Advantage Valley, Inc. is representing its nine-county region in partnership with the West Virginia Division of Economic Development at the annual SelectUSA Investment Summit, hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Held in National Harbor, Maryland, the summit convenes international corporate leaders from across the globe seeking investment in the United States. For Advantage Valley, it’s an opportunity to market the full strength of the Charleston–Huntington metro area in West Virginia as a unified, competitive region for business investment—with a strong emphasis on attracting and growing advanced manufacturing.
“We’re not just promoting sites—we’re telling the story of a connected, capable metro region,” said Terrell Ellis. “From Charleston to Huntington, we offer companies scale, collaboration, and a strategic position within one day’s drive of more than 50% of the U.S. population.”
Advantage Valley is actively promoting the state of West Virginia and the region as a premier destination for manufacturing, building on a deep industrial base and a track record of supporting complex operations. The region’s value proposition is anchored in location, cost competitiveness, workforce readiness, and direct access to critical raw materials and energy inputs.
The region offers low-cost and abundant #energy, proximity to natural gas and natural gas liquids essential for chemical and polymer production, access to coal resources, and a #skilledworkforce with deep experience in industrial operations. This foundation supports key manufacturing sectors including #metals, #aerospace, #polymers, and #auto.
At the same time, the region is building momentum in emerging industries such as #cyber, #cleantech, and #medtech, supported by a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem and programs designed to accelerate innovation and business growth.
“Companies today are looking for more than a site—they’re looking for a place where they can compete and win,” Ellis said. “We bring together energy, materials, workforce, and regional alignment in a way that few places can.”
Advantage Valley’s collaborative regional approach brings together economic development partners across nine counties—Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, and Wayne—alongside state and private-sector leaders to deliver a unified, seamless experience for companies evaluating the region.
“When companies engage with us, they’re not navigating nine counties—they’re stepping into one coordinated market,” Ellis said. “That alignment is a competitive advantage, and it’s something site selectors immediately recognize. And the state of West Viriginia is a wonderful place to do business.”
Following the summit, Advantage Valley will continue to build relationships with prospective companies through direct follow-up, potential site visits, and customized engagement strategies.
“We’re competing now on a national and global stage—and West Virginia belongs in that conversation,” Ellis said. “The Charleston–Huntington metro region has the fundamentals, the momentum, and the vision to win projects that will shape our future economy.”
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