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Natural Resources and Utilities
The valley's rugged mountains are honeycombed with salt mines and other mineral deposits as well as vast supplies of natural gas and coal. In the 1920s, chemical companies realized these natural resources were critical to their industry. Union Carbide was the first to locate in this rich, green valley. Others soon followed suit. The abundance of coal and natural gas results in substantial energy cost savings for area businesses. Gas and fossil fuel costs are much lower than other states, representing an average annual savings of $60,000. West Virginia electricity provides an annual average savings of $450,000. The state's extensive fiberoptic and digital switching network offers communications costs that are comparable with other states.
Transportation
The Chemical Alliance Zone follows the Kanawha River and Ohio River. In addition to river transportation, the area relies heavily on railway service from CSX and Norfolk and Southern. The region has an excellent roadway system. Interstates 64, 77 and 79 intersect near Charleston. The CAZ is within a 24-hour trucking distance of 43% of the U.S. industrial market and 39% of the consumer market.
Labor Force and Productivity
West Virginia's labor force is as respected as its chemical industry. A strong work ethic is one of the major factors that attracted companies more than seventy years ago and continues to be an important consideration for new businesses. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce-Bureau of Economic Analysis, each West Virginia chemical industry employee produces $7,900 more annually than the national average.
Tax Advantages
West Virginia's local property taxes on real property (land and buildings) are among the lowest in the nation. An industrial inorganic chemical facility in this state would pay property taxes lower than most top-producing states. In addition, the state's Freeport Tax Exemption Amendment exempts goods in transit to out-of-state destinations from property tax. Other tax benefits are also available.
Education
There are four institutions of higher learning within the CAZ: West Virginia State College, West Virginia University Institute of Technology, The University of Charleston and Marshall University and the Marshall University School of Graduate Studies.
Community Support for the Industry
There is strong community support for the chemical industry in central West Virginia. The support is in large due to the industry's policy of openness and its immediate response to real and potential problems. After the Bhopal India tragedy, the area's industry became a source of national attention since it manufactured products similar to the Bhopal plant. Learning from the experience, the industry worked diligently to inform citizens and built an excellent emergency response system. The regulations promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1995 were modeled after the area's “Safety Street,” occurring the same year. This was the first community risk management planning event in history. Today, the local emergency planning committee is a model for LEPCs across the nation.
Quality of Life
First-time visitors to West Virginia are impressed by its beauty. It is a natural wonder with a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities. Still, this rural atmosphere provides urban convenience. Both Huntington and Charleston have symphony orchestras, fine arts facilities and sports complexes. Both are centers of regional commerce, government and shopping.
