§19-38-4. West Virginia Agriculture Investment Program.

(a) The West Virginia Agriculture Investment Program is hereby authorized. The purpose of this program is to attract and support new and expanding agriculture businesses and facilities producing or further developing products made, grown, or processed in West Virginia.

(b) The program shall be administered by the commissioner or his or her designee.

(c) Moneys may be awarded by the commissioner from the fund as either grants or loans.

(d) The criteria for awarding such grants or loans shall include, but are not limited to:

(1) The number of direct and indirect jobs expected to be created;

(2) The anticipated amount of private capital investment;

(3) The anticipated additional state tax revenue expected to accrue to the state and affected localities as a result of the capital investment and jobs created;

(4) The anticipated amount of West Virginia-grown, processed, or produced agricultural products utilized or promoted by the project; and

(5) The projected impact on agricultural producers.

(e) The commissioner may establish a committee to assist in the administration of the program. Members of the committee shall receive no compensation for their service on the committee but shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for expenses in accordance with the Department of Agriculture travel regulations.