Committee backs bill to create aerospace development program and long-term job grants

The Senate Finance Committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment to House Bill 4006 that would add three articles to state code to encourage aerospace-sector investment and training.

Presenter summarized the package: creation of the West Virginia Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Growth Act to promote development and expansion of the aerospace industry; a Job Development Grant Program administered by the Division of Economic Development that would award grants based on new-employee-generated funding with grant percentages and per-job maximums that vary by county distress level; and the West Virginia MRO Workforce and Aviation Maintenance Education Act requiring the Council for Community and Technical College Education to develop training and competitive awards for institutions providing aerospace-related workforce programs.

The strike-and-insert revised how the grant funding is calculated: instead of directing employer tax withholdings to a special fund, the Department of Commerce would report eligible new full-time employees to the tax commissioner, who would transfer an amount up to the reported number multiplied by $3,000 from personal income tax proceeds to fund grants. The presenter noted grant terms could extend 15–30 years depending on project type and that per-job grant maxima are set (for example, a $16,000 cap cited for certain project types). The committee adopted the strike-and-insert and voted to report the bill to the full Senate.

The committee recorded verbal ayes and noes; individual roll-call votes are not in the transcript.