§5B-2-1. West Virginia Department of Economic Development; confidentiality.

(a) The West Virginia Development Office, previously continued from the Governor’s office of community and industrial development, is hereby continued but is hereafter raised to a separate and distinct department of the executive branch of state government and is designated and shall be known as the West Virginia Department of Economic Development. All references in this code to the West Virginia Development Office, the office of community and industrial development, or the Governor’s office of community and industrial development shall be construed as references to the West Virginia Department of Economic Development. As used in this article, “Department” means the Department of Economic Development.

(b) Any documentary material, data or other writing made or received by the Department of Economic Development or other public body whose primary responsibility is economic development, for the purpose of furnishing assistance to a new or existing business shall be exempt from §29B-1-1 et seq. of this code: Provided, That any agreement entered into or signed by the Department of Economic Development or other public body which obligates public funds shall be subject to inspection and copying pursuant to §29B-1-1 et seq. of this code as of the date the agreement is entered into, signed or otherwise made public.

§5B-2-2. Office of Secretary of Department of Economic Development.

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Economic Development 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 and pleasure of the Governor. Any reference in this code to the Executive Director of the West Virginia Development Office means the Secretary of the Department of Economic Development. As used in this article, “secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Economic Development. Subject to the provisions of the contract provided in §5B-2-4 of this code, the secretary may hire, and fire economic development representatives employed pursuant to §5B-2-5 of this code.

(b) The secretary may promulgate rules to carry out the purposes and programs of the Department of Economic Development to include generally the programs available and the procedure and eligibility of applications relating to assistance under the programs. These rules are not subject to Chapter 29A of this code, but shall be filed with the Secretary of State. The secretary may adopt any of the rules previously promulgated by the West Virginia Development Office or the council for community and economic development.

§5B-2-3. Powers and duties of the secretary.

(a) The secretary 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 continue, diversify or expand the economic base of the state as a whole; create jobs; develop a highly skilled workforce; facilitate business access to capital, including venture capital; advertise and market the resources offered by the state with respect to the needs of business and industry; facilitate cooperation among local, regional and private economic development enterprises; improve infrastructure on a state, regional and community level; improve the business climate generally; and leverage funding from sources other than the state, including federal and private sources.

(b) The Department of Economic Development shall utilize, to the fullest extent practicable and efficient, existing resources of the Department of Commerce for functions necessary for the operation of the department but which functions are not directly related to the purposes of the department listed in subsection (a) of this section. The Department of Economic Development may enter into such agreements with the Department of Commerce or other agencies of this state as may be necessary or advisable to utilize existing resources of this state.

(c) The Secretary of the Department of Economic Development may designate, in writing, a list of positions within the department that shall be exempt from coverage under the state’s classified service.

(d) The Department of Economic Development shall be exempt from §5A-3-1 et seq. of this code.

§5B-2-3a.

Repealed.

Acts, 2015 Reg. Sess., Ch. 40.

§5B-2-3b. Economic development promotion and closing fund.

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 Department of Economic Development and used solely to promote business formation, expansion, recruitment and retention through aggressive marketing and international development and export assistance, and to provide a fund from which moneys may be drawn to offer certain incentives for business formation or expansion, to provide assistance with respect to site development or other concerns identified by the secretary, and to further facilitate economic development in this state, all of which economic development efforts and initiatives lead to more and better jobs with higher wages for all geographic regions and communities of the state, including rural areas and urban core areas, and for all residents, including minorities.

§5B-2-4. Public-private partnerships.

The Department of Economic Development may enter into contractual or joint venture agreements with a nonprofit corporation organized pursuant to the corporate laws of the state, organized to permit qualification pursuant to section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and for purposes of the economic development of West Virginia, and funded from sources other than the state. The contract shall include provisions relating to the employment of economic development representatives assigned to the Department of Economic Development to be paid a base salary by the state and performance-based economic incentives from private funds of the nonprofit corporation. Provisions relating to hiring practices with respect to economic development representatives, job descriptions, accountability, public-private liaison, and performance standards may be the subject of contract negotiations. The contract may include provisions for continuing education and certification in the field of economic or industrial development for persons employed as economic development representatives. Agreements providing for the payment of performance-based incentives to the secretary are authorized. Agreements providing for the payment of travel and other expenses of or to the secretary or of or to economic development representatives from private funds by the nonprofit corporation are authorized. The prohibitions of §6B-2-5 (b) and §6B-2-5 (d) of this code are not applicable to the receipt by economic development representatives or by the secretary of performance-based incentives and other payments made by the nonprofit corporation and specifically authorized pursuant to this section.

From time to time the secretary may enter into joint ventures wherein the department and the nonprofit corporation share in the development and funding of economic development programs.

