Photo left to right: Pat Ford, Vice President; Keith Burdette, President; and Cam Huffman, Director of External Affairs
By Pat Ford
The West Virginia Polymer Alliance Zone (PAZ) is making a bold move to win the future of polymer, chemical, and advanced manufacturing up and down the Ohio River Valley bordering West Virginia.
PAZ has officially launched its PAZ Super Sites program—a strategic, high-impact initiative designed to identify and promote site-ready industrial properties across the organizations 10-county region. With 30 strategically positioned sites now designated, PAZ is accelerating project timelines, pursuing new investment, and laying the groundwork for long-term job creation.
From riverfront industrial parks to rail-served manufacturing hubs, these Super Sites are more than just land—they are opportunity, prepped and primed. Each property features existing or planned access to critical infrastructure—highways, rail, river access, energy, water, sewer, and essential utilities—removing the uncertainty that often slows major projects.
“Speed matters in today’s economy,” said PAZ President Keith Burdette. “Companies are looking for certainty. By doing the upfront work on these sites, we’re removing barriers and giving decision-makers the confidence to move quickly—and choose our region.”
Making the Process Easier and Faster
The PAZ Super Sites program is rooted in one goal: making it easier—and faster—for companies to say yes.
Each designated site:
- Is site-ready or near site-ready for development
- Sites have undergone preliminary due diligence to reduce risk
- Sites can support a wide range of industrial and manufacturing uses
That readiness gives the ten county PAZ region a competitive edge in a global race for projects where time-to-market is important.
A Region Located to Create Competitive Advantages
Beyond site readiness, the Polymer Alliance Zone delivers a powerful combination of location, resources, and cost advantages:
- 30 Super Sites across 10 West Virginia counties
- Within a one-day drive of 70% of U.S. polyethylene demand and 77% of polypropylene demand
- Direct access to highways, rail, and river transportation
- Positioned on top of the Marcellus and Utica shale formations
- West Virginia has the lowest manufacturing turn-over in the country
“This is about more than sites—it’s about strategy,” said PAZ Vice President Pat Ford. “When you combine energy savings, location, and workforce, you get a region that can compete with anyone in the country on cost.”
The region’s access to abundant, low-cost natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) makes it especially attractive to energy-intensive industries, while its central location connects companies to major U.S. manufacturing markets within a single day’s drive.
Strategic Advantages That Matter
PAZ Super Sites offer a compelling value proposition for companies looking to scale:
- Low cost of doing business compared to national averages
- Abundant, low-cost energy resources
- Skilled and available workforce
- Multimodal transportation access (road, rail, river)
- Available industrial land and buildings
Together, these assets position the Mid-Ohio Valley as one of the most cost-competitive and operationally efficient regions in the country.
Targeting High-Growth Industries
The Super Sites portfolio is built to support industries representing the future of U.S. manufacturing, including:
- Petrochemicals and polymers
- Advanced manufacturing
- Energy-intensive industries
- Logistics and distribution
From Greenfield development opportunities to redevelopment-ready industrial properties, the program offers flexible pathways for companies at every stage of growth.
Program Goals: Growth with Impact
The PAZ Super Sites initiative is designed to deliver measurable results:
- Attract new domestic and international investment
- Reduce site selection and development timelines
- Increase regional competitiveness
- Create high-paying jobs
- Expand the Mid-Ohio Valley’s manufacturing base
For PAZ, the mission goes beyond economic metrics—it’s about strengthening communities across the region.
“We’re proud of what this program represents,” Ford added. “It creates opportunity—not just for companies, but for the people who live and work here.”
A Regional Portfolio of Opportunity
The 26 Super Sites span Wayne, Cabell, Mason, Jackson, Wood, Pleasants, Tyler, Wetzel, Marshall, and Ohio counties, offering a diverse mix of:
- Industrial parks
- Rail-served properties
- River-access sites
- Redevelopment-ready industrial locations
- Greenfield development sites
PAZ Super Sites Locations by County:
Wayne County
- Tri-State Aeroplex (Ceredo)
- Hamer Site (Kenova)
- Wilson Tract (Kenova)
Cabell County
- Route 2 River & Rail Site (Green Bottom)
- East Huntington Industrial Site (Huntington)
- Former Jan Pak Building (Huntington)
- Level 1 Fasteners Building (Huntington)
- Huntington Industrial Center – West (Huntington)
Mason County
- Appalachian Industrial Park (Point Pleasant)
- New Haven Industrial Park (Letart)
- Thompson Property (Point Pleasant)
- Jesco Corporation Site (Letart)
Jackson County
- Ravenswood Business Park (Millwood)
- Jackson Crossing – Rashid Property (Ravenswood)
- Jackson County Maritime & Industrial Center (Millwood)
Wood County
- Polymer Technology Park – Lot (Davisville)
- Fort Boreman (Parkersburg)
- Athey Property (Parkersburg)
- Polymer Technology Park – Building 1C (Davisville)
- The Warehouse (Vienna)
Pleasants County
- Former Cabot Site (St. Marys)
Tyler County
- Berkshire Hathaway Eastern Gas & Transmission – (Bens Run)
- Momentive Site (Friendly)
Wetzel County
- Paden City Industrial Park (Paden City)
- New Martinsville Industrial Park – Covestro (New Martinsville)
Marshall County
- Former Columbian Carbon Site (Moundsville)
- Benwood Industrial Park (Benwood)
Ohio County
- Wheeling Roll Shop (Wheeling)
- Wheeling–Ohio County Airport Industrial Park (Wheeling)
- The Highlands (Triadelphia)
“With the launch of the Super Sites program, the message is clear: The sites are ready. The infrastructure is in place. And the Mid-Ohio Valley is built for what’s next, said Ford.