Chapter 5B, Chapter 5B

(a) The Department of Economic Development has the following powers and duties necessary to carry out the purposes of this article, including, but not limited to: (1) To issue approval of and certify all applications for projects and enter into agreements pertaining to certified …

(a) The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Investment Fund is hereby created. The fund shall be administered by the Division of Economic Development and shall consist of all moneys made available for the purposes and from the sources set forth in this section of the code. (b) The fu…

(a) Each eligible company or group of multiple party project participants that seeks certification of a proposed project as a certified BUILD WV project must file a written application for approval and certification of the project with the Department of Economic Development. (b) …

(a) The West Virginia Motorsport Committee is hereby continued. (b) The committee consists of 18 members, including its chairperson. The chairperson shall be selected by the committee from among its members. The committee members shall represent: (1) Asphalt oval racing; (2) Dirt…

(a) The Department of Economic Development, upon final approval of an application by the Secretary, may enter into an agreement with any approved company or group of multiple party project participants with respect to a project. (b) The Department of Economic Development may, at …

(a) The Legislature finds that there is currently no standardized certification process for small business enterprises in West Virginia. As a result, there is no uniform method for verifying or certifying small business contractors or suppliers seeking to participate in governmen…

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, any person or entity operating an uncrewed aircraft system may do so in compliance with applicable federal law and applicable regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration. (b) Except as authorized by law, a …

(a)(1) The Certified Sites and Development Readiness Program is hereby created and is to be administered as a program within the Division of Economic Development with appropriate rules as necessary. The program shall establish evaluation criteria and site certification levels bas…

For the purpose of this article: "Company" means a for-profit sole proprietorship, organization, association, corporation, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, including a wholly owned subsidiary, majority owned subsidiary, parent company, or affiliate of tho…

For purposes of this article: (1) "Director" means the Director of the West Virginia Office of Energy. (2) "Office" means the West Virginia Office of Energy. (3) "Pipeline" or "pipelines" means any actual lines of pipe for the transmission and distribution of natural gas together…

The Legislature finds and declares that the general welfare and material well-being of the citizens of the state depend, in large measure, upon the development of tourism development projects in the state and that it is in the best interest of the state to induce the creation of …

As used in this article, the following words and terms have the following meanings unless the context indicates another or different meaning or intent: (1) "WVDO" means the West Virginia Development Office; (2) "Employer" means an individual, partnership, corporation, or other le…

(a) The Executive Director of the Division of Economic Development is the chief executive officer of the division. The Governor shall appoint the Executive Director, who shall be qualified for the position by reason of his or her extensive education and experience in the field of…

For purposes of this article, “vertiport” means infrastructure or a system with supporting services and equipment intended for landing, ground-handling, and take-off of manned or unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

The Legislature finds that the historical coal field communities of this state that were once thriving and vital parts of the state have seen decades of decline as changes in coal mining technologies and mining practices and the decline in the market for coal have resulted in a s…

As used in this article, the following terms have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Board" means the West Virginia Workforce Development Board. "Commission" or "Legislative Oversight Commission" means the Legislative Oversight Commission on …

(a) The Legislature hereby finds that reasonably priced residential housing for graduate, post-graduate and professional job holders, technical workers, and entrepreneurs for targeted businesses in key geographical regions of this state is an essential component of West Virginia’…

(a) The Legislature finds that: (1) The advent and advancement of new and existing technologies and practices have created the opportunity for efficient use of coal, geothermal, hydrogen, hydropower, natural gas, and nuclear in West Virginia, including opportunities for the produ…

(a) The purpose of this article is to establish a statewide summer employment program for West Virginia’s students and young adults that: (1) Provides paid work experience, career exposure, and skill development through public and private partnerships; (2) Supports emerging emplo…

The West Virginia Department of Tourism, previously continued from the West Virginia Tourism Office and the Division of Tourism, is hereby continued as a department of the executive branch of state government. All references in this code to the Division of Tourism or to the West …

(a) The Legislature finds that: (1) The advent and advancement of new and existing technologies and drilling practices have created the opportunity for the efficient development of natural gas contained in underground shales and other geological formations. (2) With development o…

Legislative findings and purpose: (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that: (1) The State of West Virginia's rural character, natural wonders, scenic beauty and recreational opportunities combine to create an exceptional quality of life for its citizens; (2) West Virgin…

(a) The Legislature finds that: (1) The advent and advancement of new and existing technologies and drilling practices have created the opportunity for the efficient development of natural gas, including natural gas liquids such as ethane, propane, butane, isobutane and pentanes,…

(1) Increased reliability from stable baseload generation; (2) Increased efficiency through innovation; (3) Low-cost energy as the bedrock of economic development; and (4) Energy independence and security through increased domestic production. (b) The Office of Energy shall devel…

(a) There is hereby created, within the West Virginia Development Office, a West Virginia academy of science and technology. The academy consists of a standing council of nine members and such ad hoc working groups as may be necessary to review a particular field of study. A work…

