West Virginia has deployed $5 million in site readiness funding through the YesWV Ready Sites Program, strengthening the state’s ability to compete for new economic development projects.
Administered by the West Virginia Department of Commerce, Division of Economic Development, the initiative was designed to help communities identify and address the infrastructure, engineering and due-diligence requirements needed to prepare sites for business investment.
As part of the program, the state partnered with a national site readiness consulting firm to conduct independent evaluations of potential development sites and help build capacity for site selection and infrastructure planning across West Virginia.
Statewide Participation
The program was promoted to every county and economic development organization in West Virginia, offering communities the opportunity to participate in the assessment process.
Through this effort:
- 100 industrial sites received detailed readiness assessments
- 38 sites received grants to complete engineering and due-diligence work needed to move sites closer to development
- A total of $2.85 million in grants has been awarded to help local communities address site readiness gaps
The program is open to counties and regions across the state and requires a minimum of five contiguous developable acres designated for industrial use.
Building the State’s Development Pipeline
Site readiness has become one of the most important factors in modern economic development. Companies evaluating new locations often require sites that can move from selection to construction within a predictable timeframe.
By identifying barriers early and investing in site preparation, West Virginia is working to expand the pipeline of development-ready properties available to new and expanding businesses.
The strong response to the YesWV Ready Sites Program has also demonstrated that additional site readiness funding will be needed to continue building competitive industrial sites across the state.
Site readiness and remediation remain a priority for Governor Patrick Morrisey and the West Virginia Department of Economic Development as the state works to strengthen its competitiveness for future investment and job creation.For more information contact:
Samantha Smith
Manager, Business Development
West Virginia Department of Economic Development
Samantha.Smith@wv.gov