Morrisey talks plan for economic growth
January 24, 2025
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey discussed his plan for economic growth Thursday, saying it relies upon energy, infrastructure and competition with neighboring states.
He says West Virginia ranks among the bottom five states in workforce participation, regulation, future growth and the overall, best place to do business.
“I want to change that,” Morrisey said. “West Virginians deserve to have that change, so we can start to really rise.”
Morrisey’s solution: competition with neighboring states. He introduced Todd Johnston as the coach to lead his team. He will serve as deputy chief of staff and chairman of the governor’s Energy, Infrastructure & Competitiveness Council.
“I’m looking forward to kind of opening up the proverbial hood of the car in government here and seeing where we can make some real efficiency improvements and better coordinate our efforts,” Johnston said.
Morrisey says Johnston will be in close contact with the state’s Departments of Transportation and Environmental Protection. One focus will be quicker permits for infrastructure.
“How does today’s announcement move that forward?” asked WSAZ’s Curtis Johnson.
“Having the ability to look across the board means we look for more efficiencies, we look for more job opportunities,” Morrisey replied. “What that does is it opens up more opportunities for good paying jobs for people, where they can make more money. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.”
Morrisey’s plan is winning praise from business.
“It’s two of my favorite words — energy and infrastructure,” said Bill Bissett, president of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association. “When you consider electrons are the new currency of economic development, that’s perfect. We’re a historic energy state, but infrastructure, whether you’re talking highways, broadband, the things we need to do business, those are the investments to me that really pay dollars.”
Steve Roberts, president of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, said he hopes competition shines a light on the need for lower business taxes.
“The idea that we’re thinking about job creation and economic development as a competition with surrounding states, and the states with which we compete most strongly for jobs, is a very good way to be looking at this whole picture,” he said.
Morrisey also teased a conference with top CEOs regarding economic development in March. He also previewed another news conference for next week with a focus on the budget, after projecting last week that the state faces a $400 million deficit for the coming budget year that starts in July.
Story by Curtis Johnson, WSAZ