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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.

Last year, the Federal Reserve issued a request for comment on a proposal to establish a real time gross settlement system here in the United States. FMI enthusiastically submitted comments strongly supporting the FED moving forward with the proposal.

<p dir="ltr">By: Hannah Walker, Senior Director, Technology and Nutrition Policy, Food Marketing Institute</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/photos-for-staff-use/check-out/20171205-fmi-store-shoot-1057_ed.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=1dcf786e_2" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="20171205-FMI-Store Shoot-1057_ed" title="20171205-FMI-Store Shoot-1057_ed" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;" />In the wonky world of financial services and banking, we use acronyms almost as often as the DOD (Department of Defense, of course!). Whether we are talking about APR, ACH, CNP* or RTGS to the typical person on the street&hellip;we may sound just a little crazy. </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">I often find myself chatting with industry colleagues about how crucial it is for the Federal Reserve Bank (FED) to act on Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), or as I like to put it, &ldquo;time&rsquo;s a-wastin&rsquo;.&rdquo; All too frequently, I get glassy-eyed stares, half-smiles, and then the inevitable &ldquo;what are RTGS?&rdquo; in response. </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <h4 dir="ltr">So, what is RTGS?</h4> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">It is a commonsense solution that the Federal Reserve Bank (FED) can implement to bring U.S. payments into the 21st century, in order to mirror what is happening in the global market. Instead of waiting days for a card transaction to settle, it would happen in real-time.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <h4 dir="ltr">Why is RTGS so important? </h4> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">From the retailer perspective, it would spur innovation, create certainty in payments, and free-up the billions of dollars in capital that&rsquo;s fettered in transit while we wait days for a transaction to settle. For the consumers? RTGS&rsquo; promote real-time transparency into their actual credit charges, and eliminates the days of &ldquo;pending&rdquo; transactions that become added to their total card balances. &nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <h4 dir="ltr">Why is FMI and so many others clamoring for the FED to move forward with its proposal to stand up a RTGS system here in the United States? &nbsp;</h4> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Last year, the Federal Reserve issued a request for comment on a proposal to establish a real time gross settlement system here in the United States. FMI enthusiastically submitted comments strongly supporting the FED moving forward with the proposal. We know a few, but loud voices in the payments system have raised objections to the proposal with the idea that this can and is being done in the private market. &nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">This argument falls flat with retailers, consumers and just about everyone else in the payment&rsquo;s ecosystem. The fact is, the U.S. is far behind the rest of the world in both innovation and speed in settlement. The FED has the reach needed to incorporate every financial institution, not just a select few into a nationwide RTGS system. By standing up a RTGS system that every financial institution in the U.S. has access to, the FED will actually spur competition and innovation in the payments space.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">So, as I&rsquo;ve said before, &ldquo;time&rsquo;s a-wastin&rsquo;.&rdquo; The FED needs to move forward with RTGS here in the U.S. You can view our comments on <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/gr/fmi-comments-fed-faster-payments.pdf?sfvrsn=71194d6e_6">RTGS here</a>. &nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>*Annual percentage rate (APR), Automated Clearing House (ACH), Card Not Present (CNP)</em></p> <br />

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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.

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OMEGA Members Receive a 3.4% discount

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