West Virginia unemployment rate rose to 7.7 percent in December

CHARLESTON -- West Virginia’s unemployment rate climbed six-tenths of a percentage point to 7.7  percent in December, WorkForce West Virginia has reported. 

The number of unemployed state residents rose 4,800 to 59,600. Total unemployment was down 13,400 over the year.
Total nonfarm payroll employment declined 3,600, where a loss of 4,100 in the goods-producing sector countered a gain of 500 in the service-providing sector.
Within the goods-producing sector, employment declines included 2,900 in construction, 800 in mining and logging, and 400 in manufacturing. Within the service-providing sector, employment growth included 500 in educational and health services, 300 in professional and business services, 300 in financial activities, and 200 in other services. Employment declines included 300 in government, 200 in trade, transportation, and utilities, 200 in information, and 100 in leisure and hospitality.
West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 7.9 percent in December, while the national rate declined two-tenths of a percentage point to 8.5 percent.

New exhibit to highlight the history of the chemical industry in the Kanawha Valley

CHARLESTON -- The West Virginia Division of Culture and History will unveil a new exhibit, The Chemical Valley: West Virginia’s Gift to the World, on Sunday, Jan. 22, at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston. The public is invited to view the exhibit during an opening reception beginning at 2 p.m. that day. The exhibit will be on display through May 6.

The new exhibit will feature the many contributions and developments made by the manufacturing and chemical industries of West Virginia and particularly those companies located in the Kanawha Valley. Items on display will include a circa 1958 model of Union Carbide’s Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Unit as well as a firefighting system used in 1940 at DuPont Belle Works and an early salt pot. The main wall of the exhibit will be set up to resemble a laboratory complete with beakers and flasks.

In celebration of the International Year of Chemistry in West Virginia, visitors also will see a collection of tools, products, photographs and documents from the 20th century when the Kanawha Valley was considered the chemical center of the world. The International Year of Chemistry is a worldwide celebration of the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind.

The reception will feature several guest speakers as well as provide opportunities for former and current workers to document on videotape their reflections on what it is like to work in the chemical industry. Recording sessions will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from noon to 5 p.m.

The reception is being sponsored and coordinated by the American Chemistry Council, the Chemical Alliance Zone, the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, TechConnectWV, Dow Chemical, MATRIC, West Virginia State University, Marshall University, the South Charleston Museum Foundation and other partners. 

NCO Group announces plan to add 90 additional jobs in Charleston

CHARLESTON - The NCO Group, Inc. ("NCO"), a leading provider of business processing services, will hire approximately 90 new associates in its Charleston contact center, the company announced today. The hiring will expand NCO's presence in Charleston and also includes over $350,000 of new investments in equipment and training.
Employment opportunities will include positions providing direct customer service support for one of NCO's leading utility clients. Additional roles will also be available for managers, trainers, and supervisors. Positions are full-time and include a complete employment benefit package. Using a range of communication channels such as phone, email and text messaging, associates will learn and apply skills in areas of customer care and support.
Commenting on the expansion, Jack Jones, Chief Operating Officer, NCO, said in a prepared statement, "This is an excellent opportunity to expand our services for one of our premier clients. The combination of this business expansion, our talented team in Charleston and our ongoing relationship with the state of West Virginia is very positive for all."
The company worked closely with the West Virginia Development Office and the Charleston Area Alliance to retain the investment in Charleston. Hiring is already underway. Interested candidates may apply at the company website www.ncogroup.com/careers or call 412-249-5300 for more information. The contact center is located at 408 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston, WV 25301.

