still much progress to be made. These infographics offer a glimpse into the obstacles and improvements being made to connectivity in the Mountain State.
In an innovation economy, several factors come together to drive economic growth: knowledge, technology, entrepreneurship, innovation and collaboration. TechConnect West Virginia, acting as a catalyst for driving innovation, cultivating entrepreneurship and creating greater prosperity and economic diversity across the state, has identified a strong foundation for success in the Mountain State. Beginning in the north in Morgantown, this foundation runs south along I-79 to Charleston and west along I-64 to Huntington as evidenced on the accompanying map.
Many of us remember getting in trouble as children and being disciplined. Our parents would warn that the punishment was going to hurt but that it was for our own good. Today, West Virginia is in trouble. With changes in the economy and the ebb and flow of various industries as a result of those changes, some states are riding out the storm while West Virginia continues to sink without any visible signs of rescue. It’s time for us to have a serious conversation. It’s a conversation that’s probably going to hurt, but it’s for our own good.