Building Momentum to Secure Appalachia’s Future
The Resilient West Virginia coalition will serve as a catalyst for the future of West Virginia to advance national security and economic security for the United States of America.
Led by the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, the Resilient West Virginia proposal supports the growth of the state’s advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and data analytics industry clusters. Our vision recognizes the critical importance of supply chain resilience and cybersecurity to the U.S. priorities of national security, economic diversification, and industry competitiveness, and seeks to create opportunities for all West Virginians within these sectors.
This effort serves to diversify West Virginia’s economy by creating near-term economic opportunities in high-growth, high-wage sectors that build upon the state’s industrial legacy, while also positioning the state’s workforce, small businesses and manufacturers for long-term sustainability. In doing so, Resilient West Virginia will produce knowledge-workers and products needed to protect and advance the economic and national security interests of the United States.
Our focus areas include:
- Increasing supply chain resilience by developing West Virginia’s advanced manufacturing base;
- Investing in the critical physical infrastructure needed to create shovel-ready sites;
- Implementing targeted workforce training aligned to the needs of advanced manufacturing companies;
- Advancing our cybersecurity and data analytics sectors with a focus on developing an inclusive talent pipeline;
- Creating an advanced air mobility innovation center in southern West Virginia; and
- Supporting veteran-owned and tech-based entrepreneurs in our innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In all of these focus areas, the Resilient West Virginia proposal is centered on engaging traditionally underserved populations and communities in diverse and inclusive education and workforce training for advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity jobs.
Our Coalition Members:
Learn More about Resilient West Virginia:
About the American Rescue Plan Programs
Resilient West Virginia is a finalist in the American Rescue Plan Program, “Build Back Better Regional Challenge.”
The Regional Challenge is one of many EDA programs aimed at building strong regional economies and supporting community-led economic development. Under the American Rescue Plan, EDA was allocated $3 billion in supplemental funding to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build back better by accelerating the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be resilient to future economic shocks.
American Rescue Plan funding enables EDA to provide larger, more transformational investments across the nation while utilizing its greatest strengths, including flexible funding to support community-led economic development. With an emphasis on equity, EDA investments made under the American Rescue Plan will directly benefit previously underserved communities impacted by COVID-19. For more information about EDA’s American Rescue Plan programs, visit eda.gov/ARPA.
