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
A big win for West Virginia’s workforce! 👏
Thank you to the WV Legislature for passing HB 4191 — an important step to strengthen our state’s child care system and help more parents participate in the workforce.
Key impacts include:
• Transition to modern digital record-keeping and payment systems by July 1, 2026, reducing administrative burden for providers and improving efficiency!
• Enrollment-based reimbursement for child care providers rather than daily attendance, creating more stable and predictable funding!
• Expanded tax credits for employers that invest in or support child care for their workforce!
• Policy improvements that help address the child care cliff, supporting working families as incomes grow!
At Advantage Valley, we’ve invested heavily in expanding child care access because we know it’s essential workforce infrastructure. 🧩
This legislation is a very meaningful step forward for working families, providers, and employers across West Virginia. 🚀
#WorkforceDevelopment #ChildCare #WestVirginia #yesWV #AdvantageValleyWV West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WVSBDC) @followers
Delegates Fehrenbacher, Hall, Funkhouser, Hott, and G. Howell
West Virginia Association for Young Children Connect Child Care Resource & Referral ... See MoreSee Less
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🔩 Mark your calendars ~ and register now!
The 2026 Tri-State Metal Tech Supply Chain Expo is happening
📅 Tuesday, May 19, 2026
⏰ 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
📍 Marshall University Rec Center, Huntington
🍽 Lunch included!
Meet new suppliers. Discover new customers. Build stronger industry connections!
Hosted by Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center and Advantage Valley, this third-annual expo brings together the region’s leading metalworking and industrial businesses for a powerful day of networking and opportunity.
Learn more & register here:
advantagevalley.com/business-services/supply-chain-expo/
#Manufacturing #SupplyChain #MetalTech #AdvantageValleyWV #YesWV @followers ... See MoreSee Less
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The “Silver Tsunami” is approaching 🌊. More than half of privately held businesses in the U.S. are owned by individuals over 55, and many have not yet planned for an ownership transition.
Without succession planning, communities risk losing long-standing businesses, jobs, and local economic impact. Planning ahead protects employees 👥, preserves local ownership 🏘️, and strengthens the region’s economy 📈.
Advantage Valley has created not only a Succession Plan Business Owner’s Checklist, but also a video series, to help business owners understand their options and begin the process early — and confidentially 🔐.
👉 Explore the checklist and videos and start planning for the future: advantagevalley.com/succession-planning/
#SuccessionPlanning #SmallBusiness #AdvantageValleyWV #BusinessOwners #yesWV @topfans ... See MoreSee Less
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📈 Bank on Your Success: Building & Maintaining Credit
Access to capital starts with financial readiness. Join us for a free one-hour virtual workshop focused on the banking, budgeting, and credit fundamentals every entrepreneur should understand.
🗓 February 24, 2026 | 12–1 PM (Virtual)�
🎤 Marlo Long, SVP Truist Bank West Virginia
Participants will learn:�
• How credit impacts startup and growth financing
�• Smart strategies for managing personal & business finances�
• Common debt and banking pitfalls to avoid
🔗Register today! us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TXrDdsEFQzOfL45EDxlQhA
#FASTERWV #StartupReady #SmallBusiness #creditrepair @followers ... See MoreSee Less
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Thrilled to have the Advantage Valley team attending the first-ever WV Outdoor Economy Summit in Charleston!
Proud to sponsor this inaugural event and to learn, connect, and collaborate with entrepreneurs, community developers, and outdoor industry leaders 🤝. Outdoor recreation fuels rural economic growth 🌲—and Advantage Valley supports entrepreneurs in this space through FASTER WV. 🚀
Thanks to Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative, The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia and Charleston WV CVB for co-hosting this terrific event!
#outdooreconomy #yesWV #FASTERWV @followers ... See MoreSee Less
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Photos from Terrell Ellis's post ... See MoreSee Less
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