AGP Executive Report

Grocery M&A: Kroger agreed to buy Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion, adding 197 supermarkets and 11 standalone pharmacies across Ohio, West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, Maryland and Indiana; the deal is expected to close in 2027 and Giant Eagle says it expects no immediate store closures or job cuts. Defense Contract: Raytheon won a $1.1 billion U.S. Navy contract for AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles, with production ramping at facilities including in West Virginia. Regional Planning Leadership: Monongalia’s MPO named Mark Debald as the next executive director, bringing decades of transportation planning experience from New York’s Dutchess County Transportation Council. Local Economy & Infrastructure: Wheeling officials held a Q&A on Silicon Foundation’s Warwood data center plans after public concern over the project’s scope. State Budget Watch: West Virginia closed FY 2026 with a $370 million revenue surplus, finishing ahead of expectations. Labor & Consumer Impact: A Teamsters strike tied to a beer distributor is leaving some southern West Virginia bars with thinner beer supplies. Workforce Rules: West Virginia joined other states easing child labor protections this year, including changes that allow longer hours in youth apprenticeships.

Grocery Deal: Kroger agreed to buy Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion, adding nearly 200 supermarkets and 11 pharmacies across Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana; stores and the MyPerks loyalty program are expected to keep their names while the deal closes in 2027, with possible divestitures as regulators review the merger. AI & Energy Infrastructure: Range Impact and C2 Ventures launched a joint effort to build an AI infrastructure platform on a 9,000-acre West Virginia energy corridor site, banking on power, water and rail access to attract hyperscale computing. Rare Earth Push: Greenbrier Smokeless Coal and partners announced a $150 million rare earth minerals investment in Rupert, targeting nearly 250 jobs by extracting and processing materials from coal byproducts. Local Business & Jobs: Sheetz will open its 10th Loudoun County location Thursday, creating about 30 jobs and donating to local causes during the grand opening. Public Safety & Privacy: Monongalia County’s Flock automated license plate camera plan faces renewed criticism as residents question surveillance, data sharing and use of opioid settlement funds. State Finance: West Virginia closed FY 2026 with a $370 million revenue surplus, finishing ahead of estimates. Sports & Education Policy: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld state bans on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports, and the U.S. Department of Education highlighted Title IX enforcement actions tied to sports participation and access to facilities.

Supreme Court Impact on WV Schools: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld West Virginia’s ban on transgender girls and women competing in girls’ and women’s sports, saying states can set eligibility by “biological sex” under Title IX—another major legal win for state restrictions. Retail Deal: Kroger announced it will buy Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion, expanding Kroger’s footprint across northern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana; the deal includes $1.25 billion cash plus about $400 million in assumed liabilities. Healthcare Workforce: Butler Family Medicine Residency opened a new permanent facility in Butler County, adding a clinic-first training model aimed at boosting access to primary care physicians. Casino Oversight: The West Virginia Lottery Commission approved Greenbrier Casino’s license renewal at the last minute, but ordered quarterly financial reviews after audit delays raised concerns. Child Health Coverage: A Georgetown report flags rising uninsured rates for young children nationwide, with West Virginia among states where coverage losses for under-6 kids are worsening. Economic Development: Wood County approved $15,000 to support a Japanese business delegation visit tied to potential new development in the Polymer Alliance Zone.

PFAS Settlement: Chemours could pay $11.25M to West Virginia under a proposed federal consent decree tied to “forever chemicals” at facilities including the Washington Works plant in Parkersburg, with a public comment period still ahead. Supreme Court Impact on Schools: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld West Virginia’s ban on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports, a 9-0 Title IX win and a 6-3 equal-protection ruling that officials say protects girls’ athletics. Local Business & Jobs: Capito and Pack toured Fairmont’s Prime 6 carbon processing plant, highlighting a $35M transformation and plans to expand industrial feedstock and hiring. Water Infrastructure: Beckley Water Company is replacing about 3,400 feet of water main and adding hydrants ahead of a July 21 rate increase. Banking: Grant County Bank completed its rebrand to Highlands Bank, a name-and-brand transition with no service changes. Community & Growth: Arc of Appalachia bought 2,000+ acres near the New River Gorge to close a trail gap, while Clay County Farmers Market returns with a free tomato sandwich day July 2.

