Nov 15, 2021EntrepreneurshipEnvironmentArticle

The State Journal | Ascend West Virginia program aims to increase population, economic development opportunities

MORGANTOWN — Brad D. Smith, former Intuit executive chairman and the next president of Marshall University, has a long-term plan to increase West Virginia’s population and create new economic opportunities.

Through the Ascend West Virginia program, which is supported by and was developed by Smith and his wife Alys in collaboration with state officials, more than 1,000 new residents are expected to move to the state in the next five years.

“Our goal is, over the next five years, to attract 1,000 remote workers and their trailing significant others, partners and family members to move to West Virginia to make it their new forever home,” Smith said during a virtual roundtable event recently organized by the West Virginia Press Association.

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