Baker Hughes to build new $40 million center in Harrison County

BRIDGEPORT -- Baker Hughes, one of the world's largest oilfield service companies, has announced plans to build a new $40 million center in Harrison County. The new facility will be built on a 52-acre site Baker Hughes recently purchased outside Bridgeport, northeast of the intersection of I-79 and State Highway 131. The project will consolidate two existing facilities into one significantly larger center. The consolidation will preserve more than 200 existing West Virginia jobs and is expected to create an estimated 275 new jobs in the coming years as the center becomes fully operational. The new positions are expected to range from engineers and scientists to gas field workers.
Construction on the new center is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2012 and reach completion within one year.
"Our $40 million investment in the heart of the Marcellus reflects our confidence in the long-term viability of West Virginia's shale resources and Baker Hughes' long-standing commitment to a key region where we live and work," said Baker Hughes' President of U.S. Land Paul Butero in a prepared statement. "Our new center in Bridgeport will bring additional construction jobs and allow us to hire more local scientists, engineers and mechanics to staff our new labs, workshops and maintenance bays. We share in the enthusiasm about the cultivation of West Virginia's budding energy opportunities."
The new facility will include:
*A 38,600-square-foot, two-story office building. The office complex will contain more than 90 offices and workstations, 50 engineering stations and a 5,000 square foot testing laboratory.
*An 83,710-square-foot workshop with eight vehicle maintenance bays, vehicle maintenance storage, fishing workshop, customer completion workshop and warehouse functions.
* Five auxiliary buildings that will include warehouse space and a three-bay truck wash/fueling station.
The auxiliary buildings will support a fleet of up to 250 drilling operations vehicles. The drilling vehicles will service customer oil and gas wells throughout West Virginia.
Baker Hughes is a leading supplier of oilfield services, products, technology and systems to the worldwide oil and natural gas industry. For more information, visit http://www.bakerhughes.com/.

National Association of Entrepreneurship recognizes WVU professor

MORGANTOWN -- James Smith, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at West Virginia University, has been selected as an award recipient by the National Association of Entrepreneurship. 
The NAE 250 Awards are presented annually to leaders who excel in free enterprise.
A member of the faculty since 1976, Smith has been involved in technology transfer from academia into the commercial sector. To date, he has been granted more than 30 U.S. patents and helped 11 companies that now market commercial applications of technology developed at or through the University. Prior to joining the staff at WVU, Smith was a research engineer for the Department of Energy and a business owner.
The NAE is a Washington, DC-based association whose mission is to advance free enterprise. Chief among its goals is providing and expanding opportunities for America’s emerging mid-market companies to grow and succeed in a competitive global economy. NAE helps promote business excellence through peer connectivity, institutional partnerships, information and education.
The award will be presented at the NAE 250 Awards Showcase AND First Generation Summit, scheduled for January 11-12, at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, in Farmington, PA.

Protea Biosciences Group recognized by international research journal

MORGANTOWN – Protea Biosciences Group Inc., has been selected by The Scientist, an international research journal of the Life Sciences industry,  to receive its Top Ten Innovative Technologies award for the year 2011.

In the January 2012 issue, The Scientist selected Protea’s LAESI DP-1000, a new instrument developed by Protea that eliminates time-consuming sample preparation steps, and allows rapid molecular analysis of biological samples.

“On behalf of our employees, shareholders and customers, we thank The Scientist for its selection of LAESI DP-1000, which we believe is a game-changing life sciences instrument, that has the potential to dramatically accelerate and reduce the costs of biomedical discovery”, said Steve Turner, Protea’s CEO. He added, “Through Protea, West Virginia is creating world-class biotechnology and successfully competing in the global biosciences sector.”

LAESI technology was invented in the laboratory of Akos Vertes, PhD., George Washington University, and exclusively licensed to Protea. Using the LAESI DP-1000 instrument developed by Protea, large numbers of biomolecules can be rapidly identified and spatially mapped via imaging to cell structures, and tissues.

“What makes the LAESI DP-1000 unique is that it is a universal platform - one that can be used to analyze all types of biological samples, including tissue biopsies, live cells, blood, and other biofluids,” Turner said. “It allows the direct, molecular analysis of living cells.”

The Scientist is an International print and digital publication, dedicated to covering a wide range of topics central to the study of cell and molecular biology, genetics, and other life-science fields.

Protea is a leader in the field of bioanalytics - the identification and analysis of proteins and other biomolecules that are produced by living cells, technology that is essential to pharmaceutical and medical research.

January 2012 Open for Business Report released

CHARLESTON – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has released the latest “Open for Business” report documenting the state’s economic progress. The January 2012 report highlights projects and related announcements from businesses both large and small that will assist with the creation of new jobs and the preservation of existing jobs.

