Mid-Year Update from Washington: A Productive Year for the 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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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.

For an industry that is regulated from many different angles; as sellers of food, as employers and as business operations, each legislative fix or regulatory relief can provide food retailers with real benefits and cost savings as they focus on selling quality, safe and affordable food to customers across the country.

By: Steven Harris, Director, Policy Development and Regulatory Compliance, Food Marketing Institute <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/government-affairs/gr-midyear-report-2018.tmb-medium.jpg?sfvrsn=bb9d426e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="GR Midyear Report 2018" title="GR Midyear Report 2018" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;" />As the summer months roll on, now is a great time to look back at the first half of the year and highlight the industry’s many advocacy achievements, both big and small.  FMI’s government relations department works on a wide variety of issues on behalf of our members throughout all stages of an issue’s life cycle and at varying levels of government.  Our <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/gr/gr-report---mid-year-2018.pdf?sfvrsn=2faa426e_2">mid-year public policy report</a> showcases our efforts on ongoing legislative issues like the Farm Bill, which is still making its way through Congress, on significant regulatory rulemakings, such as USDA’s proposed national bioengineered food disclosure standard, and on how we continue to use our <a href="https://www.fmi.org/government-affairs/grocery-industry-economic-impact">economic impact data</a> on Capitol Hill to ensure that congressional offices fully appreciate the role that the food industry and our customers play in their states and districts. For an industry that is regulated from many different angles; as sellers of food, as employers and as business operations, each legislative fix or regulatory relief can provide food retailers with real benefits and cost savings as they focus on selling quality, safe and affordable food to customers across the country. I encourage you to look through the mid-year report to better understand all of our work so far this year. I also recommend signing up for our <a href="https://www.fmi.org/get-involved/newsletters/government-relations">weekly GR Report newsletter</a> for more frequent policy updates on critical industry priority issues. While we are just over halfway through the year, FMI already has many achievements to showcase, and we look forward to continuing these efforts as lawmakers close out the 115th Congress, and we look toward 2019.  <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/gr/gr-report---mid-year-2018.pdf?sfvrsn=2faa426e_2" class="button-secondary">View FMI's Mid-Year 2018 Public Policy Report</a> <a href="https://www.fmi.org/government-affairs/government-relations-staff" class="button-secondary">Visit FMI's Government Relation's Staff Page</a>

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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.