100 episodes

Your window into wonderful West Virginia. Sharing news and opportunities from Almost Heaven. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram @daily304

daily304's podcast WVgov

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    • 5.0 • 11 Ratings

Your window into wonderful West Virginia. Sharing news and opportunities from Almost Heaven. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram @daily304

    daily304 - Episode 03.28.24

    daily304 - Episode 03.28.24

    Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  
    Today is Thursday, March 28, 2024.
    #YesWV makes the Top 10 list of Best States to Start a Business. Constellium invests big at its Ravenswood plant. And spring brings out the trout stockings; check out some of the best streams to cast a line…on today’s daily304. #1 – From BRPROUD – West Virginia is a great potential location for entrepreneurs to consider opening their next enterprises. The Mountain State, along with Texas, nabbed the top two spots in the Fit Small Business ranking of Best States to Start a Business.
    The report examined business, economic, and demographic data in all fifty states to arrive at its best-of list. That data revealed some surprising results, according to small business expert Brigitte Korte.
    “All of the states in the Top 10 offer business owners an inexpensive labor force, lower operating costs, and a business-friendly environment,” said small business expert Brigitte Korte. “Some of the states … may be smaller, but they’re still giants when it comes to business opportunity.”
    West Virginia ranked 7th in overall affordability, 9th in labor market strength, and 11th in local market
    Read more:
    https://www.brproud.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/695022398/fit-small-business-reveals-best-states-to-start-a-business-in-2024/
     
    #2 – From WV MetroNews – Jackson County’s largest employer will make high-dollar investments into the future of their facilities.
    Constellium Rolled Products unveiled a partnership Monday with the U.S. Department of Energy which will enable the replacement of three aging and obsolete casthouses in the mill at Ravenswood. They’ll be upgraded to two state-of-the-art casters. The new casters will implement the most modern fuel technology available.
    “It’s breakthrough technology to allow our combustion systems to be fueled by virtually any type of material, including when it becomes affordable and available, hydrogen. It will make us a carbon-free casting environment,” said Brian McCallie, vice president of operations for Constellium.
    The Ravenswood plant employs 1,100 workers. McCallie said the upgrades would protect the current jobs and that inclusions in the plan will make the operation prime for expansion in the future.
    Read more:
    https://wvmetronews.com/2024/03/25/constellium-invests-for-the-future-in-partnership-with-doe/

    #3 – From WVDNR – Spring brings a spirit of revival and fresh starts — not just for nature but for our hobbies and passions. If your fishing routine has become a little stale or you’re eager to discover new waters to cast your line, consider casting your line in a stocked stream. There’s no better time to explore all that fishing in West Virginia has to offer.
    Stretching over 21 miles, the Elk River, particularly near Webster Springs, is a premier destination for fly fishing enthusiasts in West Virginia. And thanks to a regular stocking schedule, easy access for wading and shore fishing and scenic beauty, it’s no wonder the Elk is so popular with anglers of all skill levels.
    Spanning 11.5 miles, the South Branch Potomac River near Petersburg provides anglers with multiple access points, including the South Branch Wildlife Management Area. The consistent stocking schedule ensures plentiful trout fishing opportunities, making the South Branch Potomac a favored spot for seasoned anglers and those new to the sport. Its scenic vistas and varied fishing experiences contribute to its reputation as a prime fishing destination in West Virginia.
    Check out more fishing recommendations at the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources website.
    Read more:
    https://wvdnr.gov/spring-trout-streams-2024/
     
    Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.
    The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West

    • 3 min
    daily304 - Episode 03.27.24

    daily304 - Episode 03.27.24

    Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  
    Today is Wednesday, March 27  
    A prestigious new scholarship aims to alleviate teacher shortages in West Virginia. Get set to cheer when Charleston hosts the USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships in May. And plan a spring getaway at a charming Airbnb in Almost Heaven…on today’s daily304. #1 – From WOAY-TV – High school seniors who want to become teachers but need assistance to pay for college are invited to apply for the Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program.
    The $40,000 scholarship may be used at any eligible West Virginia public or private, non-profit college or university offering West Virginia Board of Education-approved teacher preparation programs in math, science, elementary education or special education. 
    The catch? After graduating, applicants must commit to teaching for at least five years in a West Virginia school. The scholarship is intended to help alleviate teacher shortages.
    Applications are due April 8. You can apply here.
    Read more:
    https://woay.com/west-virginia-teaching-scholarship-accepting-applications/
     
