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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
FASTER WV
FASTER WV – Helping Entrepreneurs Start and Grow Businesses in West Virginia
FASTER WV is Advantage Valley’s entrepreneurship support program designed to help startups and small businesses launch, grow, and become financially sustainable. The program connects entrepreneurs across the Advantage Valley region with business coaching, training programs, technical assistance grants, and access to capital.
Whether you are starting your first business, expanding an existing company, or purchasing a business, FASTER WV provides guidance and resources to help you succeed.
🍴 Small businesses. Big flavors. Gifts with a West Virginia story.
Join Advantage Valley for the Taste of Appalachia Food Showcase on October 18 at the South Charleston Farmers! Meet the makers behind our curated gift sets, enjoy tasty samples, and shop locally made foods and gifts. 🛍️
Find something delicious for yourself—or get a head start on holiday gifts for clients, colleagues, friends and family. Purchase individual products and curated gift boxes to take home, or place your holiday orders.
Every purchase helps West Virginia food entrepreneurs reach new customers and grow their businesses. ❤️
📍 South Charleston Farmer’s Market
📅 October 18 | 1–4 p.m.
🎟️ Free and open to everyone!
Explore the 2026 gift box collection here: tasteofappalachia.com
Many thanks to our 2026 sponsors to date: Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, Appalachian Regional Commission, Poca Valley Bank, Joe Justice Media, Simpson Dental, West Virginia State University, West Virginia Manufacturers Association and the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce!
#advantageValleyWV #yesWV #TasteOfAppalachia #BuyLocal #WVGrown #buyabox @followers ...
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Child care is essential infrastructure for a strong regional economy.
Congratulations to Advantage Valley President and CEO Terrell Ellis, recognized October 7 by EveryChild NOW (formerly Kids Count Fund) as its Economy Champion for Advantage Valley’s work in support of child care.
Terrell’s leadership reflects a clear connection: when families can access quality child care, parents have greater opportunities to work, employers are better positioned to retain talent, and communities can grow. Advancing solutions takes collaboration, and we appreciate the partners working alongside Advantage Valley on this regional priority.
We also congratulate fellow honorees whose efforts support children across education, health, neighborhoods, and community connections:
• Meghan Moses — Overall Champion of Children
• Dr. Amelia Courts — Education Champion
• Dr. Matthew Christiansen — Health Champion
• Chad Morrison — Neighborhood Champion
• Jim Matuga — Connection Champion
Thank you to Every Child Now for recognizing their contributions to a stronger future for West Virginia’s children and families.
#AdvantageValleyWV #yesWV #ChildCare #WorkforceDevelopment #EconomicDevelopment #WestVirginia @followers ...
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📰 Front-page news for our regional economy!
The Charleston Gazette-Mail recently highlighted Advantage Valley’s $2 million Appalachian Regional Commission grant supporting our Expanding Markets initiative.
Working with our many many partners, we’re helping regional businesses access resources and growth opportunities that can strengthen manufacturing and build a more resilient economy. The story features local growing manufacturing company, Industrial Bolting Technologies (TorsionX - Extreme Bolting Force)as an example of a regional company that has benefited from this work. They currently export products to over 35 countries worldwide!
👏 Thank you to HD Media ~ and writer Jarrod Barry ~ for shining a light on these efforts and helping more businesses learn about the support available!
We’re celebrating Manufacturing Day and supporting the manufacturers helping our region grow. 🏭
Read the story:
www.wvgazettemail.com/business/2m-grant-aims-to-bolster-manufacturing-make-local-economy-more-res...
#MFGDay26 #AdvantageValley #ExpandingMarkets #WestVirginia #manufacturing @MfgDay #yesWV @followers ...
$2M grant aims to bolster manufacturing, make local economy 'more resilient'
www.wvgazettemail.com
On Oct. 2 2026, Advantage Valley distributed $2 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission as part of its Expanding Markets initiative. Industrial Bolting Technologies, a company based in Charle...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
🏭 Investing in our businesses. Strengthening our region.
Advantage Valley has secured a $2 million Appalachian Regional Commission POWER grant to expand our Expanding Markets initiative! With $937,000 in local matching support, nearly $3 million will help regional businesses grow sales, reach new markets, strengthen supply chains and create economic opportunity.
Over three years, the initiative aims to:
✅ Support 225 businesses
✅ Create 200 jobs and retain 150
✅ Facilitate $25 million in private investment
✅ Make 70 new supply chain connections
One example of this work in action: Charleston’s Industrial Bolting TorsionX - Extreme Bolting Force manufacturing company in Tyler Mountain. The company credits Expanding Markets and its various programs with helping it reach new customers, strengthen operations and compete globally. 🌎
We’re also partnering with Reshore Technologies, to help connect products purchased overseas with manufacturers that can produce them domestically.
Collaboration makes this possible! Our partners and supporters include:
🤝 Appalachian Regional Commission
🤝 Charleston Area Alliance & Chamber of Commerce
🤝 Putnam County Development Authority
🤝 Huntington Area Development Council-HADCO
🤝 The Jackson County Development Authority
🤝 @Mason County Development Authority
🤝 Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center
🤝 @U.S. Department of Commerce’s Rural Export Center
🤝 @Reshore WV
🤝 Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Announced on National Manufacturing Day, this investment continues Advantage Valley’s work to bring federal dollars, local expertise and business opportunities together—with results for our communities as the goal.
Read MetroNews article here: wvmetronews.com/2026/10/02/advantage-valley-celebrating-new-power-grant-to-help-manufacturers-exp...
#AdvantageValleyWV #ExpandingMarkets #ReshoreWV #ManufacturingDay #yesWV @followers ...
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🏭 Celebrating National Manufacturing Day!
Today, Mayor Amy Goodwin joined Advantage Valley, Inc., elected officials and community partners at Industrial Bolting Technologies to recognize the important role manufacturing plays in our local and regional economy.
The event also celebrated a new $2 million POWER grant supporting Advantage Valley’s Expanding Markets initiative. The grant will provide manufacturers across the region with technical assistance and resources to grow their businesses, reach new markets and strengthen their supply chains, with funding also supporting the Charleston Area Alliance & Chamber of Commerce and Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center.
Thank you to Industrial Bolting Technologies for hosting and for being a great example of advanced manufacturing happening right here in our region! 👏 ...
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Together We Grow WV ...
Together We Grow WV
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