CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Secretary of Commerce Matt Herridge is encouraged with West Virginia’s current economic state, but he has an eye for the near future.

Herridge spoke before the Joint Committee on Government and Finance during legislative interim meetings earlier in the month.

Herridge, the former state GOP chair, gave lawmakers a look at the state’s improvements with license reciprocity, which allows some professionals to come over to the Mountain State without obtaining another license to work.

“In the month September 2023, there were 69 new contractor licenses approved. In 2024 September, there were 89. In 2025, we’ve had 101 contractors’ licenses approved. It’s a continuing trend — a very big trend — from last year,” Herridge said.

Herridge also noted that the state’s small busin

See Full Page