The Kanawha Valley: An Attractive & Prosperous Place to Live & Work
Economic Development
From site selection to innovation support, we help attract and grow businesses across industries large and small.
Community Programs
Enhancing local engagement with initiatives like #KeepItLocalKV, Downtown Open, Charleston in Bloom, and the Holiday Window Display Contest.
Small Business & Startup Support
Expert training, funding, and mentorship via our Business Incubator, Small Business Grants, and Faster WV programs.
Chamber of Commerce
Driving local business growth through networking, advocacy, affinity programs, and exclusive member opportunities.
Catalyst for Change in the Kanawha Valley
The Charleston Area Alliance serves as a catalyst for change for Kanawha County, leading with innovative and collaborative approaches to shape a prosperous economy that fosters growth and attracts people and investment. The Charleston Area Alliance is: proactive, thinks long-term, aligned with our partners and the community, collaborative, efficient, and provides value in all our services.
Become a Member
Join our network of entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and corporate leaders driving regional progress.
Recent News & Events
Latest News
Charleston Area Alliance partners with Breeze Airways, the State of West Virginia, Yeager Airport, Kanawha County, and the City of Charleston to expand air service.
CHARLESTON, WV– Governor Patrick Morrisey today announced that Breeze Airways, the acclaimed...
Charleston Area Alliance Welcomes Ellen Cappellanti as New Chair of the Board of Directors
Charleston, WV (June 24, 2025) – The Charleston Area Alliance is proud to announce that Ellen...
Charleston Area Alliance & Optimum Business Announce Lifting Up Small Business Grants
Optimum Business will award 25 small businesses each a $5,000 grant to further support the...
Upcoming Events
Join us for professional development, advocacy sessions, networking, and more.
Building a Thriving Region
Charleston, WV is growing through a blend of historic industry and emerging opportunities. The Charleston Area Alliance supports this progress by driving economic development, strengthening local businesses, and leading community-focused initiatives that enhance the region’s vitality and appeal.
Program Spotlight:
Workforce Initiatives
Leveraging partnerships like Faster WV and internship programs to build local workforce pipelines.
Downtown Revitalization & Housing Initiative
Making our downtown more vibrant and livable for residents, workers, and visitors.
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📣 Calling all Alliance members! 📣
We’re gearing up to welcome our first Ascenders to Kanawha County — and we want to provide them with the BEST resources. Of course, we mean YOU!
Do you offer services or goods that will help new residents thrive in our community?
We’re preparing information now, so reach out today if you’d like to be part of the Ascend Charleston Area movement! Email Sylvia Asbury, VP of Development, at sasbury@charlestonareaalliance.org or call 304-340-4253.
For more information about the program visit here: ascendwv.com/featured-communities/charleston-area/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Congratulations to our board members, Dominique Ranieri and Jeff Sandene, alongside many of our Member businesses, for being recognized at the inaugural State Journal WV Business Leadership Awards.
Thank you to The State Journal for hosting such an inspiring and thoughtful event today at the Clay Center! ... See MoreSee Less
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Our next Business After Hours is hosted by Truist on March 12 from 5–7 PM, and you won’t want to miss it! Whether you’re looking to expand your network, catch up with fellow professionals, or just unwind after the workday, this is the perfect opportunity to do it all in a relaxed setting.
Bring a colleague, grab a drink, and come make meaningful connections with the Alliance community, we’ll see you there! Register here: bit.ly/4sa1poi or call 304-340-4253! ... See MoreSee Less
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🚀 Big moves for our Capital City!
According to the latest WalletHub rankings, Charleston, West Virginia climbed from #40 to #24 among the Best State Capitals to Live In, a huge leap that reflects the momentum happening across our region.
Read more: ... See MoreSee Less
Best State Capitals to Live In (2026)
wallethub.com
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What a busy (and exciting!) week it’s been for the Alliance & our team! 👏
We kicked things off Tuesday with conversations on 580 Live with Dave Allen and Danny Twilley about the inaugural West Virginia Outdoor Economy Summit, followed by staff participation in the Summit itself — learning how we can better leverage our region’s incredible outdoor assets to drive opportunity and growth.
We were also proud to see our team showing up across the community:
✨ Maria Belcher participated in FestivALL's “3 Things” series, sharing insights on her path to entrepreneurship.
✨ Victoria Russo moderated one of the UC Downtown Innovation Hub's Two Views series, leading an important discussion on funding sources for small businesses.
On the horizon, we’re also thrilled to celebrate our Senior VP of Community Development, Susie Salisbury, and long-time Board Member, Nancy Bruns, as they are being recognized as part of the 2026 YWCA Charleston Women of Achievement — a well-deserved honor for two incredible leaders.
There’s so much happening and we truly couldn’t do it without all of you. Thank you for being part of this work with us! ... See MoreSee Less
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Thank you to the University of Charleston for having our President & CEO, Mara Boggs, on the latest episode of Discover UC! We’re grateful for the opportunity to share the important work happening across our region and for leaders like Mara and President Roth who are committed to strengthening our community and driving progress forward. 🤝✨ ... See MoreSee Less
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