the fact that we’re a right-to-work state and the ability to get our top leaders on the phone right away are all concrete reasons West Virginia was the easy choice for Nucor. This is exactly the sort of historic investment many of us in the Republican party envisioned when we became the party in power. We said we would take seriously the job of turning our state’s economy around, and we’re incredibly proud to be able to provide the reasonable accommodations necessary to help secure the state’s biggest project to-date.”
Our prayers continue for Governor Jim Justice, who is recovering from Covid, as well as all mountaineers who are struggling due to Covid. The Governor presented his budget proposal and a much scaled down version of his State of the State address in the form of a letter. He did request an invitation to address the Legislature in person when he has recovered.
The budget proposal for the Fiscal year is nearly flat for the fourth year in a row. At the same time, it will provide for a 5% pay raise for all state employees. A majority of Delegates stand ready to support this raise for West Virginia’s state employees.
Governor Justice also announced a $50 million partnership expansion between the West Virginia University Health System and Owens & Minor Inc. Both entities are expected to work with the state to launch a “healthcare products preparedness center in Morgantown.” This venture is expected to create more than 125 jobs.
There was yet a third big jobs announcement made this week. GreenPower Motor Company Inc. announced plans to a lease/purchase agreement of a 9.5-acre manufacturing facility in South Charleston, which includes an 80,000-square-foot building. GreenPower will manufacture zero-emission, all-electric school buses at the location. This announcement will generate millions of dollars in economic impact. As many as 200 jobs will come to the state when manufacturing begins later this year, and the potential workforce could quite possibly reach 900 new jobs when the facility reaches full production in two years.
It was a great first week. We are working diligently to make West Virginia the “best place” to live, work, and raise a family.