Supreme Court Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to issue final rulings that could reshape major national policies, including a challenge to Trump’s birthright citizenship order and cases involving transgender athletes in school sports. Voting Rules: In a separate decision, the court ruled states can count mail-in ballots received after Election Day as long as they’re postmarked by then—an outcome that voting-rights advocates say protects voters. West Virginia Politics & Policy: Gov. Patrick Morrisey named Daniel Linville as Director of Special Projects and rolled out the America250 Capital City Celebration schedule, while also granting state employees a half-day holiday ahead of July 4. Energy & Industry: The federal government announced $17.5B in loans aimed at speeding large commercial nuclear reactor supply chains, and West Virginia’s Robert C. Byrd Clinic is rebranding as WVSOM Health on July 1. Local Business & Community: Bridge Day 2026 is seeking poster submissions (no AI), and The Greenbrier is working to secure approval for its casino license renewal after submitting required audit materials.

PFAS Settlement: Chemours reached a preliminary $450 million deal with the EPA and WVDEP over “forever chemicals” discharges, with West Virginia positioned to receive a portion tied to penalties and cleanup programs. Local Water Utility: Kanawha Falls Public Service District board chair resigned as the district moves toward a possible sale of its water and sewer assets to West Virginia-American Water. Housing & Rural Development: Woodlands Development and Lending expanded its leadership team to meet rising demand for affordable housing and small-business support across north-central WV. Affordable Housing Funding: Greenbrier County received $383,198 in a payment in lieu of taxes tied to tax-exempt federal lands, helping cover operating costs. Jobs & Economic Growth: Nscale held a job fair in Mason County for the expanding Monarch Compute Campus, aiming to connect local workers and schools with project roles. SNAP Policy: A federal judge blocked USDA SNAP “junk food” restriction waivers, a direct hit to state pilots including West Virginia. Supreme Court Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled states can count mail-in ballots arriving after Election Day if postmarked by then, preserving grace-period rules in multiple states. Business Outreach: Wood County commissioners approved $15,000 to host a Japanese business delegation, pitching the Mid-Ohio Valley for future investment.

Nuclear & Manufacturing: Curio® hired nuclear quality leader Paul Oleyar as Director of Quality Assurance, aiming to speed commercialization of its NuCycle® technology. Logistics & Jobs: FTAI Infrastructure completed its ~$45M acquisition of Tidewater Logistics, expanding barge/rail transloading operations across Ohio, West Virginia and Texas. Public Health & Environment: WV wastewater testing in Shreveport found methamphetamine levels among the highest worldwide, using opioid-settlement-funded drug monitoring. Education Finance: West Virginia Board of Education President Paul Hardesty again warned school systems are heading toward a fiscal cliff as enrollment drops and the school-aid formula strains budgets. Courts & Policy: The U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion day is set to tackle major cases on elections, presidential power and transgender athletes. Community & Fundraising: A Kanawha County fundraiser is underway to buy a headstone for 16-year-old Shayln Harvey, with donations accepted at People’s Bank locations and via Venmo/PayPal. Flood Risk Data: NOAA data shows West Virginia flood events have more than doubled since the 2016 flood. Social Security: A new analysis warns retirees could face a steep cut when the trust fund is depleted in late 2032.

Supreme Court Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to issue major rulings Monday, with seven cases still pending—three tied to President Trump’s power grabs (including firing a Fed governor and limiting birthright citizenship), plus election rules and a crackdown on transgender athletes. PFAS & Water Safety: Chemours agreed to a $450 million settlement over “forever chemicals” tied to discharges affecting rivers in West Virginia and other states, with funding aimed at pollution controls and drinking-water cleanup—though critics say communities still need more protection. Federal Buildings Backlog: A new report highlights a $50 billion maintenance backlog across federal facilities, with health and safety problems like leaks, mold, and broken elevators worsening as workers are pushed back into office. West Virginia Schools: State officials warn more school closures could be coming as enrollment keeps sliding and funding gaps persist, with 8–10 schools already flagged and the possibility of more. Local Government & EMS: Kanawha County’s new ambulance authority executive director, Lance Wheeler, starts Wednesday with a goal of balancing the budget and boosting training, transparency, and confidence in the agency. Plastics Act Lawsuit: Seventeen Republican attorneys general, including West Virginia, sued to block California’s plastics packaging law, arguing it unlawfully forces nationwide compliance. Downtown Revitalization: Gov. Morrisey announced AMLER and Transportation Alternatives grants for Logan and Clendenin projects aimed at jobs, tourism, and safer, improved main streets.

