COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. Justice announces first batch of COVID-19 vaccine expected to arrive in mid-December; again urges caution ahead of Thanksgiving…

GOV. JUSTICE CELEBRATES SEVERAL RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACROSS WEST VIRGINIAAdditionally Wednesday, Gov. Justice took time out of his remarks on COVID-19 to discuss several recent accomplishments across West Virginia.

First, Gov. Justice celebrated his announcement Monday that DST Innovations, a UK technology company headquartered in Wales, has chosen West Virginia as the home of its new American manufacturing base; agreeing on a contract with West Virginia-based company Blue Rock Manufacturing to establish a new facility for the development of its new energy cells.

The new facility will be the forefront of green technology, using existing organic material such as coal to create new clean energy storage solutions. The development is expected to create up to 1,000 new jobs in the manufacturing and technology sectors. The manufacturing base will be located in Morgantown, with a Phase 2 expansion planned for the Southern Coalfields region of the state.

This is an absolute go, Gov. Justice said. Weve been working on this for three years. DST Innovations believes theyre going to ramp up 1,000 new jobs in West Virginia. Its phenomenal and its unbelievably good for our state.

READ: Gov. Justice: Agreement between UK company DST and Blue Rock Manufacturing to bring new manufacturing facility, up to 1,000 new jobs to West Virginia

Second, Gov. Justice discussed WVU Medicines announcement yesterday that they had successfully completed West Virginias first dual-organ transplant at Ruby Memorial Hospital.

The patient received both a new heart and kidney from an unnamed donor. The delicate and complex transplants took nine-and-a-half hours to complete, with over nine doctors involved.

This is an absolute miracle beyond belief, Gov. Justice said. We're so blessed to have these incredible medical professionals right here right here in West Virginia, and so many thanks go out to the WVU team.

READ: WVU Medicine Transplant Alliance performs states first dual-organ transplant

Lastly, Gov. Justice took time to celebrate yesterdays announcement by the U.S. Air Force that the 130th Airlift Wing, located at the West Virginia Air National Guard Base in Charleston, has been selected as a preferred alternative to convert to the C-130J-30 Super Hercules.

We all know how great our National Guard is, but its great to see them recognized on a national level, Gov. Justice said. I congratulate our 130th Airlift Wing on an achievement for which they must feel incredibly honored. I could not be happier for our entire West Virginia National Guard for being recognized with this important selection by the U.S. Air Force.

Currently, the 130th Airlift Wing operates eight C-130H3 Hercules model aircraft, which are more than 25 years old. The 130th Airlift Wing has had a C-130 mission since 1975 and has converted to numerous variations of the C-130 over the years.

READ: Gov. Justice celebrates the 130th Airlift Wings selection as a preferred alternative for conversion to C-130Js

We have all this greatness going on in West Virginia. Of course, weve always known how good we are, but now the outside world is beginning to know it too, Gov. Justice said. The world is finding out that West Virginia is the diamond in the rough that they all missed. I couldnt be more proud.

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COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. Justice announces first batch of COVID-19 vaccine expected to arrive in mid-December; again urges caution ahead of Thanksgiving...