WVADA’s members, especially our dealers, are always stepping up to the plate and finding ways to help around their communities. Dealers in the state of West Virginia have certainly stepped up this past year by making sure they are giving back where it counts. We are always encouraging people to relocate to this wonderful state, and if our dealers continue doing the work they have done, our future generations will have a bright future.
West Virginia has gone through some rough times, especially our businesses, but we continue to be innovative and find ways to conquer the obstacles. Creating jobs in West Virginia has been a top priority in this state, but an important part of keeping a job is having a reliable vehicle for transportation.
WVADA and Good News Mountaineer Garage (GNMG) have worked together the past few years to develop a program, Keys to Success, to focus on reliable transportation for working individuals. Keys to Success is an auto loan program for WV citizens who are below 200% of the federal poverty level, employed and need to purchase a dependable and reliable vehicle that will allow them to maintain their everyday needs.
With help from Delegate Terri Sypolt and Senate President Craig Blair, the WV Legislature passed a new law that provides a state tax credit to dealers who participate in the Keys to Success program with GNMG. Dealers can receive up to a $2,000 state tax credit per vehicle. Good News Mountaineer Garage sold their first car for this program on Sept. 13, 2021, where Governor Jim Justice presented the keys to Brandi Edwards. Richard Stephens, with Stephens Auto Center, was the first dealer to participate in the Keys to Success program and sold GNMG’s client a vehicle that has kicked this program into gear. This is a great opportunity for dealers to help the citizens of West Virginia who are employed and need reliable transportation to make it to work. We are encouraging all dealers to participate in this worthwhile program so we can help West Virginians remain employed and on the right track.
West Virginia dealers continuously support their communities while looking for ways to help create a strong West Virginia. WVU Medicine Children partnered with 36 WV dealers for support of the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital. Throughout the month of August, WV dealers gave generous donations or contributed $100 from every vehicle sold, which resulted in WVU Medicine Children raising $661,750. It is truly inspiring to see dealerships join together to help raise the necessary funds needed to help improve the lives of West Virginia Children. WVADA sincerely thanks our dealers for their generous and continuous dedication to making West Virginia a better place for its people and future generations.
For more information about Keys to Success, please contact: Ron Wiles, at (304) 680-7140, or by email at goodnews.ron@gmail.com.
For more information about WVU Medicine Children, please contact: Marisa Sayre at Marisa.Sayre.m@wvumedicine.org.
