Why West Virginia’s Small Towns Should Keep Big Tech—and CEOs Like Musk—Out

West Virginia’s small towns are the backbone of the state. Built on community values and supported by local businesses, they thrive on connection, tradition, and sustainability. But Big Tech—companies like Amazon, Google, and Elon Musk’s Tesla—are increasingly targeting these towns as untapped opportunities. They promise jobs and economic revitalization, but the reality is far darker. These tech giants don’t build communities; they exploit them, leaving behind inflated housing markets, displacement, and fractured local economies.