CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Secretary of Commerce Matt Herridge is encouraged with West Virginia’s current economic state, but he has an eye for the near future.

Herridge spoke before the Joint Committee on Government and Finance during legislative interim meetings earlier in the month.

Herridge, the former state GOP chair, gave lawmakers a look at the state’s improvements with license reciprocity, which allows some professionals to come over to the Mountain State without obtaining another license to work.

“In the month September 2023, there were 69 new contractor licenses approved. In 2024 September, there were 89. In 2025, we’ve had 101 contractors’ licenses approved. It’s a continuing trend — a very big trend — from last year,” Herridge said.

Herridge also noted that the state’s small business development center, which is led by Will Miller, has had a good 2025.

“Over calendar year 2025, we’ve had 73 business starts that we’ve worked with. We’ve served 1,217 clients, created 252 jobs within that small business development center

After giving some statistics, Herridge focused his opening statement to lawmakers towards the future. Like Governor Patrick Morrisey who appointed Herridge to the role of secretary of commerce, Herridge believes that West Virginia is on the verge of being a national leader in energy production.

“I see West Virginians economic development direction as building on our strengths and that is energy, and we are a desirable place to live and to work,” he said.

He says the Mountain State has the resources.

“If we were to draw a 90-mile radius around the city of Wheeling, about 25 percent of the natural gas reserves in the country sit right there,” Herridge said. “As these AI initiatives go forward, as data center investments go forward and the need for that energy, West Virginia stands primed to be a target for those companies and those investments. I’m very excited about that opportunity.”

Herridge says that there’s a big thirst for energy as is, but he sees it only growing.

“The reality is that the future of energy is exponential. Even if we see these data centers and these AI hubs start to become more efficient, what’s going to happen is we’re still going to have more need for energy than what is available right now, so we see West Virginia being in that perfect position to fulfill that need.

During his presentation, Herridge did admit that there are some hurdles, but he’s confident West Virginia can face them head on and become that energy hub.

“We also have our challenges in front of us and that includes housing, making sure that we have a workforce that is trained and ready for those energy jobs, for those engineering jobs, for those welding jobs, and for those skilled labor jobs that are sure to come,” he said

“I truly believe that the future is going to be in West Virginia because of our energy reserves and what we want to do is take those energy reserves, turn those right into those advanced manufacturing right around the site where that energy is coming out of the ground. We want to let companies know that it is just simply wise to not only get your energy here, but to build here and manufacture here,” he continued.

UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson returned from injury to throw two fourth-down touchdown passes to freshman receiver Chris Domercant as the Knights snapped a three-game losing streak with a 45-13 victory over West Virginia on Saturday.

Jackson missed last week’s game against No. 24 Cincinnati after injuring his shoulder against Kansas two weeks ago. UCF (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) was without its starter from last week. Cam Fancher, who was ruled out for this game, so the Knights turned back to Jackson.

He threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns on 23-for-34 passing in the game. Domercant caught five passes for 89 yards to lead UCF’s receiving group.

West Virginia (2-5, 0-4) struggled to find its offense. The Mountaineers only scored off Knights turnovers, the first on fourth down in Mountaineers territory and the other after a fourth-quarter interception was returned to the 2.

Kahlil Wilkins led the Mountaineers in rushing with 48 yards on 15 carries, including a 6-yard touchdown run. Diore Hubbard scored the other touchdown.

UCF outgained West Virginia 578-210.

UCF opened the game up in the third quarter, starting the half with a nine-play, 92-yard drive capped off by a 12-yard run from Jaden Nixon.

The Knights defense got on the board with a strip-sack forced by Nyjalik Kelly that Keli Lawson returned 32 yards for a touchdown.

Nixon scored his second rushing touchdown on the next UCF possession with an 83-yard run, completing UCF’s third scoring drive of 80 yards or more. Nixon finished with 116 yards on seven carries with his two touchdowns.

QB shuffle

Both West Virginia and UCF entered the game with questions at quarterback.

West Virginia started freshman Scotty Fox Jr. after starters Nicco Marchiol, Khalil Wilkins and Jaylen Henderson all suffered injuries this season. Fox became the first freshman to start at quarterback for the Mountaineers since Fred Wyant in 1952.

Fox finished 4 for 11 for 22 yards and was sacked five times. He left the game in the first quarter before returning with West Virginia trailing 28-7.

The takeaway

West Virginia: The Mountaineers continue to seek balance in their backfield after injuries decimated the quarterbacks and running backs.

UCF: The Knights snapped a three-game losing streak and avoided the drive-killing mistakes that cost them in their last three outings.

Up next

West Virginia is home next Saturday against TCU.

UCF plays at Baylor on Nov. 1.