West Virginia supports site improvements and utility service for industry

The Division of Economic Development may review selected sites and award matching grants or micro grants for improvements. Only selected sites qualify for grants. Micro grant amounts depend on site acreage. Only state, county, municipal, or regional government entities may apply to the Certified Sites and Development Readiness Program. Matching grants may cover up to half of eligible costs, subject to a maximum set by the Division. Micro grants may be up to $100,000 for sites of at least five acres and up to $250,000 for sites over 20 acres. Grant funds must address identified problems and be spent, committed, or returned within 12 months. Matching grants must be repaid when a participating site is sold or leased for development. Industrial sites eligible under the West Virginia Business Ready Sites Program may access the fund only if the Department of Commerce approves each application. Grant funds must be spent, committed, or returned within 12 months after receipt.

The Secretary of Commerce may certify industrial sites, and regulated utilities may seek approval to build needed infrastructure and recover approved costs through rates. The site must have at least 50 connected acres, be identified as having industrial potential, and lack adequate service from one or more regulated public utilities. An industrial development agency may apply for a site with at least 50 contiguous acres that has industrial potential and lacks adequate service from a regulated public utility. The Public Service Commission must approve a utility plan and find the costs and rates just, reasonable, and not against the public interest before the utility can recover related costs through rates. Utilities may recover costs only after Commission approval. In later years, they must seek updated rate adjustments based on planned investments and actual costs.