Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.
Today is Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026.
…and now for the rest of the stories…on today’s daily304.com!
#1 – From METRO NEWS – Ascend to Charleston. Then stay.
One year in, Ascend’s Charleston-area program is celebrating new neighbors and some serious staying power. More than 100 new families have moved to Charleston through the remote-worker recruitment program since it launched in the Capital City last September. More than 2,200 people have applied to the Charleston program, while Ascend has received about 92,000 applications statewide since launching in 2021.
And once people arrive, they tend to stick around.
Ascend reports a statewide retention rate of 96.2%. Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin says outdoor recreation helps attract participants, but community helps keep them here. Army veteran Giovanna Kiani is one of them. She moved from Tampa to Charleston in May while continuing to work remotely as a recruiter for a defense contractor. Kiani says what has stood out most is finding a community willing to welcome her with open arms.
Now the program is getting another boost.
Dr. Michelle Foster and The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation announced a $500,000 gift to support the Charleston Area Alliance and Ascend’s continued growth in the region.
#2 – From WV ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Building more places to call home
Growing communities need housing. West Virginia has a program designed to help developers build more of it. The BUILD WV Act, passed in 2022, offers incentives for approved residential development projects in designated BUILD WV districts. The goal is to help growing communities attract the housing development they need.
Approved projects can receive a sales and use tax exemption on qualifying construction materials, property and services. There’s also a refundable Property Value Adjustment Credit that can be used against personal or corporate income taxes for 10 years after construction is completed, up to $100,000 per project. Municipalities can also choose to provide a business and occupation tax exemption.
To qualify, projects must be located in a certified BUILD WV district and generally have more than $3 million in approved costs or include at least six residential units or houses. Projects also must demonstrate positive economic impact, support opportunities for other businesses and provide additional employment opportunities.
Read more:
https://westvirginia.gov/build-wv-act/
#3 – From WV SBDC – Got a business idea? Start with the fundamentals.
Maybe you’ve got the idea. Now you need the plan.
The West Virginia Small Business Development Center offers Business Fundamentals workshops around the state for people considering starting a business or entrepreneurs who have been operating for a year or less. The workshops cover some of the questions every new business owner eventually has to answer.
How do you develop a business plan? What do you need to know before applying for a loan?
And what are the essentials you need to understand before turning an idea into a sustainable business? Participants also receive the 124-page Going Into Business in West Virginia guide.
Can’t make an in-person workshop? There’s an online Business Fundamentals option that entrepreneurs can complete at their own pace.
Read more:
https://wvsbdc.com/training/
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.
