Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Wednesday, Dec. 27 

Progress is coming along nicely on the new steel mill in Mason County. WV News and The State Journal names Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby “Public Servant of the Year.” And the WV Land Trust will manage a historic Monroe County Cave…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WOWK-TV – The new steel mill coming to Mason County is moving into a new phase of construction.

According to Nucor Steel, the upcoming phase of construction will include pile driving and starting the underground utility installations and foundations.

In October, Nucor and the Mason County community broke the Guinness World Record for the most people to participate in a groundbreaking ceremony, with 545 people grabbing a shovel to make history.

Construction for the new facility is expected to take two to three years. Once it’s completed, hundreds of jobs will be brought to Mason County.

Read more:

https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/mason-county-wv/nucor-moving-to-next-construction-phase-in-mason-county/

#2 – From WV NEWS – For her efforts and successes in selling West Virginia as the place to be, Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby has been named WV News/The State Journal’s Public Servant of the Year.

“Chelsea has the skills and the energy to help West Virginia reach its full potential in the tourism industry,” said Gov. Jim Justice when he appointed Ruby to the position shortly after he won the 2016 election. “She knows how to think big, and I look forward to working with her to increase tourism in our state. My goal is to make tourism an economic driver and bring jobs to West Virginia.”

Over the course of nearly seven years, during which time Ruby’s office became a cabinet-level position named the West Virginia Department of Tourism, the strategy has proven successful.

Visitors to the state directly spent $5.3 billion in 2022, an all-time high, according to data from Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company that measures tourism spending and economic impact.

The tourism industry now supports more than 53,000 West Virginia jobs, one out of every 16 in the state, which account for nearly $2 billion in annual income.

Read more:

https://www.wvnews.com/sec-chelsea-ruby-helping-west-virginia-tap-into-tourisms-potential/article_0c362ed6-9a9c-11ee-86f0-f7ffd161cf56.html

#3 – From GAZETTE-MAIL – The West Virginia Land Trust has assumed management of a historic Monroe County cave system.

The cave was once mined for saltpeter by pioneer settlers and Confederate soldiers. Saltpeter is a key component in the making of gunpowder. The cave now provides habitat for at least two endangered bat species.

Partial funding for the preserve was made available as habitat impact mitigation arising from construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

The new, 298-acre Greenville Saltpeter Cave Preserve encompasses its namesake limestone cavern, which contains nearly 4 miles of mapped passages.

The preserve, to be managed in cooperation with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will be the first site in the Mountain State where a promising experimental treatment designed to reduce bats’ vulnerability to white-nose syndrome will be deployed.

While the cave is expected to remain closed to the public for a number of years, the surface portion of the preserve may be open for public hiking, bird-watching, nature study and photography after the DNR’s UV-C project is completed.

Read more:

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/outdoors/recreation/wv-land-trust-to-preserve-manage-historic-monroe-county-cave/article_9ecc7ec4-109f-581e-bbea-5a13b2ad9b2a.html?utm_source=wvgazettemail.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Foutdoors%2F%3F-dc%3D1702746017&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Tuesday, Dec. 26 

Discover the joy of living and working in West Virginia’s Advantage Valley. Get outside and enjoy nature and a brisk walk on a First Day Hike. And travelers reveal their favorite tourist attractions in Almost Heaven…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From LIVABILITY – Are you on the hunt for a new place to call home? Look no further than Advantage Valley, West Virginia. This stunning region, encompassing Charleston, Huntington, South Charleston, and Teays Valley, is brimming with everything you desire and more. Picture a wealth of career opportunities, picturesque landscapes, and inviting restaurants and breweries where you can unwind with friends after a productive day.

Advantage Valley hosts an impressive lineup of major companies and boasts a thriving tech sector. Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Advantage Valley offers breathtaking views and a wealth of outdoor activities all year long.

Read more:

https://livability.com/advantage-valley/

#2 – From WV STATE PARKS – Hey, outdoor lovers! Start the New Year on the right foot with a First Day Hike. These free guided hikes, held annually on January 1, are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks to encourage people to get outdoors and enjoy nature while learning about park history and wildlife.

A number of West Virginia state parks and forests are hosting First Day Hikes. To find an event near you, visit www.wvstateparks.com and click on Events, then Calendar. 

Participants will receive a West Virginia State Park First Day Hike patch.

