Advantage Valley, Inc.

10/08/2026

🍴 Small businesses. Big flavors. Gifts with a West Virginia story.

Join Advantage Valley for the Taste of Appalachia Food Showcase on October 18 at the South Charleston Farmers! Meet the makers behind our curated gift sets, enjoy tasty samples, and shop locally made foods and gifts. 🛍️

Find something delicious for yourself—or get a head start on holiday gifts for clients, colleagues, friends and family. Purchase individual products and curated gift boxes to take home, or place your holiday orders.

Every purchase helps West Virginia food entrepreneurs reach new customers and grow their businesses. ❤️

📍 South Charleston Farmer’s Market
📅 October 18 | 1–4 p.m.
🎟️ Free and open to everyone!

Explore the 2026 gift box collection here: https://tasteofappalachia.com

Many thanks to our 2026 sponsors to date: Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, Appalachian Regional Commission, Poca Valley Bank, Joe Justice Media, Simpson Dental, West Virginia State University, West Virginia Manufacturers Association and the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce!

10/07/2026

Child care is essential infrastructure for a strong regional economy.

Congratulations to Advantage Valley President and CEO Terrell Ellis, recognized October 7 by EveryChild NOW (formerly Kids Count Fund) as its Economy Champion for Advantage Valley’s work in support of child care.

Terrell’s leadership reflects a clear connection: when families can access quality child care, parents have greater opportunities to work, employers are better positioned to retain talent, and communities can grow. Advancing solutions takes collaboration, and we appreciate the partners working alongside Advantage Valley on this regional priority.

We also congratulate fellow honorees whose efforts support children across education, health, neighborhoods, and community connections:

• Meghan Moses — Overall Champion of Children
• Dr. Amelia Courts — Education Champion
• Dr. Matthew Christiansen — Health Champion
• Chad Morrison — Neighborhood Champion
• Jim Matuga — Connection Champion

Thank you to Every Child Now for recognizing their contributions to a stronger future for West Virginia’s children and families.

10/06/2026

📰 Front-page news for our regional economy!

The Charleston Gazette-Mail recently highlighted Advantage Valley’s $2 million Appalachian Regional Commission grant supporting our Expanding Markets initiative.

Working with our many many partners, we’re helping regional businesses access resources and growth opportunities that can strengthen manufacturing and build a more resilient economy. The story features local growing manufacturing company, Industrial Bolting Technologies (TorsionX - Extreme Bolting Force)as an example of a regional company that has benefited from this work. They currently export products to over 35 countries worldwide!

👏 Thank you to HD Media ~ and writer Jarrod Barry ~ for shining a light on these efforts and helping more businesses learn about the support available!

We’re celebrating Manufacturing Day and supporting the manufacturers helping our region grow. 🏭

Read the story:
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/business/2m-grant-aims-to-bolster-manufacturing-make-local-economy-more-resilient/article_971a05fd-145e-4780-990b-c8def9c193e3.html

On Oct. 2 2026, Advantage Valley distributed $2 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission as part of its Expanding Markets initiative. Industrial Bolting Technologies, a company based in Charleston, West Virginia, has benefited from this in the past and is an example of a company that was hel...

10/03/2026

🏭 Investing in our businesses. Strengthening our region.

Advantage Valley has secured a $2 million Appalachian Regional Commission POWER grant to expand our Expanding Markets initiative! With $937,000 in local matching support, nearly $3 million will help regional businesses grow sales, reach new markets, strengthen supply chains and create economic opportunity.

Over three years, the initiative aims to:
✅ Support 225 businesses
✅ Create 200 jobs and retain 150
✅ Facilitate $25 million in private investment
✅ Make 70 new supply chain connections

One example of this work in action: Charleston’s Industrial Bolting TorsionX - Extreme Bolting Force manufacturing company in Tyler Mountain. The company credits Expanding Markets and its various programs with helping it reach new customers, strengthen operations and compete globally. 🌎

We’re also partnering with Reshore Technologies, to help connect products purchased overseas with manufacturers that can produce them domestically.

Collaboration makes this possible! Our partners and supporters include:

🤝 Appalachian Regional Commission
🤝 Charleston Area Alliance & Chamber of Commerce
🤝 Putnam County Development Authority
🤝 Huntington Area Development Council-HADCO
🤝 The Jackson County Development Authority
🤝 County Development Authority
🤝 Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center
🤝 .S. Department of Commerce’s Rural Export Center
🤝 WV
🤝 Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation

Announced on National Manufacturing Day, this investment continues Advantage Valley’s work to bring federal dollars, local expertise and business opportunities together—with results for our communities as the goal.

Read MetroNews article here: https://wvmetronews.com/2026/10/02/advantage-valley-celebrating-new-power-grant-to-help-manufacturers-expand-to-new-markets/

10/03/2026

🏭 Celebrating National Manufacturing Day!

Today, Mayor Amy Goodwin joined Advantage Valley, Inc., elected officials and community partners at Industrial Bolting Technologies to recognize the important role manufacturing plays in our local and regional economy.

The event also celebrated a new $2 million POWER grant supporting Advantage Valley’s Expanding Markets initiative. The grant will provide manufacturers across the region with technical assistance and resources to grow their businesses, reach new markets and strengthen their supply chains, with funding also supporting the Charleston Area Alliance & Chamber of Commerce and Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center.

Thank you to Industrial Bolting Technologies for hosting and for being a great example of advanced manufacturing happening right here in our region! 👏

09/30/2026

09/21/2026

Thank you so much Joe Justice Media for the video about the second year of Advantage Valley's Taste of Appalachia initiative!

09/21/2026

Outdoor recreation is more than an adventure… it’s an opportunity to grow local businesses, create connections and strengthen communities. 🌿

UKV Outdoor Economy Day is September 22 at Belle Town Hall, bringing together outdoor recreation, tourism and business leaders for a morning of presentations, FREE Faster WV business coaching, lunch and an Appalachian Outlaw Trail presentation and tour.

Registration begins at 9:00 AM, with presentations starting at 9:30 AM. Attendees will also have a chance to win a marketing service for their business!

Thank you again to:
Kanawha County Commission
Appalachian Regional Commission
Claude Washington Benedum Foundation
West Virginia Land Trust
Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative
Advantage Valley, Inc. / Faster WV
Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.
Appalachian Outlaw Trails - AOT
Charleston Area Alliance & Chamber of Commerce

09/21/2026

Thank you, Advantage Valley, Inc., for supporting HADCO in helping grow our Business Retention & Expansion efforts in Cabell and Wayne counties!

We are thankful for partnerships like this that contribute to the improvement of our area.

09/21/2026

🏡 Housing is essential infrastructure for economic growth.

New media coverage highlights Advantage Valley’s updated Regional Housing Needs Assessment, which identifies a five-year housing gap of 28,976 units—including 10,604 rentals and 18,372 for-sale homes—as major investments are expected to generate 17,268 direct and indirect jobs across the region. 📈

Advantage Valley is moving from research to action. Our Housing Task Force is examining barriers and potential policy solutions, while our team works with local partners to identify viable housing sites.🤝

Quality, attainable housing near new jobs will be critical to capturing the full economic benefit of West Virginia’s growth.

🔗 Read the full article: https://www.wvnews.com/statejournal/news/housing-shortage-could-challenge-west-virginia-s-economic-growth-officials-say/article_e23b45a6-88d3-4135-ab67-3eb7e806d54b.html

Quick take: