West Virginia University’s chief economist said the opioid epidemic in West Virginia and across the U.S. has come with a hefty price tag, causing a void in this state’s economy of nearly $1 billion.
A recent study at West Virginia University found that there is a progressive place in the market for urgent care centers, not only from the perspective of positive health outcomes in rural areas but also from an entrepreneurial point of view.
West Virginia’s economy has seen a turbulent year, filled with budget uncertainty and lot of angst about the future of the state. That will make the 24th Annual West Virginia Economic Outlook Conference Oct.5 in Charleston that much more important to state business leaders, policymakers and stakeholders. The EOC event will be held at Charleston Embassy Suites from 7:30 a.m. to noon and will include a full agenda that includes data, economic forecasts and key speakers.
The Mountain State Business Index jumped 0.3 percent in August, marking the index’s 11th month-to-month gain over the last 13 months. Economists at West Virginia University said the MSBI has risen 1.3 percent on an annualized basis over the last six months and posted a 2.0 percent gain over its August 2016 reading, returning to its highest level since the second quarter of 2015.
West Virginia faces a critical time in its history as it is 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.
West Virginia has several different economies within the state with different characteristics and components, and West Virginia University will present comprehensive economic data on each of those regional economies this fall.
Eleven West Virginia University faculty members have been awarded research grants from the Office of the Provost as part of the 2017-2018 Big 12 Faculty Fellowship Program.
Coal mine output totaled 80 million short tons in 2016, just over half of the 158 million short tons in 2008. While the baseline forecast calls for statewide coal production to approach 89 million short tons in 2017 and remain in the upper 80 million ton range into the early 2020s, the secular decline in demand for West Virginia coal will continue and lead to output sinking below 80 million tons by 2030.
The Mountain State Business Index (MSBI) recorded a trace increase in May, marking the ninth time the index has improved on a month-to-month basis out of the last 10 months. Economists at West Virginia University said the MSBI has risen 1.9 percent on an annualized basis over the last six months, and has also notched a 1.6 percent gain over its May 2016 reading.
When it comes to problem-solving, the WVU Davis College and the West Virginia Natural Resources Conservation Service have a lot in common. This is one of the many reasons why the two entities developed a five-year project agreement in 2015, initially allocating resources for six research projects to be carried out by WVU researchers.