Morrisey pushes permits reform to lure investment to McDowell

Gov. Patrick Morrisey used a January 10 policy address to place permitting reform and targeted infrastructure investments at the center of his agenda heading into the 2026 West Virginia legislative session. The governor framed a new approach to approvals as essential to attracting private capital and creating jobs in struggling coalfield communities, including McDowell County.

Morrisey proposed streamlining rules across energy, manufacturing and transportation by creating a one-stop shop for permitting. The administration said the centralized process would reduce delays that deter out-of-state investors and speed project timelines for firms weighing expansion in southern West Virginia. That proposal is paired with broader priorities on infrastructure upgrades and workforce development intended to make the state more competitive for relocation and new facility siting.

For McDowell County, the proposals intersect with ongoing transportation projects long seen as prerequisites for economic revival. State officials highlighted the Coalfields Expressway corridor and related connector work near Welch as core examples where improved roads could change the calculus for manufacturers and logistics firms. Better highway access, proponents argue, would reduce shipping costs, link local labor pools to regional markets and make sites in McDowell more attractive to capital looking for lower-cost locations with improving infrastructure.

The administration emphasized private investment as the engine of job growth, signaling tax and regulatory incentives will be considered alongside permitting changes. Workforce development initiatives are meant to ensure that new hires are drawn from local communities, addressing chronic outmigration and high unemployment in parts of southern West Virginia. For residents of McDowell County, these policy moves could translate into more immediate construction jobs as connector and expressway sections advance, and over time into manufacturing or energy-sector positions if companies commit to local projects.

Critics of rapid permitting reform often point to environmental and community concerns that can arise when approvals move faster, but the governor framed his plan as balancing speed with responsible oversight. How that balance will play out in legislative negotiations remains to be seen, and local leaders in McDowell will have a direct role in shaping any state-local agreements around permitting and recruitment.

The practical stakes for McDowell are straightforward: better roads and clearer permitting can lower barriers for investment, but translating state plans into local jobs will require coordination among county officials, state agencies and potential investors. The takeaway? Watch the permitting rules and transportation timelines closely, show up at public meetings, and press for hiring and training commitments so the region’s next wave of projects actually hires local people. Our two cents? Treat improved permitting as an opportunity but demand the community benefits that make those opportunities stick.