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West Virginia faces a critical time in its history as it lags behind a growing national economy, West Virginia University President Gordon Gee told state business leaders Thursday as he unveiled a comprehensive study of how to address those issues and put the state on the road to prosperity.

In an address Thursday to business leaders at the Greenbrier Resort, West Virginia University President Gordon Gee said that West Virginia University, Marshall University and the Department of Commerce had collaborated to produce a roadmap for growth and to identify sectors to diversify the state's economy. The joint initiative is called West Virginia Forward.

A study conducted by McKinsey & Company has identified which industries have the potential to turn West Virginia's economy around.

A collaborative initiative aimed at designing a path of economic prosperity for West Virginia is in the works. The initiative, WV Forward, is a partnership among WVU, Marshall University and the West Virginia Department of Commerce. The three are sponsoring a comprehensive study on how the state can capitalize on its strengths, resources and businesses to become more competitive in the national economy.

West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee used his presentation at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s 81st Annual Meeting and Business Summit to unveil a comprehensive study of how to address the state’s economic and social issues and put West Virginia on the road to prosperity. Called West Virginia Forward, the study and report suggests a path to grow the state economically and educationally.

WVU President Gordon Gee met with state business leaders on August 31, 2017 to unveil a comprehensive study of how to address West Virginia’s slow progress in a growing national economy. WVU joined with the state Department of Commerce and Marshall University to launch West Virginia Forward, which led to discoveries that Gee said could change the state’s future.