Statement From The Governor: About Senate Bill 611

Statement

Gov. Joe Manchin today released the following statement about Senate Bill 611, which originated in the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday and passed the Senate today:

"I want to thank Sen. Brooks McCabe and all our senators for moving quickly at our request with this bill, which will make it possible to move forward on a plan to keep the South Charleston Technology Park and the jobs that go with it. We needed swift action before Dow's announced park shutdown date of March 1, and I thank everyone in the Senate, particularly Finance Committee members, for making it a priority.

"This necessary change to State Code -- not the State Constitution -- will allow the Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical College Education to operate at the "West Virginia Education, Research and Technology Park,' which is what we said on Tuesday could be possible under a new plan for the park.

"There's very strong community and legislative support for saving the Tech Park and I believe the plan we are discussing could benefit all the stakeholders. But we have to have the pieces of the puzzle in place to make it happen, and I thank the Senate for making that possible. I also thank the Kanawha County members of the House for joining us the other day to learn more about the park and I hope all House members recognize that this is an opportunity for the entire state and that they, too, will support this bill."

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