White Sulfur Springs, W.Va. –– More than 1,000 leaders in business, health, education and politics gathered this week in Greenbrier County to discuss investment opportunities in the Mountain State.
The 86th Annual Meeting & Business Summit, hosted by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, will be held Wednesday through Friday at The Greenbrier.
President Steve Roberts told Metro News that several economic development announcements will be made during the three-day event. This comes after moves by Nucor Steel in Mason County and Green Power Motor in Kanawha County. Green Power opened its new facility in South Charleston on Tuesday.
We are hearing from other companies that are coming to West Virginia. We don’t have a number yet, but we think it could be in the thousands of new jobs at the Chamber of Commerce meeting,” Roberts said Tuesday.
The event begins with the West Virginia Chamber’s annual board of directors meeting at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Governor Jim Justice will give the keynote address at the beginning of the convention after lunch at 12:15 p.m.
it is. #WVBusinessSummit week! We look forward to welcoming you. @The_Greenbrier 🌸 pic.twitter.com/SKYTDKv40K
— West Virginia Chamber (@WVaChamber) August 30, 2022
The first session at 12:30 p.m. will focus on new health care solutions in the state with remarks from WVU Medical President and CEO Albert Wright and Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards Interim Dean of Medicine, Dr. Bobby Miller.
Roberts said good work can solve many of the problems associated with the opioid epidemic.
“We have the lowest drug use and the lowest health care problems in West Virginia, where we have the highest levels of employment and the highest incomes,” he said.
A special economic development bulletin will be issued on Wednesday at 1:15 p.m.
Presentations from other notable leaders Thursday included U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (RW.Va.), WVU President Gordon Gee, Marshall President Brad Smith, CAMC Health System President and CEO David Ramsey. , among others.
State Senate President Craig Blair and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw will participate in a presentation Friday on modernizing West Virginia’s tax structure.
After that, the leaders of higher education will follow. State Higher Education Policy Commission Chancellor Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker will moderate the discussion, which will include West Virginia State University President Eric Cage, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine President Dr. James Nemitz, University of Charleston President Martin Roth and Glenville State University President Mark Manchi. .
The conference will close Friday morning with remarks from state Auditor JB McCuskey, state Attorney General Patrick Morrissey, state Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhart and Secretary of State Mack Warner.
Roberts said the state has learned over the past several years that making West Virginia more business-friendly is key to attracting more companies to build here. He said that the aim of the conference is to continue the efforts.
“We said if we fix just a few things, employers will flock to West Virginia and bring good-paying jobs. These good-paying jobs will allow West Virginia families to grow, thrive and prosper, and we’re seeing that happen,” he said.
To view the complete agenda for the 2022 West Virginia Business Summit, click here.