All contracts and joint venture agreements must be approved by the secretary. Contracts entered into pursuant to this section for longer than one fiscal year shall contain, in substance, a provision that the contract shall be considered cancelled without further obligation on the part of the state if the State Legislature or, where appropriate, the federal government, shall fail to appropriate sufficient funds therefor or shall act to impair the contract or cause it to be cancelled.

§5B-2-4a. State allocation to regional councils.

The Department of Economic Development may enter into contractual agreements with the regional councils formed under §8-25-5 of this code to provide funding to the regional councils to be used to obtain federal matching grants and for other purposes determined to be appropriate by the department: Provided, That the amount of any allocation shall be determined by dividing the number of eligible regional councils into the total amount of funds made available for allocation by the Legislature. The Department of Economic Development shall develop criteria to determine a regional council’s eligibility for the state allocation.

§5B-2-5. Economic development representatives.

(a) The secretary may employ economic development representatives to be paid a base salary within legislative appropriations to the department, subject to applicable contract provisions pursuant to §5B-2-4 of this code. Economic development representatives may receive performance-based incentives and expenses paid from private funds from a nonprofit corporation contracting with the department pursuant to §5B-2-4 of this code. The secretary shall establish job descriptions and responsibilities of economic development representatives, subject to the provisions of any contract with a nonprofit corporation entered into pursuant to §5B-2-4 of this code.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, economic development representatives employed within the department are not subject to the procedures and protections provided by §29-6-1 et seq. and §29-6A-1 et seq. of this code. Any employee of the department on the effective date of this article who applies for employment as an economic development representative is not entitled to the protections of by §29-6-1 et seq. of this code with respect to hiring procedures and qualifications; and upon accepting employment as an economic development representative, the employee relinquishes the protections provided for in §6C-2-1 et seq. and §29-6-1 et seq. of this code.

(c) On the last Monday in January, in years 2017, 2019 and 2021, the secretary shall submit to the Legislature a written report. The secretary shall provide copies of his or her report to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and the chair of the House Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. The secretary’s report shall do the following:

(1) Identify and describe loans, grants or other funding sources that economic development representatives have assisted small businesses acquire during the immediately preceding reporting cycle;

(2) Identify and describe generally inquiries, requests for assistance or other matters that other state or federal agencies have presented to the department in the immediately preceding reporting cycle in connection with those agencies’ efforts to regulate or assist small businesses;

(3) Identify and describe issues with formation, registration and licensure requirements that state law imposes on small businesses that small businesses have identified to the department in the immediately preceding reporting cycle as burdensome;

(4) Identify specific forms, processes or requirements imposed by state law that small businesses have identified to the department in the immediately preceding reporting cycle that may be streamlined, simplified, combined, or eliminated in order to reduce unnecessary costs, delays, or other burdens on small businesses;

(5) Propose and describe concrete and specific steps that any branch, agency or level of state government may take to streamline, simplify, combine, or eliminate the forms, processes or requirements identified in subdivision (4) of this subsection; and

(6) Provide the following information:

(A) The number of small businesses counseled by the department during the immediately preceding reporting cycle;

(B) The number of new businesses created while being counseled by the department during the immediately preceding reporting cycle;

(C) The number of jobs created by businesses counseled by the department during the immediately preceding reporting cycle; and

(D) Any other information that, in the opinion of the executive director, demonstrates the performance of the department or economic development representatives during the immediately preceding reporting cycle.

§5B-2-6. Transition; savings provision.

All programs, orders, determinations, rules, permits, grants, contracts, certificates, bonds, authorizations and privileges which have been issued, made, granted or allowed to become effective pursuant to any prior enactments of this article or by the Governor, the Governor’s Office of Community and Industrial Development or its director, or by a court of competent jurisdiction, and which are in effect on February 1, 1992, shall continue in effect according to their terms until modified, terminated, superseded, set aside or revoked by the Governor or the secretary of the department pursuant to this article, by a court of competent jurisdiction or by operation of law.

§5B-2-6a. Brownfield economic development districts; applications; fees; rules.

(a) Any property owner of a tract of land that is a brownfield or voluntary remediated site pursuant to §22-22-1 et seq. of this code may, if the site and surrounding area were involved in the extraction and processing of coal, limestone, or other natural resources, apply to the department to become a brownfield economic development district.

(1) Applicants for a brownfield economic development district must demonstrate that the district when designated will create significant economic development activity;

(2) Applicants shall submit a development plan that provides specific details on proposed financial investment, direct and indirect jobs to be created and the viability of the district;

(3) Brownfield economic development districts:

(A) May not contain single-family housing;

(B) Shall provide all the infrastructure within the district without cost to the state, county, public service district or local municipal government;

(4) Applicants shall demonstrate that were it not for this designation, the contemplated development would not be possible, and that the development is in the best interest of the state;

(5) The applicant shall own or control the property within the district;

(6) All costs for the application process shall be borne by the applicant;

(7) An applicant shall demonstrate that the applicant has attempted to work in good faith with local officials in regard to land-use issues;

(8) Beginning July 1, 2011, an application for a brownfield economic development district may not be approved unless the district conforms to a county’s or municipality’s planning and zoning laws established pursuant to §8A-7-1 et seq., §8A-8-1 et seq., and §8A-9-1 et seq. of this code.