Read more:

https://wvstateparks.com/start-your-new-year-on-the-right-foot-with-a-first-day-hike/

#3 – From ONLY IN YOUR STATE  – Are you looking for the best tours and tourist attractions in West Virginia? Check out this list of nine tried and true favorites, compiled with input from Only In West Virginia Facebook followers.

Whether your tastes range from outdoor adventure to culture and history, you’ll find something to love in Almost Heaven. Enjoy uniquely West Virginian experiences like New River Gorge Bridge Walk, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and more.

Read more:

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/west-virginia/must-see-attractions-wv/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Monday, Dec. 25 

Step back in time with videos from The History Project. Learn about the origins of the Swiss mountain community of Helvetia, Blenko Glass, and Stone & Thomas department store…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From THE HISTORY PROJECT – Appalachian heritage is known to be spread among German, English, and Scots-Irish cultures, but a tiny town in West Virginia represents a different European union, Switzerland. 

Helvetia was founded by Swiss immigrants after the Civil War to create better lives for themselves in a new mountainous home. Their traditions and culture still survive, particularly in the form of Fasnacht, a pre-Lenten masquerade ball featuring traditional music as the revelers scare away Old Man Winter.

The History Project is the daily304’s presentation of famous people, places and events that shaped West Virginia. Watch the video on our YouTube channel, and don’t forget to hit that subscribe button!

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bR9AnWL09g

 #2 – From THE HISTORY PROJECT – Because of its abundance of natural gas and its many rail lines, West Virginia became a bastion of glass making in the U.S. Many of the state’s glass houses were, and still are, known worldwide for their fine artistry. 

Unfortunately, the industry changed and all of the Mountain State’s handcrafted glassmakers have closed except one, Blenko Glass of Milton, which is the gold standard of hand blown glass, thanks to a history of shifting with the times and innovation.

Watch this History Project video on the daily304’s YouTube channel.

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXoNIQZeolY

#3 – From THE HISTORY PROJECT – In this era of shopping from home, younger generations may not understand the glamor of dressing up to go downtown to pursue this activity.  Each American city of every size had a variety of stores, offering the personality and flair of the owners and local tastes. 

West Virginia’s cities shared in this commercial endeavor with store names that were locally beloved. But from them all, Stone & Thomas Department Store emerged from Wheeling to become the Mountain State’s favorite place to shop and be seen.

Take a peek into this fascinating bit of West Virginia history. You’ll find this video and others on the daily304’s YouTube channel.

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KAoFTMv26o

From The History Project - And on this holiday we have an extra special video on our video of the day. Based in Glen Dale, the Louis Marx & Company Toy Manufacturer was America’s premiere toy maker’s factory. Some of Santa’s presents came from right here, in Almost Heaven, West Virginia.

https://youtu.be/eUhOD3YjwnY?si=JIrUM4nBIRmcRDYu

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Sunday, Dec. 24 

The History Project takes us for a ride on the WV Turnpike. Oglebay Resort’s Festival of Lights dazzles with over 100 lighted attractions on a 6-mile drive. And celebrate the new year with a First Day Hike at a WV state park or forest…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From THE HISTORY PROJECT – Of the 29 state turnpikes in the nation, West Virginia’s was the 8th to be completed when it opened in 1954. It had a honeymoon period before the Interstate system changed everything, and Turnpike became inadequate and dangerous for drivers used to four-lane modern highways. But the wheels of change came to the Turnpike and today it completes the dream of connections to the Great Lakes and Florida.

Watch latest installments of The History Project, the daily304’s presentation of famous people, places and events that shaped West Virginia. Find it on the daily304’s YouTube channel…and don’t forget to like and subscribe!

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRkxFkrNxpc

#2 – From OGLEBAY RESORT – It’s not too late to get in the Christmas spirit! Head to Oglebay Resort for the annual Festival of Lights. The dazzling drive-through experience is lit up nightly from dusk to midnight, including holidays, through Jan. 7, 2024.

The event features more than 100 lighted attractions along a 6-mile driving route at Oglebay. Don’t miss favorites like Wheeling’s iconic Suspension Bridge, a 70-foot tall Welcome Tree, and a larger-than-life winter globe at Schenk Lake.

This year’s attractions include an ice skating rink and a decorated tree trail. Stop by the Winter Carnival at Levenson Shelter for some hot chocolate then top off your evening with a tasty meal at Route 88 Burgers & Brew on Route 88.

