What can be done to attract future industries to West Virginia?

How can we retain our most talented to stay in-state and help them with mounting student loan debts?

How do we assist our existing companies in advancing with new technologies?

With the Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce’s “Project Launchpad,” we can work now to revive, renew and rebuild West Virginia’s business climate and create abundant job opportunities.

The purpose of this legislation is to attract and encourage economic opportunity, greater capital investment and development of emerging or innovative business technologies in the state.

It is targeted at new businesses and business expansions. West Virginia’s existing businesses can take advantage of the legislation only if they adopt emerging methods of manufacturing, or employ cutting edge technology as a primary component of their commercial activity and create new jobs.

Here are some highlights of “Project Launchpad”:

• Businesses that create new jobs with good wages and benefits would temporarily be allowed to retain 75 percent of state employer withholding taxes attributable to the      employees filling said jobs
• If a business provides employees with student loan payment assistance, it may retain 95 percent of state employer withholding taxes
• State tax benefits include relief from business franchise, corporation net income, personal income, and sales and use taxes

For more information on “Project Launchpad,” check out our Facebook page HERE.

Today, this piece of legislation will be discussed in the House of Delegates’ Energy, Industry & Labor/ Economic Development & Small Business Committee. By acting now, we can secure a brighter economic future for our state – for all West Virginians.

A list of committee members and their contact information is below. We encourage those that support an innovative approach to job creation, talent retention and attraction, to contact committee members and let them know you support “Project Launchpad.”

The committee will discuss this legislation at 1 p.m. today.

With “Project Launchpad,” the current workforce, our children, and our grandchildren will have the opportunity for good jobs, with good wages, in the promising industries of the future – right here in West Virginia.

Doug Skaff Jr.
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3362
E-mail: doug.skaff@wvhouse.gov

Daniel Poling
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3137
E-mail: dan.poling@wvhouse.gov

Denise L. Campbell
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3145
Email: denise.campbell@wvhouse.gov

Phil Diserio
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3367
E-mail: phillip.diserio@wvhouse.gov

Troy Andes
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3121
E-mail: troy.andes@wvhouse.gov

Kelli Sobonya
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3175
E-mail: kelli.sobonya@wvhouse.gov

Joe Ellington
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3172
E-mail: joe.ellington@wvhouse.gov

Carol Miller
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3176
E-mail: carol.miller@wvhouse.gov

Jason Barrett
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3188
E-mail: jason.barrett@wvhouse.gov

Mike Caputo
Business Phone: (304) 363-7500
E-mail: mike.caputo@wvhouse.gov

Barbara Evans Fleischauer
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3169
E-mail: barbaraf@wvhouse.gov

Mike Manypenny
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3139
Email: mike.manypenny@wvhouse.gov

Charlene Marshall
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3900
Email: charlene.marshall@wvhouse.gov

Rupert Phillips Jr.
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3174
E-mail: rupert.phillips@wvhouse.gov

Meshea Poore
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3106
E-mail: meshea.poore@wvhouse.gov

Stephen Skinner
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3248
Email: stephen.skinner@wvhouse.gov

David Walker
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3135
E-mail: david.walker@wvhouse.gov

Adam R. Young
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3352
E-mail: adam.young@wvhouse.gov

Karen Arvon
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3384
E-mail: karen.arvon@wvhouse.gov

Larry Faircloth
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3147
E-mail: larry.faircloth@wvhouse.gov

Cindy Frich
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3125
E-mail: cindy.frich@wvhouse.gov

Joshua Nelson
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3184
E-mail: joshua.nelson@wvhouse.gov

Suzette Raines
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3340
E-mail: suzette.raines@wvhouse.gov

Randy E. Smith
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3396
E-mail: randy.smith@wvhouse.gov

Erikka Storch
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3378
E-mail: erikka.storch@wvhouse.gov