West Virginia's State Use Program was created by the legislature in 1984 and strengthened in 1989. The program allows the employment of persons with disabilities through nonprofit Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRP) to produce commodities and services for various state agencies without the requirement of 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 work for a wage. Their need to consume costly social services is drastically reduced when rehabilitation is mixed with business.

In 2005, the program enabled:

• Approximately 891 persons with disabilities to earn a wage
• Person with disabilities to work 765,275 hours
• Almost $5 million in wages to be paid to persons with disabilities
• 14 state government agencies to be more efficient and effective 
• Over $11.5 million in sales of commodities and services to state agencies