On October 20th I attended the Economic Outlook Conference for 2022-2026 sponsored by West Virginia University John Chambers College of Business and Economics. While the conference only included projections for Ohio, Belmont, Marshall, and Wetzel counties, Tyler County faces similar challenges and opportunities as Wetzel.
As you might imagine and may have personally experienced, the pandemic has had an impact on all areas. However, there is promising news. A quote from the Executive Summary:
“Wetzel County is the region’s most rural economy but has also experienced the strongest rebound in economic activity from the beginning of the pandemic. Indeed, payrolls have bounced back to their pre-pandemic levels due in large part to continued growth in the natural gas industry. Wetzel is among the state’s top natural gas-producing counties and has seen withdrawal volumes rise steeply in the past three years or so, leading to a near doubling of gas industry payrolls over that period. Completion of the Mountaineer Xpress Pipeline and Sherwood Lateral for the Rover II project have weighed on the construction sector and services industries connected to the projects, construction work on other projects in the area have boosted payrolls over the past year.”
What remains a consistent emphasis for both Tyler and Wetzel counties is the need for continued development of small businesses that support the quality of life for area residents and have the ability to attract visitors. For the full report, click on the provided button.
