This week on Inside Appalachia, a look back at some of the stories that shaped the show in 2024, like the story of an abandoned Fairmont Brine site in Marion County, West Virginia. It was a common hangout spot, but there’s a hidden danger. Also, food deserts are places where it’s hard to find nutritious food. Like disenfranchised neighborhoods in East Knoxville, TN. And, not all bamboo is invasive. In fact, there’s a species native to Appalachia.
Manchin Courts ATV Companies to Build Vehicles in W.Va.
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U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin is hoping to attract more manufacturing jobs to southern West Virginia. And he wants to encourage ATV companies to build their vehicles here.
The Hatfield and McCoy Trail System has helped to bring new economic opportunities to the southern coalfields in the state. A report prepared by Marshall University said the ATV trail system created an estimated economic impact of more than$38 million in 2019.
Sen. Manchin showed off the backwoods trails on Monday to ATV company executives with Polaris, Kawasaki and Honda. The trip into the woods was also meant to highlight West Virginia’s expanding ATV and tourism industries. Manchin hopes the tour might convince the companies to build their brand vehicles in the region.
According to a release from Manchin’s office, Kawasaki business leaders agreed that the state has the ability to play a key role in “future growth of the powersports industry in the U.S.”
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U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (right) meets with ATV executive.
Still, no plans to build a facility have been announced.
The Hatfield-McCoy trails consist of 10 trail systems covering 900 miles throughout nine counties.
Lauren McFerran’s term expires on Monday. If she isn’t confirmed and Biden doesn’t nominate anyone else, Republicans will have the majority on the board after President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
