WHITE SULFUR SOURCES, W.Va. –– More than 1,000 business, health, education and political leaders will be in Greenbrier County this week to discuss investment opportunities in Mountain State.
The 86th Annual Meeting and Business Summit, hosted by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, takes place Wednesday through Friday at the Greenbrier.
Chairman Steve Roberts told MetroNews that a number of economic development announcements will be made during the three-day event. This comes after the moves of Nucor Steel to Mason County and GreenPower Motor to Kanawha County. GreenPower opened its new facility in South Charleston on Tuesday.
“We’ll be hearing from other companies announcing they’re coming to West Virginia. We don’t have a number yet, but we think it could translate to thousands of new jobs at the Chamber of Commerce meeting,” Roberts said Tuesday.
The event begins with the annual meeting of the West Virginia Chamber Board of Trustees at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Governor Jim Justice will deliver a keynote address at the start of the summit after lunch at 12:15 p.m.
This is #WVBusinessSummit the week! We look forward to welcoming you to @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 healthcare solutions in the state with remarks from WVU Medicine President and CEO Albert Wright and Acting Dean of the School of Medicine Joan C. Edwards of Marshall University, Dr. Bobby Miller.
Roberts said a good job can solve many problems with the opioid epidemic.
“In the areas of West Virginia where we have the highest employment levels and the highest incomes, we have the least drug use and the least health problems,” he said.
A special economic development announcement will be made at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Introductions from other notable leaders on Thursday will come from U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (RW.Va.), WVU President Gordon Gee, Marshall Chairman Brad Smith, President and Chief CAMC Health System Executive David Ramsey, among others.
State Senate Speaker Craig Blair and Speaker of the House of Delegates Roger Hanshaw will participate in a presentation Friday on modernizing West Virginia’s tax structure.
Higher education leaders will follow next. State Higher Education Policy Commission Chancellor Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker will moderate a discussion featuring West Virginia State University President Ericke Cage, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine President Dr. James Nemitz, University of Charleston President Martin Roth and Glenville State University President Mark Manchin. .
The summit ends Friday morning with remarks on state government from state auditor JB McCuskey, state attorney general Patrick Morrisey, state agriculture commissioner Kent Leonhardt and secretary of State Mac Warner.
Roberts said the state has learned over the past few years that making West Virginia more business-friendly is key to attracting more businesses to build here. He said the goal of the summit was to maintain this momentum.
“We’ve always said that if we fix a few little things, employers will flock to West Virginia and bring good paying jobs. These well-paying jobs will allow families in West Virginia to grow, prosper and prosper and we are seeing that happen,” he said.
To view the full schedule for the 2022 West Virginia Business Summit, CLICK HERE.
