If there were a great, workforce in Appalachia that was cost effective for their efficiency, industry would have move there to take advantage of it.
The work force there is or would be about average for the southern US. Problems in the Appalachia, include lack of flat land, poor transportation infrastructure, and at least in some parts the powerful unions (UMWA).
A example of the incompetence of the Government of WV. When there was the big recruitment drive for gun makers thinking of moving out of CT, Why did we not hear of WV putting together proposals?