Preston County News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEEconomic growth advances as PCEDA prepares key industrial site for new investmentBRUCETON MILLS, WV - The Preston County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA) has announced major progress in the redevelopment of the former Spirit Energy Services property. The 41-acre industrial parcel, located near Interstate 68, has long been regarded...Continue Reading

“The Paws Relax,” a canine grooming and training center, officially cut the ribbon on Tuesday at 29 North Main Street in Masontown.The business has been open since the middle of May and offers a variety of services, including bath and tidy, full grooms, de-sheds, dog classes and various trainings.Owner Shanna...Continue Reading

West Virginia’s state tax revenue was ahead of monthly projections by $44 million, driven largely by strong returns in personal income and consumer sales taxes.General Revenue collections for May totaled $381,488,880, exceeding the monthly estimate of $336,962,000.Headed toward the end of the fiscal year, year-to-date figures show a surplus of...Continue Reading

Governor Morrisey paid a visit to Preston Memorial Hospital in Kingwood on Monday to announce the addition of $3.4 million toward the Rural Health Transformation Program, an incentive-based program that aims to get citizens throughout the state more active and invested in a healthier, sustainable lifestyle.With the additional funding Governor...Continue Reading

Economic growth is the foundation of a thriving community. The ability of local businesses to operate and thrive generates energy and momentum toward jobs for residents, robust financial opportunities, and a healthy quality of life. Businesses do not operate in a vacuum, though. Established business owners and entrepreneurs alike need...Continue Reading

A new initiative and startup that aims to play a role in increasing the supply of critical rare earth minerals to support infrastructure in the United States has been officially launched at West Virginia University.WVU Vice Provost Mark Gavin announced on WAJR’s Talk of the Town on Friday that the...Continue Reading

Governor Patrick Morrisey today announced that the West Virginia Department of Commerce is officially accepting applications for the newly established West Virginia First Small Business Growth Program, a major economic development initiative designed to expand access to private investment capital for West Virginia small businesses.“West Virginia’s small businesses are the...Continue Reading

When we talk about infrastructure for a local economy, most people picture roads, sewer pipes, broadband, or parks. But there is an invisible type of infrastructure that shapes where capital flows and which businesses are considered investable. These are the narratives shape how a city talks about itself and its...Continue Reading

While commercial and foreign direct investment has cooled considerably heading into 2026, one sector of the U.S. economy is experiencing a renaissance unlike anything seen in decades: defense aerospace. For site selectors and industrial developers paying attention, the implications are profound — and the window for smart positioning is now.A...Continue Reading

Nearly every state in the United States now recognizes life sciences as a key targeted industry for economic development purposes. It’s reflected in state and local targeted industry studies, strategic plans, workforce training initiatives, and incentive policy. The playbook often looks familiar: recruit a marquee life science manufacturing company, assemble...Continue Reading

To expand opportunities for West Virginia University students and advance innovation at the intersection of artificial intelligence and national security, WVU Cyber is launching a strategic partnership with TWENTY, a leading offensive cyber company.The collaboration will create a direct pipeline for WVU Cyber students to internships with TWENTY, where they...Continue Reading

Leadership and legacy lead to WVEDC’s Honorary Life Member AwardThis January, the West Virginia Economic Development Council formally recognized Roberta (Robbie) Baylor, Executive Director at Preston County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA), with its highest distinction, the Honorary Life Member Award, for her extraordinary service, leadership, and lasting contributions to economic...Continue Reading

We are in the middle of the largest infrastructure buildout of our lifetimes, and most people still think we're talking about real estate.We're not.The asset class the industry used to call a "data center" — the windowless shell, valued per square foot, tucked along a fiber route — is gone...Continue Reading

Bionic Tire Recycling, a Preston County business, is looking to bring new life to used tires that have seen the end of their on-road life.Material from the tires can be used for multiple purposes, such as making playground surfaces and anti-fatigue flooring.Bionic Tire Recycling is a relatively new business that...Continue Reading

Anyone planning to make a location decision in the coming years should be paying attention to Opportunity Zones, the federal capital gains tax incentive designed to drive productive investment into low-income areas across the country.The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) made Opportunity Zones (OZs) a permanent feature of the...Continue Reading

The Detroit factory where Henry Ford first began mass-producing automobiles had a transformative impact not just on the auto industry but on manufacturing and business practices across all industries. However, that factory was singular in purpose—assembling a Model T as quickly and uniformly as possible.Today, while optimal efficiency in production...Continue Reading