Learn more:

https://oglebay.com/lights-drive

#3 – From WV STATE PARKS – Start the New Year on the right foot with a First Day Hike at a West Virginia state park or state natural area!

These free guided hikes, held annually on January 1, are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks to encourage people to get outdoors. It’s an opportunity to enjoy the area’s natural beauty while learning about park history and wildlife. Participants will receive a West Virginia State Park First Day Hike patch.

This year, First Day Hikes are scheduled at Blackwater Falls, Bluestone, Cacapon Resort, Cass Scenic Railroad, Cedar Creek, Kanawha State Forest and Tygart Lake State Park. Visit www.wvstateparks.com and click on “Events,” then “Calendar” to learn more!

Read more:

https://wvstateparks.com/start-your-new-year-on-the-right-foot-with-a-first-day-hike/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Saturday, Dec. 23 

The WV Economic Development Authority helps NorthStar Technologies play a vital role in the aviation industry. Learn why the aviation industry is taking flight in #YesWV. And watch as manufacturing engineers capture Mothman--on scanner, that is…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV COMMERCE  – The aviation industry is taking flight in West Virginia. Located at the North Central West Virginia Airport, NorthStar Technologies is serving a vital role for the industry whether it’s repairing engines, inspecting and maintaining used parts, or sending teams out to work on aircrafts in the field. 

To order these parts, it could take up to a year. But with equipment obtained with the help of the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, NorthStar Technologies can get planes off the ground in a matter of days.

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=0Px991wZ0xv2O_Sy&v=4OhtFYyNR-A&feature=youtu.be

 #2 – From WV DED  –  The aerospace industry is a dynamic, emerging economic sector in West Virginia. From up-and-coming high-tech innovators to established titans of the industry, the state’s growing cluster of aerospace companies is fueled by an array of advantages.

West Virginia is within a day’s drive of 34% of the top domestic purchasing sectors of aerospace products and national defense contractors, corporations and federal agencies. Additionally, the state is in close proximity to original equipment manufacturers based in the South, including Boeing, AirBus, Lockheed Martin and Gulfstream.

Learn more about the vast array of aerospace companies that have said #YesWV.

Learn more:

https://westvirginia.gov/industries/aerospace/

#3 – From MAMC – Engineers from the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center put the latest weapon in the center’s technological arsenal to a monumental test recently in Point Pleasant. It was a monstrous job – literally!

Design Engineers Chris Shaffer and Morgan Smith deployed one of the center’s newest scanners, a portable Creaform 3D scanning system, to capture the intricacies and full details of the famous stainless steel Mothman Statute that looms over downtown Point Pleasant.

Client Kelly Miller, whose father Bob Roach crafted the hulking creature, asked MAMC to scan the statute because no detailed drawings exist. Miller owns the rights to the likeness and wants to create smaller replicas of her late father’s tourist-beckoning creation. 

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6JDgON_XsI

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Friday, Dec. 22 

Give the gift of college! Learn how you can purchase a gift card for redemption into a 529 college savings account. A hiking/biking trail at Nitro’s Ridenour Lake is set for a major expansion. And get in the spirit with WV holiday beers and movie pairings…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From SMART529 – Toys come and go, but a college education lasts forever. The most valuable gift you can give begins with as little as $1 when you open a SMART529 college savings account for the child in your life.

One of the main advantages SMART529 has over other college saving strategies is its significant tax benefits. West Virginia residents may gain income tax benefits at the Federal and West Virginia state levels, including tax-deferred accumulation, tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses, and more.

Already have a SMART529 savings account? Give the Gift of College is an online gift registry program that allows family and friends to contribute toward higher education. You can give gift cards online via email or physically in the mail (minimum $250. The card can easily be redeemed right into a college savings 529 account.

To open an account or purchase a gift card, visit www.smart529.com and click on College Gifting.

Read more:

https://www.smart529.com/college-gifting/college-gifting-overview.html

#2 – From WOWK-TV – Within the next two years, a popular hiking trail in Nitro will be nearly quadrupled in length.

Last month, the city of Nitro began an expansion project on the hiking trail along Ridenour Lake. Currently, the trail goes for about four miles. After the expansion, it will become 15 miles long.

The project is being funded by a $330,000 grant, which was evenly split between the city of Nitro and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The leading trailblazer on the project is a Nitro native named Tracy Toler. An avid outdoorsman, Toler says he has volunteered at the lake since he moved to Nitro seven years ago. Now he and a group of trail builders are using the grant money to make their beloved park even prettier.

