West Virginia: Governor Morrisey Launches One Stop Shop Permitting Portal Three Months Ahead of Deadline
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced on October 28 the official launch of the state's One Stop Shop Permitting Portal at SpeedToBuild.wv.gov, three months ahead of the statutory deadline.
The portal is the centerpiece of the state's Speed to Build initiative. House Bill 2002 directed the Department of Administration to build the unified portal by January 1, 2027; it soft-opened on October 1, 2026. With a single secure account, businesses can apply for permits, upload documents, pay fees, track status and renew licenses, with a searchable permit database and a guided assistant.
Participating agencies include the Division of Highways, the Bureau for Public Health, the Department of Environmental Protection, and Commerce divisions covering forestry, labor, natural resources, miners' health, safety and training, and the Alcohol Beverage Control Administration.
From January 1, 2027, fast-track timelines take effect for some permits: oversize hauling permits drop from five days to two, and timber license renewals from 14 calendar days to seven business days. Use of the portal is optional until July 1, 2027, after which it becomes the required channel, with exceptions on disability and human-rights grounds.
The administration said about $96 billion in private investment has been announced in West Virginia since October 2025, with more than 19,000 projected jobs, and that faster permitting is key to keeping those projects.
Morrisey said businesses previously had to run from agency to agency, and the portal moves that process online. Bill Bissett of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association and Rebecca McPhail of GO-WV voiced support for the launch.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 西弗吉尼亚州议会大厦圆顶，位于查尔斯顿（资料图）。CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The West Virginia State Capitol dome in Charleston (file photo). CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