ACCESS TO $13 MILLION CREDIT INITIATIVE TO FUEL WEST VIRGINIA SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has approved West Virginia’s application for State Small Business Credit Initiative funding. The approval will give West Virginia access to $13.1 million in federal dollars to fund new small business lending programs. Administered through the state’s new West Virginia Capital Access Program (WVCAP), the funding will enable small businesses to leverage new capital and credit to create private sector jobs. WVCAP is expected to go into effect during the first quarter of 2012.

INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE JOURNAL RANKS PROTEA AMONG TOP 10 INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIESI
Bioanalytics firm Protea Biosciences has been selected as a Top 10 Innovative Technologies. The honor is being bestowed by “The Scientist,” an international life sciences journal. Protea earned the award for its Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization (LAESI) technology, described as the world’s first technology that allows real-time molecular imaging, including the molecular analysis of live cells. LAESI was invented by researchers at George Washington University and exclusively licensed worldwide to Protea Biosciences. Protea has now completed the development of the world's first LAESI instrument systems, financed largely by a loan from West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust, the state’s venture capital fund. Morgantown-based Protea was launched as a spin-off from West Virginia University in 2001. The firm has 45 employees.

PRICHARD INTERMODAL FACILITY PROJECT RECEIVES $12 MILLION
The West Virginia Ports Authority has been awarded $12 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation to construct an intermodal terminal along Norfolk Southern’ s Heartland Corridor near Prichard. The Prichard Intermodal facility is being developed to serve as a cargo-transfer station along the Norfolk Southern rail line. Once completed, the facility will give industries in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky more modern and efficient freight container service and improved access to international rail lines.

WVU CAFEE COMPLETES FUEL ECONOMY RESEARCH ON MILITARY COMBAT VEHICLES
West Virginia University’s Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions (CAFEE) has completed research on the effects of nanoscale catalysts on the fuel economy of military combat and tactical ground vehicles. The results could mean huge financial savings for America’s defense and another significant step toward overall energy efficiency. The study was conducted for the U.S. Department of Defense and ManTech International, a Washington, D.C.-based defense contractor. The research hypothesized that nanoscale fuel-borne catalysts – such as platinum, cerium and other metallo-organic additives – could be combined with traditional engine fuel as catalysts to improve fuel efficiency. CAFEE, a part of WVU's Advanced Energy Institute, is a worldwide leader in the research and development of improved transportation and power system efficiency, while working toward a cleaner environment.

WVEDA APPROVES $726,360 FOR NEW, EXPANDING BUSINESSES
The West Virginia Economic Development Authority (WVEDA) approved a new loan during its December 2011 meeting:
• M-Rock, $359,610, for the expansion of an existing building and the acquisition and installation of equipment. The Monroe County business manufactures shaped and colored cement and stone veneer products. The expansion will allow M-Rock to manufacture its recently-introduced Mortarless Stone Innovations (MSI), a stone veneer product that installs with screws instead of mortar. M-Rock currently has 43 employees and expects to increase that number to as many as 95 after three years.
• Architectural Wood, $366,750 aggregate, for site and equipment acquisition related to start-up. Based in Ronceverte in Greenbrier County, the company was established in 2011. It manufactures and installs high-grade architectural woodwork, casework and custom furnishings.

SAUCY JACKSON COUNTY FIRM WINS FOUR PRESTIGIOUS SCOVIE AWARDS
Miss Mona’s Sauces and Spices scooped up four awards from the Scovie Awards. The annual competition recognizes the top fiery foods products from around the world. This year’s event included 792 products and 161 companies from 38 states and four countries. Miss Mona’s entries placed in the top three in their respective categories: Extra Hot Salsa, category Processed Salsa/XX Hot, first place; Caribbean BBQ, category Barbeque Sauce, second place; Liquid Lucifer, category Extreme Sauce, second place; and Tropical Salsa, category Processed Salsa/Fruit, third. Entering the Scovie Awards was the first time the Sandyville-based company had taken part in a food competition, said owner Ramona Price.

