Details of a new $13 million program funded by the U.S. Treasury Department to spur investment and private lending for West Virginia small businesses and small manufacturers will be included in presentations to the Senate Economic Development Committee starting at 9:00 a.m. on January 24 as part of the 12th annual Industries of the Future-West Virginia Day at the Capitol.

IOF-WV Day also features energy and environmental-related exhibits by state industry, universities, government agencies, and non-profits; an awards luncheon in the Cultural Center lobby; and an afternoon panel discussion organized by TechConnect West Virginia. Representatives of the West Virginia Development Office, and the divisions of Energy, Environmental Protection and Forestry will be available and attendees are invited to interact with their senators and delegates.

During the annual awards luncheon, the Department of Commerce’s Deputy Secretary and General Counsel Angel Moore will present the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Industrial Energy Efficiency and the inaugural Governor’s Award for Leadership in Green Advanced Manufacturing.

“The green advanced manufacturing award is being launched this year by IOF-WV to recognize and honor emerging West Virginia high-tech companies that truly are the state’s manufacturing industries of the future, incorporating advanced materials, cutting-edge technologies, and commitments to green, sustainable procedures,” said Carl Irwin, IOF-WV director. “It’s exciting to see these new industries making an impact in the state, along with our traditional manufacturing companies.”

At 1:30 in the House of Delegates Chamber, Anne Barth, executive director of TechConnect West Virginia, will moderate a panel session entitled “Creating Jobs in the Innovation Economy.” Panelists include Robert Orndorff Jr., managing director of state and local government affairs at Dominion; Derek Gregg, CEO, Vandalia Research, Inc.; John Hooks Jr., director, CSC Identity Labs; and Leonard Dolhert, CEO, Aither Chemicals LLC.

IOF-WV is a program of West Virginia University’s National Research Center for Coal and Energy. TechConnect WV is a statewide economic development organization emphasizing developments in energy, chemicals and materials, biometrics, and biosciences.

IOF-WV Day in the Capitol is free and open to the public, but registration and payment of $15 for the luncheon is required. More information is available at iofwv.nrcce.wvu.edu

-WVU-

kc/01/20/12

CONTACT: Kathleen Cullen; WVU NRCCE
304.293.6456; Kathleen.Cullen@mail.wvu.edu

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