Voters have spoken:The Impact of State Ballot Initiatives on the Grocery Industry

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.

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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.

The 2016 Election is over, and while the world is still discussing and speculating what the results of the 2016 U.S. presidential election will mean, state ballot outcomes can give us an idea for possible trends looking ahead.

By: Elizabeth Tansing, Director, State Government Relations, Food Marketing Institute <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/vote-sign.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Vote Sign" title="Vote Sign" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;" />The 2016 Election is over, and while the world is still discussing and speculating what the results of the 2016 U.S. presidential election will mean, state ballot outcomes can give us an idea for possible trends looking ahead. We recently <a href="http://www.fmi.org/government-affairs/state-affairs/fmi-state-issues-report/state-issues-report/2016/11/04/fmi-state-issues-report-election-edition---november-3-2016">reported</a> on key ballot measures that addressed taxes, minimum wage, alcohol and plastic bags. In Oregon, Measure 97: The Oregon Business Tax Increase Initiative would have been the largest tax increase in state history by removing the cap on the corporate gross sales tax and establishing a 2.5 percent tax on gross sales that exceed $25 million. Fortunately for our industry, voters did not approve the measure largely due to the efforts of the <a href="http://www.nwgrocery.org/">Northwest Grocers Association</a> and other coalition members who supported the efforts to defeat the tax. In Oklahoma, State Question 792: The Oklahoma Regulations Governing the Sale of Wine and Beer Amendment was passed, which will allow grocery stores and convenience stores to sell full-strength beer and wine seven days a week. In California, Proposition 65: The Dedication of Revenue from Disposable bag sales to Wildlife Conservation was rejected, allowing retailers to now keep a portion of the 10-cent bag fee, in order to cover the cost of providing carryout bags, as well as for additional state-approved purposes. Proposition 67: The California Plastic Bag Ban Referendum was approved. Proposition 67 prohibits grocery stores from providing single-use carryout bags, and would mandate a 10-cent fee that stores must charge for recycled, compostable and reusable grocery bags. Proposition 67 upholds legislation (SB 270) that was passed in 2014 but was suspended when the referendum qualified for the ballot. There were over <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2016/11/04/over-150-initiatives-on-state-ballots-this-november-what-grocers-need-to-know">150 state ballot initiatives</a> in this year’s election, and the aforementioned issues just scratched the surface. To learn more about additional state measures and how they could affect the grocery industry, visit <a href="http://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/state-affairs/2016-state-ballot-measure-guide.pdf">FMI’s State Ballot Measure Guide for the Grocery Industry</a>. To stay updated on local and state affairs, sign up for FMI’s <a href="http://www.fmi.org/government-affairs/state-affairs/local-monitoring">Local Monitoring Report</a> and <a href="http://www.fmi.org/government-affairs/state-affairs/fmi-state-issues-report">State Issues Report</a>.  Photo Credit: By <a href="http://www.cecill.info/licences/Licence_CeCILL_V2-en.html"></a><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Erik Hersman</a> via Wikimedia Commons

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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.