The Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce worked hard to advance policies that support job creation, capital investment, a diversified tax base and build stronger communities during the 2012 regular session.

During the session, there were:

• 1,351 bills introduced in the House
• 678 bills introduced in the Senate
• 200 bills passed in the House
• 233 bills passed in the Senate
• 213 bills passed by both  the Senate and House

Below are summaries of some of the key Chamber-supported issues:

Tech Park Funding

During the session, a Senate legislative committee removed funding from Governor Tomblin’s budget for the West Virginia Education Research and Technology Park. The Chamber sent a call to action to our members. Because of your phone calls, e-mails and letters, the  $3 million  funding was restored during the final two days of the session.

We thank all of our members who spoke out and helped get that funding back in place. Most, if not all, non-profit research and technology parks in the nation receive support from state and local governments, which enjoy a return on investment through new jobs created, the development of new technologies and the commercialization of those technologies manufactured at the tech park.

“Brains for Business”

“Brains for Business” legislation, which was originally proposed by the Charleston Chamber in 2010, advanced through the legislative process further than ever before. The bill would provide modest tax credits to any state resident for the two years after receiving an associate, bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited institution.

During this session, the bill passed   the House Finance Committee and the full House, but was voted down in a Senate legislative committee.  But the Chamber and our members and partners didn’t give up. Through the tremendous response you provided in the form of phone calls, e-mails and notes to legislators, the bill was reconsidered and approved unanimously by the Senate Economic Development committee.

It’s a rarity for an issue to be reconsidered by a legislative committee, but with your help and support, we succeeded. Unfortunately, the bill did not make it through the final phase of its journey this year. It was stopped in the Senate Finance Committee. The Chamber will continue to work on this legislation in the future.

Natural Gas Vehicles

The Chamber also worked on legislation that would create new jobs, advance new infrastructure, and save taxpayers money through the use of natural gas vehicles. With the recent Marcellus and Utica Shale gas discoveries, along with the fact that natural gas is cleaner burning and less expensive than the current fuel standard, the Chamber is committed to keeping the value of these natural resources in West Virginia. This bill advanced through several phases of the legislative process and garnered support, which will hopefully be acted upon in the next legislative session.

Innovation Free Trade Zone

The Innovation Free Trade Zone (IFTZ) as unveiled at our 2012 Issues and Eggs briefing was passed by the House of Delegates thanks largely to the support and leadership of our own Delagate Doug Skaff. But IFTZ,  which provides incentives for high-wage job creation in very specific “next-generation” economic segments (nano-technology, bioscience, green energy, etc.), failed to pass the Senate.

Conclusion

The Charleston Chamber will continue to work with our legislative leaders on policies that will support job creation and build stronger communities. We will keep members informed of critical issues that will impact our future. Again, thanks for your responses to our calls for action. It created momentum for these successes.

We thank you!

It’s crunch time for legislation supported by the Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce in the final days of the regular session.

On Tuesday, the “Brains for Business” bill was reconsidered and approved unanimously by the Senate Economic Development Committee. The legislation (HB 4475) would provide modest tax credits to any state resident for the two years after receiving an associate, bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited institution in certain areas of study, including science, technology, math, engineering, education and nursing.

The bill is now headed to the Senate Finance Committee. The Charleston Chamber urges you to contact the committee members and let them know what “Brains for Business” will mean for the future of West Virginia

A full list of committee members and their contact information is available HERE.

If approved, the bill will head to the full Senate for final passage. We encourage our constituents to let their senators know that they support the “Brains for Business.”

The Charleston Chamber is also keeping an close watch on legislation that would authorize the sale and transfer of natural gas vehicle (NGV) tax credits.

The Chamber believes the proposed legislation, SB 624, will advance new infrastructure for natural gas vehicles and allow local, county and state government to save taxpayer dollars by converting their vehicle fleets to cleaner burning natural gas.

With the recent Marcellus and Utica Shale gas discoveries, natural gas has become important commodity in West Virginia. As a result, natural gas could be utilized as a cleaner, alternative fuel.

