MORGANTOWN — West Virginia is at a tipping point.
The demise of coal and a loss of manufacturing has left the state struggling to recreate its economic identity while epidemic levels of addiction erode the very communities West Virginia is built upon.
During the Sept. 11 State of the University Address, WVU President E. Gordon Gee laid out how West Virginia’s namesake land-grant university plans to help answer those challenges.
Much of Gee’s address focused on West Virginia Forward, an initiative focused on a commitment to innovation, research, business support, talent expansion and alumni outreach.
“I am making that commitment because our community’s collective talent obligates us to be leaders, not followers,” Gee said, explaining that the time for subtlety has long passed.
The initiative comes with three primary objectives:
Reinforce the foundation that supports economic growth, including infrastructure, talent base and business climate
Identify emerging and potential growth sectors in the state
Create a clear roadmap forward
