Now is the time to encourage the West Virginia Senate Finance Committee to run and pass House Bill 4343 (HB 4343) commonly known as “Project Launchpad.”

For the past few years, key organizations such as Vision Shared, the WV Manufacturers Association, the Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce and many others have supported this job-creating initiative.

“Project Launchpad” allows localities, working with state government, to provide tax incentives that would support attraction and expansion of high-tech businesses.

The legislation also includes a modest incentive to encourage businesses to provide a student loan repayment plan to their employees.

Project Launchpad is aimed at “new economy” businesses with little or no presence in West Virginia, such as nanotechnology, bioscience and photovoltaics.

These tax credits cannot be used for traditional businesses such as retail, warehouses or call centers.

West Virginia’s economy in 10-15 years will not look like it has in the past. This legislation, which has been assigned a neutral ($0.00) impact to the state budget, will provide our state, counties and cities with a powerful new economic development tool to attract the businesses that will diversify our economy and create high-value jobs for our families now and into the future.

We encourage all business people, community leaders, young professionals, parents and all who care about creating a brighter future to contact the Senate Finance Committee today and ask them to vote “YES” to HB 4343.

Click HERE for their contact information.

Tell legislative members:

“I support Project Launchpad, House Bill 4343. Please pass this bill. It creates no fiscal burden for the state, but in fact will create new jobs, help keep our young people here in West Virginia, attract new residents, and help diversify our economy and tax base.”

More information on Project Launchpad:

Click HERE for a two-page briefing paper.

Click HERE for a jobs Impact study by Vision Shared and the West Virginia Development Office.