Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.
Today is Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
…and now for the rest of the stories…on today’s daily304.com!
#1 – From WORLD ATLAS – Eight towns. One great West Virginia weekend.
Sometimes three days is all you need.
WorldAtlas has named eight West Virginia destinations ideal for a three-day weekend in 2026, mixing walkable downtowns, outdoor adventure, history and some pretty spectacular scenery.
The list starts with Lewisburg, where visitors can explore Washington Street, catch a performance at Carnegie Hall and bike or hike part of the 78-mile Greenbrier River Trail.
Looking for adventure? Fayetteville puts you on the rim of the New River Gorge, with rafting, hiking and the Bridge Walk nearby.
Harpers Ferry combines American history with the dramatic meeting of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. And Berkeley Springs offers a slower pace built around the warm mineral waters that have drawn visitors for centuries.
The list continues with adventures in Hinton, Davis, White Sulphur Springs and Shepherdstown.
#2 – From WV ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – West Virginia’s automotive industry keeps moving
There’s a lot more going into a vehicle than what happens on the final assembly line.
And West Virginia is part of that global supply chain.
Automotive component manufacturers have built operations here around the state’s skilled workforce and access to materials including steel, aluminum and polymers.
The West Virginia Division of Economic Development points to major automotive companies including Toyota, Niterra and Hino, which continue to reinvest in their Mountain State operations.
There’s also research and technology supporting the industry.
West Virginia University is home to the Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions and the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium. Marshall University’s Advanced Manufacturing Center provides another resource for manufacturers and the workforce.
Learn more:
https://westvirginia.gov/industries/automotive/
#3 – From WV ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – WV reports $96 billion in private investment
West Virginia has reached approximately $96 billion in announced private-sector investment since October 2025, supporting more than 19,000 projected jobs across the state.
The total jumped significantly in September with more than $81 billion in newly announced investment, led by two major digital infrastructure projects.
NScale received High Impact Data Center certification for the first phase of a project representing a projected $69.2 billion investment. The project is expected to support approximately 4,375 construction jobs and 645 permanent jobs.
Starwood Digital Ventures also received certification for a planned $12 billion investment in Mason County, expected to support approximately 1,500 jobs. Both companies are responsible for their own project-related infrastructure costs.
Recent announcements include a $13 million Randox expansion in Jefferson County, expected to add 100 jobs, along with AEP’s acquisition of the Longview Power Plant and commitment to additional power generation in West Virginia.
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.
