Capito says state officials need better focus on development; Morrisey says he’s working on it

Senator Shelley Moore Capito says West Virginia officials should better focus on economic development.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey says his administration is working on it, with economic development efforts that will soon bear fruit.

Both appeared at the annual Business Summit sponsored by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Capito appeared on site at The Greenbrier Resort on MetroNews Talkline.

West Virginia’s real gross state product in 2024 was about $83.7 billion, a figure that represents the total value of goods and services produced in the state, adjusted for inflation. That was a 3.5% increase from the previous year. Per person, West Virginia’s productivity ranked among the lowest in the country.

West Virginia’s unemployment rate was 3.7% as of July, about the same as it has been i