Read more:

https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/ridenour-lake-in-nitro-expanding-hiking-biking-trails/

#3 – From WBOY-TV – The holiday season means more holiday-themed beers than you can shake a growler at, but we certainly won’t stop you from trying. 12 News asked West Virginia’s breweries to share what they’ve been brewing for the holiday season.

Try an Alpenglow Fruit Gose from Big Timber Brewing. This tart beer is made with cranberries, fresh orange peel, rosemary, coriander and West Virginia salt. Pair it with a showing of “The Grinch.”

Or how about Gingerbread Winter Ale from Freefolk Brewery. This spiced winter ale is a tribute to the Gingerbread Festival in Fayetteville. Maintain that warm holiday feeling with a viewing of “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas.”

Check out the rest of the story for more West Virginia beers and holiday movie pairings. And don’t forget to leave a little something extra out for Santa!

Read more:

https://www.wboy.com/only-on-wboy-com/brews-news/west-virginias-newest-holiday-beers-you-can-try-right-now/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Throughout history, children have written letters to Santa with the list of toys they wanted, under the idea they were created in his workshop and they were…by extension of America’s Santa, Louis Marx, who built his busiest factory in Glen Dale, where the classics of 20th century toys were made.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Thursday, Dec. 21 

The WV SBDC helps a Morgantown store “kick off” its debut. Fiesta dinnerware has been brightening America’s tables since the Great Depression. And Theatre West Virginia revives popular outdoor drama, “Honey in the Rock”...on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV SBDC – Tyler McElroy is the owner of Classic Kickz, a sneaker shop on High Street in Morgantown. The store carries a variety of limited edition shoes and most sought after apparel from some of the top brands. 

McElroy said after college he wanted to pursue his dreams of owning his own business selling shoes and clothes. That’s when he turned to the West Virginia Small Business Development Center for assistance.

WV SBDC Business Coach Frank Goldsborough Jr. was able to help McElroy with repairs to the storefront by helping him secure an ARPA grant from the City of Morgantown. 

“He’s been a lifesaver to us,” McElroy said. “After our first meeting I mentioned other issues we were having like taxes, running the business better, keeping up with the books and money coming in and out. Frank told me about his background in accounting and we hit it off.” 

Financial analysis is just one of many services that the WV SBDC can provide to small businesses in West Virginia. Visit www.wvsbdc.com to learn more.

Read more:

https://wvsbdc.com/classic-kickz-takes-a-step-in-the-right-direction-with-wv-sbdc-partnership/

#2 – From WV.GOV – In the world of dinnerware, one name stands out above the rest. From pitchers to platters and everything in between, Fiesta’s vibrant, colorful products have earned it a seat at dinner tables across the country for more than 80 years.

To understand how Fiesta became an iconic American brand located in West Virginia is to understand its rich history. Picture this: It’s the 1930s, and the United States is in the midst of the Great Depression. Spirits are low, the world seems dark, and people are in need of hope. Then, Joseph M. Wells Sr., the president of The Homer Laughlin China Company, had a visionary idea: help people brighten up their tables and their lives. 

Color, he believed, was the answer to the woes of the Depression and, in 1936, Fiesta was born. Soon, homes across America were flooded with saturated shades of Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Ivory. 

Visit www.fiestafactorydirect.com to learn more about this iconic company in Newell, W.Va.

Read more:

https://westvirginia.gov/a-journey-through-time-the-story-of-fiesta-in-yeswv/

#3 – From WV EXPLORER – After a five-year pause, the outdoor drama “Honey in the Rock” is returning to the stage at the Cliffside Amphitheatre at Grandview as part of an initiative to reach national park visitors and dedicated local patrons.

According to general manager Gayle Oaks, along with “Hatfields & McCoys,” the musical drama will be performed in repertoire in June 2024 as the production company Theatre West Virginia returns to its roots as a provider of cultural entertainment.

Oaks said that with the boost in tourism that resulted from the creation of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in 2020, investment in historical dramas was a profitable direction.

“Heritage tourism is far and away the leading sector of the tourism market in the U.S.,”  Oaks said, “and we recognize that's what many of the 1.7 million tourists coming to the park each year want.”

Visit www.www.theatrewestvirginia.org to learn more about upcoming shows and tickets.

