§5B-14-1. Definitions.

For purposes of this article:

(1) "High-skill industry sector or occupation" means an industry sector or occupation identified as such by the West Virginia Workforce Development Board pursuant to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act under 20 U.S.C. § 2342 and that requires postsecondary education, experience, or training beyond a high school diploma.

(2) "High-wage industry sector or occupation" means an industry sector or occupation identified as such by the West Virginia Workforce Development Board pursuant to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act under 20 U.S.C. § 2342 and with median earnings above 150 percent of the federal poverty level for individual earners.

(3) "In-demand industry sector or occupation" means:

(A) An industry sector that has a substantial current or potential impact (including through jobs that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) on the state economy and that contributes to the growth or stability of other supporting businesses, or the growth of other industry sectors; or

(B) An occupation that currently has or is projected to have a number of positions (including positions that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) in an industry sector as to have a significant impact on the state economy.

(4) “Short-term workforce training program” means a workforce training program, offered by an institution eligible for federal Pell Grants pursuant to 20 U.S.C. § 1070a, of at least 150 clock hours of instruction, but less than 600 clock hours of instruction, or an equivalent number of credit hours during a minimum of eight weeks, but less than 15 weeks.

(5) “Workforce Pell Grant program” means the Workforce Pell Grant program administered by the United States Department of Education pursuant to the provisions of H.R. 1, Public Law 119-21, Title VIII, Sec. 83002 (2025).