VIENNA, W.Va. (WTAP) – An event at the Parkersburg Country Club Tuesday afternoon brought together local business leaders and government officials to talk about West Virginia can better attract businesses and grow economically.
The luncheon event was organized by West Virginia Citizen’s Against Lawsuit Abuse Director Greg Thomas and Wood County Delegate Bob Fehrenbacher.
Fehrenbacher and Thomas attended the meeting, alongside Delegate Scot Heckert and numerous local business leaders across numerous fields, including banking and healthcare.
According to Fehrenbacher, West Virginia is still shaking off a reputation it earned during the 20th century for being one of the worst states in the nation for businesses to operate in, at least as far as its legal system goes.
“West Virginia used to have a reputation of being the worst, and literally was on the bottom of a list,” he said. “We have improved things, but frankly, the perception is, among our businesses in the state, was that we’re perhaps either losing ground or we’re not making progress, because although we’ve moved off the bottom of that list, we have room for improvement.”
Fehrenbacher said the legislature has already taken some steps to address this reputation for business unfriendliness with new laws making it easier for companies to be licensed to operate in the state and get permits from state agencies.
He says steps like these are crucial to retaining existing West Virginia businesses and attracting new ones that will bring new jobs and development to West Virginia communities.
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