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With the dust still settling from Tuesday's general election results, Gov. Patrick Morrisey gave us a reminder of the kind of work voters are hoping will be accomplished in our communities, as he announced the U.S. Department of the Treasury has certified 52 census tracts in West Virginia as Opportunity Zones.
The designation allows for federal tax incentives for eligible economic development investments in those zones.
As he announced the newly designated zones, Morrisey's office appeared to give a nod to the importance of Ohio County in any forward-looking statewide efforts.
"We appreciate Gov. Morrisey's efforts to bring this opportunity to Wheeling and look forward to growing our community through this designation," said Mayor Denny Magruder. "It gives us a competitive edge in attracting investment and creating opportunities for our residents. There are exciting things happening in Wheeling right now, and this is another way to build on the tremendous foundation we have established. We look forward to seeing how this designation can help move our community forward."
The West Virginia Division of Economic Development coordinated the state's selection process, reviewing nominations from local economic development authorities, county commissions and regional planning councils, with priority given to communities positioned for long-term investment and growth.
"The city of Wheeling worked closely with the Bel-O-Mar Regional Council and the Regional Economic Development Partnership throughout this effort, and that collaboration is a great example of what can be accomplished when organizations come together with a shared goal," said City Manager Robert Herron. "By working together and leveraging our collective resources and expertise, we were able to achieve positive results that will benefit our community."
Along with everything else that will look a little different at the start of 2027, let us hope these new designations mark the start of renewed effort from both Charleston and Washington, D.C., to focus on what it will take to attract the kind of investment that makes a difference for Mountain State families, with enough good-paying jobs to actually move the needle for our communities.