Welcome to West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle! West-PEP is a collaboration of four counties, Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan, and Hampshire, created to provide helpful information for businesses deciding to locate in the Eastern Panhandle and to show them what an advantage it is for them to be here!

Discover why Macy's just selected the Eastern Panhandle in December of 2010 for their newest distribution center. Keep your face in Washington DC or Baltimore. The Eastern Panhandle is ideal for your back office operations! Come in, look around at all the things this area has to offer, and then contact us to find out all the ways we can help.

Former West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin III signed Executive Order No. 5-09 on March 11, 2009 designating a partnership of the County Commissions of Berkeley, Hampshire, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties. This partnership is known as the Western Potomac Economic Partnership (West-PEP). This partnership, along with low cost of utilities and real estate and many other factors (found on this website), gives the Eastern Panhandle Region a competitive edge when locating your new business or relocating your existing business into our area.

FAQ's

• The Eastern Panhandle Region of West Virginia has been a leading region for growth within the State, having approximately 6,100 new jobs created since 2002. This growth can be attributed in part to the Region's close proximity to the larger metropolitan areas where the cost of living typically is 21 to 37 percent higher than that of the Eastern Panhandle.
  
  
• Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties had in excess of 88,000 people over the age of 25 in 2000, with 21 percent of those individuals possessing a Bachelor's degree or higher. This percentage is expected to increase in the 2010 Census.
  
  
• The Eastern Panhandle is leading the growth across the State. This growth can be attributed in part to the Region's close proximity to the large metropolitan areas of Washington DC and Baltimore, Maryland. Currently 60% of the well-educated Eastern Panhandle's workforce travels outside the State of West Virginia for employment.
  
  
• The Eastern Panhandle is home to several existing Business Parks with the potential for tens of thousands of new jobs. Businesses and citizens alike will benefit from these opportunities.
  
  
• Utility costs are markedly lower in the Eastern Panhandle than elsewhere in the surrounding states. Below is a table from www.electricitypricecomparison.org:

Census Division	Residential		Commercial		Industrial
	2009	2008	2009	2008	2009	2008
Pennsylvania	11.7	11.41	9.58	9.41	7.19	7.04
Maryland	15.12	13.83	12.06	12.78	9.93	10.39
Virginia	10.66	9.59	8.12	7.26	6.88	5.75
West Virginia	7.87	7.08	6.75	6.09	5.22	4.2

-Info pulled from

Berkeley County Development Authority

Hampshire County Development Authority

Morgan County Development Authority

Jefferson County Development Authority

West Virginia Department of Commerce

Contacts

Bill Clark, Morgan County Development Authority
bclark@morgancountywv.gov

Thomas Bayuzik, Jr., Jefferson County Development Authority
tom@jcda.net

Stephen L. Christian, Berkeley County Development Authority
schristian@developmentauthority.com

Les Shoemaker, Jr., Hampshire County Development Authority
hampcodo@frontiernet.net

Carol Crabtree, Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning & Development Council - Region 9
ccrabtree@region9wv.com

About Us

Berkeley County Development Authority

Hampshire County Development Authority

Morgan County Development Authority

Jefferson County Development Authority

Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning & Development Council - Region 9

West-PEP can serve as your liaison to develop innovative and competitive incentive packages and economic development tools needed to assist you in locating or expanding your business into the Eastern Panhandle.

The Eastern Panhandle is uniquely situated approximately 75 miles from Washington, DC and 80 miles from Baltimore, Maryland as well as Winchester, Virginia and Hagerstown, Maryland. Additionally, the Eastern Panhandle is centrally located within a 500-mile radius of one half of the entire United States population.

Contact us now for more information!

Transportation/Traffic

"Our communities are rich in heritage and scenic beauty" yet boast an "extensive ... railway and highway system" that makes commuting an easy ride.
-Quotes from www.wvcommerce.org

Six interstate routes cross West Virginia and represent an extensive and reliable transportation network as well as serving as links in an intermodal transportation system. West Virginia has the capacity for overnight delievery to half of the US population and about a third of the Canadian population. Passengers and freight can fly from west Virginia airports to Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Roanoke, and Washington DC, all less than an hour away. More than 2,400 miles of railroad track carry almost 250 million tons of freight each year in West Virginia, served by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern.
- Info from www.wvcommerce.org

The Eastern Panhandle is served by 4 Interstates:

I-81
I-66: accessed via I-81
I-68: accesses I-70
I-70: accesses Hagerstown, Frederick, Washington DC and Baltimore, MD

The Eastern Panhandle enjoys a comprehensive federal and state highway system. The major routes in our area are:

US Routes 340, 522, 50, 220, and 11
WV Routes 9, 28, 29, 127, 259, 45, and 51

The Eastern Panhandle is also served by rail with:

CSX and Norfolk-Southern
MARC commuter train to DC serving Jefferson and Berkeley counties
Amtrak service is enjoyed in Berkeley County with a stop in nearby Cumberland, Maryland for those closer to Morgan County

When you live or work in the Eastern Panhandle, you have your choice of several airports including:

Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (MRB)
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)
Reagan National airport (DCA)
Washington County Airport (HGR)

The Eastern West Virginia regional Airport in Martinsburg offers executive charter services.

