STATE USE COMMODITIES

West Virginia’s State Use Program was created by the legislature in 1984 and strengthened in 1989.  The program allows employment opportunities to be created for citizens with disabilities through nonprofit Community Rehabilitation Programs.  The State Use Law allows these programs and their clients to produce commodities and perform services for various state agencies without requiring competitive bidding.  Prices charged for these special commodities and services are established by the governor-appointed Committee for the Purchase of Commodities and Services from the Handicapped.

All West Virginians benefit when our citizens with disabilities are able to have a better quality of life through meaningful employment opportunities.  The need for these citizens to consume costly social services is drastically reduced by pairing rehabilitation and business opportunities.