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
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.
Thank you so much Joe Justice Media for the video about the second year of Advantage Valley's Taste of Appalachia initiative! ...
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Outdoor recreation is more than an adventure… it’s an opportunity to grow local businesses, create connections and strengthen communities. 🌿
UKV Outdoor Economy Day is September 22 at Belle Town Hall, bringing together outdoor recreation, tourism and business leaders for a morning of presentations, FREE Faster WV business coaching, lunch and an Appalachian Outlaw Trail presentation and tour.
Registration begins at 9:00 AM, with presentations starting at 9:30 AM. Attendees will also have a chance to win a marketing service for their business!
Thank you again to:
Kanawha County Commission
Appalachian Regional Commission
Claude Washington Benedum Foundation
West Virginia Land Trust
Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative
Advantage Valley, Inc. / Faster WV
Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.
Appalachian Outlaw Trails - AOT
Charleston Area Alliance & Chamber of Commerce
#KanawhaValley #OutdoorEconomy #AdventureLivesHere #WestVirginia #UKVTrails ...
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you, Advantage Valley, Inc., for supporting HADCO in helping grow our Business Retention & Expansion efforts in Cabell and Wayne counties!
We are thankful for partnerships like this that contribute to the improvement of our area. ...
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
🏡 Housing is essential infrastructure for economic growth.
New media coverage highlights Advantage Valley’s updated Regional Housing Needs Assessment, which identifies a five-year housing gap of 28,976 units—including 10,604 rentals and 18,372 for-sale homes—as major investments are expected to generate 17,268 direct and indirect jobs across the region. 📈
Advantage Valley is moving from research to action. Our Housing Task Force is examining barriers and potential policy solutions, while our team works with local partners to identify viable housing sites.🤝
Quality, attainable housing near new jobs will be critical to capturing the full economic benefit of West Virginia’s growth.
🔗 Read the full article: www.wvnews.com/statejournal/news/housing-shortage-could-challenge-west-virginia-s-economic-growth...
#AdvantageValleyWV #Housing #EconomicDevelopment #WorkforceHousing #yesWV @followers ...
Housing shortage could challenge West Virginia’s economic growth, officials say
www.wvnews.com
Quick take:0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Photos from Terrell Ellis's post ...
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
📅 Save the dates for Taste of Appalachia 2026!
🎁 SEPTEMBER 15: Sales begin for our curated holiday gift boxes!
🛍️ OCTOBER 18, 1–4 P.M.: Meet our talented vendors and shop Appalachian-made products at the Taste of Appalachia Showcase at Capitol Market.
✨ NEW THIS YEAR! Purchase individual products and curated gift boxes to take home with you that day.
We are now seeking sponsors, corporate and individual buyers, and everyone who loves discovering and supporting local makers! Come meet the entrepreneurs behind the products, get a head start on holiday shopping and celebrate the best of Appalachia.
Learn more here: advantagevalley.com/entrepreneurship/food-beverage/
#tasteofappalachia #YesWV #SupportSmallBusiness #AdvantageValleyWV ...
1 CommentsComment on Facebook