Foreign Trade Zone/Regional Inland Port

The Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport has Foreign Trade Zone designation and efforts are in place at the Federal level to secure Inland Port designation with a secure Port of Entry. The Regional Inland Port will encompass all four counties that make up West-PEP. The purpose of this effort is creating substantial job growth. The Regional Inland Port, Foreign Trade Zone designation will enable the Eastern Panhandle to assist businesses to locate in the area and make use of the foreign trade opportunities.

The multi-modal transportation infrastructure which exists in the Eastern Panhandle is a tremendous asset. Current construction projects include rail spurs, highway interchange additions, and roadway improvements around existing business parks.

Business Climate

Nothing can derail business plans quite like taxes. Fortunately, you've come to the right place! West Virginia can have a favorable tax climate for many industries.

The State of West Virginia has an aggressive program of incentives including tax credits, financing programs and training programs, and the West Virginia Development Office is willing to utilize their flexible incentives to custom-fit your project.
- Info from www.jcda.net

West Virginia levies two primary business taxes: the corporation net income tax and the business franchise tax. The corporation net income tax is imposed annually at a rate of 9 percent. The starting point for determining West Virginia taxable income is the federal taxable income of the corporation for the year. The measure of the business tax base is the net worth of the corporation or partnership as determined for federal income tax purposes. the rate of tax is 0.55 percent or $50, whichever is greater. In the case of a multistate business, net worth is apportioned to this state using a four-factor formula comprised of a property factor, a payroll factor and a double-weighted sales factor.
- Info from developmentauthority.com

West Virginia ranks as the "nation's third-lowest cost of doing business" and boasts an "educated and work-ready work force with among the lowest turnover and highest productivity rates in the country. West Virginia's status as a leading energy-producing state is a testament to its rich natural resources. West Virginia's electric rates are among the lowest in the nation."
- Info from wvcommerce.org

"West Virginia will not only help in the recruitment and training of new employees but will reimburse employers for up to half the wagess of workers in on-the-job training programs. Both a Super Tax Credit or a Small Business Credit are offered by West Virginia to companies maaking a capital investment that will create jobs. Other tax credits are available, [and] loans at considerably below the prime rate are provided by the West Virginia Economic Development Authority (WVEDA)."
- Info from morgancountywv.gov/eda

West Virginia offers many incentives to businesses locating in our state including Corporate Headquarters Credit, Economic Opportunity Credit, "Five-for-Ten" Program, Manufacturing Investment Credit, Manufacturing Inventory Credit, Strategic R&D Credit, West Virginia Film Industry Investment Act, Hight-Tech Manufacturing Credit, Aircraft Valuation Tax Credit, High-Technology Business Property Valuation Act, The Freeport Amendment, Manufacturing Sales Tax Exemption, Sales Tax Exemption for Certain E-Commerce Businesses, Tourism Development Incentive, Tax Increment Financing, The Tourism Matchiing Advertising Partnership Program, Lodging Exemptions, and several Recruiting and Training Assistance Programs. For more information regarding these and other incentives, visit www.wvcommerce.org.

Location

Location, location, location! You can't beat the location in West Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle!

West Virginia is within overnight trucking distance of half of the U.S. population and about a third of the Canadian population. The state's extensive waterway, railway and highway systems make cargo delivery easy and affordable. A network of river terminals links West Virginia to ports on the Great Lakes, Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. the Port of Huntington/Tri-State is the nation's largest inland port, handling more than 80 million tons of cargo annually. Rail service to major markets is available through 2,600 miles of railway lines served by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Corp.
- Info from www.wvcommerce.org/business

"West Virginia has the fourth lowest crime index in the country."
-Quote from www.wvcommerce.org

Berkeley County

Berkeley County is just over 90 minutes from Washington DC and Baltimore, Maryland. The community is served primarily by Interstate 81 which runs right through the center of the county from close to its southern most point to near its northern most point. Berkeley County has quick access to a full range of major trasportation networks with its strategic location within 500 miles of 50% of the US population and two-thirds of all industrial activity in the US.
- Info from www.developmentauthority.com

Hampshire County

With a two and one-half hour commute to Washington DC and a three hour commute to Baltimore and Pittsburgh, your Hampshire County business can access the mainstream while enjoying a rural American quality of life and labor force. Interstates 81, 66, 68, and 70 serve the area.
- Info from www.hampshirecountyeda.com

Jefferson County

Jefferson County is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Area and is located 58 miles from the Washington, DC Beltway. It is accessible by two interstate highways: I-81 and I-70, as well as US Route 340 and West Virginia Route 9.
- Info from www.jcda.net

