Monday brought the announcement of the new Macy’s distribution fulfillment center that will be constructed in Martinsburg. The development of the center, which will fill and distribute online orders for the retail giant, will employ 1,200 people throughout the year and 700 individuals seasonally.

Talk about economic development for the area.

In fact, in a phone conference with Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin Wednesday, he said it was the state’s biggest economic development opportunity in years.

Tomblin said because West Virginia has brought down its debt over the years and has low taxes, it makes it attractive to big corporations to relocate to the area. What is even more attractive? The Eastern Panhandle’s geographic location.

With this region close to the quad-state area and within hours to large cities like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City, perhaps more big businesses will follow suit creating more jobs for West Virginians.

Tomblin certainly hopes that West Virginia will become desirable ground for corporate entities to come to. Macy’s looked at over 150 other sites across the nation before coming to Martinsburg.

“To have them pick West Virginia,” Tomblin said on the phone conference, “was truly good for our state.”

Of course, the state has committed to over $7 million to the chain which will go towards infrastructure development and training employees that will be on the over $30 million-a-year payroll, Tomblin said.

While the jobs may not be the highest paying Tomblin said they will pay between $25,000 and the low-$30,000 a year it’s still development for the area. This region keeps growing. The governor recognizes that.

Hopefully only more good comes from this. More for the region and for the state.