2/12/2010
CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Gov. Joe Manchin today joined Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and top executives representing the automotive, business, technology and financial industries during The Business Council’s winter meeting.
Manchin was one of two governors invited to speak at the conference sponsored by the Business Council, a group whose membership is limited to CEOs. Manchin and Barbour were part of the “Governor’s Panel” discussion. Other panels during the meeting focused on technology, manufacturing and finance, and featured industry leaders, including Michael S. Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell Inc., Ivan Seidenberg, chairman and CEO of Verizon Communications and Alan R. Mulally, president and CEO of Ford Motor Co.
“This was a one-of-a-kind opportunity to speak with our country’s most influential business leaders about the positive changes we’ve made in West Virginia,” Manchin said. “You can be sure that I took every opportunity to let them know all the good things West Virginia has to offer and that it’s a great place to do business.
“We had an open discussion and shared ideas for job growth. Our country has the expertise and the work force for growth, however, we must find a way to pull the two together sooner rather than later to create more jobs that allow our citizens to earn a living and have a good quality of life.”
The governor said that West Virginia has continuously looked for both short and long-term solutions to build its economy. “We continue to seek ways to diversify our job market with high technology-sector jobs and employers who are looking to expand business in our state.”
In recent years, West Virginia has enhanced its business climate and state government has practiced sound financial management. The governor, working with the state’s legislature, has privatized Workers Compensation, reduced corporate net income and business franchise taxes, removed more than $100 million in business tax burden, and, due to strong financial performance, has seen the state’s first bond rating increases in more than a decade.
“We’ve worked hard to create a new West Virginia. We got our financial house in order; we have put about $2 billion toward reducing unfunded pensions and state debt. We have moved in a very progressive manner by working together,” said the governor.
While the nation continues to battle one of the worst economic downturns in history, the governor said West Virginia has been a leader and is better positioned than most states to take advantage of new business opportunities as the economy recovers.
The goal of the conference was to find solutions for unemployment and to share ideas for job creation. Discussion moderators included leading national business journalists, such as Paul Gigot, editorial page editor and vice president of The Wall Street Journal and Susie Gharib, anchor of PBS’ Nightly Business Report.
The Business Council is a voluntary association of business leaders whose members meet several times a year for the free exchange of ideas both among themselves and with thought leaders from many sectors. The Council promotes learning, best practice sharing and networking by its members with a view to making a contribution to society, the global economy and to business, according to the organization’s Web site.
Since its founding more than 75 years ago, The Business Council membership has consisted of a group of current or former chief executive officers from a broad range of companies. All major industries are represented among the members of The Business Council.
Contact Information
Jama Jarrett or Melvin Smith
304-558-2000