Since the start of his term, Gov. Patrick Morrisey has promoted an “Economic Backyard Brawl” between West Virginia and its neighboring states. The mission, he said, is to make the Mountain State “the most attractive state to live, work, learn, play and run a business.”

He likely didn’t expect one of those neighboring states to take the opening kickoff and run it back 90 yards for a touchdown.

President Donald Trump recently visited Pittsburgh to announce more than $90 billion in new investments in energy and artificial intelligence in Pennsylvania. Nearly two dozen technology and energy companies will invest in the Keystone State to establish a new artificial intelligence economy.

All of a sudden, West Virginia is looking at the scoreboard and not liking what it sees.

What West Virginia and the Morrisey administration see is reality –this state has plenty of work to do to become truly competitive with neighbors like Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky and Ohio. Some of the foundation already has been laid. Morrisey signed into law a bill allowing people moving to West Virginia to transfer their occupational licenses. A one-stop-shop portal is on its way to streamline the licensing and permitting process. The Grow West Virginia Initiative has put aside $50 million in discretionary state funds for targeted investments in economic development. A couple of six-figure announcements already have been made.

We can’t look down our nose at progress, but when you look at West Virginia investing a few hundred thousand dollars in a business compared to the multi-billion-dollar announcement in Pennsylvania, there really is no comparison.

Any good college coach will tell you, in the recruiting game, the recruits “buy with their eyes.” They inspect what’s in front of them and, if it’s impressive enough, they’ll commit on the spot. If your team’s facilities aren’t as shiny and new, if your campus isn’t as welcoming, they’ll move along to somewhere else.

The tech and energy companies investing in Pennsylvania looked around and decided that state was worth billions. West Virginia needs to get on the fast track to becoming that attractive, or we will continue to watch our neighbors reap rewards.

Morrisey and the West Virginia Legislature need to make bold moves to gain ground on these other states. And need to be forward-looking when drawing up that playbook, rather than ripping pages out of “The Way Things Used To Be.” Those moves must not only make it more attractive economically for big businesses to move in, but more attractive for their employees to want to move with them. Many of the most desirable companies employ a diverse group of people. Some of those people, looking at recently passed legislation, may believe they wouldn’t feel welcomed in West Virginia. If too many employees feel that way, those big businesses will cast their eyes elsewhere.

West Virginia’s “Economic Backyard Brawl” is barely into the first quarter. There’s plenty of game to go. The Mountain State will need some big plays, though, to catch up.

It can’t wait, or else it could see that score get a lot worse.