PRESS RELEASE
In January, the WorkForce WV Office in Charleston, WV announced the closing of its office in Weirton, WV. WorkForce WV administers unemployment benefits, provides job training, and workforce information, in addition to veteran’s services. For obvious reasons, this announcement caused great concern throughout our region for those who need these services but are without sufficient computer resources or reliable transportation to get to the next closest office in Wheeling. The Weirton office serves 150-200 people per month. What many do not realize, is that Weirton is West Virginia’s sixth largest city (Pop. 18,670). As such, it accounts for approximately 80% of the Hancock and approximately 20.0% of the Brooke Counties’ populations and, as such, this is not just a Weirton issue. There are people in the far reaches of both counties that utilize the Weirton office.
Accordingly, Mayor Harold E. Miller and the Weirton City Council did not sit idly by while decision makers in Charleston shutter a resource utilized by so many in need. On Thursday, February 24, 2022, Mayor Harold E. Miller and the members of Weirton City Council will sign a Resolution opposing the decision to close Weirton’s WorkForce WV Office for consideration at the March 7, 2022, Council Meeting. The County Commissioners of Hancock and Brooke Counties have joined in opposition to this move and like Resolutions are expected from both in the near future.