Supreme Court Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to wrap up its term soon, with seven major cases still pending, including three that test President Trump’s power over the Fed and the FTC, plus two election-related fights and a case on state crackdowns on transgender athletes. SNAP Rules: A federal judge blocked a state ban on buying soda with food stamps, keeping SNAP purchase limits from tightening in the affected states. PFAS Accountability: Regulators secured a $450 million settlement with Chemours over “forever chemicals” tied to releases into the Ohio, Cape Fear and Delaware river systems, including West Virginia impacts, with penalties and long-term cleanup commitments. West Virginia Development: Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a $2.5 million AMLER grant to redevelop the former Peebles Department Store in downtown Logan and a $450,000 streetscape grant for Clendenin’s Main Street project. Local Governance & Growth: West Virginia counties are weighing input on data center proposals after lawmakers limited local control, reigniting the debate over zoning and community say. Energy & Environment: A federal appeals court rejected the EPA’s bid to abandon a tougher Biden-era soot rule, leaving tighter pollution standards in place. Regional Business Climate: Seventeen Republican attorneys general sued to challenge California’s plastics packaging law, with West Virginia among the plaintiffs.

Downtown Revitalization: Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a $2.5 million AMLER grant to redevelop the former Peebles Department Store in downtown Logan into a multi-use economic and cultural hub aimed at jobs, heritage tourism, and small-business growth. Main Street Upgrades: In Clendenin, Morrisey backed a $450,000 Transportation Alternatives Program grant for the Clendenin Main Street Streetscape project, including safer sidewalks, landscaping, and decorative lighting as the community marks 10 years since the 2016 flood. SNAP Oversight: USDA says the national SNAP payment error rate hit 10.62% in FY 2025, with improper payments totaling $10.1 billion, and notes states could face financial consequences starting as soon as Oct. 1, 2027. Plastics Fight: Seventeen Republican AGs, including West Virginia, sued to block California’s plastics packaging law, arguing it violates state sovereignty and could raise costs nationwide. Local Housing Impact: The West Run Housing Facility in Morgantown will close July 31 after foreclosure proceedings tied to Clear Mountain Bank, ending HUD-funded transitional and supportive housing operations. Energy Efficiency: A new high school in Kilgore, Texas received a $49,505.62 SWEPCO incentive tied to energy savings from efficient lighting and HVAC—an example of how utility programs can fund school upgrades.

Energy & Environment: West Virginia AG J.B. McCuskey joined a 17-state lawsuit challenging California’s Plastics Act, arguing it would raise costs on everyday goods and burden West Virginians already facing higher fuel and product prices. Mining & Accountability: Sen. Jim Justice’s Bluestone Coal Corp. is on the hook for more than $1.6 million in delinquent DEP fines tied to hundreds of mining violations, with the debt reportedly growing over time. Education Finance: West Virginia Board of Education President Paul Hardesty warns the state’s school aid formula is pushing districts toward “the rocks” as enrollment keeps falling and special education costs rise. Local Economy & Development: A proposed asset sale is part of WestRidge’s bankruptcy reorganization, with Hilco Global listing a Westover retail center and a corporate office building for sale. Public Health & Community: Wood County commissioners declared September “Goes Purple Month” to support substance-use prevention, treatment and recovery efforts. Business & Consumer Costs: Gas prices continue to trend lower in the region, with AAA reporting a weekly drop and easing crude-oil pressure. Infrastructure & Growth Debate: In Warwood, residents pressed officials at a town hall over a proposed data-center plan tied to modular manufacturing, as details remain limited.

SNAP Fight: A federal court blocked USDA waivers that would have restricted what SNAP recipients can buy in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia, saying USDA exceeded its authority by changing the definition of eligible foods. PFAS Fallout: Chemours reached a $450M-plus settlement with the EPA and DOJ over “forever chemicals,” with $22.5M in penalties and $90M in mitigation over 15 years; North Carolina advocates say the direct local relief is unclear. Utility Watch: The West Virginia Public Service Commission heard talks on Appalachian Power’s securitization plan, with the company saying it’s about $593.5M, tied to a July 1 rate hike and a promise not to seek another base increase for a year. Local Business: Crown Auto Group bought Wheeling Volkswagen-Subaru, rebranding it as Crown Subaru and Crown Volkswagen. Jobs & Industry: Centauri Ground Support will open at Putnam County’s Waterways Industrial Park, investing $25M and creating 120–150 jobs. Energy & Power: PSC scrutiny continues around Kanawha Falls PSD after board leadership changes, while Mon Power/Potomac Edison’s Maidsville Energy Center faces public comment. Community Calendar: Bridgeport’s “Fireworks on the Hill” returns July 3, and Clarksburg’s Liberty Market kicks off July 2 with vendors, food trucks and fireworks.

