From the Director’s Desk for May 9, 2025

What Makes Wetzel and Tyler Counties Special?

As we continue working to grow and strengthen our region, I’m often asked, "What makes Wetzel and Tyler Counties stand out?" The answer is simple and powerful: a combination of natural beauty, hardworking people, and a community spirit that’s second to none.

We are blessed with breathtaking landscapes—rolling hills, winding rivers, and lush forests offering outdoor recreation from boating and fishing to hiking and hunting. Our natural surroundings provide countless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and appreciate the beauty of our region.

Our community spirit is unmatched. Neighbors help neighbors, civic organizations, churches, and nonprofits keep our towns vibrant and resilient. While we are clearly in challenging times, there remain reasons to celebrate our communities and all we offer all year long!

Our signature events bring us together year after year, including:

• Shortline Ramp Festival (Reader, April)
• Vintage Regatta (New Martinsville, summer)
• Back Home Festival (New Martinsville, June)
• Fourth of July Celebrations (various towns, July)
• Tyler County Fair (Middlebourne, July/August)
• Town & Country Days (New Martinsville, August)
• WV Country Roads Festival (New Martinsville, September)
• Sistersville Oil and Gas Festival (September)
• Paden City Labor Day Celebration (September)
• Regatta Fest (New Martinsville, September)
• Sistersville Marble Festival (Fall, typically September or October)
• Christmas in the ‘Ville (New Martinsville, last weekend in November)
• Christmas on Main Street (Middlebourne & Sistersville, December)

These fairs, festivals, and parades celebrate heritage and creativity and attract visitors who support our local businesses. What could be better than that? By attracting visitors from near and far, they strengthen our economy and keep our communities thriving.

More Reasons to Appreciate Where We Live

Affordability and opportunity also set us apart. Our low cost of living and wide-open spaces give families and businesses room to grow. Entrepreneurs will find a business-friendly environment supported by local leadership and the Chamber’s ongoing advocacy.

While history shapes who we are, we’re building the future with strong schools, youth programs like 4-H, Tyler County Boys and Girls Club, FFA, and innovative career and technical education partnerships. Did you know that The Education Alliance and EQT sponsor the Innovation Showcase at Magnolia High School each year? Wetzel County is the only county in the state that offers this opportunity for young entrepreneurs and inventors!

When visitors consider relocating to our area, they want activities that enhance their quality of life. Our fairs, festivals, and parades contribute significantly to this effort, as do having a community college and state-of-the-art medical facilities. These are assets that few small rural communities have.

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Our location offers the best of both worlds—peaceful rural living with easy access to major markets like Pittsburgh, Wheeling, and Charleston. This makes our counties ideal not only for businesses but also for remote workers seeking balance.

In short, Wetzel and Tyler Counties offer a quality of life that’s hard to beat. It’s why so many choose to stay, return, or invest in our community.

Let’s continue celebrating what makes us special while working together for a bright, shared future. Let's continue to work hard to keep going and growing!

May 14, 2025

Membership Dues Changes for 2025

The Wetzel-Tyler Chamber of Commerce is introducing updates to our membership fee structure to better align with the size and nature of our member organizations and businesses. These changes are designed to make membership more accessible for small businesses and nonprofits while ensuring fairness.

Membership Fee Structure for 2025

For-profit businesses:

• 0–5 employees: $100
• 6–10 employees: $150
• 11–25 employees: $300
• 26–50 employees: $500
• 51–100 employees: $750
• 101+ employees: $1,500

Nonprofit organizations:

• 0 employees: $50
• 1–50 employees: $100
• 51+ employees: $250

Other categories:

• Banks/Credit Unions: $1,000 (no change)
• Students: $25 (no change)
• Individuals: $50 (no change)

Comparison to Current Structure

The current structure offers fewer tiers, leading to broader categories. For instance:

• For-profit businesses with 0–10 employees are currently charged $125. Under the new structure, the cost is reduced to $100 for 0–5 employees and $150 for 6–10 employees, providing a more precise reflection of company size.

• Nonprofit organizations currently pay $100 across the board. The new structure introduces a lower tier for nonprofits with no employees ($50) and adjusts rates for larger organizations.

Why the Change?

This update ensures that membership fees are equitable and reflect the diversity of our members. Smaller organizations and nonprofits will benefit from more affordable rates, while larger businesses will contribute at a level aligned with their capacity.

This structure will strengthen our Chamber by encouraging participation from all community segments.

Please note that you can easily renew your membership through the link below:



These trainings are free to municipal employee and well worth the time commitment in pursuing federal grants!

The Northern Panhandle Workforce Development Board, Inc. and the Region VI Workforce Development Board (Morgantown area) from WV has joined forces with local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs) in the States of PA and Ohio to form the "Tri-State Apprenticeship Consortium." The "Consortium" has secured Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) funds for this Project. 

The ultimate goal of the "Tri-State Apprenticeship Consortium" is to strengthen and expand registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in OH, PA, and WV. We plan on working together to identify ways to make apprenticeships more appealing to employers and accessible to participants, ways for employers that draw employees from all three states to utilize apprenticeship programs drawing across state lines, and potential changes in apprenticeship policy that could streamline the process for all parties. The "Consortium" will determine methods to stimulate more employer involvement and interest in a way that will benefit all parties involved.

So, we want to hear from you to determine if area employers/organizations feel there is a need for strengthened/expanded registered and pre-apprenticeship programs in the Northern Panhandle of WV. Below is a link to a digital survey that we are respectfully requesting employers/organizations in PA, Ohio and West Virginia to take. This survey is set up to identify the primary county of an Employer/Organization. 

https://forms.gle/xv2DHziEigKt6LDz8

This survey will be accessible through May 30, 2025. 

The "Tri-State Apprenticeship Consortium" appreciates your input. We will keep you posted on the results as we move forward.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you.

NPWDB, Inc. Staff

npwibinc@gmail.com

"We want all West Virginians to be able to access resources that can ensure their success in seeking and obtaining meaningful career employment. Navigate the chaos and complexity of accessing training, education, and employment-related support services where there is No Wrong Door."

What is West Virginia Invests?

The WV Invests Grant is a state-funded grant program that pays toward the full cost of basic tuition, mandatory fees* and academic program fees** for select certificate and associate degree programs at a West Virginia public two- or four-year institution. Priority is given to programs in high-demand fields, such as information technology or healthcare, as determined by the West Virginia Department of Commerce.

This is a last-dollar-in program, meaning it will pay for any amount up to the total cost of tuition, mandatory fees, and approved academic program fees not already covered by other state or federal grants or scholarships and institutional tuition waivers.



*The maximum award amount is limited to the total cost of tuition and approved fees minus other grant or scholarship aid. Certain programs charge additional fees not approved for this program. These fees, along with the cost of textbooks and other course materials, must be paid by the student if other forms of financial aid are not available to offset these costs.

GREENLAWN LAWN MEMORIAL PARK

**Notice**

WE ARE UPDATING OUR OLD RECORDS TO MAKE SURE THEY

MATCH YOUR CEMETERY RECORDS FOR FUTURE BURIALS.

COPIES ARE AVAILABLE AT OUR OFFICE.

CALL FOR APPOINTMENT: 304-455-4898 OR 304-405-4041

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For information on the benefits of joining the Wetzel-Tyler Chamber of Commerce, click the button below!