An internationally recognized economist and the state’s leading economic analyst will present their respective forecasts at the Morgantown MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) Economic Outlook Conference March 2 at West Virginia University’s Erickson Alumni Center.

The event, which begins at 8 a.m., will also feature speakers on issues critical to the region, including Marcellus shale development, transportation infrastructure and health care.

David A. Wyss, chief economist at New York-based Standard & Poor’s, will join Dr. George Hammond in delivering economic forecasts for the nation and region. Wyss is widely quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Associated Press and featured on CNBC, Bloomberg and CNN. He is responsible for S&P’s economic forecasts and analyses.

Hammond is associate director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research in the WVU College of Business and Economics. During the past 15 years, he has produced numerous forecasts and analyses of the state economy, as well as many of the state’s regional economies. He has provided briefings to the executive and legislative branches of state government and is often quoted in the state’s print and broadcast media.

“During the recent economic downturn, the Morgantown region fared reasonably well,” said Dr. Tom S. Witt, BBER director and associate dean for research and outreach in the WVU College of Business and Economics. “With a rebounding national economy, it’s important for business leaders to know what the forecast is for this region.”

The conference will also feature speakers who will address important components of the regional economy. J. William Austin, executive director of the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization will speak about federal and state transportation financing and its implications for Monongalia County’s transportation needs for the future. Tom Jones, President and CEO of West Virginia United Health Systems, will speak about the outlook for health care in this regional economy.

Witt, who plans and executes economic outlook conferences throughout West Virginia, will speak to economic development of the Marcellus shale. He recently headed a BBER study that documented the economic impact of the West Virginia natural gas industry and Marcellus shale development.

“The growth of the health care industry and the contribution of Marcellus shale gas development will play big roles in our future,” Witt said. “Transportation infrastructure, on the other hand, may represent a constraint on this growth. This conference is an opportunity for both the private and public sectors to learn about the challenges and opportunities facing the Morgantown MSA economy.”

To register for the conference, go to www.bber.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

2/15/11

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CONTACT: Dr. Tom Witt
(304) 293-7835
tom.witt@mail.wvu.edu