West Virginia Aerospace MRO Workforce and Aviation Maintenance Education Act would prioritize Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) licensure, FAA-aligned training, avionics, and paid apprenticeships at state public colleges and universities thanks to an amendment offered by Riley Friday. The program would offer tuition reimbursement, cost-sharing training grants, and on-site apprenticeship assistance for industry partners.
West Virginia House passes Jobs First bill
Chris Myers
The latest bill in the West Virginia House of Delegates is aimed at transforming the state into a competitive hub for the aerospace industry. House Bill 4006, creating the West Virginia Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Growth Act, passed Friday morning in a 87-7 vote with six absent or not voting. Bill 4006 now heads to the state Senate, joining several other bills in the House Republican caucus Jobs First Opportunity Everywhere economic development agenda first unveiled last December. The department is tasked with educating aerospace companies about existing tax incentives in the state, such as the West Virginia Economic Opportunity Tax Credit and the Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit. This bill creates an Aviation and Aerospace Job Development Investment Grant Program, which would divert a portion of state income tax withholdings from new employees back to the businesses and into specialized development funds. A portion of the diverted tax funds would be allocated to specialized development funds to ensure long-term industry sustainability.