daily304 - Episode 09.18.2023

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Monday, Sept. 18 

Timberrrrrrr is big business in West Virginia; learn why the forest products industry says #YesWV…Get ready for North Central WV Girls in Aviation Day coming to Bridgeport…and Marshall Health launches a free virtual training series for those interested in starting their own small business…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV EXECUTIVE – Timber and wood are big business in West Virginia. The timber industry generates around $3.2 billion each year for the state and provides more than 30,000 jobs with 12 million acres of forestland and 75 billion board feet of timber inventory. 

West Virginia is the second-leading hardwood state in the U.S., and each of its 55 counties have some segment of the wood industry as an employer. Forest product businesses in the state include logging, sawmills, dry kilns, rustic fence producers, veneer plants, furniture parts producers, kitchen cabinet constructors and other wooden furniture craftsmen. 

Interested in learning more? Using information from the West Virginia Department of Economic Development and the West Virginia Forestry Association, West Virginia Executive has created a map to showcase how the timber industry is a large part of the state’s economy. Check it out!

Learn more:

https://wvexecutive.com/west-virginias-timber-industry/

#2 – From WV NEWS – Aerospace partners from across the region are coming together to host the second annual North Central West Virginia Girls in Aviation Day event Sept. 23 at the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center in Bridgeport.

The event is geared toward middle and high school age girls but all ages and genders are welcome. Attendees under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

There will be a variety of hands-on activities available, as well as opportunities to meet people representing some of the many different careers in the aviation industry. Activities include flight simulators, static display of aircraft, a dress-up aviation photo booth, drones, and more.

For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page, “NCWV 2nd annual Girls in Aviation Day.”

Read more:

https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/north-central-west-virginia-girls-in-aviation-day-set-for-sept-23/article_b3407682-4f01-11ee-b8d4-4b299a1c754e.html#tncms-source=block-contextual

#3 – From THE IRONTON TRIBUNE – Marshall Health is launching a free virtual training series for individuals interested in learning more about small business ownership and entrepreneurship.  

As part of Marshall Health’s Career Opportunities for Appalachian Legacy initiative, training participants will learn firsthand from other small business owners how to start and operate a small business or social enterprise, which are businesses that sell or provide a service to support a cause.

The first one-hour session, co-sponsored by Right to Start, takes place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20. The session will feature Liz Modern, owner of a Huntington-based small business focused on painting and refinishing. Modern will share her story and how she has navigated starting and growing her business using a grassroots approach.  

This session is the first of the four-part series. Additional session topics will focus on Low-Start Costs Businesses, Making Your Skill Your Side Hustle and Social Enterprises. Click here to register. 

Read more:

https://www.irontontribune.com/2023/09/10/marshall-health-to-launch-west-virginia-entrepreneurs-virtual-series/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.