CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice made a national television news appearance today on the Fox News show, Fox & Friends, to discuss West Virginia’s recent ranking by the United States Department of Commerce as the #1 state in the country for GDP growth rate.
“In West Virginia, when I walked in the door, we were dead last,” Gov. Justice said. “And now, think, can you imagine, in West Virginia we were first in construction jobs, second in revenue, we were first in personal income growth, and first, now, in GDP.”
The top national ranking was among GDP growth rates for Q1 of 2019. United States Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced the news in a congratulatory tweet to Gov. Justice, sent on Thursday.
Mining was the leading contributor to West Virginia’s GDP growth rate.
“We’re rolling,” Gov. Justice said in the interview. “There’s a lot a lot of things that are going on in West Virginia today and we’re proud to have our miners back to work.”
During the interview, the Governor also championed the state’s blossoming tourism and manufacturing industries, while also explaining that an extra emphasis has been placed on construction and improving infrastructure, especially among West Virginia’s roads.
The U.S. Department of Commerce also reported last month that West Virginia led the nation in personal income growth for the 1st Quarter of 2019, with a 5.6% growth rate.