Three and a half years after taking office, the inaugural secretary of West Virginia’s economic development office is stepping down.
Mitch Carmichael was appointed secretary of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development when the department was created in 2021. Now, he plans to move into the private sector.
Gov. Jim Justice, who appointed Carmichael, announced his upcoming departure in a Thursday afternoon press release.
“When we reshaped our thinking about economic development and made it an entire department, there was no better person to lead the charge than Mitch,” Justice said in the press release. “He’s been a real asset to the state of West Virginia.”
In the press release, Carmichael said it was “an honor” to help Justice “bring his economic vision to life.”
In the position, Carmichael has focused on bringing companies, jobs and economic development investments to the Mountain State, according to the press release.
Under Carmichael’s tenure, steel production corporation Nucor broke ground on a steel plant in Mason County, Form Energy built a battery factory in Weirton and Berkshire Hathaway Energy made plans for a solar-powered microgrid in Jackson County.
Until Carmichael’s replacement is identified, Mike Graney will serve as acting secretary for the department. He has served as executive director of the department since its creation in 2021, and also served as executive director of its predecessor, the West Virginia Development Office.
Carmichael and Graney did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this story.