The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce is pushing the importance of an economic growth agenda for the next legislative session, saying the last one didn’t meet the mark.
The Chamber plans to use the annual Business Summit coming up later this week in White Sulphur Springs “to sharpen its focus on an agenda that drives long-term growth, job creation and economic stability.”
“With lawmakers and administration officials looking on at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s largest Business Summit in organization history, the Chamber is renewing its push for a legislative agenda that directly targets the challenges facing West Virginia employers, families and communities,” the Chamber stated.
The most recent regular session of the West Virginia Legislature received general criticism for a lack of focus on West Virginia economic growth — and greater focus on social issues. The most prominent economic issue in the session was a complex bill about data center development.
Last week, West Virginia Chamber steered dialogue toward disappointing employment statistics. The organization’s headline was “Jobs report shows overall decline in employment, leaves WV Chamber of Commerce concerned.”
That’s because of a total employment decrease of more than 4,000 in the state in the last year.
The organization aims to use the prominence of its annual forum to address challenges faced by West Virginia employers, families, and communities — focusing on issues that drive long-term growth and economic stability.
“We have the plan. We have the people. We have the momentum,” said Steve Roberts, president of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
“But last session, too much time was spent on issues that don’t move West Virginia forward. Our message to lawmakers is this: get focused, get serious, and let’s get to work.”
Key proposals include:
• Making West Virginia’s Corporate Net Income Tax more competitive
• Creating a statewide Childcare Tri-Share program
• Expanding tax credits for employer-sponsored childcare
• Reforming the Equipment & Inventory Tax
• Raising teacher pay and modernizing hiring practices
• Boosting completion for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and increasing workforce participation
• Improving legal fairness – including statute of limitations reform and eliminating phantom
damages
• Increasing site development funding
• Reducing unemployment insurance taxes on employers
• Incentivizing value-added use of natural gas
“Our members are energized, our ranks are growing and what we’re hearing from businesses is a
unified message” Roberts said.
“West Virginia is ready to compete and win.”