(9) Prior to granting a designation of brownfield economic development district, the applicant shall provide documentation that the applicant has met all the requirements set forth in §22-22-1 et seq. of this code to be designated as a brownfield site or voluntary remediated site and is in compliance with the remediation plan;

(10) Nothing may be construed by this section to exempt brownfield economic districts from environmental regulation that would pertain to the development;

(11) The decision of the development office in regard to an application is final; and

(12) Once designated, the district shall work in conjunction with the regional brownfield assistance centers of Marshall University and West Virginia University as specified in §18B-11-7 of this code.

(b) The department shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with §29-3-1 et seq. of this code to implement this section and the rules shall include, but not be limited to, the application and time line process, notice provisions, additional application consideration criteria and application fees sufficient to cover the costs of the consideration of an application.

§5B-2-6b.

Repealed.

Acts, 1992 Reg. Sess., Ch. 55.

§5B-2-6c.

Repealed.

Acts, 1992 Reg. Sess., Ch. 55.

§5B-2-6d.

Repealed.

Acts, 1992 Reg. Sess., Ch. 55.

§5B-2-6e.

Repealed.

Acts, 1992 Reg. Sess., Ch. 55.

§5B-2-7.

Repealed.

Acts, 2015 Reg. Sess., Ch. 40.

§5B-2-8

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 238.

§5B-2-8a

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 238.

§5B-2-9

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 238.

§5B-2-9a. Powers and duties of Secretary of the Department of Tourism and Tourism Advisory Council for improving Cardinal Passenger Train Service; declaration of public policy and Legislative intent.

(a) It is hereby declared the public policy of the State of West Virginia and the intent of the Legislature to facilitate, advance and improve the availability of interstate passenger rail service to the state, the contributions of such service to local tourism development including the Boy Scouts of America Summit Bechtel Reserve in Fayette County, the marketing of such services for both interstate rail travel for the benefit of the state’s citizens, businesses and local tourism and to improve the quality and frequency of such service, including the provision of a daily passenger train service at the earliest opportunity, of the Cardinal Passenger Train operated by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as AMTRAK, on railroad lines crossing the south-central region of the state from Huntington eastward to White Sulphur Springs, being that same route historically and continuously used by the passenger train and its predecessors since the year 1871.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the Secretary of the Department of Tourism, with the advice of the tourism advisory council, and in consultation with the Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, is directed to coordinate and supervise the activities of the state, to coordinate and cooperate with the political subdivisions and municipalities of the state, to cooperate with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation and with the other states served by the Cardinal Passenger Train to achieve the public policy set forth in subsection (a) of this section. The secretary may conduct such studies, and make such investigations, as may be reasonable and appropriate to advance the public policy set forth in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The secretary may enter into contracts and memoranda of understanding with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, with the other states served by the Cardinal Passenger Train, and with the political subdivisions and municipalities of this state, to achieve the public policy set forth in subsection (a) of this section. The secretary is further authorized to cooperate with the aforesaid other states and National Railroad Passenger Corporation in the formation of an interstate committee for the purpose of achieving the public policy set forth in subsection (a) of this section, to participate in said committee and appoint other designees thereto.

(d) In the exercise of their powers and duties under this section, the secretary and tourism advisory council shall consult with the West Virginia Department of Transportation and the West Virginia State Rail Authority. The West Virginia Department of Transportation and the West Virginia State Rail Authority shall cooperate with the secretary and the tourism advisory council, and shall provide the secretary and the tourism advisory council with such reasonable and necessary assistance as may be possible based on available staff and funds to achieve the public policy set forth in subsection (a) of this section.

(e) There is hereby created a special revenue account, designated the “Cardinal Passenger Train Enhancement Fund” into which all moneys intended to advance the purposes of this section shall be deposited. Moneys in this account shall be expended solely for the public policy and purposes set forth in this section. Funds paid into this account may also be derived from the following sources: (1) All interest or return on investment accruing to this account; (2) any gifts, grants, bequests, transfers, appropriations, or other donations which may be received from any governmental entity or unit or any person, firm, foundation, or corporation; and (3) any appropriations by the Legislature which may be made for the purposes of this section. Any balance including accrued interest and other earnings at the end of any fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the fund for the purposes set forth in this section. The moneys in the fund shall be paid out, at the sole discretion and direction of the secretary, to advance the purposes of this section.

§5B-2-10. Program and policy action statement; submission to joint committee on government and finance.