CHARLESTON EAST END IS GREAT AMERICAN MAIN STREET AWARD SEMIFINALIST 
Charleston East End has been selected from a nationwide pool of applicants to be one of 10 semifinalists in the final round of competition in the 2012 Great American Main Street Awards® (GAMSA). The National Trust for Historic Preservation will present the final five winners at the Main Street Awards Ceremony during the National Main Streets Conference in Baltimore, Md., on April 2, 2012. The annual award recognizes the participating communities for their exceptional accomplishments in revitalizing the nation’s historic and traditional Main Street commercial districts by using the proven Main Street Four-Point Approach®.

WORKFORCE WEST VIRGINIA TAKES PART IN MARSHALL COUNTY OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY JOB FAIR
WorkForce West Virginia participated in a job fair at the Mollohan Training Center in Moundsville on Nov. 30. The event was sponsored by the West Virginia Independent Oil and Gas Association. Approximately 40 employers and training providers were onsite and an estimated 1,250 job seekers attended.  West Virginia employers can file job orders and search for qualified applicants 24/7 via the WorkForce West Virginia website at www.workforcewv.org.

Marshall University maintains accreditation for College of Business

HUNTINGTON — The College of Business at Marshall University has maintained its business accreditation as well as its accounting accreditation by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

AACSB International is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in both business and accounting.

Marshall University is one of two institutions in West Virginia to hold AACSB accreditation. As of December 2011, only 643 schools of business worldwide are AACSB accredited and only 176 institutions have AACSB’s additional accounting accreditation.

To maintain business accreditation, programs undergo an internal review every five years, at which they must demonstrate a continued commitment to the 21 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, interactions of faculty and students, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programs.

To maintain accounting accreditation, an institution must first earn or maintain AACSB Business Accreditation as well as meet an additional 15 standards that are specific to the discipline and profession of accounting.

To learn more about Marshall University’s College of Business and its Accounting Division, visit www.marshall.edu/lcob. To learn more about AACSB accreditation, visit www.aacsb.edu/accreditation.

September 2010 Open for Business report released

    CHARLESTON – Gov. Joe Manchin has released the latest “Open for Business” report documenting the state’s economic progress. The September 2010 report highlights projects and related announcements from businesses both large and small that will assist with the creation of new jobs and the preservation of existing jobs.

Eight West Virginia firms among Inc.’s 5,000 Fastest Growing
Inc. magazine’s fourth annual list of the top 5,000 fastest growing private companies includes eight from West Virginia. They are Cenergy (#392), in Milton, Cabell County; HMS Technologies (#638), in Martinsburg, Berkeley County; The McEvoy Administration (#764), in Inwood, Berkeley County; McKinley Carter Wealth Services (#1508), headquartered in Wheeling, Ohio County; Reliable Environmental Transport (#2426), in Bridgeport, Harrison County; Performance Results (#2642), in Morgantown, Monongalia County; KeyLogic Systems (#2715), in Morgantown, Monongalia County; and Advanced Technical Solutions (#3236), in Scott Depot, Putnam County.

Frontier Communications reports 250 jobs available in West Virginia
Frontier Communications announced it has about 250 jobs available in West Virginia. Most of the posted jobs are for technicians, but also include some sales and other support positions. Some positions specify terms such as up to 36 months; others are listed as full-time/regular. The openings appear in various locations across the state. Frontier purchased Verizon's land line telephone operations July 1. For more information, visithttp://corporate.frontier.com/Careers.

Hino Motors unveils 2011 model trucks at Wood County plant
Hino Motors Manufacturing USA Inc. brought out its 2011-model line of trucks with a celebration at its Williamstown plant. Gov. Joe Manchin joined other state and national officials as well as company executives at the Aug. 23 ceremony. The event heralded the commercial sales of the new 2011 model truck. The new Hino truck has a selective catalytic reduction system which converts much of the truck’s diesel emissions to nitrogen. The new model is the only medium duty conventional truck that meets Environmental Protection Agency requirements for diesel engine emissions.

