Gov. Jim Justice Holds Hearing To Announce West Virginia Economic Development Projects

he is our biggest cheerleader our fiercest Advocate our most steadfast believer the guy who always sees the best in what we are and envisions the best that we can be those might be the reasons that he won all 55 counties in his last election and it doesn't hurt that he has the cutest English bulldog in the eastern United States and he's still going before he takes the stage please watch this video welcoming the governor of the Great state of West Virginia Jim Justice we've been 50th forever more we are such in the hole that we got to quit digging you're faced with a $500 million hole in the bucket let's don't just try to figure out how to just get by let's Cannonball right in the middle of the pool we can do this we absolutely abolutely can do it a lot of people for weeks thought this vote might be very close in the end it was an absolute blowout with most if not all of the votes counted Governor Jim justice has long predicted this program will generate 48,000 new jobs over the next 10 years the absolute most historic vote in the state of West Virginia hands down and this will be our starting cour Governor Jim Justice even breaking out the Lays they announced the state has seen a 6% increase in tax revenue from income tax and it comes with 10 straight months of economic growth you know that a few months ago it hit where West Virginia on a per capita basis is one of the most successful GDP States in our Union so we went from being down and out you're one of the most successful in the union we know how good this place really is but people on the outside are beginning now to know how good this place really is there's roads that are being built that will reap the Harvest for many many decades to come tourism in this state has now exploded and all of a sudden we have an entirely different ad campaign we've put the emphasis that we need to invest in education and let it be one of the centerpieces if not the centerpiece to driving our economy I have told people over and over and over you know once the goodness starts we won't even be able to stop it West Virginia's governor was impressed with what he saw at the new cor steel mill construction site this afternoon even though the massive Mason County project slated to become fully operational in 2027 is less than 10% complete you Cann not possibly imagine nor can I what this will absolutely do to this whole area it will be transformational in every single way in the Ste West Bridge locally Dubbs the bridge to nowhere officially opens late this afternoon ground has now officially been broken toward a $63 million complete water system upgrade for the city of Lewisburg well a brand new Scenic round has been unveiled in the mountains of West Virginia it's called cranberry Corridor Governor Jim Justice signed into law this afternoon the largest tax cut in West Virginia history we're on a pathway now in West Virginia to totally eliminate our personal income there's so much goodness going on in West Virginia and all I got to say is just what I've said so many times look at where we're located businesses are moving to West Virginia like crazy look at where we're located look at our four incredible Seasons look at the people of West Virginia and their values they never believed in West Virginia they never believed in West Virginia and so from that standpoint baby dog tells B Midler and all those out there kiss her honey [Applause] if we continue in West Virginia you know I'm not going to be your Governor long but if we continue in West Virginia on the pathway that we're on right now the stars are the limit let's Cannonball right in the middle of the pool we can do this and now please stand and welcome the 36th governor of the great state of West Virginia The Honorable Jim Justice [Applause] thank you please sit down please oh my goodness what a wonderful crowd aren't you proud of yourselves aren't you really really proud I mean this Gathering has grown and grown and grown and I T totally love it you've got to be proud you know and I wish you the greatest in every Endeavor you could ever possibly have across this great state the nation the world forever more but I do hope you lose money in the casino now because our state gets a big cut of that too let me tell you most generally I never really have any notes but for Susan and Steve and all those that work so hard to put this event together we thank you the reason I have some notes today is I don't want to forget anything I really truly don't you know this road started off pretty dog onone rough we all know that and there's no point in belaboring that but absolutely today we are in a celebration in this great state like we can't imagine look at you we can't hardly get any more of you in the room but someway somehow let's try we may have to absolutely have a love your neighbor moment as we go forward in the future where you're touching arms it couldn't be better in my book you see at the end of the day say what you want but Jim's never wanted anything for Jim for crying out loud I know I drive the state police crazy because I they lose me from time to time well so what but with all that being said truly what I've wanted is right here right now what I've wanted is for Toby and Edith Edith to do so much better and to be so much happier and what I've wanted more than anything in the world is the B middlers of the world and the outside world to know in every way that we're not the end of a bad joke we're not that we're the best of the blooming best and you know it we had to make them believe it we had to do a lot of things and they were hard to do but we did them and we stayed together we pulled the rope together didn't we and then Along Came Co for God's sakes I live in a cannonball of the stomach like nobody's business we again held the rope together and literally ran across the Finish Line together we lost thousands but we could have lost tens of thousands you know it nobody knew what to do nobody absolutely I commend president Trump in every way for what the hell they moved in light speed warp speed to do what they did people were really scared and rightfully so and people were dropping like flies and from Jim standpoint every single day I went in that office every day we had a briefing even Christmas day I was there doing a briefing and why because people were scared people were really scared and literally then Along Came baby dog of all things and absolutely she did something that I couldn't believe she made you smile and she loved everybody and I thought to myself how can the message be any more simpler than just that to me baby dog was sent from from God above for all of us because we needed to be able to smile and we needed to absolutely stand together it didn't matter if you were black or white or rich or poor for God forbid a Republican or a Democrat we had to stand together and we did and we got through it now let me