The tourism advisory council, the Department of Economic Development, and any other authorities, boards, commissions, corporations or other entities created or amended under this chapter and §18B-11-1 et seq. of this code, shall prepare and submit to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance on or before December 1, 1995, and each year thereafter, a program and policy action statement which shall outline in specific detail according to the purpose, powers and duties of the office or section, its procedure, plan and program to be used in accomplishing its goals and duties as required under this article.

§5B-2-11

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 238.

§5B-2-12

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 238.

§5B-2-12a

Repealed

Acts, 2017 Reg. Sess., Ch. 238.

§5B-2-13.

Repealed.

Acts, 2010 Reg. Sess., Ch. 32.

§5B-2-14. Certified development community program.

The certified development community program is continued and is transferred to, incorporated in and administered as a program of the Department of Economic Development. The program shall provide funding assistance to the participating economic development corporations or authorities through a matching grant program. The department shall establish criteria for awarding matching grants to the corporations or authorities within the limits of funds appropriated by the Legislature for the program. The matching grants to eligible corporations or authorities are in the amount of $30,000 for each fiscal year, if sufficient funds are appropriated by the Legislature. The department shall recognize existing county, regional or multicounty corporations or authorities where appropriate.

In developing its plan, the department shall consider resources and technical support available through other agencies, both public and private, including, but not limited to, the state college and university systems; the West Virginia Housing Development Fund; the West Virginia Economic Development Authority; the West Virginia Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority; the West Virginia Round Table; the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce; Regional Planning and Development Councils; Regional Partnership for Progress Councils; and state appropriations.

§5B-2-15. Upper Kanawha Valley Resiliency and Revitalization Program.

(a) Definitions. —

(1) General. — Terms defined in this section have the meanings ascribed to them by this section, unless a different meaning is clearly required by either the context in which the term is used, or by specific definition in this section.

(2) Terms Defined. —

"Contributing partners" means those entities or their representatives described in subsection (f) of this section.

"Prioritize" means, with regard to resources, planning, and technical assistance, that the members of the revitalization council are required to waive their discretionary program guidelines to allow funding requests that may fall outside of the program’s guidelines but address the Upper Kanawha Valley communities’ goals for revitalization: Provided, That properly filed funding applications by Upper Kanawha Valley communities shall be given preferential treatment.

"Program" means the Upper Kanawha Valley Resiliency and Revitalization Program established in this section.

"Revitalization council" means those entities or their representatives described in subsection (d) of this section.

"Technical assistance" means resources provided by the state, revitalization council, contributing partners, or any other individuals or entities providing programming, funding, or other support to benefit the Upper Kanawha Valley under the program.

"Upper Kanawha Valley" means an area historically known as the Upper Kanawha Valley including municipalities and surrounding areas from the Charleston city limits to Gauley Bridge or other communities in the vicinity of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology.

"Upper Kanawha Valley Resiliency and Revitalization Program" means the entire process undertaken to further the goals of this section, including collaboration development and implementation between the members, contributors, and technical assistance resource providers.

(b) Legislative purpose, findings, and intent. —

(1) The decision to relocate the historic campus of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology from Montgomery, West Virginia, to Beckley, West Virginia, will have a dramatic economic impact on the Upper Kanawha Valley.

(2) The purpose of this section is to establish the Upper Kanawha Valley Resiliency and Revitalization Program. To further this purpose, this program creates a collaboration among state government, higher education, and private and nonprofit sectors to streamline technical assistance capacity, existing services, and other resources to facilitate community revitalization in the Upper Kanawha Valley.

(3) It is the intent of the Legislature to identify existing state resources that can be prioritized to support the Upper Kanawha Valley, generate thoughtful and responsible ideas to mitigate the negative effects of the departure of the West Virginia Institute of Technology from the Upper Kanawha Valley, and help chart a new course and prosperous future for the Upper Kanawha Valley.

(c) Upper Kanawha Valley Resiliency and Revitalization Program established; duration of program. —

(1) The Development Office shall establish the Upper Kanawha Valley Resiliency and Revitalization Program in accordance with the provisions of this section. The program shall inventory existing assets and resources, prioritize planning and technical assistance, and determine such other assistance as might be available to revitalize communities in the Upper Kanawha Valley.

(2) The program shall remain active until it concludes its work on June 30, 2024, and delivers a final report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance no later than October 1, 2024.

(d) Revitalization council created. — There is created a revitalization council to fulfill the purposes of this section. The revitalization council shall be coordinated by the Department of Economic Development and be subject to oversight by the secretary of the department. The following entities shall serve as members of the revitalization council:

(1) The Secretary of the Department of Economic Development or their designee, who shall serve as chairperson of the council;

(2) The Secretary of the Department of Health or their designee;

(3) The Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture or their designee;

(4) The Executive Director of the West Virginia Housing Development Fund or their designee;

(5) A representative from the Kanawha County Commission;

(6) A representative from the Fayette County Commission;

(7) The mayor, or their designee, from the municipalities of Montgomery, Smithers, Pratt, and Gauley Bridge;

(8) A representative from Bridge Valley Community and Technical College; and

(9) A representative from West Virginia University.

