BEAVER, W.Va. — Governor Patrick Morrisey signed two major workforce development bills Tuesday at New River Community and Technical College aimed at expanding career training opportunities and helping fill high-demand jobs across West Virginia.
The legislation, Senate Bills 402 and 490, focuses on accelerated workforce education programs designed to prepare more West Virginians for careers in industries including construction, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, electrical work, HVAC, and other skilled trades.
Governor Morrisey said the goal is to create additional career pathways while strengthening the state’s workforce pipeline as economic development projects continue expanding throughout West Virginia.
“Projects alone do not build an economy — people do,” Morrisey said during the signing ceremony.
Senate Bill 402 establishes the new West Virginia Micro-Credential Program, which creates portable, state-recognized workforce certifications intended to help workers demonstrate specialized skills that employers can recognize statewide.
Officials said the program will allow workers to quickly earn industry credentials while also giving those certifications the potential to count toward future college credit opportunities.
Senate Bill 490 expands access to workforce-focused Pell Grants connected to federal workforce education initiatives. Beginning July 1, 2026, eligible students may use Pell Grant funding for certain short-term workforce training programs lasting as little as eight to fifteen weeks.
State officials estimate the initiative could bring approximately $1.5 billion in federal investment into West Virginia over the next decade while helping more residents enter the workforce more quickly.
The Morrisey Administration also said West Virginia has announced more than $12.8 billion in private sector investments since October, with projections of more than 12,000 new jobs statewide.
