(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

West Virginians know our state is full of pieces of land that would make fantastic locations for new employers to build … except you can’t get there from here. Infrastructure isn’t our strong suit, and site readiness efforts are often about not just utilities and maybe even having a pad poured, but building roads for potential industrial sites.

Lawmakers this week demonstrated they understand that, and are serious about working toward jobs first and improving opportunity everywhere, with a committee substitute for House Bill 4007. The bill, which proposes updates to the Industrial Access Road Fund such as increasing the annual funding cap and maximum grants available for unmatched and matched funds to build such roads, was recommended by the House Finance Committee for passage to the full House on Tuesday. The bill could make its way to the state Senate as early as today.

“I’m all about development and return on investment,” said state Department of Transportation Secretary Todd Rumbaugh. “If I think that the business coming in needs it and it will help and bring a lot more money to us … then we would help that development.”

It is important that the changes are meant to ensure road maintenance budgets are not unnecessarily diminished; and that HB 4007 builds more flexibility into a program that was already spending on average more than $4 million per year over the past five years.

If this is the kind of work being done by West Virginia lawmakers this session, perhaps we really will see strides made toward improvements that will help expand and diversify our economy. It is an encouraging glimmer of hope. Let us hope there is much more to come.