(e) Duties of the revitalization council. —

(1) The council shall identify existing state resources that can be prioritized to support economic development efforts in the Upper Kanawha Valley.

(2) The council shall direct existing resources in a unified effort and in conjunction with contributing partners, as applicable, to support the Upper Kanawha Valley.

(3) The council shall develop a rapid response strategy to attract or develop new enterprises and job-creating opportunities in the Upper Kanawha Valley.

(4) The council shall conduct or commission a comprehensive assessment of assets available at the campus of the West Virginia Institute of Technology and determine how those assets will be preserved and repurposed.

(5) The council shall assist communities in the Upper Kanawha Valley by developing an economic plan to diversify and advance the community.

(6) Members of the council shall support both the planning and implementation for the program and shall give priority wherever possible to programmatic activity and discretionary, noncompetitive funding during the period the program remains in effect.

(7) Members of the council shall work together to leverage funding or other agency resources to benefit efforts to revitalize the Upper Kanawha Valley.

(f) Contributing partners. — To the extent possible, the revitalization council shall incorporate the resources and expertise of additional providers of technical assistance to support the program, which shall include but not be limited to:

(1) The West Virginia Small Business Development Center;

(2) The Center for Rural Health Development;

(3) The West Virginia University Brickstreet Center for Entrepreneurship;

(4) The West Virginia University Land Use and Sustainability Law Clinic;

(5) The West Virginia University Center for Big Ideas;

(6) The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority;

(7) The Appalachian Transportation Institute;

(8) The Marshall University Center for Business and Economic Research;

(9) TechConnect;

(10) The West Virginia Community Development Hub;

(11) The West Virginia University Northern Brownfields Assistance Center;

(12) West Virginia State University Extension Service; and

(13) West Virginia University Extension Service, Community, Economic and Workforce Development.

(g) Reporting and agency accountability. — The revitalization council, in coordination with its contributing partners, as applicable, shall report annually to the Governor and the Legislature detailing the progress of the technical assistance support provided by the program, the strategic plan for the Upper Kanawha Valley, and the results of these efforts. The annual report to the Legislature shall be made to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance regarding the previous fiscal year no later than October 1 of each year. Copies of the annual report to the Legislature shall be provided to the county commissions and the mayors of the Upper Kanawha Valley.

(h) Economic incentives for businesses investing in the Upper Kanawha Valley. — The Department of Economic Development and the revitalization council, as applicable, shall work to educate businesses investing, or interested in investing, in the Upper Kanawha Valley, about the availability of, and access to, economic development assistance, including but not limited to, the economic opportunity tax credit provided in §11-13Q-19 of this code; the manufacturing investment tax credit provided under §11-13S-1 et seq. of this code; and any other applicable tax credit or development assistance.

(i) Use of state property and equipment; faculty. — The Department of Economic Development or other owner of state property and equipment in the Upper Kanawha Valley is authorized to provide for the low cost and economical use and sharing of state property and equipment, including computers, research labs, and other scientific and necessary equipment to assist any business within the Upper Kanawha Valley at a nominal or reduced-cost reimbursements to the state for that use.

§5B-2-16. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Investment Fund.

(a) The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Investment Fund is hereby created. The fund shall be administered by the Department 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 fund consists of moneys received from the following sources:

(1) All appropriations provided by the Legislature;

(2) Any moneys available from external sources; and

(3) All interest and other income earned from investment of moneys in the fund.

(c) The Department of Economic Development shall use moneys in the fund to support entrepreneurship, creation of business startups, improvements in workforce participation, and attracting individuals to relocate to West Virginia.

(d) Any balance, including accrued interest and any other returns, in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Investment Fund at the end of each fiscal year may not expire to the General Revenue Fund but remain in the fund and be expended for the purposes provided by this section.

(e) Fund balances may be invested with the state’s Consolidated Investment Fund. Earnings on the investments shall be used solely for the purposes defined in §5B-2-16(c) of this code.

§5B-2-17. West Virginia Motorsport Committee.

(a) The West Virginia Motorsport Committee is hereby created.

(b) The committee consists of five members, including its chairperson, appointed by the Governor to serve at his or her will and pleasure.

(c) The Secretary of the Department of Tourism and the Secretary of the Department of Economic Development shall also serve on the committee, ex officio.

