Preston County News
News Articles
When Tim Davis founded Bionic Tire Recycling, LLC, his vision was simple yet ambitious — to turn one of the world’s most persistent waste problems into a sustainable, job-creating opportunity. Today, that vision is being realized in Masontown, where Bionic Tire Recycling has become a model for industrial innovation, environmental...
A new partnership involving Spirit Energy Services, the Preston County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA), Clear Mountain Bank, and Steel Valley Wastewater LLC has announced a property transition intended to create jobs and industrial growth in West Virginia.The initiative will convert Spirit Energy’s Bruceton Mills property into a manufacturing development site...
The West Virginia Economic Development Council (WVEDC) appeared before the West Virginia Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Economic Development on Oct. 6 to emphasize the critical role that local economic development professionals play in strengthening communities across the state.The presentation, delivered by WVEDC Vice President Morganne Tenney, also outlined the...
Why exactly is entrepreneurship important?
Sep 28 2025Taylor Overton was introduced to entrepreneurship by her parents’ small construction company.“Payment terms being extended sometimes meant no back-to-school clothes that year,” said Overton. She’s the entrepreneurship director for the Kansas Department of Commerce. “Those realities hit home.”Overton is cheery and boosterish, as most good economic developers are. I met...
The Preston County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA) welcomes Shelby Johnson as its new Assistant Director as of September 1st. A Preston County native, Johnson brings a strong track record in public sector project management and a deep-rooted passion for rural community development to her new role.“Improving the quality of life...
A multi-day conference running through Wednesday has given local officials the opportunity to highlight Harrison County’s diverse, vibrant economy.The West Virginia Economic Development Council’s 2025 Conference, held at the Bridgeport Conference Center and hosted by the Harrison County Economic Development Corporation, drew nearly 300 officials and business leaders to the...
The West Virginia Economic Development Council is hosting its annual fall conference in Bridgeport this week, giving officials a chance to network with each other and learn more about the opportunities and success stories from people and businesses in the area.Development officials from around the state arrived Monday for the...
A new plan released Monday by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) is designed to make West Virginia more competitive when it comes to science and technology grants — and create a skilled workforce that will attract high paying industries.“Our updated Vision 2030 Plan is not simply another...
The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) honored schools, districts, educators, and partners across the state during the annual Career Technical Education (CTE) Awards Ceremony, celebrating the people and programs that shape the future of West Virginia’s workforce. Activities were held as part of the 2025 CTE Administrators' Conference at...
The Resilient Energy Technology and Infrastructure Consortium, led by a team at West Virginia University in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and over 60 regional partners, has been selected as a finalist today (Sept. 18) for a prestigious $160 million National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines...
During his first semester at West Virginia University, Sam Stalnaker felt bewildered and a little overwhelmed when he started working in Oleg Jefimenko Distinguished Professor Earl Scime’s physics and astronomy lab.Born and mostly raised in central California before completing high school in the green forests of Webster County, Stalnaker had...
The fastest way to destroy value in a high-potential company isn’t a bad market, it’s scaling a business that isn’t ready to grow. And this article highlights one of the few ways you can identify and take action before you find out the hard way.Mid-market companies ($20M–$200M in revenue) often...
A parent-friendly workplace checklist
Sep 11 2025Forget the ping-pong tables and kombucha on tap. The real workplace perks, if you are a working parent, aren’t glitzy. They are functional. And, in an era of record burnout and extreme scarcity of childcare, knowing how to identify a genuinely parent-friendly workplace could make or break your career—and your...
Starting and growing a business can be one of the most rewarding — and challenging — experiences of your life. Whether you’re just beginning to shape your dream or looking to expand your existing business, you don’t have to go it alone. That’s where the West Virginia Small Business Development...
Secretary Rollins Announces Reinvigorated Farm to School Grants Supporting American Farmers and Children
Sep 10 2025The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is delivering on its commitment to support child health and American agriculture by opening applications for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants. Through this grant opportunity, USDA will invest up to $18 million in farm to school projects that...
As you sit in Monday morning traffic or attend yet another boring meeting, you’re probably thinking there must be a better, more satisfying, and more profitable way to spend your time. The good news? There absolutely is. The internet has created all sorts of online business opportunities, and now anyone...
The Preston County Buckwheat Festival had its Media Day on Friday afternoon, where the festival coordinators and royalty court met with the press to answer questions.The Buckwheat Festival celebrates Preston County’s agricultural roots and attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Kingwood each year. This year is the festival’s 83rd...
Taking in all the corporate data since 2021 (number of projects, capital investment and jobs) and the most current infrastructure funding data, Site Selection Director of Programming & Analytics Daniel Boyer crunched the numbers on a cumulative and per-capita basis to determine the Top 10 U.S. states, Top 10 U.S...
Improving how West Virginia invests in potential new businesses, making the state the battery of the east coast, and reversing the trend in labor force participation were all part of plans laid out Thursday by Gov. Patrick Morrisey at the state’s premier business event.Morrisey spoke Thursday morning on the second...
by Mark BurdetteOne of the best parts of my job with the WVU Industrial Extension is getting to visit manufacturers across the Mountain State. Last year alone, I toured more than 50 different facilities, and the variety is incredible.Take Form Energy in Weirton, for example. Their 550,000-square-foot plant was completed...
Evolution of the Digital Media Industry
Aug 25 2025Its defining feature is its ability to be edited, shared, and accessed on-demand across global networks via the internet or other digital platforms. The digital media industry’s evolution, rooted in film and early broadcast media, continues to evolve and driven by technology, culture, economics, and consumer preferences.The industry began with...
In order to advance and scale mining, processing, and manufacturing technologies across key stages of the critical minerals and materials supply chains, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced its intent to issue notices of funding opportunities (NOFO) totaling nearly $1 billion. The funding announcements aim to help ensure...
West Virginia University scholarship recipients Ben Golden, Jayla Boyd and Reese Allen could never have imagined how philanthropic support would lead to unexpected opportunities that would shape their college careers and professional goals.As a Neil S. Bucklew Scholarship recipient, Golden found he could study more than general business; he could...
First Person: Filter King’s Expansion Playbook
Aug 20 2025As demand for fast, flexible delivery surges in the e-commerce era, Miami-based Filter King is building a national footprint to keep up. The direct-to-consumer HVAC filter manufacturer has opened new facilities in Las Vegas and Pennsylvania, with plans to expand further in 2026. In this conversation, CEO Rick Hoskins walks...