Creating an inventory of sites ready for development
| Development-ready sites are often the dealmaker in business location decisions. West Virginia does not have a comprehensive program for ready sites, unlike most states. The West Virginia Development Office and other economic development professionals cite the lack of development-ready industrial sites as one of the top three barriers to attract businesses, create jobs and bolster investments in West Virginia. Shovel-ready sites are one of the most effective ways to lure new firms to the state, saving companies time and resources while reducing site location risk and development costs. To help West Virginia move at the speed of business, WV Forward and collaborators have put together a working document that offers established best practices, past and current in-state site readiness initiatives and examples from comparable states. Input from key groups that could assist with the implementation of a comprehensive site readiness program is also provided. In addition, WV Forward has developed a multi-phase plan that could be used to create an inventory of developable sites. |
|