Keeping Track of the Details During Busy Times

Promoting and Advancing Petroleum Marketing, Retail Grocery, and Convenience Stores in West Virginia

Driving Local Business and Community Growth Across West Virginia

Our Purpose and Commitment

OMEGA is a West Virginia-based organization dedicated to supporting and advancing the business interests of the state’s petroleum marketing, retail grocery, and convenience store industries.

As a network of over 225 locally owned businesses, OMEGA actively promotes cooperation, advocates for favorable legislation, and provides education and resources to its members. With over 50,000 employees, OMEGA members significantly contribute to the state’s economy, generating more than 10% of all state taxes and supporting local communities through scholarships, charitable donations, and civic involvement.

OMEGA is committed to fostering industry growth while serving West Virginians with essential services like fuel, food, and convenience.

who frontpage

member frontpage

Join a Community that Champions, Connects, and Elevates!

Your Essential Connection in West Virginia

OMEGA offers three types of membership: Convenience Store Members, Petroleum Marketer Members, and Grocer Members, all of which play a vital role in providing fuel, food, and essentials across West Virginia. As a liaison with state and national agencies, OMEGA works closely with organizations like NACS, PMAA, FMI, and the N.G.A. to advocate on behalf of its members.

We keep members informed through newsletters, legislative updates, an online resource hub, and educational seminars. Additional member benefits include access to the Encova Workers’ Compensation Discount Program and participation in our annual Trade Expo and fundraising efforts for children’s charities. OMEGA is here to support, advocate, and enhance the success of our industry members.

Most of us are knee deep in the annual calendar recalibration known as “back to school month” and are hastily trying to get acclimated to the new pace- frantically searching for the rhythm that feels more like normal and less like a jolt to the system. While all of this is going on, we should remember that back to school time also means back to Congress.

By: Leslie G. Sarasin, President and CEO, Food Marketing Institute <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/backto-school-back-to-congress.tmb-large-350-.png?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="BackTo School, Back To Congress " title="BackTo School, Back To Congress " style="float: right; margin: 10px;" />Most of us are knee deep in the annual calendar recalibration known as “back to school month” and are hastily trying to get acclimated to the new pace- frantically searching for the rhythm that feels more like normal and less like a jolt to the system. While all of this is going on, we should remember that back to school time also means back to Congress. In the midst of beginning a new academic year saturated with promise – naturally reinforced by the unblemished hope springing from brand new school supplies, a new classroom and a new set of teachers - the Senate and House of Representatives return to a full slate of leftover tasks, unresolved issues and precious little time to accomplish needed work. The House plans to be in session until it completes a resolution to continue funding the government and then will adjourn until November 14, after the national elections. The Senate also plans to return home to campaign as soon as a continuing resolution is off its plate, potentially next week, with a scheduled return on November 14. This means the waning days of the 114thCongresss will have an abbreviated work period – colored by all the intrigue the presidential election will bring to it. Add to this the need to pass a budget before the end of year and we are creating the perfect environment for one of those omnibus packages – or at least what is fondly being called a mini-bus bundle of bills – in which all kinds of legislation is clustered and moved to the floor under the motivational cloak of “must pass.” In an atmosphere of expediency, clumping bills together can prove a dangerous vehicle in the legislative process, allowing other, often less desirable, legislation to go through on the coattails of weightier, more pressing bills. This makes vigilant monitoring of legislative details very important, lest a bill with important ramifications to the food retail industry gets bundled with others in the hope of receiving less scrutiny.  A case in point is H.R. 5983, the Financial CHOICE Act. On September 13, 2016, the House Financial Services Committee narrowly approved H.R. 5983 by a vote of 30 to 26, with bi-partisan opposition and no minority support. This legislation, introduced by Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), included language that repeals a successful debit reform law, or “Durbin Amendment,” enacted in 2010 as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform package. FMI supported this law which brought increased competition among banks, lowered routing fees for retailers, and created greater transparency and predictability in the cost of accepting debit cards.  Currently, FMI is engaging with House leadership and other members seeking to prevent the bill’s forward movement toward consideration on the House floor, or its inclusion in any end of the year “must pass” packages. We strongly encourage you to contact your Members of Congress and urge them to oppose this anti-competitive legislation.  FMI’s Senior Vice President, Government and Public Affairs,Jennifer Hatcher, has made a brief video describing why you should join the fight to keep the Financial CHOICE Act off of the 2016 legislative docket. I invite you to view her video, <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2016/09/21/food-retailers-need-to-press-for-continued-debit-card-competition">here</a> and go to our grassroots letter, <a href="http://foodaction.net/">here</a>. While many of us are busy adjusting to the chaos of the new school year, we cannot afford to take our eyes off the details of the national legislative agenda. That would result in a schooling of a different and unwanted type.

Read full article on FMI

Menus

Some of the main menus of the template are now set via the template parameters saving you having to set up menu modules for each menu. From this section you can choose what menus you would like connected with these pre assigned menu areas of the template.

Copyright Information

Enter the copyright information that will appear in the footer area of your template.

Supporting West Virginia Communities

OMEGA members play a vital role in West Virginia, supporting communities through substantial tax contributions and a wide-reaching presence across the state. With over 55% of the population living in border counties, our members are dedicated to serving both local and regional needs. Beyond business, we’re proud to give back, having contributed over $3.1 million to children’s charities since 2003, reflecting our commitment to making a positive difference.