Our History

Recognizing the need to build a high-technology economy in WV, a group of economic developers, researchers, technologists and service providers have been working for four years to build needed infrastructure and public policy. With the leadership and support of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the group became the Vision Shared TBED Working Group and commissioned two studies to provide preliminary assessments of TBED activities in WV.

In 2006 the group was incorporated as the West Virginia Coalition for Technology-Based Economic Development, Inc. In 2007, the Coalition released Phase I of the WV TBED Blueprint, performed by the Battelle Institute, which identified specific gaps and recommended specific technology platforms for building WV’s technology economy.

Also in 2007, WV TBED received a grant from the Benedum Foundation to promote TBED in WV and develop the organization. In 2008 WV TBED obtained a new trade name, TechConnectWV, and received formal designation as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation.

In March 2009 TechConnectWV launched Phase II of the WV TBED Blueprint, outlining strategies and actions to close the gaps, capitalize on the strengths identified in Phase I and grow WV’s innovation economy.