CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The phones at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce have been ringing non-stop following the announcement of this year’s keynote speaker for the Chamber’s 81st Annual Business Summit at the Greenbrier Resort. Vice-President Mike Pence has committed to attend.
“For years we have extended an invitation to the President, Vice-President, and leading national officials,” said Chamber President Steve Roberts. “We are just really thrilled that Vice-President Pence accepted the invitation.”
It will mark the first time a sitting Vice-President has addressed the gathering. The timing is symbolic according to Roberts.
“We know that he is interested in what is happening in West Virginia,” he explained. “He’s interested in creating jobs and helping improve the life of people in our state.”
Since the Trump inauguration in January, Roberts says the state has seen a remarkable rebound in the economy. Almost 2,000 coal miners have gone back to work and there has been marked increase in construction jobs according to Roberts. something he and other leaders have credited in large part to the new administration.
“The story I think that is waiting to be told is West Virginia’s economy is improving,” Roberts said. “It’s improving steadily and markedly. This data is coming from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.”
The three day Chamber Meeting and Business Summit is set to begin August 30th at the Greenbrier. The chamber expects 1,000 people to attend. Other planned speakers include West Virginia University President Gordon Gee, Marshall University President Jerome Gilbert, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito.
This will be Pence’s second visit to West Virginia since the inauguration. He made stops in March in Putnam County to lend support to small businesses in the country.