Currently, the bill set to go before the House Finance Committee. The Chamber believes this bill is essential to achieving the goals or creating new jobs and saving the taxpayers money. If you agree, call your legislator now and ask them to support and pass the bill in its current form.

A full list of the House Finance Committee members and their contact information is available HERE.

The Charleston Chamber will continue to work with our legislative leaders on policies that will support job creation and build stronger communities in coming days, and keep members informed of critical issues that will impact our future.

On Monday, the Senate Finance Committee voted to eliminate state funding for the West Virginia Education Research and Technology Park. The committee cut the tech park budget proposed by Governor Tomblin from $3 million to ZERO.

Calling this cut “devastating,” the Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce is issuing an urgent call to its members and all who care about the future of West Virginia to contact members of the committee to urge them to restore this critical funding.

The tech park is an incubator for innovation and economic wins in the form of high value jobs, new manufacturing facilities and cutting-edge research for all of West Virginia. There are currently more than 590 people employed at the facility by a variety of private and public organizations including Dow, MATRIC, Bayer and others.

Research underway at the tech park is advancing innovation for West Virginia’s key industries, including the energy and chemical sectors.  Projects include those focusing on coal to chemicals processes, coal liquefaction, natural gas and water technologies and biomass and renewable energy.

Most, if not all, of the nation’s non-profit tech parks receive federal and state funding. This $3 million is not only an investment for the South Charleston facility and the more than 590 people who are employed there, but a down payment on the new state revenues that will be generated once the park has the time to create more successes.

Just this month, ALS Environmental announced it will be expanding in the park, creating new jobs and new investment in the 258-acre facility.

One year ago, Dow Chemical Company donated the tech park to the State of West Virginia. At the time of the donation, the tech park employed people from 16 counties throughout West Virginia.

The tech park is a statewide, not local, asset. It is central to diversifying our economy, solving the challenges of our extractive industries through technology and discovering new technologies by which our businesses will prosper.

Don’t let the legislature jeopardize the state’s investment in our future by eliminating its funding for the tech park.This matter can be reconsidered during upcoming finance and budget meetings or when the House and Senate meet during an extended session about the state’s budget.

Speak out to the Senate president and members of the Senate Finance Committee and let them know you want this decision reconsidered.

Here is their contact info:

Senate President Jeff Kessler
Phone: (304) 357-7801 jeff.kessler@wvsenate.gov

Senator Donna J. Boley
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7905 donnaboley@suddenlink.net

Senator H. Truman Chafin
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7808 truman.chafin@wvsenate.gov

Senator Larry J. Edgell
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7827 larry.edgell@wvsenate.gov

Senator Douglas E. Facemire
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7845 douglas.facemire@wvsenate.gov

Senator Mike Green
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7831 mike.green@wvsenate.gov

Senator Mike Hall
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7901 mike.hall@wvsenate.gov

Senator Walt Helmick
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7980 walt.helmick@wvsenate.gov

Senator William R. Laird IV
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7849 william.laird@wvsenate.gov

Senator Brooks McCabe
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7990 brooks.mccabe@wvsenate.gov

Senator Ronald F. Miller
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7959 ronald.miller@wvsenate.gov

Senator Robert H. Plymale
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7937 robert.plymale@wvsenate.gov

Senator Roman Prezioso
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7961 roman.prezioso@wvsenate.gov

Senator Ron Stollings
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7939 ron.stollings@frontier.com

Senator Dave Sypolt
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7914 davesypolt@wvsenate.com

Senator John R. Unger II
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7933 john.unger@wvsenate.gov

Senator Erik Wells
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7841 erik.wells@wvsenate.gov

Senator Jack Yost
Capitol Phone: (304) 357-7984 jack.yost@wvsenate.gov

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We will keep you updated with further calls to action as the legislative process moves forward.

With your help, we can get the Tech Park’s funding reinstituted and ensure that innovative research and hundreds of jobs are safe in West Virginia.