WV Awards $2.1M in Business Readiness Grants Across 23 Counties

West Virginia is investing in the ground beneath your feet

Governor Patrick Morrisey awarded $2.1 million in business readiness grants to prepare development sites across 23 West Virginia counties. The funding covers engineering, environmental, and geotechnical studies — the unglamorous but critical work that determines whether a piece of land can actually attract a business.

For small businesses already operating in these counties, this is worth paying attention to. New development sites bring new employers, more foot traffic, and stronger local economies. And for anyone considering expansion, the program signals where the state is placing its bets.

What the grants fund

The Ready Sites Program, administered by the Division of Economic Development, awarded 28 individual grants of $75,000 each. The money covers pre-construction studies that sites need before any company will commit to building there — things like environmental assessments, geotechnical surveys, and architectural planning.

“Speed to build is critically important when companies are deciding on a location to do business, build facilities, and create jobs,” Governor Morrisey said in the announcement. “This funding is going to ensure West Virginia is competitive and well-positioned to attract new industry and investment for years to come.”

Counties and projects that received funding

The grants spread across the state, from the Eastern Panhandle to the southern coalfields:

• Preston County — five sites including the former TAZ Hardwoods industrial property, Grace Chapel, Valley Industrial Park, North Pointe Industrial Park, and the Pres-Mon site
• Wood County — three sites: 29th Street, Fort Boreman, and Stone Ridge
• Jefferson County — Jefferson Orchard and Lot 36 at Burr Business Park
• Harrison County — two sites including the Spelter development
• Greenbrier County — Maxwelton and Fountain Springs
• Upshur County — Brushy Fork and Martin Weatherford sites
• Berkeley, Barbour, Marion, Mason, McDowell, Mineral, Morgan, Pleasants, and Putnam counties — one site each
• Regional authorities — Charleston Area Alliance, Bluefield EDA, and New River Gorge Regional Development Authority

Preston County alone received $375,000 across its five sites. Roberta Baylor, director of the Preston County Economic Development Authority, told Mountain State Spotlight that amount represents “a couple of years’ budget for us.”

Why this matters for local businesses

Site readiness is the invisible prerequisite to economic growth. A company looking to build a manufacturing facility or distribution center will skip a state entirely if the available sites require years of environmental review before construction can start. West Virginia created this program in 2022 specifically to close that gap, allocating $5 million to get sites “shovel-ready.”

The results connect directly to bigger wins. The recent $4 billion Penzance data center deal in Berkeley County happened in part because the Eastern Panhandle already had infrastructure-ready land. When sites are prepared, investment follows. When investment follows, local businesses — restaurants, contractors, suppliers, service providers — benefit from the downstream demand.

The funding gap is real

Here is the problem: the program worked, and now the money is gone.

All $5 million from the original 2022 appropriation has been fully allocated. Governor Morrisey’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget does not include new funding for the Ready Sites Program. That puts the state’s momentum at risk.

For context, West Virginia’s $5 million total investment in site readiness compares poorly to neighboring states. Virginia invested $126 million in site development in 2024. Kentucky spent $35 million. West Virginia is competing for the same employers with a fraction of the resources.

Delegate Jordan Maynor (R-Raleigh) has introduced legislation to expand the program — raising grant caps from $75,000 to between $100,000 and $250,000 depending on property size, with a stronger focus on utility upgrades. The governor has also requested a $40 million appropriation for the Department of Commerce for site selection and economic development initiatives, though it is unclear how much of that would flow to this specific program.

What you should do

If your business operates in one of the 23 funded counties, here are practical steps:

1. Contact your local development authority. Ask which sites received grants and what type of development they are targeting. If a new industrial park or commercial zone is coming to your area, you want to know early.
2. Watch for downstream opportunities. Site development means construction contracts, environmental consulting, surveying, and engineering work. If you are in any of those fields, these grants create direct business.
3. Position for the employers that follow. A prepared site attracts a manufacturer, warehouse, or tech facility. That facility needs local vendors, food service, maintenance, and professional services. Start building those relationships now.
4. Stay informed on the funding debate. Whether the legislature expands the Ready Sites Program will shape economic development across the state for years. The WV Legislature’s bill tracker is the best place to monitor HB 4008’s progress.

If you are a West Virginia business owner looking to understand how state economic development programs affect your market, or you want help positioning your business for growth in a changing local economy, get in touch with our consulting team. We work with Appalachian businesses every day to turn regional shifts into competitive advantages.

The bigger picture

West Virginia’s business readiness grants are a small program with outsized importance. They represent the state’s ability to compete for investment against better-funded neighbors. The $2.1 million award is a solid step, but the real test is whether the legislature commits to sustained funding.

For small businesses in the 23 funded counties — and in every county watching from the sidelines — the message is clear: pay attention to where the state is building, because that is where the next wave of opportunity will land.