West Virginia Commits $40 Million to Industrial Site Readiness

On November 10, 2026, Governor Patrick Morrisey announced a $40 million statewide investment to prepare industrial sites, accelerate private-sector investment, and attract jobs. The state describes this as its largest competitive site-development allocation in history. It consists of $25 million for loans to construct industrial shell buildings and $15 million in grants for traditional site-readiness work. The initiative is intended to help communities present usable locations to prospective employers and reduce the time between an investment decision and project start. Morrisey said, “When a company is ready to invest millions of dollars and create hundreds of jobs, we cannot afford to lose that opportunity because we don't have a site ready.” He also tied the funding to nearly $96 billion in announced private-sector investment already attracted to West Virginia.

The shell-building component, the 2026 Mountain State Ready Shell Building Loan Program, will be delivered by the West Virginia Economic Development Authority (WVEDA). It offers loans of up to $5 million per project for industrial shell buildings between 30,000 and 50,000 square feet, with flexible repayment terms. Future tenants must pay at least 120% of the county median wage, and the program carries an expectation of one job per 750 square feet. Those requirements make tenant prospects, wage assumptions, and anticipated employment important elements for applicants to address in project planning. For construction firms and developers, the program points to potential demand for industrial building design and delivery, although participation depends on public awards and the development of viable projects.

The other $15 million is allocated to the 2026 Mountain State Ready Site Readiness Grant Program, administered by the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council (IJDC). Grants may cover environmental assessments, engineering, grading, utility infrastructure, and other preparation for sites intended to attract manufacturing, research and development, and distribution operations. The West Virginia Division of Economic Development, within the West Virginia Department of Commerce, will administer both programs. Local economic development authorities, county commissions, and municipal governments are eligible to apply. Final awards are subject to approval by the relevant WVEDA or IJDC board, so an application should not be treated as a guaranteed award or authorization to proceed.

The six-month requirement creates a clear execution constraint: approved projects must begin within six months of receiving an award. Eligible public applicants therefore have reason to assemble project scopes, readiness information, and delivery teams early, while prospective contractors and developers can engage with those applicants as projects take shape. Environmental, engineering, grading, and utility work may need to be sequenced with building construction and site objectives. The state points applicants to its available-sites page for application details and program guidance. The announcement also reflects a broader economic-development challenge described by Morrisey: West Virginia’s topography can complicate site preparation. By funding both buildings and underlying site work, the programs address two distinct readiness needs, but award decisions and project schedules will determine which opportunities move forward.

• Total funding: West Virginia announced $40 million for industrial site readiness on November 10, 2026.
• Shell-building loans: $25 million is allocated to loans of up to $5 million per project for 30,000–50,000-square-foot buildings.
• Loan conditions: Future tenants must pay at least 120% of county median wages, with an expectation of one job per 750 square feet.
• Site-readiness grants: $15 million can support environmental assessments, engineering, grading, utilities, and other site preparation.
• Target uses: Grant-funded preparation is intended to help attract manufacturing, research and development, and distribution operations.
• Eligible applicants: Local economic development authorities, county commissions, and municipal governments may apply.
• Approval and schedule: Awards require approval by the appropriate WVEDA or IJDC board, and approved projects must begin within six months of award.
• Administration: The West Virginia Division of Economic Development, within the Department of Commerce, will administer both programs.
• Action for industry: Contractors and developers should coordinate with eligible public applicants as scopes and project teams are assembled; state available-sites materials provide application details and guidance.