Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.
Today is Monday, Oct. 5, 2026.
…and now for the rest of the stories…on today’s daily304.com!
#1 – From MAMC – More students are training for manufacturing careers
As manufacturers look for more skilled workers, West Virginians are answering the call.
The Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center welcomed a record 72 new students this fall in Machinist Technology/CNC, Welding Technology and Systems Maintenance, Automation and Robotics Technology, known as SMART. Programs are offered in Huntington, Point Pleasant and South Charleston through partnerships with Mountwest Community and Technical College and BridgeValley Community and Technical College.
Students can earn nationally recognized industry credentials, one-year certificates and two-year associate degrees. And the demand is real. A recent MAMC workforce survey found regional companies expect to hire nearly 7,000 manufacturing workers over the next three years, including 541 machinists, 496 welders and 696 industrial maintenance technicians.
MAMC is also expanding. A new Advanced Welding & Robotics Technology Center planned for the former ACF Industries site near Marshall University will double its welding training capacity. MAMC says its career programs have a placement rate well above 90%.
Read more:
https://www.mfg.marshall.edu/31092-2/
#2 – From WV TECH PARK – Helping industry solve complex problems
At the West Virginia Regional Technology Park, Trinity Consultants is combining science, engineering and environmental expertise to help businesses solve real-world challenges.
Founded in 1974 as an air-quality consulting firm, Trinity has grown into a global environmental, engineering and scientific consulting organization. Its local Tech Park team works primarily with industrial and commercial clients throughout West Virginia and the surrounding region.
That work includes air permits, emissions calculations, compliance programs, regulatory reports and coordination with state and federal agencies. The local team is led by Managing Consultant Melissa Hatfield-Atkinson, who has more than 31 years of experience in air permitting and regulatory compliance, alongside WVU chemical engineering graduate Carter Cochran.
Looking ahead, Trinity expects growing regional demand involving data centers and power projects, water and waste, environmental due diligence and sustainability reporting.
#3 – From WV EDA – A financing tool to help West Virginia businesses grow
Building or expanding a manufacturing operation takes capital. The West Virginia Economic Development Authority has a financing tool that could help.
Industrial Development Bonds are tax-exempt, conduit revenue bonds that can provide low-cost, long-term financing for private manufacturing and economic development projects. The bonds are funded by investors and administered by WVEDA. They do not use State of West Virginia funds.
For 2026, West Virginia received a federal allocation of nearly $397.7 million, with more than $238.5 million in statewide volume cap after the statutory allocation to the West Virginia Housing Development Fund. That includes allocations for exempt facilities, small manufacturing projects and other eligible projects.
Businesses start locally by securing support from their county commission, then submit an application to WVEDA. Small projects should get their paperwork in by November 1.
Read more:
https://eda.wv.gov/industrial-development-bonds-can-help-you-grow-your-business-in-west-virginia/
Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.
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That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.
