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.
🎉🏭Advantage Valley Welcomes Major Manufacturing Investment to Putnam County! 🎉🏭
$25 Million Project Expected to Create 120 New Jobs
Today, in conjunction with Governor Patrick Morrisey, Advantage Valley, Inc. announced that global engineering group Sandvik and Alpha Metallurgical Resources plan to establish a new manufacturing operation at its industrial warehouse facility in Putnam County through a projected $25 million investment expected to create at least 120 new jobs in the region.
The companies will locate operations within a 100,000-square-foot industrial facility operated by Advantage Valley as part of the organization’s long-term strategy to develop and market competitive industrial sites that attract investment, strengthen regional infrastructure, and support economic growth across the region.
Now known as Waterway Industrial Park, the property has undergone a nearly $6.5 million renovation over the past several years, funded with support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, with construction financing provided by Poca Valley Bank.
The facility will focus primarily on rock bolt and resin capsule manufacturing, supporting the mining and ground support industries while strengthening domestic supply chains here in Central Appalachia.
This announcement is a powerful example of strategic site redevelopment — transforming an underutilized property into a productive industrial asset, attracting global companies, supporting local jobs, and positioning the Charleston–Huntington Metro Region for continued manufacturing growth. 🚀
#AdvantageValleyWV #PutnamCountyWV #EconomicDevelopment #Manufacturing #SiteRedevelopment #WestVirginia #YesWV @followers Terrell Ellis ... See MoreSee Less
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A heartfelt thank you to Poca Valley Bank for your trusted support in Advantage Valley, Inc.!
Your investment, and your partnership with a large project in Putnam County, helps strengthen our economy through business attraction, workforce growth, and entrepreneurship support.
We appreciate your continued commitment to the future of our region.
#investintheregion #AdvantageValleyWV #YesWV ... See MoreSee Less
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Great ✨energy ✨in the room yesterday as an enthusiastic co-hort of entrepreneurs kicked off the first of four sessions of Advantage Valley’s new Outdoor Business Accelerator! 🌿
Special thanks to Katie Doherty and Enhao Li of Founded Outdoors, along with Bryan Shaw and Sasha Strader, of FASTER WV, for helping launch this exciting program supporting outdoor entrepreneurs in our region! 🏕️
#FASTERWV #OutdoorBusiness #YESWV #AdvantageValleyWV
Elk River Trail Foundation Founded Outdoors @followers WV OUTDOORS
What new outdoor businesses would you like to see in our region? 😎 ... See MoreSee Less
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A sincere thank you to WesBanco for your investment in Advantage Valley, Inc.
Your support helps us attract new business, grow jobs, and support entrepreneurs.
Together, we are building a brighter future here.
#investintheregion #AdvantageValleyWV #YesWV ... See MoreSee Less
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Team West Virginia is on the ground at SelectUSA, showcasing the Mountain State to international investors and companies from around the world.
This is what economic development looks like in action: building relationships, telling West Virginia’s story, highlighting our competitive advantages, and working to bring new investment, jobs, and long-term growth to our state.
Proud to see some of West Virginia’s best representatives selling our state and creating new opportunities for the future.
#YESWV #SelectUSA #EconomicDevelopment #WestVirginia @followers ... See MoreSee Less
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✈️ Team #WestVirginia will be well represented at #SelectUSA Investment Summit this year!
Terrell Ellis and colleagues are looking forward to meeting with companies from around the world 🌎 to share all that the #MountainState has to offer—low-cost, abundant #energy ⚡, a #skilledworkforce 👷♂️👩💼, and strength in key sectors like #metals, #aerospace ✈️, #polymers, and #autoparts 🚗manufacturing .
And we’re bringing a true taste of #WestVirginia along for the ride.
In honor of #NationalSmallBusinessWeek, we’re proud to share fresh, locally made pepperoni rolls 🥖 from Rolling in The South —owned and operated by Charleston WV entrepreneur, Bretta Brewer Hyre! These treats will help us tell our region’s story in a memorable (and delicious) way.
Stop by Booth 1119 and enjoy a delicious taste of West Virginia!
#YESWV #SelectUSA #SmallBusinessWeek #EconomicDevelopment #AdvantageValleyWV
West Virginia Department of Commerce @followers ... See MoreSee Less
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