● Availability of raw materials: West Virginia manufacturers provide the defense industry access to raw materials such as aluminum, alloys, metals, and composites.
● Access to labor: West Virginia’s proximity to major metropolitan areas makes it an excellent location to produce military and defense products and technologies.
o West Virginia’s network of highways, railways, and rivers connect it to surrounding states.
o The Mountain State is within a day’s drive of 34% of the top domestic purchasing sectors, defense contractors, and federal agencies.
o West Virginia’s proximity to Washington, D.C. makes it a prime location for defense centers close to the nation’s capital.
● West Virginia is currently home to more than 50 companies involved in the defense industry including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Collins Aerospace, Leidos, and Pratt & Whitney.
Explore the October 2024 Issue
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