(d) The committee shall:

(1) Work with the existing facilities within the state to enhance existing racing;

(2) Develop a strategy that creates further opportunities, such as encouraging racing training schools, conducting special events, and encouraging special events and the construction of larger in-state racing facilities; and

(3) Seek opportunities to promote economic growth and manufacturing jobs related to motorsports.

(e) The committee shall hold regular meetings, at least quarterly, and conduct public hearings as it considers necessary.

(f) Members of the committee will receive no compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for mileage expenses while attending meetings of the committee to the extent that funds are available through the Department of Economic Development.

(g) The committee shall report on the status of its duties, goals, accomplishments, and recommendations to the Legislature on at least an annual basis.

§5B-2-18. Small Business Supplier Certification Assistance Program.

(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 government contracting and procurement processes. The Legislature further finds that it is important to develop such a certification program to promote more in-state businesses and to strengthen regional supply chains within the institutions of the state or its political subdivisions. Therefore, it is the purpose of this section to establish the Small Business Supplier Certification Assistance Pilot Program, to develop and implement a certification process for the benefit of small business enterprises seeking to further engage in the government contracting and bidding processes.

(b) The Department of Economic Development is hereby authorized to work in collaboration with Marshall University to establish a Small Business Supplier Certification Assistance Pilot Program to be implemented for purposes of developing a certification process for small business enterprises.

(c) Prior to implementation of the pilot program, Marshall University shall coordinate with the Department to develop a master plan for the pilot program, the focus of which should include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) A mission statement and small business participation plan for the program aimed at creating a competitive business environment by promoting the growth and success of small businesses through meaningful participation in the procurement process. The small business participation plan shall include:

(A) A study to determine any inequities that exist in public procurement and contracting that adversely affect small business vendors;

(B) An outreach program to identify and provide education to small business vendors;

(C) Initial and continuing education opportunities for the small business vendor community through both virtual and in-person workshops;

(D) A small business vendor notification process for bidding opportunities; and

(E) A method of assessing overall program results and establishing recommendations for future goals and participation.

(2) Development of an application and certification process for small business enterprises, including guidelines for certification, based upon existing federal Small Business Administration guidelines;

(3) Education and outreach proposals relating to program certifications and the benefits of small business participation;

(4) Technical training to be provided on state and government contracting and the public bidding process;

(5) Notification of current bidding opportunities for small business providers;

(6) Opportunities for collaboration with other public and private sector entities; and

(7) Methods of implementation of the pilot program, which shall include:

(A) Defined program goals;

(B) Program research to be conducted;

(C) Scheduling milestones, assignment of tasks, and allocation of resources; and

(D) Reporting of program certifications, successes, and benefits to the economy and small business opportunities.

(d) The pilot program shall continue in duration through December 31, 2023, and unless continued by the legislature, the program will terminate at midnight on January 1, 2024. Prior to the conclusion of the program, the Department, in coordination with Marshall University, shall report to the Legislature’s Joint Commission on Economic Development on the following:

(1) Progress towards and methods of implementation of the pilot program, including the required certifications and training for small business enterprises;

(2) An analysis of the overall program results based on the metrics created in the master plan of the pilot program;

(3) Recommendations as to whether the pilot program should continue beyond its current duration; and

(4) Any proposed plan or legislation necessary to accomplish the purpose of making the program permanent.

(e) For purposes of the pilot program, any information provided by a small business enterprise for purposes of the certification process shall be considered private and confidential and exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, as provided in §29B-1-1, et seq. of this code. Neither the Department nor Marshall University may share any information provided by a small business enterprise with any other state or federal agencies unless required by law.

§5B-2-18a. Applicability of federal laws and Federal Aviation Administration regulations; permissible use of uncrewed aircraft.

(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 political subdivision of the state shall not enact or adopt an ordinance, policy, or rule that relates to the ownership or operation of an advanced air mobility aircraft or advanced air mobility system, and shall not otherwise engage in the regulation of any uncrewed aircraft system, advanced air mobility aircraft, or advanced air mobility system. Any ordinance, policy, or rule, to the extent that it violates any provision of this subsection, whether enacted or adopted by the political subdivision before or after the effective date of this section, is void.

(c) As used in this section, “advanced air mobility aircraft” or “advanced air mobility system” means a system that transports people and property by air between points in the United States using aircraft, as defined in §29-2A-1 of this code, including electric aircraft and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace.

§5B-2-19. Certified Sites and Development Readiness Program.

(a)(1) The Certified Sites and Development Readiness Program is hereby created and is to be administered as a program within the Department of Economic Development with appropriate rules as necessary. The program shall establish evaluation criteria and site certification levels based upon developmental readiness of an applicant’s site. In developing the program, the department shall consider utilizing all available resources and technical support, both public and private.

(2) The department shall establish an application process and forms through which an applicant may begin to participate in the program and identify and describe potential sites for economic development and investment. The application process and forms should include site specific information such as property ownership and control, descriptions and mapping, historical and current uses, access to various forms of transportation, availability of various utility services, environmental studies, conceptual plans, marketing materials, and all other information requested by the department.

