Senator Rockefeller's entrepreneurial approach to economic development is multifaceted. He has brought dozens of new employers to West Virginia from around the world, while maintaining a focus on saving jobs in traditional West Virginia industries like steel, mining and chemical manufacturing. It's a dynamic, comprehensive approach that brings investors, communities and local leaders together to create growth and opportunities in the Mountain State. Attracting new investment, retaining and expanding existing industries, and supporting innovative ideas are three key areas of Senator Rockefeller's work to strengthen and diversify West Virginia's economic landscape.

These efforts pay off in significant ways – with Kureha, a new chemical company that is opening in Belle; Hino Motors, which is well underway in producing trucks in Williamstown; and Toyota in Buffalo, which continues to be the centerpiece of the West Virginia automotive sector, with more than 1100 jobs and growing. Thanks to Senator Rockefeller, West Virginia is also lucky to house NGK Sparkplugs, Diamond Electric, Okuno International, Nippon Thermostat, and K.S. of West Virginia. Through these companies and others, West Virginia is now home to a wide array of production facilities. For West Virginia to thrive in the new millennium, Senator Rockefeller believes that the state must engage in diversification, be willing to think outside the box, and continue to support innovation in its existing industries.

Senator Rockefeller has a strong track record as a champion for West Virginia's working families and small businesses. He has opposed any policy to provide excessive tax cuts to the richest Americans, and has voted time and again to keep taxes low for working families and small businesses in West Virginia. Senator Rockefeller has fought to expand the low-income tax bracket to 10 percent, eliminate the marriage penalty, and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) so more low- and middle- income workers can keep more of their hard-earned money.

Along with tax relief for families, Senator Rockefeller has worked to provide small business owners with tax breaks that will allow them to grow their company, invest in new equipment, hire more workers, and invest in better benefits. 

As part of his longstanding commitment to creating jobs in West Virginia, Rockefeller is continually exploring ways to promote manufacturing in West Virginia and throughout America.  He has introduced and cosponsored several bills that will level the playing field for American companies with foreign competition, incentivize companies to keep jobs in the U.S., allow manufacturing firms to create pre-tax accounts that will help save and create jobs throughout the country, and require the federal government to purchase only American flags made 100% in the U.S.