West Virginia exports climb nearly 40 percent in first half of 2010
West Virginia’s exports reached $3 billion in the first half of 2010, an increase of 39.5 percent compared to the same time period in 2009. That outpaces the U.S. export growth rate of 23.8 percent for the same period. The top 10 markets for West Virginia exports during January-June 2010 are Canada, Japan, India, Brazil, China, Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, Italy and France. The product sector that achieved the biggest growth spurt was plastics/polymers, jumping more than 70 percent from the first half of 2009 to the same period in 2010. Increases were also reported in automotive components and machinery (63 percent each). The International Division of the West Virginia Development Office facilitates international trade development by organizing trade missions, providing consulting and offering other services to encourage West Virginia businesses to pursue export markets.

Paramount Pictures schedules Sept. 3-4 casting calls for film in Weirton area
Paramount Pictures announced it plans to shoot footage for a film titled “Wickham” in Weirton and surrounding areas from late September to mid-October. Casting calls for extras will be held starting at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 3, at the Jimmy Carey Stadium on West Street in Weirton; and on Sept. 4,at the Millsop Community Center, 3420 Main Street, Weirton, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prospective extras may apply only once and at only one casting call. Paramount is participating in the West Virginia Film Industry Investment Act, a tax credit program designed to recruit film industry business into the state. The West Virginia Film Office is a section under the West Virginia Department of Commerce, Division of Tourism, and can be visited at www.wvfilm.com.

Statewide symposium examines science and sustainable economy, Sept. 27-28
Registration is now underway for the Science, Technology and Research Symposium at Marshall University. Held Sept. 27-28, the symposium will focus on West Virginia-based research and the importance of sustainable, technology-driven economic development. Held in Huntington for the first time, the symposium will showcase the work of the state’s scientists. To register, contact jessica.tice@wvresearch.org or call 304-558-4128.

Distributor plans $2 million warehouse expansion in Wayne County
House-Hasson Hardware plans a $2 million expansion to its warehouse in Prichard. The 100,000-square-foot addition will include new truck dock areas and improvements to the heating system. When the expansion is completed in January 2011, the facility will total 300,000 square feet. Based in Tennessee, House-Hasson is an independent regional hardware distributor serving 17 states, the Caribbean basin and several countries.

NASA IV&V to expand space for work force in Fairmont’s I-79 Technology Park
NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Program plans to lease additional office space in the I-79 Technology Park in Fairmont. The agency recently received approval to lease 33,380 square feet of office and related space. NASA IV&V was one of the original tenants in the Technology Park nearly 20 years ago. As the program grew, many contractors had to be located off site. The leased space will allow NASA to bring 135 members of the combined work force into one building this fall. The original facility will continue to serve many NASA civil-service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army project and contractor personnel.

MITRE opens office in Harrison County
The MITRE Corporation officially opened its office in Bridgeport with a ribbon cutting ceremony in August. The site is located in the White Oaks Business Park and houses 10 technical and administrative staff. MITRE had operated in a temporary office in Clarksburg since 2008. MITRE is a not-for-profit organization that provides systems engineering, research and development, and information technology support to the government. It operates federally funded research and development centers for the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Simonton Windows® Takes Top Honors in Two J.D. Power Rankings
For the third consecutive time, Simonton Windows® has ranked highest in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Builder and Remodeler Residential Window and Patio Door Satisfaction StudySM. Simonton Windows also captured the highest rating by consumers in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Windows and Patio Doors Satisfaction StudySM. Simonton Windows is part of the home and security business of Fortune Brands, Inc. Simonton Windows produces ENERGY STAR® qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact-resistant products. Based in Parkersburg, Wood County, Simonton operates seven manufacturing facilities nationwide, including three in Ritchie County.

RCBI marks 20th anniversary in tech training and manufacturing
The Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI) celebrated its 20th anniversary with an open house and graduation ceremony in Bridgeport. For the first time, the RCBI Machinist Technology Program graduation combined students from RCBI courses in Bridgeport, Huntington, Wheeling and Rocket Center. Graduates received National Certifications from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills. The open house featured seminars, demonstrations and technology displays from machine tool vendors and equipment suppliers from across the region. The current RCBI class started courses on Aug. 23 in Huntington, Bridgeport, Rocket Center and Wheeling.