    #2 – From WSAZ-TV – Get out your pom poms and cowbells! Charleston is set to become the epicenter of American professional cycling this spring when the USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships come to town. 
    The top male and female winners of the Time Trials on May 14-15 will represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
    The Criterium, or Crit for short, is a multi-lap road race May 16-17 where the riders go whizzing past on city streets, navigating the course past cheering fans.
    The Road Race is a multi-lap competition May 18-19 along some of Charleston’s toughest terrain.
    Charleston city officials say fan zones will be set up at Slack Plaza and in the Bridge Road area. Sidewalks along the routes are also a great place to catch a glimpse of a race.
    Click here if you’re interested in volunteering. Check the WSAZ app for the latest information about the event.
    Read more:
    https://www.wsaz.com/2024/03/20/routes-dates-usa-cycling-pro-road-national-championships-released/
     
    #3 – From ONLY IN YOUR STATE – Spring is a great time to plan a getaway in wild, wonderful West Virginia. The world will be coming alive again after a season of dormancy, and you don’t want to miss it! And you won’t, not if you book a stay at one of these picture-perfect West Virginia Airbnbs!
    Spring is our favorite season for glamping, and this luxurious dome in Augusta tops our list of options! Listen to the spring peepers as you're roasting marshmallows around the fire pit, warm up and relax in the outdoor hot tub, and fall asleep with a view of the stars.
    Featuring bright spring colors and a cozy interior, this historic carriage house in Hendricks is perched adjacent to the Allegheny Highlands Rail Trail, the perfect spot for a spring hike or bike ride.
    Keep reading to discover more amazing places to stay, from a cozy farmhouse to a lakeside retreat. Then visit www.wvtourism.com to help plan your Almost Heaven getaway!
    Read more:
    https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/west-virginia/spring-getaways-airbnb-wv/
     
    Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.
    The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 
    That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.
     

    • 2 min
    WMYW Gets Tuckered on some Tucker County Adventures

    WMYW Gets Tuckered on some Tucker County Adventures

    In this episode of the What Makes You Wonderful podcast we talk to Jessica Waldo, Executive Director of the Tucker County Convention and Visitors Bureau, about the adventures you can take this year! 
    This all-season destination offers an abundance of attractions: extensive trails to explore year-round, top-notch ski resorts, as well as picturesque waterfalls, a rich arts scene, and delightful local brews.
    Take time to visit the quaint mountain villages of Canaan Valley, Davis, Thomas, and Parsons, each boasting inviting pubs, diverse eateries, and lively boutiques. You also have your choice of secluded cabins to full-service resorts for a retreat tailored to what you love.
    For more information on how you can #GetTuckerd click here: https://gettuckered.com/

    • 6 min
    daily304 - Episode 03.26.24

    daily304 - Episode 03.26.24

    Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  
    Today is Tuesday, March 26  
    Programming through the Preservation Alliance may save some historic structures in Thurmond. Fairmont is in the running for USA Today’s Best Small Towns in the South. And the aerial trams at two WV state parks get an overhaul…on today’s daily304. #1 – From WV EXPLORER – Programming through a preservation organization in West Virginia will support leasing in the historic New River town of Thurmond, potentially saving several structures the National Park Service had considered demolishing.
    Following a groundswell of public aversion to a proposal to demolish more than 20 historic structures in the town, officials have agreed to consider leasing the properties to private individuals rather than demolishing them.
    Now, the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia has added the entire national historic district in Thurmond to its “Endangered Properties List” to assist entrepreneurs in restoring the community.
    Over the last 50 years, park officials have purchased many of the buildings from property owners, promising to restore and sustain them. However, federal budget cuts led to their neglect, though the service had previously invested millions of dollars in maintaining them.
    More information about the "West Virginia Endangered Properties List" may be found on the alliance's website.
    Read more:
    https://wvexplorer.com/2024/03/15/funding-leasing-thurmond-west-virginia-new-river-gorge/
     
