Not since the glory days of King Coal in the 1950s and ’60s have things looked so good for West Virginia.
While West Virginia may experience some of the effects of the financial turmoil that the nation and the world are going through, the state will weather the storm better than other places, top West Virginia officials have said.
It’s nice to be an exception to the rule — especially when it is such a positive exception.
National organizations have reinforced the idea of West Virginia’s prosperity.
The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government cited the state as having the best economy in the country during mid-2008 and found that the state’s employment growth rate surpassed the national average. West Virginia also achieved the third-highest rate of personal income revenue growth in the nation.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that West Virginia reached an unemployment rate of 3.7 percent in September 2008. This marked the lowest number of unemployed West Virginians in the history of the state. And Marion County was one of five state counties with a better unemployment percentage this fall, clocking in at just 3.1 percent.
The Cato Institute’s Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors gave West Virginia an “A” in 2008, reporting that it had made more pro-growth tax reforms than any other state.
These high marks have not gone without notice. Just this month, US Airways Magazine featured a lengthy article about the State of West Virginia as part of its promotional business series. The piece focuses on commerce, the energy sector, economic development, health care, higher education and quality of life in the state. That glossy magazine with vibrant picture — an even more vibrant facts and figures about the state’s business and economy — is available to every passenger of the airline across the globe.
With such good news, we couldn’t help but celebrate “The state of our economy” with a special Times West Virginian bonus edition today. Inside its pages, you will find why West Virginia has become a shining star in the midst of a nationwide economic storm.
From the highest level of government to our local retailers, dealers and businesses in North Central West Virginia, we’ve looked at not only how well the economy is doing, but how it’s poised to prosper in the future.
“The state of West Virginia, we’re going to get through this,” Gov. Joe Manchin told the Times West Virginian in a one-on-one interview for the bonus edition. “If anything, we’re going to prosper through this. We should take advantage of the situation. We have gotten our house in order. It gives us a chance to show off our state. With that, this is a safe haven.”
The future is bright for Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.
Opinion
West Virginia weathering economic storm in fine fashion
- Opinion
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We must never forget sacrifice that protects U.S. freedom
War at its best has birthed and protected our American freedom. War at its worst has separated loved ones and often taken the life of the one serving.
America annually sets aside the last Monday in May as a time of remembrance, memorial and gratitude for these patriots who unselfishly gave the ultimate gift for our freedom. -
Marriage issue: Both sides making political hay
Words can be defined in many ways.
And many times, we define words based on our values, past experiences and opinions.
For example, what does “marriage” mean? -
Three Rivers Festival great event to kick off summer season
Can you believe that the current festival under way at Palatine Park is No. 33 in a long line of events?
The West Virginia Three Rivers Festival is with us once again. -
Excellence the motto at White Hall Elementary
If you want excellence, you must practice excellence. No one rises to low expectations.
It’s a life motto we all should live by. -
Bill Stewart was indeed ‘special person’ as coach and off the field
Bill Stewart enjoyed the highest of highs during his time as West Virginia University’s head football coach.
Stewart, who died at age 59 on Monday of an apparent heart attack while participating in a golf tournament at Stonewall Resort, coached the Mountaineers to a 48-28 win over heavily favored Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. -
State economy being altered by booming natural gas era
A new horizontal well in Tyler County produced an amazing 7 million cubic feet of natural gas in a single day, along with 650 barrels of valuable liquids: ethane, propane, butane and pentane.
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‘Operation Blue Haze’ is example of cooperation in war on drugs
Amazing things happen when agencies pool their resources and work together.
And a shining example of that is “Operation Blue Haze,” which targeted street-level, mid-level and upper-level drug dealers and resulted in arrest warrants filed for 53 people on drug, trafficking and weapons charges. -
How can an inmate run for president?
Anyone can grow up to be president.
A boy who lived in a one-room log cabin with his family in Kentucky — Abraham Lincoln. -
County Project Graduation must have support and volunteers
Certainly Fairmont will be having another of its famous all-night student parties following graduation this year.Well, it will, won’t it?We hope so.
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Exercise control over ballot access to make elections serious business
Elections are serious business.Candidates make their best pitch to voters, who have the power to hire and fire government leaders.
- More Opinion Headlines
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We must never forget sacrifice that protects U.S. freedom
