Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Thursday, May 16, 2024.

A Terra Alta bison farm carves a unique niche in the agricultural scene with help from the WV SBDC … a training program at North Central WV Airport is expected to create 160 jobs … and Charleston welcomes 600 athletes and their entourages for the USA Cycling Pro Road Nationals … on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV COMMERCE – Riffle Farms raises grass-fed and finished bison tucked in the hills of Preston County. In the picturesque landscapes of Terra Alta, West Virginia, Liz Riffle, the proud owner of Riffle Farms, has carved out a unique niche in the agricultural scene by raising bison.

When it came time to expand, she sought assistance from the West Virginia Small Business Center to help her secure the funding she needed.

 Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCmopsyAcOU

#2 – From WV NEWS – Over the next 64 weeks, 160 new jobs will be created in Bridgeport as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at North Central West Virginia Airport hosts its first Academy for Structural Technicians.

Eight cohorts of the program, taking place eight weeks apart, will each take 20 student-employees and give them on-the-job training for aerospace maintenance work. During the course of the full program, no tuition is required, and MHIRJ pays a salary. It’s a full-time program, and upon completion leads to a full-time job.

The May cohort already has been filled to capacity, and the second cohort starting in July is filling up quickly. Those interested in the opportunity can apply for the program and secure a full time job at www.mhirj.com.

Read more:

https://www.wvnews.com/theet/news/mhirj-to-host-training-program-at-north-central-west-virginia-airport-hopes-to-gain-160/article_5b695762-0306-11ef-a667-e725739c7714.html

#3 – From WV METRO NEWS –  Final preparations have wrapped up across the City of Charleston just in time for the USA Cycling championship event to sprint into the Capital City.

Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin said 90 city streets were getting a fresh layer of pavement just in time for the USA Cycling Pro Road Nationals taking place this week.

Goodwin said she believes the event will be bigger than the five-day Sternwheel Regatta– which is also approaching for July 3-7– as the Pro Road Nationals covers one more day than the Regatta, and the projections of people are coming across a wider geographic range.

She said it’s too early to tell right now, but it may also leave a bigger economic impact on the city than the $37.2 million the Regatta brought in last year.

Read more:

https://wvmetronews.com/2024/05/12/gear-up-for-the-usa-cycling-pro-road-national-championship-coming-to-charleston-further-underway/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.