     #2 – From WDTV –  Fairmont, West Virginia is known as “The Friendly City,” and come April, it could also be known as USA Today’s “Top 10 Best Small Towns in the South.” 
    Patrick Snively, President of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce, moved to Fairmont in the 90s to attend Fairmont State University. Snively fell in love with the city, and knows why Fairmont is getting USA Today’s recognition. “We have everything that anyone could ever desire,” Snively said. “It’s a great college small town, great businesses, great community feel and the people are what makes this a great small town.”
    West Virginia’s Berkeley Springs and Lewisburg are up for nomination in the ‘Best Historic Small Town’ and ‘Best Small Town Food Scene’, respectively. As of Wednesday afternoon, Fairmont ranks 8th among the top ten. The last day to vote for the Best Small Town in the South is April 1st.
    Read more:
    https://www.wdtv.com/2024/03/13/fairmont-is-running-best-small-town-south/

    #3 – From METRO NEWS – Tram systems at two state parks are getting new, multi-million dollar modern replacements, with work on one of them anticipated to be complete before the end of this year.
    The construction of new, state-of-the-art aerial tramway systems have been an object of focus at both Pipestem Resort State Park in Mercer County and Hawks Nest State Park in Fayette County for quite some time now.
    Construction on the Pipestem tram project is set to be complete by this fall. Crews anticipate starting work on the new trams at Hawks Nest in October. The project there should be complete by summer 2025.
    The tram systems replacement at the parks are part of Governor Jim Justice’s multi-million dollar investment in infrastructure upgrades across all West Virginia State Parks. Over the last seven years, more than $150 million has gone into the upgrades, with over $24 million being spent on improvements at Pipestem alone.
    Read more:
    https://wvmetronews.com/2024/03/17/work-underway-to-bring-new-tram-systems-to-pipestem-hawks-nest-state-parks/
     
    Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.
    The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

    • 3 min
    daily304 - Episode 03.25.23

    daily304 - Episode 03.25.23

    Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  
    Today is Monday, March 25, 2024.  
    Advantage Valley seeks regional companies for its Economic Gardening program. A Martinsburg barbershop’s partnership with the WV SBDC helps the business secure funding. And get your registration in today for Bridging Innovation Week…on today’s daily304. #1 – From ADVANTAGE VALLEY –  Wanted: Participants for Economic Gardening, a program designed to provide sophisticated technical assistance to local companies poised for growth.
    Advantage Valley is seeking growth-oriented companies in Boone, Cabell, Clay, Kanawha, Putnam, Lincoln, Mason, Jackson or Wayne counties that sell to markets outside the region, have 6-100 employees, and have experienced growth 2 out of the past 5 years. 
    Advantage Valley is offering this program for free to select companies through a partnership with the National Center for Economic Gardening, an organization that has patented this successful approach to economic development over 20 years.
    Learn more:
    https://advantagevalley.com/business-services/economic-gardening/
     
    #2 – From WV COMMERCE –  Walking into the Rugged Gentleman Barber Shop, you’ll step on classic black and white checkered floors and sit in 100 year old barber chairs. In this familiar atmosphere, you’ll find children getting their very first haircut and old friends laughing together. 
    When the Martinsburg shop needed funding, owner Austin Hale worked with the West Virginia Small Business Development Center to help him create a business plan and do some financial projections that helped him to secure a loan.
    “Because of the SBDC we are able to keep barbing in our family for a third generation with me and will hopefully continue on with a fourth generation with my kids,” Hale said.
    Watch the video:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcQUwPqIIkA
     
    #3 – From WV ESHIP ECOSYSTEM – Register now for Bridging Innovation Week, set for April 8-11 in Huntington!
    Bridging Innovation Week is the state’s premier ​entrepreneurship event. The annual symposium ​advances entrepreneurship-led economic ​development by providing connection and education ​to business owners, current and prospective ​entrepreneurs, and entrepreneur serving ​organizations (ESOs) throughout West Virginia.
    Whether you’re just starting or looking to scale, this is ​the place to explore entrepreneurship opportunities ​in the Mountain State!
    Learn more:
    https://wveshipecosystem.org/
     
    Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.
    The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 
    That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.
     