(a) There is created in the State Treasury a special revenue account to be designated the West Virginia Office of Entrepreneurship Fund administered by the Secretary of State. Expenditures from the fund are to be made in accordance with the purposes provided in this article. (b) …

(a) The provisions of this article shall apply to all surface-mining operations, except: (1) The surface operations and surface impacts incident to an underground coal mine; and (2) Surface-mining operations of operators that: (A) Establish that their probable total annual coal p…

(a) The Director of the Division of Economic Development shall: (1) Identify trends and technologies driving innovation in uncrewed aircraft systems; (2) Develop comprehensive strategies, including, but not limited to, the promotion of research and development, education, economi…

(a) Program established. — The Certified Microgrid Development Program is hereby created and is to be administered as a program within the Division of Economic Development to encourage the continued development, construction, operation, maintenance, and expansion in West Virginia…

(a) Findings and purpose. — The Legislature hereby finds and declares the following: (1) Data centers represent a significant and growing sector of the economy, generating substantial economic activity, including jobs, infrastructure investments, and technological innovation. (2)…

(a) Findings and purpose. — The Legislature hereby finds and declares the following: (1) The findings and purpose set forth in §5B-2-21a(a) (2025), except to the extent expressly modified herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference with the same force and effect as though…

(a) The Electric Grid Stabilization and Security Fund is hereby created. The fund shall be administered by the Department of Commerce and shall consist of all moneys made available for the purposes and from the sources set forth in this section of the code. (b) The fund consists …

(a) The Office of Energy shall prepare and submit a five-year energy development plan to the Governor and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance on or before December 1 of 2026 and every five years thereafter. The development plan shall identify how the office anticipates …

(a) The Office of Energy shall develop a recommended strategy to the Governor and Secretary of Commerce for developing coal, geothermal, hydrogen, hydropower, natural gas, and nuclear fueled energy in West Virginia's economy and energy infrastructure. (b) Such strategy shall incl…

The office may hold regular scheduled meetings with stakeholders including from various industries, policy groups, energy developers, utility companies, mineral owners, and private citizens to receive public input on its energy policies and development plans.

The West Virginia Development Office shall develop a business and industrial training program, the purpose of which is to provide assistance for new or expanding businesses for the training, retraining or upgrading of the skills of potential employees. The program shall emphasize…

As used in this article, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) "Agreement" means a tourism development agreement entered into, pursuant to section six of this article, between the department and an approved company with respect to a project. (2) "Approved company" m…

(a) The Governor is authorized and directed to request and negotiate the loan of a federal executive employee, pursuant to the provisions of the federal intergovernmental personnel act, to serve as the initial executive director of the council. This person is expected to serve as…

(a) The Director of the Office of Energy is authorized and directed to identify economically viable sites within the state that are: (1) Located near a convenient and sufficient supply of coal, geothermal, hydrogen, hydropower, natural gas, or nuclear energy; and (2) Likely to cr…

(a) The Executive Director shall enhance economic growth and development through the development of a comprehensive economic development strategy for West Virginia. "Comprehensive economic development strategy" means a plan that outlines strategies and activities designed to cont…

(a) The West Virginia Workforce Development Board is hereby created and shall serve as the state’s Workforce Development Board, as required by the WIOA. The board shall make general recommendations regarding workforce investment in the state to the Governor and the Legislature. (…

(a) The Coalfield Community Grant Facilitation Commission is hereby created as an independent body corporate. The commission shall consist of 12 members, who shall be residents and citizens of the state. Commission members shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advic…

For purposes of this article: (1) "Department" means the Department of Commerce. (2) "Priority youth population" means youth who are at least 14 and not more than 20 years of age at the time of participation in the program. (3) "Employer partner" means a private business, nonprof…

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Tourism is the chief executive officer of the department. The Governor shall appoint the secretary, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for the term for which the Governor is elected, and the secretary shall serve at the will a…

The West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund is established within the Department of Commerce. The fund has the powers and duties provided in this article.

(a) For the purpose of this article: (1) "Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection established in §22-1-1 et seq. of this code; (2) "Office" means the Office of Energy established in §5B-2F-1 et seq. of this code; (3) "Operator" means the definition in §22-3-3…

(a) General. — When used in this article, or in the administration of this article, terms defined in this section have the meanings ascribed to them by this section unless a different meaning is clearly required by the context in which the term is used. (b) Terms defined. — As us…

(a) There is hereby created the Recharge West Virginia Program, to be administered by the Division of Economic Development, to facilitate the upskilling of West Virginia workers; support companies that invest in upskilling their workforces; and recognize and reward companies that…

This article applies to any vertiport that is available for public use by any advanced air mobility operator authorized by the U.S. Department of Transportation or Federal Aviation Administration to engage in passenger and/or cargo services in scheduled or non-scheduled service i…

The previously created fund known as the "Development Office promotion fund" is hereby continued but shall hereafter be known as the "Economic Development Promotion and Closing Fund". Moneys deposited in this fund shall be administered by the Division of Economic Development, wit…