West Virginia Chamber Applauds Senate Passage of SB 656

March 2, 2022

Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce is applauding the West Virginia Senate for the passage of a major workforce and jobs bill yesterday afternoon. Senators voted 30-2 to pass SB 656, which is designed to incentivize employers to create childcare facilities on their premises.

West Virginia Chamber President Steve Roberts stated, “West Virginia’s workforce participation rate remains the lowest in the nation despite a rapidly improving economy. Chamber members tell our team every day that finding workers is the biggest challenge they face, and a major reason for that challenge is the lack of available childcare in West Virginia. This bill is designed specifically to help address that problem.”

Under SB 656, employers who create a childcare facility are eligible for a 100% tax credit on initial startup and operating costs that would be taken over a period of five years. The bill contains provisions to allow multiple employers to group together and to prevent employers from quickly disestablishing a facility just to gain the credit.

West Virginia Chamber Vice President of Policy and Advocacy Brian Dayton stated, “This bill has received broad, bi-partisan support in the Senate and we anticipate it will receive that type of support as it moves to the House of Delegates. The Chamber has been pleased to work closely with legislators to move this concept towards becoming a reality in West Virginia.”

Roberts concluded, “I want to thank the members of the West Virginia Senate for their leadership on this significant legislation and for their work to get this bill out of the Senate. It is our hope that SB 656 will help alleviate the childcare availability problem in the state, provide a real benefit to employees and employers, and give us one more ‘tool in the toolbox’ when attracting economic development to West Virginia.”

Members of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce are your small business neighbors. Chamber members employ over half of our state’s workforce and are found in every county and region of our state. More information on the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce can be found at www.wvchamber.com.