    • 2 min
    daily304 - Episode 03.24.24

    daily304 - Episode 03.24.24

    Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  
    Today is Sunday, March 24, 2024. 
    Amazon’s founder says the movie “October Sky” inspired him to launch the aerospace company Blue Origin. Register now for “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” workshop at Twin Falls. And check out some “must-see” blooms and waterfalls this spring in Almost Heaven…on today’s daily304. #1 – From WOWK-TV – The inspiring story found within “October Sky,” based on the book by West Virginia’s Homer Hickam and set in the Mountain State, inspired Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to create the aerospace company, Blue Origin.
    In 2000, Amazon founder Bezos founded a new company: Blue Origin. The company is most well-known nowadays for taking celebrities up into space, including “Star Trek” legend William Shatner, and “Good Morning America” host and former NFL player Michael Strahan.
    According to the novel “The Space Barons: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos” by Christian Davenport, Bezos was partially inspired to create the aerospace company after seeing the 1999 film, “October Sky.”
    The film is based on “Rocket Boys,” Hickam’s memoir that details his youth in 1950s rural West Virginia where he and a few friends take up rocketry after being inspired by the launch of Sputnik 1.
    Read more:
    https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/how-a-west-virginia-story-inspired-jeff-bezos-to-create-blue-origin/
     
    #2 – From WV EXPLORER – Registration has opened for the “Becoming An Outdoors Woman” spring workshop at Twin Falls Resort State Park on May 3–5, 2024.
    According to Ashley Anderson, coordinator for the program managed by the W.Va. Divison of Natural Resources, the event allows women to explore hunting, fishing, and other outdoor-related activities in a strikingly scenic environment.
    Program workshops will provide a non-competitive atmosphere with support from instructors and staff from the division's wildlife resources, law enforcement and state parks sections.
    The workshop is limited to 75 participants, and spots fill fast. Outdoor enthusiasts are invited to learn more and register online at WVDNR.gov/becoming-an-outdoor-woman.
    Read more:
    https://wvexplorer.com/2024/03/18/becoming-an-outdoors-woman-twin-falls-west-virginia/
     
    #3 – From ONLY IN YOUR STATE – Spring has arrived! As the snow melts away, the Mountain State “springs” to life with enchanting experiences for adventurers to explore. From vibrant flower blooms to scenic hikes and charming small towns, West Virginia offers something for everyone. 
    Experience West Virginia’s spring flower blooms at Core Arboretum and The Greenbrier. These scenic spots showcase a stunning array of native and cultivated flowers, offering a delightful retreat amidst the beauty of the season.
    Experience the beauty of spring at Blackwater Falls, Watoga, and Canaan Valley Resort Parks in West Virginia. Enjoy stunning waterfalls, expansive wilderness, and scenic landscapes for outdoor adventures and peaceful relaxation. Visit www.wvstateparks.com to book your lodging online!
    Read more:
    https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/west-virginia/things-to-do-in-spring-wv/
     
    Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.
    The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 
    That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.
     

    • 2 min

Customer Reviews

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11 Ratings

11 Ratings

Andy #YesWV ,

#YesWV is #AlmostHeaven

Check out three stories, each day, worth your time from West Virginia … AND … Crave (all about food) .. #TheHistoryProject (obviously, History) … (Entertainment ) What Makes You Wonderful every week … a monthly #LliveMusic concert featuring West Virginia artists and Innovators and Entrepreneurs… highlighting all the innovation taking place in Almost Heaven.

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