West Virginia2026Enacted

HB4004

Recharge West Virginia Program

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 11:08 AM

In one sentence

This law creates a program that reimburses qualifying private employers in West Virginia for costs related to upskilling training when employees earn new credentials and receive higher wages.

Creates the Recharge West Virginia Program under the Division of Economic Development within the Department of Commerce.
Allows qualifying employers to get paid back for costs of providing upskilling training if an employee obtains a credential and receives a wage increase.
Requires employees to receive a new weekly wage that is at least 25% higher than their previous average wage and above the state's average weekly wage.
Sets limits so no single employer gets reimbursed for more than $10,000 in training costs per employee.
Limits total reimbursement for any one employer to $100,000 per fiscal year.

Private companies registered with the Secretary of State and physically located in West Virginia that are not public bodies or foreign nonprofits.
Employees who have lived in West Virginia for at least six months and worked full-time there for at least six months before training starts.
The Division of Economic Development, which administers the program.

The program only operates in fiscal years when the Legislature provides money for it.
Employers cannot receive reimbursement from this law and other state programs, such as the West Virginia Guaranteed Work Force Program, for the same training costs.
Public bodies, including government agencies, schools, and political subdivisions, are not eligible to participate.

Plain language

Upskilling training: Specialized technical training to increase an employee's skill level so they can keep their job or advance within a company. This includes cross-training, reskilling, leadership development, and apprenticeships.
Qualifying wage increase: A new weekly pay rate that is at least 25% higher than the employee's average wage from the six months before training started and above the state average weekly wage.
Upskill credential: An industry-recognized certificate or proof of skill issued by an authorized entity that verifies a person's competence after finishing upskilling training.

Official record

Validated

Creating the Recharge West Virginia Program

Official activity