(3) Applicants may include only state, county, municipal, or regional governmental entities such as, without limitation, economic development authorities, economic development corporations, economic development alliances, or economic development partnerships.

(4) The department shall select applicant’s sites to participate in the program from the application materials. The department will select sites to participate in the program, evaluate the selected sites, and certify each site based upon its readiness to be developed from the established criteria. After evaluation, the department shall provide a report to the applicant detailing the results of the site evaluation, identifying site deficiencies and strengths, and suggesting a prioritized list of site improvements which may be made to improve the site’s readiness to develop. The department may thereafter reevaluate and recertify a site as improvements are made to a site and deficiencies cured.

(5) The department may provide to applicants funding assistance up to a 50 percent match through a matching grant program which may be spent only for directly improving the developmental readiness of sites which have been selected to participate in the program. The department shall establish criteria and an application process for awarding matching grants to improve an applicant’s site readiness: Provided, That no single site may receive any amount greater than a maximum amount established by the department through this grant matching program. Applications for this grant matching program must include details which specifically identify what deficiency or deficiencies will be cured and through what means and all other information required by the department. Grant matching funds must be spent, contracted to be spent, or returned to the department within 12 months of the date of receipt of the grant matching funds. Grant matching funds shall be paid back to the department when a participating site is sold or leased for development. The department shall take prudent steps to receive a security interest in a participating site in the amount of the grant matching funds award including, but not limited to, placing of record in the county where the participating site is located, an appropriate lien against the title. All funds repaid under this section shall remain within the program for use on participating sites. The department shall monitor, and request appropriate evidence documenting the cured deficiencies and thereafter reevaluate and recertify a participating site as part of this grant matching program.

(6) The department may provide funding assistance to applicants through a micro grant program which may be spent only for directly improving the developmental readiness of sites which have been selected to participate in the program. The department shall establish criteria and an application process for awarding the micro grants to improve an applicant’s site readiness: Provided, That no single site may receive any amount greater than $25,000 through this micro grant program. Applications for this micro grant program must include details which specifically identify what deficiency or deficiencies will be cured and through what means and all other information required by the department. Micro grant funds must be spent, contracted to be spent, or returned to the department within 12 months of the date of receipt of the micro grant funds. All funds returned under this section shall remain within the program for use on participating sites. The department shall monitor and request appropriate evidence documenting the cured deficiency and thereafter reevaluate and recertify a participating site as part of this micro grant program.

(b) (1) The Certified Sites and Development Readiness Fund is hereby created. The fund shall be administered by the Department of Economic Development and shall consist of all moneys made available for the purposes from

(A) Appropriations provided by the Legislature;

(B) Any moneys available from external sources; and

(C) All interest and other income earned from investment of moneys in the fund.

(2) The Department of Economic Development shall use moneys in the fund to support The Certified Sites and Development Readiness Program.

(3) Any balance, including accrued interest and any other returns, in the fund at the end of each fiscal year may not expire to the General Revenue Fund but shall remain in the fund and be expended for the purposes provided by this section.

(4) Fund balances may be invested under §12-6C-6 of this code. Earnings on the investments shall be used solely for the purposes defined in this section.

§5B-2-20. West Virginia Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Advisory Council.

(a) The West Virginia Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Advisory Council is hereby created within the Department of Economic Development.

(b) The council consists of the following nine members, including the chairperson:

(1) The Secretary of the Department of Economic Development or his or her designee, ex officio, who shall serve as the chair of the council, and who shall vote when necessary in the event the appointed members of the council become deadlocked;

(2) The following eight members shall be appointed by the Governor and serve at his or her will and pleasure:

(A) One member representing the Secretary of the Department of Transportation;

(B) One member from the Adjutant General’s Department;

(C) One member representing the uncrewed aircraft system industry with at least five years of experience operating an uncrewed aircraft;

(D) One member representing a national association of the uncrewed aerial vehicle industry;

(E) One member with experience managing a commercial services airport;

(F) One member representing business and industry, generally;

(G) One member representing academia; and

(H) One member representing the advanced air mobility industry developing human transit capabilities.

(3) Members of the council will receive no compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for mileage expenses while attending meetings of the committee to the extent that funds are available through the Department of Economic Development.

(c) The council 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, economic growth, and jobs in the uncrewed aircraft system industry in West Virginia; public acceptance of the uncrewed aircraft system industry; business planning; air vehicle technology and manufacturing; and airspace management and national airspace system integration; and

(3) Develop recommended legislation addressing specific issues and in furtherance of the comprehensive strategies identified in subdivision (2), subsection (c) of this section.

(d) The council shall meet at least annually and may convene public meetings to gather information or receive public comments.

