Energy
West Virginia has long been a leading producer of energy for the United States as our rich reserves of coal, oil and natural gas continue to serve as a reliable resource. As West Virginia’s industry leaders, we recognize that we must show support for our energy producers and the downstream opportunities they provide.
Recent advancements in drilling techniques, along with the continued efforts to improve infrastructure through pipelines, underground storage hubs and more will benefit the entire region -- producing jobs, boosting economic development and increasing manufacturing opportunities.
The Roundtable supports the development of the Appalachian Storage Hub which would provide for processing, storage, transportation and marketing of West Virginia’s natural gas. This is a proven concept, with active storage hubs along the Gulf Coast, in Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands.
Location of a hub in or around West Virginia would be an economic driver for the region, potentially attracting large investments with hundreds of well-paying STEM jobs.
The West Virginia Roundtable continues to work closely with several energy associations to stay up to date on recent news, proposed legislation and industry updates we deem important to share with members.
Education
The West Virginia Business Roundtable has been active in matters of education since our inception in the mid 1980’s. We have worked with our Governors on numerous initiatives to positively impact the education of our state’s youth including higher education restructuring issues, as well as secondary education matters.
While we have made progress over the years, much remains to be done. The West Virginia Roundtable will continue to support best public education practices, efforts to connect K-12 to post-secondary job training, improving student achievement and measurable student performance and better access to various educational options such as virtual learning.
While we face the issues surrounding COVID-19 and virtual learning, the Roundtable is dedicated to engaging educators, legislators and others to do our part to ensure West Virginia provides our students with the highest quality education available.
Responsible Government
A government of the people, by the people and for the people are words from the Gettysburg Address. These words should be considered as a basis for responsible government. We elect our legislators and we expect them to govern for the betterment of all Americans. As our lawmakers decide issues dealing with taxation, education, health care, international issues and others, they should weigh the consequences versus the positive value of their actions.
The West Virginia Roundtable believes in the practice of responsible government and serving the people with integrity and transparency. As business leaders, we’re interested in how our lawmakers face ongoing issues that directly impact West Virginia and our Roundtable members.
Outdoor Economy
While the global pandemic has caused revenue loss for many industries, the outdoor recreational industry within West Virginia has seen a significant increase. West Virginia, with its low cost of living and housing, has experienced an uptick in home sales. Coupled with the popular outdoor activities we offer – white water rafting, hiking, skiing, mountain biking, etc. – the state has become a more attractive place to live, work and raise a family.
Recognizing this opportunity, West Virginia natives Brad and Alys Smith gifted West Virginia University $25 million to develop an outdoor economic development collaborative, which will include a program to develop a remote worker initiative. Leveraging the state’s outdoor assets to attract and retain new talent, the Roundtable fully supports the collaborative by sharing their message, lending insight and more.
From our beautiful state parks, to our rivers and streams, our state has the greatest economic potential east of the Mississippi River. The West Virginia Roundtable will work with state leaders, developers, universities, tourism officers, park officials and more to enhance our position within this industry and take advantage of our topography and our location.