Published: August 04, 2008 04:24 pm      

Business climate — WV could learn much from Virginia

Recent score in the two Virginias’ battle for jobs: Commonwealth, 1, Mountain State, 0 — and that was just last week.

If we looked back through the years at the number of companies that opted to locate — or relocate — to Virginia from West Virginia the numbers would be staggering. The reason is simple: The Commonwealth has a more business friendly environment. And, as we all know, new businesses and industries bring much needed jobs and a healthier tax base.

Last week Metal Manufacturing and Processing, a division of Raleigh Mine and Industrial Supply, Inc., announced it will invest $3.2 million to open a processing facility in Bluefield, Va., for both metal fabrication and truck parts remanufacturing.

(This news was reported hand-in-hand with the announcement of Virginia’s ranking as the “Best State for Business” for the third straight year by Forbes.com.)

More than 170 new jobs will be created in Tazewell County as a result of the opening of Metal Manufacturing and Processing, a mining equipment company that was created to meet the growing demand for mineral extraction, according to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

“MMP’s location in Tazewell County will be close to its customer base and will aid the mining industry in Southwest Virginia,” the governor said.

During the announcement of MMP’s new location in Bluefield, Va., S.R. “Dick” Smith, president and CEO of Raleigh Mine & Industrial Supply Inc., said Virginia aggressively fought for the new jobs.

“Why did we choose Virginia?” Smith asked. “We had other options — Kentucky and West Virginia. But right here is why we chose Virginia. They are excited about new jobs.”

Smith noted when the plant expansion was first proposed, Tazewell County Economic Development Coordinator Margie Douglas coordinated a meeting the following day — a meeting packed with local and state officials, who said “yes, yes, and yes” to all of the company needs.

David Anderson, the Eastern District member of the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors, described the addition of more than 170 jobs to Tazewell County as “huge for our area with the economy as it is.”

He’s right.

And it would have been huge for southern West Virginia as well.

While we certainly are proud of the efforts of Tazewell County officials on successfully recruiting Metal Manufacturing and Processing to Bluefield, Va. — and congratulate all those involved in this project — Virginia’s success once again underscores systemic problems with West Virginia’s economic development infrastructure.

We are sincerely pleased to see more than 170 new jobs on the way to Tazewell County. But we’d also like to see new industries in West Virginia that would also create jobs — and tax money — for the Mountain State.

There’s no doubt Virginia has a superior economic climate. And by sharing a border with this business friendly state, the Mountain State must work harder, stronger and more efficiently in bringing development into West Virginia.

The same-old, same-old isn’t going work. If West Virginia wants new jobs it needs a new attitude and a new plan — quickly.