HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Appalachian Regional Commission Co-Chair Gayle Manchin says there are many opportunities to improve economic development in her home state of West Virginia and surrounding states.
“If you take up the boundary lines, you wouldn’t know where to put them back down,” Manchin said during a Wednesday visit to Huntington.
Manchin took a tour of Coalfield Development’s West Edge Factory where she attended a newly revitalized community meeting space that features a solar installation learning center, an agricultural distribution facility and artist studios.
The factory previously made men’s suites.
Manchin said there’s a lot of different jobs and opportunities in this one location.
“They have a wood making shop where they’re building furniture, and they have an art studio where they have artists and residents that are training to young people that have a desire and interest in being an artist,” she said.
Our Federal Co-Chair is in @cityofhuntington with ARC partners @CoalfieldWV & @marshallu! First stop ? West Edge Factory, which includes manufacturing, a solar installation learning center, artist + agriculture space & more. Follow @GayleManchin for updates on today's visits? pic.twitter.com/wEtJgZewrY
— Appalachian Regional Commission (@ARCgov) January 19, 2022
As co-chair of ARC, Manchin oversees projects in West Virginia and surrounding states looking to expand their local economy for future investments.
“We’ve got to make it an attractive place for people to want to come here and live, so it gives these communities that uplift that they need,” she said.
She said revitalization projects like the one in Huntington are needed in order to keep young people from moving out of state.
“What this gives is an opportunity for young people to know that they can stay here, get an education and get a good paying, quality job,” Manchin said.
Following her visit to West Edge, Manchin visited Marshall University to meet with President Brad Smith to talk future investments and workforce training.
I was honored to welcome Appalachian Regional Commission Co-Chair Gayle Manchin to campus today. We are leaning in on economic, workforce and community development projects, and today was all about learning the commission’s priorities and updating her on our work in these areas. pic.twitter.com/2o6vcMGEDO
— President Brad D. Smith (@MarshalluPres) January 19, 2022