Buildings & Sites
Economic Data
Workforce & Education
Target Industries
Advantage Valley in southwestern West Virginia is a nine-county region stretching from Huntington to Charleston, forming one of the nation’s most resource-rich and business-friendly corridors.
Served by three Interstates (I-64, I-77, and I-79) and several U.S. highways with Interstate access, Advantage Valley has fast connections to key cities and markets throughout the eastern half of the nation. Busy CSX and Norfolk Southern mainlines connect the region to the continent’s rail network and ports along the Ohio River and in Virginia. The area is served by six navigable rivers with truck-to-barge capabilities, two ports, and two regional airports.
Advantage Valley’s history in industries such as coal production earned local workers (and there are 353,000 of them in our labor shed) a reputation for initiative and employer loyalty. In fact, West Virginia has the nation’s lowest manufacturing employee turnover rate. With an outstanding quality of life, a low cost of living, and competitive wages, it’s easy for local employers to draw recruits to the area. Plus, our local K-12 and postsecondary educators have long worked closely with local companies to deliver workforce training and education programs aligned with the needs of employers.
One of the many great reasons to bring your business to Advantage Valley is the variety of available development sites and existing buildings, all with competitive utility rates. Whether you’re seeking a downtown storefront, Class A offices, or a huge industrial facility with rail and port access, we can help you find the ideal location.
ADVANTAGES OF DOING BUSINESS
IN WEST VIRGINIA
THIRD Lowest Cost
of Doing Business
(CNBC, 2024)
Lowest
Manufacturing Turnover Rate
(BLS Industry Report, 2020)
Lowest
Cost of Living
(MERIC, 2024)
2nd Lowest
Worker’s Compensation Rates
(Oregon Consumer and Business Service, 2022)
3rd Lowest
Personal Property Taxes
(Tax Rates.org 2022)
Advantage Valley’s Partners
Advantage Valley is a non-profit economic development organization that works with the State of West Virginia, local governments, county economic development authorities, sector and business leaders, chambers of commerce, academic and training institutions, and nonprofit partners in order to showcase our nine-county region and strengthen the economy. We’re proud of these many local partners who have joined together to promote our unified vision for growth.
Chambers of Commerce
Charleston Area Alliance | Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce | Putnam County Chamber of Commerce | South Charleston Chamber of Commerce | St. Albans Chamber of Commerce
Economic Development Organizations
Boone County Community and Economic Development Corporation | Charleston Area Alliance | Huntington Area Development Council | Jackson County Development Authority | Lincoln Economic Development Authority | Mason County Development Authority | Putnam County Development Authority | Wayne County Economic Development Authority
Convention & Visitor Bureaus
Cabell-Huntington | Charleston | South Charleston
Research & Development Institutions
Byrd Biotechnology Science Center at Marshall University | AVN Corporation | Tech Connect West Virginia | The Chemical Alliance Zone | The Polymer Alliance Zone | West Virginia Regional Technology Park
West Virginia Workforce Development
BridgeValley Community and Technical College | Mountwest Community and Technical College | Southern Community and Technical College | West Virginia University-Parkersburg
Marshall University Advanced Manufacturing Center | FAME West Virginia | Putnam Career and Technical Center | Roane-Jackson Technical Center | Carver Career and Technical Education Center | Garnet Career Center, Wayne County North Vocational Technical School | Cabell County Career Technology Center | Boone Career and Technical Center
🚀 Thinking about business succession? Start sooner than you think.
🎥 Episode 4 in Succession Planning Series: Private Equity Buyout
In this video, Doug Ritchie, Founder of SDR and Star Plastics, LLC, shares key lessons learned from navigating his own succession planning journey:
✔️ Start learning about the process early
✔️ Talk with trusted professionals and peers who’ve been through it
✔️ Build a strong team and rely on their expertise
Doug is interviewed by Vincent Centofanti, ABV, MBA, Director of Valuation, Forensic, & Litigation Support Services at @Brown Edwards, offering additional perspective on planning and preparation.
You don’t have to know everything—but having the right advisors and resources in place can make all the difference.
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The Learning Grove - Charleston WV is hiring! Good news for childcare in the Advantage Valley region!Now hiring for the following teachers 😊🫶 ... See MoreSee Less
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🚀 Thinking about the future of your business? Check out Advantage Valley’s Succession Planning Video Series.
🎥 Episode 3: ESOP Transition
Considering an exit strategy that rewards your team and protects your company culture? An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) allows business owners to transition partial or full ownership to employees over time—boosting morale, retention, and long-term stability.
In this video, Keith May, President & CEO of IVS Hydro, discusses the realities of an ESOP transition, including fair value determination and timing challenges, and how thoughtful planning can make the process successful. He’s interviewed by Tim Gibbons, Executive Director of the West Virginia Center for Employee Ownership.
For business owners weighing valuation, timing, and legacy, this conversation offers practical insight.
Watch here: advantagevalley.com/succession-planning/#esop-transition-keith-may
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📣 Childcare Providers & Entrepreneurs!
Join Advantage Valley’s Childcare Grant Resource Webinar to learn about grant funding opportunities for childcare businesses from the WV Grant Resource Centers .
🗓 Tuesday, January 20, 2026
⏰ 6–7 PM ~ Virtual Event
This free webinar is part of the FASTER WV Childcare Business Workshop Series, supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
👉 Register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSch9PtPc7LGrxf1HESXDcQIaHrtcvoaBVwEXc4W4d54Oo-0HA/viewform?usp=s... ... See MoreSee Less
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Happy Holidays from Advantage Valley! 🎄✨
Thank you to our incredible friends and partners whose collaboration helps drive investment, job creation, and long-term private sector growth across our region. 🤝📈
We’re proud to market the region globally 🌍 and win locally—together. 💙
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🚀 Thinking about the future of your business? Advantage Valley has launched a new Succession Planning Video Series featuring local businesses ~ and you don’t want to miss it.
🎥 Episode 2: Management Buyout
�In this installment, Mark Grigsby, Past President of Pray Construction Company, joins Tina McPhail, Executive Vice President & CFO, to explore what a management buyout really looks like—from leadership transition to preserving company culture and rewarding loyal teams with ownership opportunities.
If you're a business owner planning ahead (or know someone who should be!), this is a must-watch.
👉 Watch the full video here: advantagevalley.com/succession-planning
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