Southern West Virginia's Retail, Industrial and Tourism Hub

In Southern West Virginia's commerce hub, businesses are always full. More than 225,000 shoppers (with an effective buying income of $800,300,000) comprise a market which grows by the day.

Thanks to superb highways and centralized location, shoppers regularly come to the area from all around the region.  National chains continue opening large stores here. Local merchants offer specialized goods and services.

Thinking of doing business here? You'll find plenty of features to like.  Besides enjoying a scenic environment and the lowest crime rate in the nation, you'll find a host of compatible local industries in which to invest. What suits your fancy?

TOURISM

Thanks largely to the creation of the New River Gorge National River and completion of Interstate 64, the region has rapidly developed tourist traffic.  Tourism brings millions of dollars in direct sales to Raleigh County and the surrounding nine-county market each year.

With increased activity of outdoor adventurers in whitewater rafting, ATV riding, mountain biking and fishing in the summer, skiing and hunting in the winter, the tourism industry has become a vital factor in our economy.

When the $16 million arts center, Tamarack “The Best of West Virginia”, opened on Interstate 77/79 in Beckley the area saw an increase in shoppers to the region looking for treasurers made locally from very talented West Virginia artisans and craftsmen.

We are lucky to also have Winterplace Ski Resort, Theatre West Virginia, Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia, Daniel Vineyards, The Resort at Glade Springs and Crossroads Mall to enhance our tourism attractiveness.

TRANSPORTATION

Many companies have located headquarters and distribution centers here as a result of accessibility. In the center of the Eastern U.S., Raleigh County stands at an interstate crossroads. Interstates 64 and 77 join at Beckley with U.S. Route 19.  The Coalfields Expressway is under construction and will link us to South Western West Virginia rural counties and South West Virginia.  Coastal and Midwest markets are less than a day away.

Air transportation and cargo service are provided by Raleigh County Memorial Airport, five minutes west of Beckley.  Passenger air and rail services are provided by U.S. Airways and Amtrak, respectively.  Rail service is provided by CSX and Norfolk & Western.

WOOD PRODUCTS

Raleigh County lies at the center of a heavily forested area. In fact, the largest unbroken forest in the East stretches from Beckley west into Kentucky. Oak and hickory account for about 70 percent of the local wood; maple, beech, and birch, about 15 percent; pine 9 percent.  Georgia Pacific officials say interstates and available workers and timber moved them to open a mill and strand board plant north of Beckley.

COAL

Thanks to its deposits of low-sulphur coal, southern West Virginia will continue to lead the nation in coal production. Raleigh County's purest seams cap its rugged western mountains.

WORKFORCE

Southern West Virginia's labor force is renowned for its high productivity and strong work ethic. In addition, Raleigh County has been designated a labor surplus county by the U.S. Department of Labor.  Industry training programs are administered through the WV Department of Education. Programs to assist private employers are available through the WorkForce WV Centers across the state.

EDUCATION

Numerous diverse educational opportunities are available in the area.

Preschool & Day Care - A spectrum of programs is available for children three months to six years old

Public Education - Public schools are governed by a five-member board and managed by a superintendent. Good schools are well located throughout the county.

Private Education – Area private primary schools offer specialized education through High School.

Academy of Careers & Technology - Programs for high school and adult students include drafting, marketing, broadcasting, dental assisting, practical nursing, computer-aided drafting, and various other training programs.

The Academy at Mountain State University

Area Colleges and Universities include:

Appalachian Bible College

Bluefield State College

Community & Technical College at Institute of Technology WVU

Concord University

Mountain State University

New River Community & Technical College

Southern WV Community & Technical College

U.S. Mine Health & Safety Academy

Valley College

Institute of Technology West Virginia University

WV School of Osteopathic Medicine

Higher Education Center

INDUSTRIAL PARKS

Are you a business that desires high interstate access and seamless fiber optic and cellular technology? Do you have the luxury of relocating to the center of the eastern U.S.? Would you prefer a wooded or highly accessible location? Then you'll prefer our business and technology parks.

Pinecrest Business & Technology Park - Catering to clean technologies, this park with a pastoral feel sits off the junction of U.S. 19 and Interstate 64 east of Beckley.

Airport Industrial Park & Research Center - Off Interstate 64 at the Raleigh County Airport, this beautiful wooded park contains a fishing pond for children and disabled persons and is home to many deer. Fly-in and air-cargo service are available through several carriers.

Harper Industrial Park - Off Interstate 77's exit 44, this park is convenient to the area's hotel and restaurant district.

New River Industrial Park - Off U.S. 19 in North Beckley the main road through this park leads into the county's shopping centers and its area of highest traffic - the intersection of Robert C. Byrd Drive(WV 16) and Eisenhower Drive(U.S. 19).

RETIREE ATTRACTION

Beckley-Raleigh County has recently received the certification of “Designated Retirement Community” (DRC) from the West Virginia Development Office which allows us to call ourselves “Mountain Roads Retirement Community, Almost Heaven” and to receive requests for visitor and relocation information from retirees looking for a destination to call their retirement home.  Due to this designation the community has seen an increase in retirees checking out what we have to offer and then making plans to move and relocate to their new home in the mountains bringing with them a boost to the local economy.