Read more:

https://wvexplorer.com/2023/12/17/outdoor-drama-honey-in-the-rock-grandview/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Wednesday, Dec. 20 

“West Virginia’s Christmas City” helps make the state the most festive in the nation. Weirton’s new battery plant lands a big project in California. And a grant will help restore an Amtrak route that goes through 9 West Virginia counties…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From BLUEFIELD DAILY TELEGRAPH – West Virginia’s Christmas City is shining on a national level.

A recent Fox News national report highlighted a study that found West Virginia to be the most festive state in the nation. That article zeroed in on Bluefield, which is West Virginia’s trademarked Christmas City. It discussed the Holiday of Lights and other featured Christmas City attractions, including the ferris wheel, ice skating rink and Christmas Market, all of which are located at city park.

City officials say the national attention will only help in making others across the nation aware of West Virginia’s Christmas City.

“I was pleasantly surprised, and it does further help our efforts,” Bluefield Mayor Ron Martin said. “I went through the park Saturday night, and it is phenomenal down there.”

Check out www.visitmercercounty.com to learn more about happenings in Bluefield and the surrounding area.

Read more:

https://www.bdtonline.com/news/west-virginias-christmas-city-shines-in-the-national-spotlight/article_11dcaf52-984b-11ee-9e1e-efa4e87279fd.html

#2 – From WV PUBCAST – Weirton’s Form Energy plans to build storage batteries for a project in California.

The $30 million project will use Form’s batteries to store and discharge power for 100 hours, according to the California Energy Commission.

That fills a gap between solar generation during the day and wind generation at night. The energy captured at off-peak times can be discharged to the grid when demand is the highest.

The batteries will be built in Weirton. Form Energy is building its plant on the former site of Weirton Steel and could employ 750 workers or more.

Read more:

https://wvpublic.org/form-energy-to-build-batteries-for-california-project-in-weirton/?es_id=416f4390f0

#3 – From WOWK-TV – Money is coming to help restore the daily Amtrak Cardinal Train route from Chicago to New York City by way of nine West Virginia communities.

According to the City of Huntington, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration announced a $500,000 grant to help restore the route. 

Huntington Mayor Steve Williams says the Corridor Identification & Development Program grant will help the company and the city figure out how to get the daily service back up and running, get it funded and bring economic development and tourism on the line to “new levels.”

The route goes through nine towns in the Mountain State, which include Huntington, Charleston, Montgomery, Smithers, Thurmond, Prince, Hinton, Alderson and White Sulphur Springs. It is the only Amtrak route in the country with stations inside a national park.

Read more:

https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/amtrak-gets-grant-to-help-restore-daily-cardinal-service-through-west-virginia/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Tuesday, Dec. 19 

Check out the diverse array of companies that have said #YesWV. 1987’s “Matewan” movie about the WV mine wars joins the National Film Registry. And get no-cost coaching for your new or existing business…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – West Virginia’s diverse economy has moved beyond our history of resource extraction to include a robust array of products and services. From the aerospace industry to forest products … from food and agriculture to information technology.

Learn about the key industries that have taken a foothold here and learn why leading companies make their home in the Mountain State.

Learn more:

https://westvirginia.gov/thriving-industries/

 #2 – From WOWK-TV – “Matewan,” the 1987 film about West Virginia coal miners that was shot in the Mountain State, is among the 25 films inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.

The John Sayles-directed film is set in 1920s Mingo County and dramatizes the Matewan Massacre, a bloody battle between coal miners and Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency men.

While Chris Cooper’s character — Joe Kenehan — is not real, the film follows real-life coal miners who are looking to form a union. Kenehan comes to Matewan to bring the members of the community together in the face of company forces and the detective agency.

The film stars Cooper, in his movie debut, alongside talents like James Earl Jones, Mary McDonnell and Kentucky-born singer and actor Will Oldham.

To be inducted, the Library of Congress says the 25 films picked each year are “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” The movie must also be at least 10 years old.

Read more:

https://www.wowktv.com/news/entertainment-news/movie-about-west-virginia-coal-miners-picked-to-be-part-of-national-film-registry/

#3 – From WV SBDC – Whether you have an idea for a new business or want to improve your existing business, the West Virginia Small Business Development Center is here for you. 

Meet one-on-one with WV SBDC business coaches to receive confidential, no-cost technical assistance to help start and grow your business in West Virginia. WV SBDC business coaches can help you identify your goals, develop valuable skills and acquire the necessary resources to make your business a success.

Learn more:

https://wvsbdc.com/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.