NRGRDA 2024 State and Regional Impact is Substantial Economic and Community Development Investments, Jobs, Training and Planning

Beckley, W.Va. (July 1, 2025) – The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA), and its entrepreneurial program the WV Hive, recently issued its inaugural 2024 Regional Impact Report showcasing its substantial accomplishments throughout the New River Gorge Region and Southern WV.

Leveraging a staff of 13 skilled professionals and the support of local, state and federal resources, NRGRDA Executive Director Jina Belcher said, “By all measurements, 2024 was an unqualified success in all categories and metrics. Our team is honored to have earned the trust to promote and leverage community and economic development benefits in one of the most beautiful places on Earth – southern West Virginia and the New River Gorge region.”

The full report is available at https://nrgrda.org/impact/ and is filled with compelling details of the economic development authority’s organizational efforts. Some of the key highlights include:

Business Attraction

The NRGRDA has made significant strides in attracting investments to the region by proactively identifying opportunities and providing businesses with the tools they need to succeed. Through ChooseNRG.com, its site selection tool, NRGRDA streamlines the process for companies seeking prime locations.

• $23,781,896 in investments committed
  • Federal – $15,895,110
  • State – $5,986,786
  • Local – $1,900,000
• 99 active property listings on ChooseNRG.com
• 141 site-ready acres developed to target business recruitment
• 12 prospects generated via ChooseNRG.com
• 950 acres of property acquired for proactive redevelopment planning
• 1 building acquired for focused productive reuse
• $2,600,000 committed to critical infrastructure development for site ready property
• 75 manufacturing jobs created

Success in Attracting Investments to the Region

• Pioneering Site Readiness to Drive Economic Growth with the following top successes:
  • Raleigh County Memorial Airport
  • PATTERN Training and Manufacturing Center
  • Pinecrest Business and Technology Park
  • University Drive Infrastructure Project
• $43,000,000 invested by new businesses in the region
• $98,712.50 in technical assistance support for project advancement
• 8 new vendors engaged for NRGRDA project support
• 161 local jobs retained through expansion projects

Success in Capital Invested by Businesses

• NRGRDA’s Role in Klöckner Pentaplast Expansion in Beaver, W.Va.
• Success in Technical Assistance Committed by Partner Programs: Hinton Ice House
• Success in Vendors Procured for Projects: Retained Vendors

Success in Jobs Retained

• SMR Technologies, Inc. and Nicholas County
• WV Hive Businesses/Entrepreneurs

Local economic stability and community growth was achieved by maintaining 136 and 22 positions for these two organizations respectively. These efforts not only secured livelihoods, but also preserved the skilled workforce necessary for continued innovation and competitiveness.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

• 166 entrepreneurs or small businesses served
• 13 small businesses created
• Retail opportunities secured for 17 entrepreneurs
• 37 trainings provided for 396 training participants
• $167,271.27 in technical assistance deployed

Success in Support Programs Accessed by Entrepreneurs

• Multiple Training Opportunities with the nationally acclaimed CO.STARTERS program
• Specialized Training Opportunity with ZingTrain to enhance quality customer service

Fostering Business Resilience and Entrepreneurial Growth

ACT Now Coalition – The WV Hive is partnering with The West Virginia Community Development Hub, Advantage Valley, WV Brownfields Assistance Center, and AFV Educate, Inc. to increase business resilience in Accelerate Communities and deliver signature services in Logan and Mingo Counties as part of the Community and Business Resilience Initiative (CBRI).

Success in Enhancing the Region’s Appeal

• Further development of Needleseye Trails
• Completion of Fayetteville Pump Track

Success in Two New Committees Created

• Land Reuse Agency, Action Committee
• NRG Working Group Subcommittees

Success in Turning Vacant Properties into Community Assets

• NRGRDA and Fayette County Land Reuse Agency
• Food Business Incubation Hub

Success in Quality of Place Priorities Assessed

• Wayfinding Assessment
• Barriers to Capital Access
• Statewide Child Care Economic Impact Survey
• Regional Housing Needs Assessment

“We are here to serve the region and its citizens,” said Judy Moore, Deputy Director of NRGRDA and Executive Director of the WV Hive. “We are extremely proud of the work portrayed in the 2024 Impact Report and we encourage our community, partners, and supporters to read it and explore opportunities to collaborate and innovate with us in 2025 and beyond. By working together, we can continue building a more resilient and prosperous Southern West Virginia.”

Belcher added that sustaining this level of innovation will require continued collaboration and commitment. “We receive invaluable support from our Congressional delegation, the Governor and Legislature, regional and local leaders, the business community, financial institutions, educational institutions, and the media. On behalf of our staff and board of directors, we extend our deepest thanks to those we’ve had the pleasure to work with, and we look forward to building new relationships and partnerships in the year ahead.”

About New River Gorge Regional Development Authority: The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority’s (NRGRDA) mission is to initiate, facilitate and support the economic and community development efforts within the counties of Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers. More can be found at https://nrgrda.org/

WV Hive is the entrepreneurship program of the NRGRDA. Its 13-county service area includes Raleigh, Fayette, Summers, Nicholas, Webster, Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Monroe, Mercer, McDowell, Wyoming, Logan, and Mingo counties. More information about the WV Hive can be found at https://wvhive.com/.