AEP Economic & Business Development

Advantage Valley, West Virginia recently earned a Southern Economic Development Council Community and Economic Development Award for innovative Business Retention and Expansion programs. Heather Vanater, AEP economic and business development manager, serves on Advantage Valley’s board and works with the nonprofit on projects in Boone, Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam and Wayne counties. “This is such great recognition for Advantage Valley’s transformative work in West Virginia,” she said. “Business expansion and retention translates to good jobs in our communities and a more resilient economy. Their work goes hand-in-hand with our active infrastructure investment strategy in West Virginia, so they’re an incredible partner.”

#Louisiana ranks among the top 10 states in business climate and has the fourth-lowest cost of living in the U.S. Plus, Louisiana’s innovative approach to workforce recruitment, training and development secures success across a myriad of industries. “I get to help local communities attract new employers,” said Eric Basinger, CEcD, manager of Economic & Business Development. “We help engage local leadership on best practices in economic development, and we provide scholarships for training programs.” Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO)

The #Texas economy ranks eighth in the world – larger than most countries. In our AEP Texas service territory, unprecedented industrial growth is fueled by direct access to oil and gas reserves and best-in-class transportation. In our Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) service territory, manufacturers, distributors, and food processors enjoy low-cost access to the Dallas-Fort Worth market and beyond. “Our state, from the governor down, is very active in bringing or encouraging projects to land in Texas,” said Bradley Lenz , senior manager of Economic and Business Development. “My background is electrical engineering, and for 14 years I’ve been doing economic development. So I understand customers’ complex problems and challenges, and we try to do whatever it takes to meet their needs.” Dale Fowler CEcD Eric Basinger, CEcD

➡️ Rapid growth, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, and a relentless focus on the customer. ⬅️ Those are the common threads our team heard this week from new President and CEO Bill Fehrman and other AEP leaders. "The pace of play will pick up," Fehrman said. "Ultimately, we are here to serve our customers, so we have to be able to do that." Peggy Simmons, Tim Wells, Antonio Smyth, Chris Beam, Matthew Satterwhite, Joel Jansen, William Allen and other leaders echoed the opportunities ahead for the industry as energy demand grows. "This can help us invest more in reliability improvements for all customers," Allen said. "All load is good load for us as a company, generally. It's an opportunity for us to change the communities that we serve, improve affordability for residential customers, and allow the economies in our communities to improve."

Since 1972, #Virginia has had a stable 6% corporate income tax, lower than the national median of 6.5%. With a robust talent pipeline of highly skilled, highly educated workers, Virginia is well-positioned to support innovation-driven companies. “I’ve been fortunate to play a role in several recent economic development wins in Virginia,” said Whitney Czelusniak, manager of Economic & Business Development. "We are an important utility partner, and I’m proud of our team’s work in-front and behind the scenes to support customers and communities." Appalachian Power

#Michigan lives up to its manufacturing pedigree, boasting a high concentration of engineers, skilled trades workers and commercial and industrial designers. Plus, the state is adjacent to 20 percent of the world’s fresh water, making it uniquely well-suited for water-dependent industries and transportation. “Demand for a talented and skilled workforce remains a critical priority for site selection,” said Ashley Savieo, CEcD, director of Economic & Business Development. “Michigan has a solid workforce-training infrastructure, strong business/education partnerships, and the technology and professional expertise to drive success across so many industries.” Indiana Michigan Power

Virginia is open for business! Congratulations to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and our many partners in the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program. Economic & Business Development Manager Whitney Czelusniak said the certification program helps reduce timelines to operation for customers seeking to construct new buildings or pursue plant expansions. #EconomicDevelopment #Virginia

🎉 Congrats Heather Vanater! #YesWV

🎉 Welcome to the team, Jill Scicchitano! Jill will primarily support growth in Indiana Michigan Power's South Bend-Elkhart and Southwest Michigan regions.

#Kentucky meets the growing workforce demands of aviation and aerospace companies by redeploying a surplus of skilled workers from industries such as coal and steel. “I have worked in economic development in Kentucky for years, even before joining AEP, and there is so much opportunity here for companies that need highly skilled workers,” said Amanda Clark, manager of External Affairs & Economic Development. “The best part of my job is finding solutions for businesses that ultimately create good jobs and make our communities stronger.” Kentucky Power Bob Shurtleff