Top Ten Reasons to Locate Your Business in the Huntington, WV Area
Superior Transportation - Huntington is a major rail hub served by CSX and Norfolk Southern freight rail, and Amtrak passenger rail. Located on the Ohio River, Huntington has the largest inland port in the United States. Huntington’s Tri-State Airport and Charleston’s Yeager Airport offer the choice of 40 passenger flights per day. A Fed Ex regional hub is located at Tri-State Airport. Huntington is situated on Interstate 64 with I-73 upgrade planned between Toledo, OH and Charleston, SC. Bus service and motor freight carriers abound.
Access to Markets - The greater Huntington area is located within one day's drive of 44% of the Industrial Market and 37% of the Consumer Market in the US. West Virginia is in the center of population east of the Mississippi. Access to Northeast, Midwest and Southeast markets is easy:
Charleston, WV
51 mi
82 km
Lexington, KY
128 mi
205 km
Cincinnati, OH
165 mi
265 km
Columbus, OH
138 mi
222 km
Pittsburgh, PA
280 mi
450 km
Detroit, MI
347 mi
558 km
Washington, DC
294 mi
473 km
Low Cost Utilities - Electricity, water and gas are plentiful. Industrial electric rates are ranked 2nd lowest in the US, and 25% less than national average. West Virginia is the largest producer of oil and natural gas east of the Mississippi River. Natural gas rates are ranked 8th lowest in the U.S.
State-of-the-Art Telecommunications - The Huntington area has one of the nation's most advanced telecommunications infrastructure. 100% digital switching, fiber optics, ISDN, T1, T3 and teleconferencing facilities are readily available.
Incentives - The State of West Virginia and the Huntington area offer low cost financing, tax credits, relocation grants, and job training assistance to new and expanding companies. Sections designated as a Federal Empowerment Zone qualify for additional tax credits. HADCO has a $20 million loan pool to finance new business locations. With company owned industrial sites and buildings, HADCO is capable of lease and purchase arrangements to fit specific requirements. Rental rates and acreage costs are substantially lower than other areas.
Abundant Labor Supply - Over 17,000 active job applicants are on file in the Workforce Development Office. The Tri-State area workforce has an excellent work ethic with low turnover (less than 2%), low absenteeism, and a below average unemployment (8%) rate for the area. Starting manufacturing wage rates range from $7.00 - $9.00 per hour. Forbes Magazine listed Huntington as #100 on a list of 200 "Best Places for Business and Careers".
Excellent Education - Huntington offers an abundance of skilled education, customized workforce training, and life long learning. Marshall University hosts a medical school, business school, engineering program, MBA and Ph.D. programs in Bio-Medical Sciences. Marshall Community & Technical College and Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing tailor programs to skilled technical trades and workforce development.
Exceptional Healthcare - The Tri-State area offers a complete medical community with access to eight hospitals offering specialized services for all ages. Hospital costs are 20% lower than national average.
Speed and Accessibility - We know what it takes to get the job done, and have ready access to decision makers, public and private, locally and in Washington, DC who understand the importance of being responsive to the needs of businesses.
Great Quality of Life - Huntington enjoys a vibrant downtown, no traffic congestion, and one of the lowest crime rates in the nation. The Huntington Mall is West Virginia's largest shopping center. Huntington is also home to the Huntington Museum of Art and the Huntington Symphony Orchestra. Forbes Magazine recently cited the Huntington area to have the lowest cost of living in the U.S. for communities its size. Homeowners enjoy housing costs that are well below national average - $95,959. Sports fans appreciate championship college sports through Marshall University. Area residents benefit from the diverse business base – medical, transportation, and small-medium sized manufacturing industries.
