The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce will host its 90th Annual Business Summit beginning Wednesday at the Greenbrier.
Chamber President Steve Roberts joined Talkline earlier this week to preview the event. He says it promises to be an exciting few days with an equally exciting agenda.
He’s right.
But there’s also the question of what isn’t on the agenda — and what could happen during this multi-day gathering.
Two things merit attention.
First, U.S. Senator Jim Justice is scheduled to attend and address the Summit faithful. By now, even those who avoid politics like the plague are keenly aware that Justice may seek to challenge Governor Patrick Morrisey in the 2028 Republican gubernatorial primary.
Justice may not come right out and make his intentions known — although he could. Instead, he may offer some context or drop a few clues about which way he is leaning.
There’s also speculation that Justice could face pressure from Washington to hold off on any announcement until after the midterm elections. Is there anything to that? Impossible to know without hearing it directly from Justice, and right now, he isn’t talking publicly about his political future.
Announcement or not, clues dropped or not, this audience is chock-full of some of West Virginia’s most influential and respected business and civic leaders — people who also have the ability to vote with their resources.
People will be watching.
Will they see anything?
Governor Morrisey is also slated to attend and address the crowd. Is the Greenbrier’s Colonial Hall large enough for these two potential political combatants to traverse without eventually coming face-to-face?
That alone could make things interesting.
Second, the Business Summit has long provided an opportunity to make a splash — the kind of setting where a significant economic-development announcement can command statewide attention.
Will we get one this year?
Could data centers be involved? A major jobs announcement? A new investment of consequence in West Virginia’s economy?
Hopefully so.
Talkline will broadcast from the Business Summit Wednesday and Thursday, with a slate of the state’s top business leaders scheduled to join us — along with reports on any breaking news that emerges from the Greenbrier.