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CHARLESTON, W.Va. ─ The West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA) announces its support for House Bill 2001, the West Virginia Jumpstart Savings Program.
“Manufacturers know firsthand the challenges in finding skilled labor in West Virginia. Any efforts to prepare the next generation to enter the workforce contributes to a stronger West Virginia,” said Rebecca McPhail, president of the WVMA. “We applaud State Treasurer Riley Moore for developing and promoting this concept and encourage the House of Delegates to pass the bill when it comes to the floor this week.”
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Manufacturers Association praises House of Delegates leadership for elevating the manufacturing industry to major committee status.
In organizational meetings of the West Virginia House of Delegates today the former House Committee on Energy, a major committee, added an additional area of focus to become the House Committee on Energy and Manufacturing.
“We are thrilled and supportive of the House focus on manufacturing in the 2021 legislative session,” WVMA President Rebecca McPhail said. “The link between energy and manufacturing is inextricable, so this expanded direction for the committee makes a lot of sense. Not only do our members rely on affordable energy to run their operations, they also are major players in the downstream applications of West Virginia’s fossil energy resources.”
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Charleston, W.Va. – The events yesterday in Washington, D.C. were disturbing and un-American. The attempt to take over the United States Capitol leaves a stain on the history of our great democracy. The behavior of those involved was illegal, immoral, and disloyal. These acts of domestic terrorism must not be tolerated.
The West Virginia Manufacturers Association joins with many state and national business and industry groups in condemning yesterday’s assault on the United States Capitol. We believe that any West Virginians who engaged in these illegal actions, do not positively reflect the values and vision that manufacturers have for our state.
We urge rejection of ongoing separatist rhetoric and a return to the civility that truly makes America great. The peaceful transfer of power and presidential authority is a sacred value and be should protected.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Manufacturers Association President Rebecca McPhail issued the following statement on announced closure of Mylan Park facility:
“Our hearts go out to those workers who learned just today that their jobs will be ending next year. Any loss of manufacturing jobs in West Virginia is devastating, but the closure of the Mylan facility at Chestnut Ridge means losing some 1,500 jobs next year, and that is a crushing blow. We are encouraged the new owner of the Mylan plant, Viatris, has pledged to continue operating some of its other West Virginia facilities and preserving those jobs. The WVMA commits to work with local leaders, the Governor, Department of Commerce and any other stakeholders to bring new manufacturing investment and job opportunities and preserve our existing industrial base here in the Mountain State.”
For additional information, contact Rebecca McPhail at (304) 767-5189.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WV News) — The West Virginia Manufacturers Association has named the winners for its annual Champions of Industry award, as well as the Encova and WVMA Safety Award.
Last month, the association chose two leaders from member organizations to honor as champions of the state’s manufacturing industry, as well as one state legislator.
The Legislative champion was Del. Moore Capito, R-Kanawha, and the two member champions were Fred Clark of IVS Hydro and Jeff Fritz of Chemours.
While the award winners were named last month, they were presented Monday at the association’s annual Legislative All-State Dinner and Meeting held at the Charleston Coliseum and Conference Center.
“Each year, we honor those who recognize the importance of manufacturing to West Virginia’s economy,” WVMA President Rebecca McPhail said. “This year is especially challenging for business and industry, but manufacturers innovate, adapt and respond to the needs of our communities during challenging times.
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Editor,
While education is important, a diploma is not a guarantee of intelligence, and the lack of a degree is not a sign of failure. Accordingly, I was disheartened to read Sunday in the Charleston Gazette-Mail a snide commentary by Phil Kabler about Sen. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, who could be the next Senate President. Kabler pointed out Blair’s lack of a college degree, dismissing his possible election as evidence of “Republican anti-intellectualism.” If by that Kabler meant that Blair does not value education, he is dead wrong.
As part of the Senate leadership team, and a strong supporter of 2019’s “Last Dollar In” legislation that was designed to make education for certain high-demand careers more affordable, Blair is committed to providing better opportunities for West Virginians.
Blair is someone who recognizes, perhaps better than others, the value of an education, and has worked hard to make it available to the very people who need the most help in getting to, and through, school.