tell you this there's no need in Jim Justice saying well you know I've Got 5 months left you know I'd love to be able to go fishing and hunting and everything I'll just hang out and everything it's not in me you see I love to do all those things in life and everything I can't really hunt much very good anymore I can't fly fish much very good anymore you know I do coach basketball and I love being with those kids but with all that being said what I love more than anything is my work you know I've got to tell you just this we need to run through the finish line and then I hope and pray that we're going to pass this torch to Patrick and Patrick's going to do great stuff he's done great stuff as your attorney general and he's going to continue to do more and more and more good stuff it'll tickle me te totally to death so I want to just tell you just this real quick today we have another celebration another celebration of more milestones and that's why I don't want to forget any of this I've got a video that I want to show you in just a second but absolutely as we look back just think about it I think I think Steve Roberts maybe mentioned to one of my folks or whatever like that that your membership has doubled in seven years well let's quadruple it the next seven years amen absolutely let's make it happen you know tourism is exploding you know we're Diversified you know we welcome all forms of energy keep it going for crying out loud and this right now is more testimony that I want to give you right this second to what we're doing you know if you'll just step back this is mindboggling to me but in the years that I've been able to have the honor of being your Governor all of us together have caused $4 billion dollar of investment in our roads and infrastructure think about that we've cut over a billion dollars in taxes to our people a billion dollars has been pumped into to education for our kids $250 million has been been spent in in Transforming Our State Parks it's unbelievable it's unbelievable what's going on right now in this great state but today I want to tell you just this that maybe it says that maybe the most impressive number we've seen over2 billion dollar has been has is going into Economic Development projects that will create over 30,000 jobs can can you imagine can you just imagine how good we feel today how good are we going to feel when all this kicks in and what is the multiplier effect after it all kicks in Shell's here somewhere I know Gail's here and Joe's on the way maybe Joe's here too Carol's here somewhere there's so many people that are absolutely pulling a rope and working right with you every every single day keep working with them they're good folks they really work hard their hearts in the right spot you know I'll promise you if things work out and I don't know how in the world things wouldn't work out and everything and probably I'd be the only one that could screw it up you know but I may very well end up in DC as well I won't forget you there's no way because first and foremost I love you beyond good sense and you know that but today now get this I want to absolutely always every single last one of us run through that Finish Line run through the Finish Line with all that being said today I'm excited to announce a $35 million investment from Prime 6 the world's leading high-performing charcoal and wood products and everything all across the globe they were located in they're located in Asia and now they're coming to West Virginia and it all started believe it or not it all started with Kevin o Mr Wonderful of all things can you just imagine can you imagine him coming to West Virginia and sitting in my office we absolutely had great talks many times on the phone and lo and behold here they come and there's a little video we have right now I think you'd enjoy from Mr Wonderful hi everybody my name is Ricky Franco I'm the founder and CEO of prime 6 and I'm excited to bring my company to West Virginia it's been more than 24 months since we've started looking for a place to call home and we've been through many states and spoke to many officials when we landed in West vir Virginia we realized that the team there had a completely different approach to Bringing both Innovation and being pro business to make sure that the companies are successful here in the state so I want to thank Governor Justice and the entire team of The Economic Development Authority for allowing us the opportunity to be made in America and I want to make this an official announcement and say I couldn't have done better than Country Road take me home West Virginia thank you hi Mr Wonderful here and I want to talk about entrepreneurship in America I want to talk about Shark Tank I want to talk about West Virginia and how all of these came together in a wonderful way this is prime six this is the most sustainable fire log in the world and the best for grilling and I love to cook yeah I'm a chef I fell in love with them on Shark Tank it is the classic company that is the essence of Entrepreneurship started from scratch Ricky and her team built this thing up from practically nothing and ground through all the hard work it takes to grow as they expanded they needed to find a home some place to build a business that is what entrepreneurship is all about and not all states are the same I've been very vocal about this of late one great place to do business is West Virginia why great leadership Jim Justice's governor and the entire team there I've met personally I flew there myself they get it why they've run businesses they've made payroll before they know what it takes to do that these are not politicians these are leaders they understand what really matters in a state is to grow it to expand it to diversify its business so together with the great state of West Virginia and Prime 6 we're going into business together Prime 6 is going to put $35 million in the ground 75 new jobs and expand into multiple products in West Virginia I'm pretty proud of them I just love working with the entire staff there thank you thank you Jim thank you the entire team thank you the state of West Virginia and let me just say this people should consider all around the world what's the number one export out of West Virginia it's the American dream that's what it is so congratulations to Prime 6 congratulations to the entire team there in West Virginia you're kicking butt and I just love it and I want to be part of it take care everybody oh man it doesn't get much better than that to me that's just all there is to it and that's the first time I'd seen that and that's that's really neat and you are kicking butt all of you all of you this is what it's all about but that's not all we got more we've got more to tell you about right now today I'm also excited to announce the 59 59 million doll investment in Berkeley County for that's this that's going to be happening from handcraft Services which will create 220 new full-time jobs