WVU receives $6.5 million grant for study to detect gravitational waves
West Virginia University has received a $6.5 million grant to establish an international team to research gravitational waves. The grant was awarded by the National Science Foundation’s Office of International Science and Engineering and the Division of Astronomical Sciences as part of the Partnerships for International Research and Education program. The gravitational waves are a key prediction of Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity but have not yet been directly detected. The international team will use a series of radio telescopes around the world, including those in Green Bank, W.Va., to observe signals from pulsars over several years. This effort will enable the scientists to directly test for the existence of gravitational waves. According to the project’s principal investigator, WVU’s Maura McLaughlin, the direct detection of gravitational waves could enable studies of black holes within massive galaxies and the space-time dynamics of early stages of the universe.

WVEDA approves $2.2 million for three businesses in Harrison and Monongalia counties
The West Virginia Economic Development Authority (WVEDA) approved loans totaling $2,259,000 for three businesses during its August meeting:
• Mid Atlantic Aerospace Complex, $700,000 to finance the acquisition of a hanger/warehouse facility at Benedum Airport, Bridgeport, Harrison County. The facility will be leased to Aurora Flight Sciences. Mid Atlantic Aerospace Complex is a non-profit economic development organization that promotes the aerospace industry in West Virginia. Aurora Flight Sciences develops, markets and operates a new generation of robotic aircraft. Currently, Aurora Flight Sciences employs 108 people and projects an increase to 139 after three years.
• Protea Biosciences Inc., $900,000 to purchase and install analytical testing equipment at its facility in Morgantown, Monongalia County. Protea develops new technologies that improve direct analysis of proteins and other biomolecules. Currently the firm has 34 employees and expects to expand to 71 posts — nine of which would be directly related to this expansion project – after three years.
• White Oaks Professional Building One Inc., $659,000 to finance a new building in Clarksburg, Harrison County. The building will be leased as the headquarters of EQT Corporation an oil and gas exploration firm. The building will serve as the headquarters for EQT geologists and field personnel working in the Marcellus Shale formation.

State releases list of West Virginia's Top 100 private employers - Wal-Mart remains No. 1

    CHARLESTON — WorkForce West Virginia’s list of the 100 largest private employers, compiled from data for the first quarter 2010, ranks retail giant Wal-Mart as the state’s largest employer. Wal-Mart has maintained this position since 1998.

    The list, released today, contains businesses with both single and multiple locations and ranks companies according to the number of employees. The data are extracted from the Quarterly Contributions Report for the first quarter of each year and are available to the public by the third quarter of each year.

    West Virginia’s top five largest private employers are Wal-Mart, West Virginia United Health System, Charleston Area Medical Center, Kroger, and American Electric Power, all unchanged from 2009.

    Several employers in the top 10 have shifted positions, and two employers not found in the top 10 last year now make an appearance. These new additions are Res-Care, Inc. and Mylan Pharmaceuticals.

    The top 10 employers in total had 143 fewer employees in the past year, faring well when compared to the total for all private sector employment in the state which declined nearly 17,000 from the first quarter 2009 to the first quarter 2010. The sum employment of the top 100 employers declined by just over 4,400 from March 2009. Analysis of all private employers by size indicated all size groups except the group employing 500 to 999 people lost both units and employment over the past year.

    Just over one-half of employers on the top 100 list climbed in rank, while nearly a quarter of businesses descended in rank. Six employers not present on last year’s top 100 made their appearance on this year’s list.

    This list was prepared from information provided by employers covered under the unemployment compensation insurance system, through the federal/state Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages Program conducted in West Virginia by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor and the Research, Information and Analysis Division of WorkForce West Virginia.

    The lists for the state and counties for each year since 1999 and workforce investment areas since 2002 can be found on the website: www.workforcewv.org/lmi or by contacting the Research, Information and Analysis Division at 304.558.2660.

