Today Newsweek featured an article highlighting the state Department of Commerce’s “Come Home to West Virginia” campaign, an effort to lure former residents back to the state. For years, leaders across the state have been searching for “the answer” to counter our image problem.
Sterotypes have plagued Appalachia since the 19th Century, and it seems that more [...]

Posted in Culture, West Virginia 21 Comments »

On this Super Bowl Sunday, as fans await the nation’s biggest game, consider how many West Virginians love football at all levels. While there have been several athletes from the state who ascended into the ranks of the National Football League, one of the most noteworthy is Randy Moss.
Football Finesse  
In his first season, he scored [...]

Posted in Culture, Education, West Virginia 7 Comments »

Three years ago today, an underground explosion shook areas of Upshur County during the early morning. The blast, later determined as the result of lightning, occurred at International Coal Group’s newly acquired Sago Mine.
Thirteen miners were unaccounted for. By evening, family and community members had gathered at the Sago Baptist Church, while national and international [...]

Posted in Business, Culture, Government, Media, West Virginia 2 Comments »

After an exhaustive program offering, the 2008 Create WV Conference wraps up today on Snowshoe Mountain. Almost 400 attendees have shared experiences and challenges surrounding the “new economy” in West Virginia, which includes the expansion of sectors such as technology, research, arts, and tourism.  
Entrepreneurs, non-profit officials, and civic leaders are working to create sustainable local opportunities that can endure the ebb and flow [...]

Posted in Culture, Economy, Education, West Virginia 3 Comments »

Cultures are heavily influenced by creative people, whose individual values often help shape collective perceptions. Three young men from West Virginia have found rock & roll to be one of the most powerful means of expression, and they are working diligently to inspire others through their music.
The Redding Brothers grew up in a [...]

Posted in Culture, Media, West Virginia 3 Comments »

Generation West Virginia leaders are poised to attract and retain more young professionals, and the statewide group is working to better understand their target demographic, which includes those age 21 to 45. A survey has been launched to more clearly identify perceptions regarding social and professional opportunities in West Virginia, and readers across the Internet [...]

Posted in Business, Culture, Economy, West Virginia No Comments »

Today is important for several reasons. First off, it’s West Virginia Day. But even more important is the movement of state bloggers that have contributed in an effort to reflect a more accurate view of our beloved state. To celebrate our successes, people, places, and culture.
Residents, expatriates, and general observers should enjoy the below collection. [...]

Posted in Business, Culture, Economy, Education, Government, Media, Tourism, West Virginia 37 Comments »