they're the healthc care they're in healthc care linen industry and uh we cannot be more happy to to to to give a incredible Round of Applause to uh a great great man that helped us in every way and uh and I I I don't know where Jim's name is here but I think it's it's Jim Morgan is that is that true and and if you'll stand please sir and we'll give you a great big round of applause [Applause] and we got more and I got I got Jimmy Morgan me uh messed up with uh Babcock and wi and and Willcox but nevertheless let me just say just this you know we have a team that works real really really hard to bring more and more and more Economic Development to West Virginia there's folks that have been critical here as of recent that this hydrogen thing is not a possibility man it's premature in every way and with all that being said everybody's concerned everybody's concerned in every way that just maybe this is a pipe dream and it won't really happen absolutely we have things going on in Mason County that are off the chart and right now we have an announcement that today we're announcing a $125 million investment into our energy sector and I love it when we're we're announcing more and more energy jobs and this is Jimmy Morgan and please forgive me and everything and I want you to absolutely thank him with a resounding uh Applause and and it B very well be that this blossoms into a billion doll investment in West Virginia and more than anything this is all driven from making hydrogen out of coal so it keeps our coal miners going so please give them a gigantic Round of Applause as well now the last thing I'll say is just this you know from time to time whether it be handcraft or it be you know Babcock and will Cox whether it be really uh whomever whomever it may be that's coming to our state next just think about this and I'm going to go through this really fast but can you just imagine new cor Fidelis and as a minor and I'm only touching on just a few you see I've just checked just a few here but just think about clockner think about birkshire hathway Cleveland Cliffs Mountaintop beverage commercial medals Prime six handcraft and now Babcock and Wilcox and it just keeps going on and on and on does it not now with all that being said said I'm going to close by just telling you just this it's been the honor of my life being your Governor that's all there is to it like I said early on I don't want anything I never have that's why it's been such an honor because when it really boils right down to it sure we make mistakes and sure there's cannonballs that come out of nowhere and Co or whatever it may be and sure we make mistakes all the time I've always challenged the media this way I I said you find something that knowingly I've told you is not the truth and they really have a hard time with that you know sure from time to time we'll make a mistake but with all that being said I want to just end by telling you just this it's a tough job it's a really really tough job we've come so far it is off the chart but there's so much further you can go it is a rocket ship ride today but let the rocket ship take you somewhere let it take you to the Stars beyond anything you could ever possibly imagine absolutely I'm really proud to be right in Patrick's court and I am really proud that he will go and he will do even greater things bankruptcy was tough and we were right on the verge don't you think for one second in the whole world that this state was absolutely not bankrupt today we're going like great guns like you can't possibly imagine now I would tell you this that while it's been a big honor there's times when you're running up that mountain and you're taking aors and absolutely you feel like well it's not very fun and everything that's part of the job and what do you do you just lean back and and you just keep fighting that's all there is to it you saw president Trump honestly he took a bullet and what did he scream out to the crowd fight fight fight there's so many times in your life I will promise you to God above that you think it's unfair you think you're great people because you are employing all kinds of folks you're doing all the philanthropy work you're doing everything you can do and sometimes it's not fair what do you do lay down and cry about it bull feathers for God's sakes of Live And you do exactly what president Trump was doing and that's what I'll do to the very bitter end I love you it's been an honor it's been an honor like you can't imagine we're going to run through the finish line and we're going to keep bringing businesses we're going to do it every single day if we can because the businesses are just doing exactly what Mr rful just said to all of us the businesses Drive opportunity to all of you the last thing I'll say is just this right this minute and don't you ever forget this right this minute you've got thousands of people that are probably thousands of feet underground they're mining coal that's that high and they can't even sit up let alone stand up and they're fueling this nation in every way please please don't let anyone kick them we have great great great gas folks that are out working all over the place every day please don't let people kick our fossil fuels please always always stand up for us stand up for us the last of my last words are just this every single country on this planet the more energy they have the healthier they are and the longer they live every single country on the plan Planet the more energy we have the healthier they are and the longer they live now let me tell you we're a long ways from perfect but with all in me there'll be a day maybe that our fossil fuels will go away there may be a day but it's not today and for that PE that family that either the mom or the dad is thousands of foot Underground right now doing something for all of us don't forget them don't forget them keep it going West Virginia I've told you many many times you're the energy I mean the engine keep it going please keep it going in every single way I love you with all my heart God bless each and every one of you thank you thank you so much Governor Justice I bet you guys did not have Mr Wonderful on your bingo card today did you you never know what you're going to find out well in case you haven't heard it is a major election year in West Virginia and we could not be more fortunate to be joined by both major party nominees for governor our next speaker is Attorney General en Patrick morresy there he is the Republican nominee for governor of West Virginia in the November election Patrick morisy was elected attorney general in 2012 becoming the first Republican to hold that office in 80 years during his tenure he has secured countless wins for the Mountain State including the pivotal West Virginia versus EPA decision by the US Supreme Court that protects the energy industry and limits the ability of federal agencies to issue regulations without clear statements from Congress reelected in6