Charleston W.Va. — Major projects are taking place in the region.
Advantage Valley has released its 2024 annual report and President and CEO Terrell Ellis said highlighted all the projects that are underway.
“We highlighted some of the key new investments that are happening in the region, that are truly under construction.” Ellis said during a Tuesday appearance on 580Live with Dave Allen.
Ellis said the theme of their 2024 annual report is “under construction.”
Ellis highlighted some of the new projects such as the Marshall institute for cyber security and innovation district is under construction in 4th avenue. She also mentioned Timet in Jackson county, the only solar powered titanium facility in the world.
Advantage Valley’s 2024 report also highlights housing shortage in the area.
With all the new business coming up in the area, Advantage Valley has understood the importance of new residential area projects, Ellis said. Approximately the area requires 11,000 new rental units and 10,000 for sale residential units.
“We need to make sure that region and our communities are ready with the community infrastructure to support the employers and the employee so that we have a workforce that can go to work.” said Ellis.
One of her other focus is on childcare.
“In our region we have identified that there are about 5300 childcare slots that we have a deficit of, meaning not enough slots available for 5300 kids and that is going to impact parents ability to go to work. ” said Ellis.
They are also partnering with Wonderschool to help develop new childcare programs. Their focus for 2025 is to develop more childcare in the area.
“We are going to be holding a series of workshops, to help people understand how they can get started opening a childcare business and we will provide business coaching, technical assistance, mini grants and loan funds. ” said Ellis.
Last year, Advantage Valley helped launch 30 new businesses, which created around 70 jobs.
For more details, view the Advantage Valley 2024 annual report.
Story by Ananya Rautela