West Virginia’s Secretary of Commerce Dr. Matt Herridge discusses the future of the state’s economy. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

VIENNA — West Virginia Secretary of Commerce Dr. Matt Herridge spoke at the Wood County Development Authority and Parkersburg-Wood County Area Development Corporation joint annual meeting on Wednesday.

The dining hall in the Parkersburg Country Club was packed with guests from various economic positions to hear about the organization’s annual report and Herridge’s economic outlook.

A lifelong resident of the state, Herridge stepped down as state Republican Chair in July after serving for 18 months in the position. Gov. Patrick Morrisey appointed Herridge as the state’s Secretary of Commerce in January.

“The main goal I want you guys to take away from tonight is that our job in commerce is to assist you,” said Herridge. “I want to thank each one of you for your efforts and what you’re doing for the state or the county.”

Herridge has been a business owner for the last 20 years and had a portfolio that included multiple Burger King and Qdoba franchises.

Wood County Economic Development Executive Director Lindsey Piersol reviews the annual report with attendees at the annual joint meeting on Wednesday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Prior to his political and business experience, Herridge had a 10-year career in clinical psychology at the Charleston Area Medical Center and was a member of the WVU School of Medicine clinical faculty.

At the meeting, Herridge discussed the current business environment and how the state’s commerce is adjusting to anticipate the future.

“We have to adapt and we have to change,” he said. “West Virginia is on the cusp of making those changes.”

Herridge said the future is in energy with all the new data centers that require resources to process and function. He said West Virginia has historically been known as the coal state but investing means looking beyond just coal and towards other energy like natural gas.

“We know that energy is the future; we know that everyone needs more and more of that and there’s just not enough,” said Herridge. “West Virginia is going to be the place where it starts and that has brought us a great deal of attention…we want to be the place that’s going to provide that power to the nation.”

Herridge said the economy is difficult to predict and it’s more of a long-term process rather than immediate changes. He said the state has come face to face with economic challenges in the past but it’s also on-track for economic growth and development.

“That’s where we are, we’re building strength in this state,” he said.

Wood County Economic Development Executive Director Lindsey Piersol said Herridge’s background in business and his current position as secretary of commerce were why they chose him as the keynote speaker for the meeting.

Prior to Herridge’s economic oversight of the state, Piersol presented the organization’s yearly report as part of the meeting’s agenda.

“When you work in economic development, it’s easy to always look for the next thing, the next lead, the next prospect, the next expansion,” said Piersol. “I think it’s important to know where we started.”

She shared the progress of the organization and updates from when they revisited 64 businesses in the area to see how the projects were going. She said they also had a hand in 20 new businesses that came to Wood County.

Piersol shared three new projects that are expected to bring in hundreds of new jobs into the county. She also discussed future plans they’ve developed to further expand the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport which would bring in nearly 700 employment opportunities.

“I want to sincerely thank every person in this room because you care about your community,” she said.

The Wood County Development Authority is a public entity and meets as needed whereas the Parkersburg-Wood County Area Development Corporation is a private entity that meets on the second Wednesday every other month.

For more information about the Wood County Economic Development go to www.developwoodcountywv.com.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com.