"Reshoring Opportunities in West Virginia" Course

Course Breakdown

Course Duration: 16 Weeks

Grading Structure:

Final Presentation (50%)
Mid-Course Proposal Draft (20%)
Team Participation and Engagement (15%)
Weekly Assignments/Research Updates (15%)

Week 1: Introduction to Reshoring and Trade Tariffs

Overview of course objectives, expectations, and grading criteria.
Define reshoring and explain its significance in the current economic landscape.
Discuss the impact of tariffs on global supply chains and business strategies.
Explore case studies illustrating successful reshoring implementations and their outcomes.

Week 2: Economic Implications of Trade Policies

Analyze how tariffs affect U.S. importers' decisions and market access.
Discuss dependencies influencing the decision to manufacture domestically, including:
Cost analysis (labor, materials, transportation)
Quality control and logistics reliability
Regulatory compliance and trade agreements
Technological advancements and infrastructure
Engage in group discussions on the implications of shifting manufacturing back to the U.S.

Week 3: Team Formation and Industry Selection

Students are divided into ten industry teams focusing on:

Agriculture & Prepared Products
Apparel, Footwear & Textiles
Automotive & Aerospace
Base Metals
Consumer Products & Mass Merchandising
Electronics
Industrial & Manufacturing Materials
Machinery
Petroleum, Natural Gas & Minerals
Pharmaceuticals, Health & Chemicals

Teams discuss initial thoughts on their assigned industry challenges and opportunities.

Week 4: Research Methodologies and Data Sources

Instruction on effective research methodologies for industry analysis.
Overview of data sources, databases, and tools for gathering relevant industry information.
Teams begin preliminary research on their assigned industry, focusing on trends and reshoring opportunities.

Week 5: Industry Trends and Market Analysis

Presentations on current market trends impacting each industry.
Teams share preliminary findings and identify key opportunities for reshoring.
Discuss how technological advancements can support reshoring initiatives.

Week 6: Understanding the Decision to Reshore

Deep dive into dependencies influencing U.S. importers' decisions to bring manufacturing back:
Comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of reshoring versus offshoring.
Assessing the availability and skill level of the local workforce.
Evaluating infrastructure readiness and supply chain logistics.
Understanding the legal and regulatory landscape affecting reshoring.
Guest speaker from a U.S. manufacturer discussing their reshoring journey.

Week 7: Industry Team Business Visits

Each industry team is assigned to visit local businesses within their sector.
Teams conduct interviews with business leaders to gain insights into real-world challenges and opportunities related to reshoring.
Discussion on findings from visits and how they will inform proposals.

Week 8: Competitive Advantages of West Virginia

Analyze West Virginia's resources and workforce demographics relevant to each industry.
Evaluate logistical advantages such as transportation infrastructure and proximity to markets.
Teams discuss how these advantages could support their industry’s reshoring efforts.

Week 9: Engagement with Local Stakeholders

Invite local Chamber, Economic Development officials, and industry associations to speak to the class.
Discuss the role of these stakeholders in supporting reshoring initiatives.
Teams create a list of potential partnerships and collaborations to pursue.

Week 10: Challenges and Barriers to Implementation

Identification of barriers to reshoring, including:
Workforce skill gaps and training needs
Infrastructure limitations and investment requirements
Regulatory hurdles and compliance issues
Conduct SWOT analysis for each industry concerning reshoring in West Virginia.

Week 11: Policy Development and Economic Incentives

Explore economic incentives and policy frameworks that can attract businesses.
Research successful incentive models used in other regions or countries.
Teams draft tailored incentive and policy recommendations aimed at West Virginia's needs.

Proposals

Week 12: Proposal Structure and Initial Draft

Instruction on drafting a comprehensive proposal, including necessary components.
Teams begin drafting their proposals, focusing on coherence and actionable recommendations.
Peer review sessions to provide feedback on initial drafts within teams.

Week 13: Final Draft Review

Teams present their mid-course drafts for peer and instructor feedback.
Class discussion on common challenges encountered and strategies to address them.
Time for teams to refine their proposals based on feedback received.

Week 14: Public Speaking Workshop

A public speaking specialist will be brought in to assist students with their final preparations.
Tips on effective delivery, body language, and audience engagement.
Mock presentations to practice delivery and receive constructive feedback.

Week 15: Final Presentations - Part 1

Teams (1-5) present their final proposals to the class (20 each).
Q&A sessions following each presentation to encourage critical engagement.
Class evaluates proposals based on established criteria and provides constructive

Week 16: Final Presentations - Part 2

Continuation of team presentations (6-10) (20 minutes each).
Feedback from peers and instructors on strengths and areas for improvement.
Course wrap-up, reflections on key learnings, and discussion on next steps for ongoing engagement in economic development initiatives.
Overview of the winner selection criteria, announcement date (June), and next steps for presentation at the State Capitol in Summer 2026.

Finalist State Capitol Presentation