PFAS Accountability: EPA, DOJ and WV DEP reached a landmark $450 million settlement with Chemours over “forever chemicals” discharges into the Cape Fear, Delaware and Ohio rivers, including West Virginia—money for drinking-water alternatives, facility compliance and a multi-year mitigation program. SNAP Ruling Hits WV: A federal judge blocked state SNAP waivers that limited purchases of soda and candy, pausing the restrictions in West Virginia and other states and drawing a response from Gov. Morrisey’s office. School Funding Pressure: West Virginia Board of Education President Paul Hardesty warned enrollment declines are accelerating financial “rocks” for county systems and could trigger another lawsuit unless the school aid formula is modernized. PEIA Watch: PEIA’s Finance Board heard the public employee health plan is stable heading into FY 2027, helped by investment returns and a shift toward lower-cost biosimilars, though costs could spike. Local Economy & Community: Wheeling Heritage received a nearly $49,000 T-Mobile grant for a Market Plaza pocket park, while Bridgeport continues to cash in on PFAS settlement payments with a new $116,995 installment from 3M. Transit Update: Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation will replace several low-ridership fixed routes with on-demand KRTplus service starting July 20. Business & Community Calendar: Clarksburg’s Liberty Market kicks off July 2 with vendors, food trucks and fireworks, and New Martinsville’s Back Home Festival runs June 26-28.

Plastics & State Power: West Virginia AG J.B. McCuskey joined a 17-state lawsuit challenging California’s Plastics Act, arguing it would raise costs and burden out-of-state businesses. PFAS Accountability: A proposed federal consent decree would require Chemours to pay $22.5 million in civil penalties tied to “forever chemicals” at facilities including Washington Works in Parkersburg, with public comment pending. OSHA Funding Fight: Public Citizen urged senators to reject proposed OSHA cuts, warning the reductions would endanger workers—explicitly citing miners and construction workers in West Virginia. Energy Projects in the Pipeline: The West Virginia Public Service Commission set a July 15 public comment hearing on a $2.48 billion Monongalia County gas-electric plant plus three solar projects, with an estimated 0.9% average bill increase. Local Governance & Services: Kanawha County named Lance Wheeler as the new executive director of the Emergency Ambulance Authority. Workforce Watch: West Virginia’s unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in May, but fewer people were actually working, with labor force participation dropping to 54%.

PFAS Accountability in WV: The Trump administration and DOJ reached a multistate settlement with Chemours over “forever chemicals,” filed in federal court in West Virginia. Chemours will pay a $22.5 million civil penalty and spend $90 million over 15 years on mitigation in WV, North Carolina and New Jersey, including $60 million for pollution controls at its WV facility and $280 million to supply clean drinking water near affected sites. Data Center Policy Fight: A House Democrat called for a nationwide moratorium on new data center development, spotlighting a widening split in Congress over how much to regulate the fast-growing industry and whether ratepayers should bear the costs. WV Education Funding Pressure: West Virginia Board of Education President Paul Hardesty warned the state’s school aid formula and enrollment declines could trigger major financial fallout and even another lawsuit unless lawmakers act. Public Safety—Domestic Violence: A West Virginia op-ed argues the state isn’t angry enough about domestic violence deaths and calls for earlier detection and stronger punishment. Permitting and Conservation: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito grilled Interior’s Fish and Wildlife nominee Kevin Lilly on streamlining Endangered Species Act consultations and supporting New River Gorge’s permanent superintendent. Infrastructure—Bridge Work: WVDOH says the $2.95 million Hackers Creek Bridge replacement in Harrison County will start in July, with completion targeted for October 2027. Health & Risk: A new national analysis ranks West Virginia among the highest states for venomous snakebite rates per capita. Emergency Response: Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency for Boone, Logan and Raleigh counties after severe storms and flash flooding. Workforce Health Investment: Morrisey also announced $2.4 million to expand worksite-based healthcare clinics statewide.

PFAS Accountability: The DOJ and EPA reached a multi-state deal with Chemours over “forever chemicals,” with the company to pay a $22.5 million penalty and fund about $450 million in cleanup and controls tied to West Virginia’s Washington Works site, including drinking-water support and major GenX release reductions. Flood Recovery & Response: Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a State of Emergency for Boone, Logan and Raleigh counties after flash flooding and landslides, while WVDOH crews worked to stabilize and reopen washed-out roads like James Branch Road near Wharton. Housing Stability: Fallout from Bartlett Housing Solutions’ collapse continues as the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness is set to vacate the West Run Road facility by July 31 after foreclosure action tied to unpaid loans. Rural Health & Access: A new dental clinic in Southwest Virginia is slated to open in Spring 2027, funded by ARC and CDBG, aiming to cut long waits and expand care for uninsured and underinsured patients across Southern WV. State Policy Watch: A federal judge blocked USDA SNAP restrictions on sugary foods like soda and candy, a ruling that could affect how states manage nutrition-related benefit limits. Local Business: A Subway and Godfather’s Pizza opened inside the Mount Nebo Little General Store, adding another dining option for Nicholas County.