At the heart of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, WV River Riders is proving how strategic investment, and a little help from the West Virginia Economic Development Authority (EDA), can turn a seasonal attraction into a year-round destination.
According to their CEO, the huge, state-of-the-art Mountaintop Beverage facility would not exist in Morgantown without the West Virginia Economic Development Authority. Now, they’re creating hundreds of local jobs and proudly introducing the biggest international brands to North Central West Virginia.
Mister Bee is the only potato chip made in West Virginia. Now owner, Mary Anne Ketelsen, was determined to make sure the brand would be around for generations to come. When she took over in 2018, the operation needed to be completely rehauled. With WV Economic Development Authority financing, Mister Bee was able to triple their capacity, make new products, and hire more people.
The West Virginia Economic Development Authority has supported Architectural Wood, LLC (a mill worker based out of Ronceverte, WV) from their humble beginnings to now leading large projects like the corporate offices of Under Armor or Capital One banks.
Safe UV, based in Morgantown, is creating jobs and healthier spaces in its community. Made up of West Virginia University alumni, the company manufactures germicidal ultraviolet lamps—a new product in a relatively new industry. Safe UV's founders saw the need for this technology in recent years and got to work bringing their product to market.
The aviation industry is taking flight in West Virginia. NorthStar Technologies is serving a vital role for the industry whether it’s repairing engines, inspecting and maintaining used parts, or sending teams out to work on aircrafts in the field.
Skana Aluminum’s re-rolling mill in Clarksburg is allowing the company to access customers all over the East Coast. The company has worked with the WVEDA from the very beginning and he partnership played a big part in keeping the facility open over the years. In fact, with equipment and facility upgrades through WVEDA financing, Skana Aluminum has gone from 35 to 64 employees and more than doubled their production capacity.
At the core of the West Virginia Economic Development Authority's (WVEDA) mission lies a profound commitment to bolstering the state's economy. The 2023 Equipment Financing Program is a pivotal instrument in achieving this goal. By providing businesses with access to essential tools and machinery, the program facilitates productivity and efficiency enhancements, empowering entrepreneurs to expand their operations and remain competitive in today's fast-paced market.
Years ago, the local manufacturing plant across the street from Shannon Remines, VP of Manufacturing for Maxxim Manufacturing, closed down and their workers were let go. The next day many of the workers showed up at Mr. Remines’ door. He didn’t have the work for them at the time, but he had just done a deal with the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, so he had the equipment for them to work on. He was able to hire 44 of them on the spot.
In the heart of West Charleston between beautiful vibrant murals, you’ll find Bullock Distillery. Bullock Distillery’s owners have roots in Appalachia that go back to the 1700s, and while the business itself is far younger than a few centuries old, the storefront has already become an integral part of the neighborhood.