West Virginia’s prime location, highly productive workforce and pro-business climate are just a few reasons successful companies continue to say #YesWV.
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West Virginia is within a day’s drive of 50% of the U.S. population and a third of the Canadian market.
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West Virginia’s workforce recorded the lowest manufacturing turnover rate in the country and is below the United States average of turnover rates in all other workforce categories.
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West Virginia’s cost of living is 14% below the United States average, boasting a high quality of life with top-ranked universities, fulfilling careers, award-winning health institutions and ample outdoor recreation activities.
Thriving Industry Spotlight:
Forest Products
The wood industry of West Virginia generates $3.2 billion annually for the state’s economy and provides more than 30,000 jobs within the state with 12 million acres of forestland and 75 billion board feet of timber inventory. West Virginia is the second-leading hardwood state in the U.S. and each of its 55 counties has some segment of the wood industry as an employer. Wood products manufacturing businesses include loggers, sawmills, dry kilns, rustic rail fence producers, veneer plants, furniture parts producers, kitchen cabinets and other wooden furniture.
Building Products
West Virginia’s building products industry boasts the highly skilled workforce, ample building materials and dedicated support services the construction industry needs to construct a solid foundation for success.
With 11.9 million forested acres, West Virginia is the third most forested state in the nation. The ample wood products make West Virginia a leading producer of hardwoods. The state also has abundant resources such as coal and limestone for making cement. The many coal-fired power plants found in West Virginia create opportunities for companies manufacturing wallboard.
West Virginia Wood Technology Center provides training programs in advanced wood manufacturing technologies, training a state ready to help build for the future.
Meet the Team
West Virginia Department of Economic Development
West Virginia University
Luke Chaddock
Graduate Student
lmc00002@mix.wvu.edu
Levente Denes
Associate Professor of Sustainable Biomaterials
ldenes@mail.wvu.edu
and learn about our business advantages
Companies that already call West Virginia home:
Say #YESWV.