The 2010 Top 100 list

1. Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.
2. West Virginia United Health System
3. Charleston Area Medical Center, Inc.
4. Kroger
5. American Electric Power
6. Consolidation Coal Company
7. Lowe's Home Centers, Inc.
8. St. Mary's Hospital
9. Res-Care, Inc.
10. Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
11. Cabell Huntington Hospital, Inc.
12. Wheeling Hospital, Inc.
13. Pilgrim's Pride Corporation of West Virginia
14. Mentor Management, Inc. (Mentor Network, The)
15. Verizon
16. E I DuPont De Nemours & Company
17. Rite Aid of West Virginia, Inc.
18. Allegheny Energy Service Corporation
19. West Virginia University Medical Co. (University Health Associates)
20. Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
21. Mountaineer Park, Inc.
22. Alliant Techsystems, Inc.
23. Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital
24. Monongalia General Hospital
25. West Virginia's Choice, Inc.
26. K Mart Corporation
27. Aker Construction, Inc.
28. DOLGENCORP, Inc. (Dollar General Stores)
29. Herbert J Thomas Memorial Hospital Association
30. Greenbrier Hotel Corporation
31. BB&T Corporation
32. PNGI Charles Town Gaming, Ltd.
33. GMRI, Inc.
34. Go-Mart, Inc. 34 43 44
35. Teletech Customer Care Management (West Virginia), Inc.
36. Raleigh General Hospital, LLC
37. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
38. Dominion Transmission, Inc. 3
39. Spartan Mining Company
40. Hobet Mining, LLC
41. Employee Resource Group, LLC
42. Cabela's, Inc.
43. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc.
44. Elk Run Coal Company, Inc. (Black Castle Mining Company)
45. Alcan Rolled Products
46. Weirton Medical Center
47. Eastern Associated Coal Corporation
48. Heartland Employment Services, LLC
49. United Parcel Service Inc. (WV District)
50. Wheeling Island Gaming, Inc.
51. J C Penney Company, Inc.
52. Asplundh Tree Expert Company
53. Simonton Building Products, Inc.
54. Little General Store, Inc.
55. Highmark West Virginia, Inc. (Mountain State Blue Cross and Blue Shield)
56. Ohio Valley Medical Center, Inc.
57. Wesbanco Bank, Inc.
58. Gino's/Tudors Biscuit World
59. Homer Laughlin China Company
60. Huntington Alloys Corporation
61. ArcelorMittal Weirton, Inc.
62. Acordia/Wells Fargo Third Party Administrator, Inc.
63. Food Lion, LLC
64. Gabriel Brothers, Inc.
65. United National Bank
66. Bluefield Regional Medical Center, Inc.
67. Sears, Roebuck and Company
68. Prestera Center for Mental Health Services
69. McDonalds Restaurants of West Virginia, Inc.
70. Advance Stores Company, Inc.
71. Snowshoe Mountain, Inc.
72. Appalachian Regional Healthcare
73. Alex Energy, Inc. (Intrepid Mining Company)
74.  GC Services Limited Partnership
75. TRG Customer Solutions
76. City National Bank of Charleston
77. Sunhealth Specialty Services, Inc.
78. St. Joseph's Healthcare System (St. Joseph's Hospital)
79. DirectTV Customer Service, Inc.
80. Charleston Hospital, Inc. (Saint Francis Hospital)
81. Pleasant Valley Hospital, Inc.
82. Universal Cable Holdings/Suddenlink
83. Quad/Graphics, Inc.
84. Alcon Research, Ltd
85. Mountain State University, Inc.
86. Logan General Hospital, LLC
87. Owner's Solution, Inc. (Personnel Management Company)
88. Echosphere, LLC
89. Davis Memorial Hospital
90. Capital Area Services Company, Inc. (CASCI)
91. Target Corporation
92. Armstrong Hardwood Flooring Company
93. Babcock & Wilcox Construction Company, Inc.
94. University Physicians & Surgeons
95. Wendy's International, Inc.
96. OS Restaurant Services, Inc. (Outback Steakhouse)
97.  Speedway Superamerica, LLC
98. American Woodmark Corporation
99. Racing Corporation of West Virginia
100. Global Contact Services, LLC 100 91 89