(e) The council shall report on the status of its duties, goals, accomplishments, and recommendations to the Legislature on at least an annual basis.

§5B-2-21. Certified Industrial Business Expansion Development Program.

(a) Program established. — The Certified Industrial Business Expansion Development Program is hereby created and is to be administered as a program within the Department of Economic Development to encourage the continued development, construction, operation, maintenance, and expansion in West Virginia of high impact industrial plants and facilities, in certain circumstances where the availability of electricity generated from renewable sources is demonstrated to be necessary. In order to effectuate the purposes of this section, the Department of Economic Development or any agency, division, or subdivision thereof, may propose for promulgation of legislative rules, including emergency rules, in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code.

(b) District certification.— The Secretary of the Department of Economic Development may identify and certify high impact industrial business development districts in this state upon a finding that the following requirements are met:

(1) Certification of the high impact industrial business development district and location of new or expanded businesses within the district will have a significant and positive economic impact on the state;

(2) Certification of the high impact industrial business development district is necessary to attract at least two businesses to locate or expand in this state;

(3) The area to be certified as a high impact industrial business development district shall be no greater than 2,250 acres and must be located on land sold or leased by the state, its agencies, or political subdivisions as defined in §29-12A-3(c) of this code with a purpose of creating a high impact industrial business development district or on land that has been previously used for coal mining operations in the state; and

(4) The electricity generated from renewable sources within the district will be used within the district or delivered to the wholesale market.

The Secretary of the Department of Economic Development may not certify more than two high impact industrial business development districts. A designation made pursuant to this section by the secretary as to the certification of a high impact industrial business development district is final.

(c) Providing electric service within a certified high impact industrial business development district.— Within a high impact industrial business development district, any person, firm, corporation, or entity seeking to provide electric service through the generation of renewable sources from within the high impact industrial business development district of electricity to businesses locating within the certified high impact industrial business development district may:

(1) Not be subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission with respect to rates, obtaining a certificate of convenience and necessity, conditions of service or complaints pursuant to chapter 24 of this code;

(2) Not be subject to the net metering and interconnection standards as set forth in §24-2F-8 of this code;

(3) Elect to qualify as an exempt wholesale generator under federal law for purposes of furnishing electric service through the generation of renewable sources to a utility or regional transmission organization without being subject to the Public Service Commission's siting certificate requirements as set forth in §24-2-1(d), §24-2-11c, or §24-2-1o of this code;

(4) Provide any such electric service to businesses making a capital investment in a new or expanded industrial facility located within the certified high impact industrial business development district; and

(5) Not provide any such electric service for purposes of encouraging businesses already receiving electric service from a regulated utility in this state to relocate to the certified high impact industrial business development district.

(d) Eligible electric retail customers. — In order to take advantage of the provisions of this section, an industrial plant or facility choosing to locate and operate within a high impact industrial business development district must constitute new electric generating load. Any owner or tenant of an industrial plant or facility that has not previously received electric service from a regulated public electric utility located within this state, or who is making a capital investment in a new industrial facility within the district shall be considered eligible new electric generating load. Electric service to any such industrial plant or facility shall be considered new electric generating load so long as any customer making a new capital investment within the district does not decrease the load of an existing facility outside the district in this state in conjunction with the new capital investment within the district, and regardless of whether or not a person or entity previously received service from a public electric utility at or near the same location prior to the certification of the high impact industrial business development district.

An eligible industrial plant or facility choosing to locate and operate within a high impact industrial business development district is not required to connect with and use any public electric utility: Provided, That any plant or facility choosing to do so may participate in net metering with a public electric utility without being subject to the net metering and interconnection standards set forth in §24-2F-8 of this code: Provided, however, That any such connection with and use of a public electric utility for purposes of the initial construction and development within the high impact industrial business development district shall not impact an industrial plant or facility's status as new electric generating load in order to take advantage of the provisions of this section.

(e) Special rates. — In furtherance of the creation of a high impact industrial business development district, the Public Service Commission may approve special electric utility rates for an eligible electric retail electric customer within the high impact industrial business development district. An eligible retail electric customer seeking to apply for a special rate shall first enter into negotiations with the utility that provides it with electric power, regarding the terms and conditions of a mutually agreeable special rate. If the negotiations result in an agreement between the eligible retail electric customer and the utility, the eligible retail electric customer and the utility shall make a joint filing with the Public Service Commission seeking approval of the proposed special rate. If the negotiations are unsuccessful, the eligible retail electric customer may file a petition with the Public Service Commission to consider establishing a special rate. The Public Service Commission shall have the authority to establish a special rate upon the filing of either a joint filing or a petition pursuant to this section.

(f) The provisions of this section shall expire on June 30, 2028: Provided, That the expiration of this section shall not affect any high impact industrial business development district previously approved by the secretary.