Expert forecasts economic growth at eighth annual North Central West Virginia Business Summit

Oct. 26—BRIDGEPORT — While on a state level West Virginia faces economic challenges in the year ahead, the state's economist says the future of Marion County and its surrounding region looks particularly promising.

John Deskins, director of West Virginia University's Bureau of Business and Economic Research delivered a speech on the region's economic outlook Tuesday at the eighth annual North Central West Virginia Business Summit in Bridgeport.

Each year, the Summit brings together economic leaders and business owners from Monongalia, Marion, Harrison and Preston counties to discuss entrepreneurship and ways to bolster economic growth in North Central West Virginia.

Deskins kicked off the event, and said the region has many encouraging economic growth factors, such as a thriving energy sector, with growing solar development and the region's new billion-dollar hydrogen hub.

"He's always part of the program," Kathy Wagner, president of the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce, said. This year, "he did say many of the key indicators are better in North Central West Virginia."

"What he stressed is that," in North Central West Virginia, "the counties are holding their own," said Tina Shaw, president of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce. "Whereas other counties may grow in some respects, but not others."

Shaw said she was excited by much of the news that Deskins shared. "North Central's one of the fastest-growing areas in the state," she said. "I think there's a bright future."

Deskins also highlighted potential weaknesses the regional economy faces, which helped business leaders take new ideas into consideration.

Most notably, "we have to increase our population," Shaw said. "We're losing more people than we're gaining. So, I think for all of us, we've got to focus on how to bring more people into the state."

In addition to Deskins' talk, eagerly anticipated by attendees each year, local and national business owners discussed their experiences in the region.

One panel featured Jim Boscov, CEO of department store chain Boscov's, which opened its first location in West Virginia in Bridgeport earlier this month. Boscov spoke alongside David Biafora, who owns Marion County's Middletown Commons, and Felicia Posey, who oversees the Morgantown Mall.

Later in the event, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., also provided a brief virtual update on the hydrogen hub, which he helped pass as chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

"We've got representation of not only local and regional leadership, but state leadership, too," Wagner said. "We've got a lot of activity going on, and there's a lot of potential. So we've got a positive outlook for the year ahead."

"It's always great to join with the other chambers of commerce in the area. We don't get an opportunity to do that often," said Kristy Ash, executive director of the Preston County Chamber of Commerce. "Any time we can get together and bring something to North Central West Virginia is a positive."

Ash said Tuesday's discussions marked an opportunity for her to learn more about the local economy, too. In particular, she said she discovered new information about the region's energy sector, especially the growing number of solar energy developments across North Central West Virginia.

"I've actually learned some stuff myself," she said. Likewise, Ash said she hopes all who attended were able to leave having learned something new.

"I'm hoping that they walk away from today with some valuable information that they didn't already know," Ash said.

This year's session marked the final summit for Shaw, who was one of the event's founders when it began eight years ago. "Everything I do this year has sort of been bittersweet," Shaw said of her imminent retirement.

Shaw said that the best part of hosting the Summit for the past eight years has been the opportunity it has provided for collaboration among North Central West Virginia's different chambers of commerce. "We all have a sense of regionalism," she said.

The event began to determine "what's happening in the region that benefits everybody," Shaw said. The event's theme, "Bridges Without Boundaries," aimed to underscore the collaborative nature of each Summit, she added.

Next year, Shaw said she is excited to see what her colleagues across the region come up with after her retirement, and for the first Summit her successor will put on. "I'll be the biggest cheerleader there is," she said.

Reach Jack Walker by email at jwalker@timeswv.com.