Morgan County

Just a 90 minute drive from Washington DC and Baltimore (less than 100 miles), Morgan County is located between Interstates 70, 81 and 68. Two thirds of America's retail customers and industrial suppliers are located within 500 miles of Morgan County. Federal government operations abound in the area. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Richmond, VA are within 200 miles, and New York City is just 266 miles away.
- Info from www.morgancountywv.gov/eda

Workforce

West Virginia has a high college-going rate, compared to other states, and the nation's second-lowest overall employee turnover rate, 15% below the national average. National benchmark studies show that our workforce is among the most productive in the nation and is known for loyalty, strong work ethic, and commitment to superior product quality. The state's award-winning public education system and nationally acclaimed training programs provide the skill sets needed for competing in a global economy.
- Info from www.wvcommerce.org

Berkeley County

The total civilian labor force is 45,360 in Berkeley County. There are five post-secondary schools in the county. According to census.gov, in 2005, 81 percent of Berkeley County people 25 years and over had at least graduated from high school and 18 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher.
-info from www.developmentauthority.com

Hampshire County

At a 2008 population of 22,577, Hampshire County has seen an 11.27% growth rate since 2000. There are 7,100 in the civilian work force in the county, and 13.2% have a college degree. 4,752 of the work force live inside but go outside the county for their jobs.
- Info from www.hampshirecountyeda.com

Jefferson County

In the last three decades of the 1900s Jefferson County's population grew by 98.3%. The population in 2009 was 52,750, the labor force is 24,203 of that number. 21.6% of adults older than 25 have at least a Bachelor's Degree. Approximately 40% of Jefferson County's labor force leaves the county to work in surrounding metro areas. 85% would be willing to work locally if a comparable position were available.
- Info from www.jcda.net

Morgan County

The 2008 population estimate for Morgan County was 16,325, the labor force is 9,120 of that number. There was a 23.2% percent change in population from 2000 to 2008. The cost of living in Morgan County is 74.3 (US index 100). In 2005, per capita personal income was $30,229, illustrating Morgan County's low cost yet skilled labor force.
- Info from www.morgancountywv.gov/eda

Recreation

"Come to play and stay. Eleven million overnight leisure travelers visited the Mountain State last year. West Virginia's 50 state parks and forests offer more than 800 miles of hiking trails and 5,000 acres of fishing waters. Unmatched natural beauty and recreational opportunities bring West Virginia to the forefront as a tourist destination. Visitors delight in a diverse offering of cultural and entertainment activities including Appalachian arts and crafts, music, fairs and festivals, museums and art galleries, the ballet, theater and symphony events. From snow skiing to whitewater rafting, the state offers an impressive array of activities for everyone."
- Quote from http://www.wvcommerce.org

Berkeley County "is renowned for festivals, farms, and plenty of other activities so you can enjoy the outdoors. Hike along the C&O Canal or the Appalachian Trail or golf at one of our local courses. Take a daytime drive along the Washington Heritage Trail, a 135-mile path that encompasses Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson Counties. When you're finished, relax at one of our county's many bed and breakfasts. The nearby towns of Berkeley Springs, Shepherdstown, Charles Town, and Harpers Ferry offer additional recreational and cultural opportunities."
-Quote from http://www.developmentauthority.com

Jefferson County "is rich in history ranging from settlement by the Washington family to the hosting of he 2000 Israeli-Palestinian peace talks" with a "rural atmosphere." It "is home to the Old Opera House in Charles Town Racing at Summit Point Raceway, live theater at the Contemporary American Theater Festival, and so much more," including Hollywood Casinos.
-Quotes from http://www.jcda.net

Hampshire County "is a place that has it all: beautiful mountains, roaring waterfalls, quiet springs, lush green forests, sparkling lakes, a stunning picture worty of the wild and scenic South Branch and Potomac rivers. Hampshire County ... [has] many attractions to suit everyone,, from he historic Davis House to the eagle-spotting train ride aboard the Potomac Eagle." The Hampshire Wellness & Fitness Center "offers personalized service that incorporates a healthy combination of exercise, nutrition, and education." The county has two historic forts, Fort Mill Ridge, constructed by Union soldiers in 1863, and Fort Edwards, "an archaeological site of Hampshire County's earliest settlers and site of a French and Indian War fort."
-Quotes from http://www.hampshirecountychamber.com

Morgan County has "miles and miles of countryside and riverside [and] are here for your enjoyment." The county is "a mecca for hunting, fishing, hiking or strolls in the woods." Morgan County has plenty of cultural activities too, including the Museum of the Berkeley Springs, Morgan Arts Council programs, Berkeley Springs Community Choir, Delectable Mountain Quilters, and the Morgan Community Concert Band. The county boasts of two lakes, one public pool, one indoor membership pool, one golf course, two roadside park/picnic areas, one bowling alley, one indoor movie theater, five spas, a ball park complex, 2 public tennis courts, Berkeley Springs State Park, Cacapon State Park, and Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area.
-Quotes & info from http://www.morgancountywv.gov/eda