Showing posts with label Associated Press. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Associated Press. Show all posts

Friday, October 27, 2017

Delegate Keith Hodges Debates Sheila Crowley For The 98th District




Delegate Keith Hodges debates candidate Sheila Crowley in the race for the delegates seat of the 98th district here in Virginia.  Keith Hodges is the present seated candidate here in the 98th district and is a Republican.  Sheila Crowley is the Democratic challenger for that seat.  This debate happened in Gloucester County, Virginia at the Moose Lodge along route 17 North.  Watch the video and then cast your vote on November 7th, 2017 for the candidate you think will serve the 98th district the best.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Governor McAuliffe Announces Decrease in Virginia Unemployment Rate

August was 17th consecutive month of year over year employment growth

Governor McAuliffe announced today that Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.3 percentage point in August to 4.5 percent, the second consecutive monthly decline. At 4.5 percent, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is at its lowest level since September 2008 when it was 4.3 percent. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remains below the national rate, which was down 0.2 percentage point in August to 5.1 percent.

The average weekly wage for private employers was $940.55 in August, 7.6 percent above a year ago.

“We are seeing tangible results from our work to build a new Virginia economy by fostering growth at Virginia businesses around the Commonwealth and attracting new, high-growth industries,” said Governor McAuliffe. “The new jobs numbers demonstrate continued progress creating good-paying jobs all across Virginia. This is great news, but with federal shutdowns, sequestration and budget battles looming, we still have much work to do to diversify our economy and chart a course for sustainable growth well into the future.”

“The private sector continues to lead the rebound of Virginia’s economy,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones.  “This is especially good news as the Commonwealth needs robust private sector job growth in order to diversify our sources of prosperity.”

From August of 2014 to August of 2015, Virginia’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment was up 41,100 jobs. Over the year, employment grew 1.1 percent. For the past three months, over-the-year employment growth has exceeded 1.0 percent. Over-the-year August job gains were recorded by both the private sector, which grew by 37,200 jobs, and the public sector, which grew by 3,900 jobs. Compared to a year ago, on a seasonally adjusted basis, 9 of the 11 major industry divisions experienced employment gains.

For a greater statistical breakdown visit the Virginia Employment Commission’s website at www.vec.virginia.gov.  

Friday, September 11, 2015

Governor McAuliffe Announces Technology Award Winners

~ Improvements in service delivery, efficiency by state and local governments, universities cited ~

RICHMOND - The annual Governor’s Technology Awards were presented to honorees in nine categories at a special ceremony at the Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium (COVITS) in Richmond on Sept. 9. On behalf of Governor Terry McAuliffe, Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson presented the awards to a distinguished group of Virginia government entrants, including state and local government and universities. 

“I want to congratulate the winners of these awards,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Building a new Virginia economy requires the ability to innovate and find ways to increase efficiency in government. The future is bright for the Commonwealth as these talented groups continue to use technology to make government more efficient, less expensive and more responsive to taxpayers.”
Winners were determined by a panel of government information technology (IT) experts. For 18 years, the Governor’s Technology Awards program has recognized public sector IT projects that have improved government service delivery and efficiency.

Multiple awards were presented in several categories because of the extremely close scores between projects. Executive summaries of each winner’s entries are posted on the COVITS website, http://covits.virginia.gov/winners.html, to provide inspiration and best practice examples to peers and partners.

The 2015 Virginia Governor’s Technology Awards winners, by category:

CROSS-BOUNDARY COLLABORATION ON IT INITIATIVES

·         Electronic Death Registration System
Virginia Department of Health

IT AS EFFICIENCY DRIVER – GOVERNMENT TO CITIZEN

·         Real Estate Property Report App 
Roanoke County         

·         Charlottesville Area Transit Mobile App
City of Charlottesville

IT AS EFFICIENCY DRIVER – GOVERNMENT TO BUSINESS

·         The C.A.R.E. Application
Virginia State Corporate Commission

·         Transportation Network Company Registration
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

·         GIS-centric Development Management System
Prince William County

·         E-GIFT
Virginia Department of Health

IT AS EFFICIENCY DRIVER – GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT

·         Cloud Technology Partnership for Economic Development 
Chesterfield County

IT AS EFFICIENCY DRIVER – GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT

·         BeneVets Automated Claims Application 
Virginia Department of Veterans Services

INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

·         Fire Department Tablet Project 
City of Lynchburg

·         CAD to CAD 
York-Poquoson-Williamsburg Regional 9-1-1 Center
James City 9-1-1 Center

INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

·         The Geospatial Semester
James Madison University

·         Frictionless High Speed Research Network
Virginia Commonwealth University

INNOVATIVE USE OF BIG DATA AND ANALYTICS

·         OneSource Data Warehouse 
Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

·         Public Safety Operational Data Storage (PODS)
Chesterfield County

INNOVATIVE USE OF OPEN DATA

·         Open Data Portal
City of Richmond

BEST CITIZEN PORTAL

·         Citizen Portal 
City of Newport News

·         Virginia Law Portal
Division of Legislative Automated Systems


Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Governor McAuliffe Announces 3rd Year of Virginia’s Going Global Defense Initiative

~ Commonwealth receiving $1.8 million for GGDI program to preserve jobs and replace declining state tax revenues for Virginia ~

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Virginia has received $1.8 million in grant funding for a third year of its Going Global Defense Initiative (GGDI), administered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP).  The GGDI was created to mitigate the negative impact of defense spending cuts on Virginia’s economy. 

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “As federal budget cuts and sequestration continue to hamper Virginia’s economy, the Going Global Defense Initiative is a vital tool to help Virginia’s defense companies offset the loss of defense revenue. The GGDI, which is the first program of its kind in the U.S., helps Virginia defense companies diversify their revenue streams by identifying new business in international markets. This successful program is another example of Virginia’s innovative approach to strengthening its economy.”

“The past two years of solid performance with the GGDI program demonstrates how the federal government, Virginia government and its private sector can partner in ways that will benefit the economy of the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones.  “We are pleased to continue this effective partnership with our federal resources to provide assistance to even more of Virginia’s defense and security businesses. VEDP’s initiative will contribute to the companies’ future growth and health, thereby contributing to job growth in Virginia.”

Virginia is the top state in the nation for federal defense contracts. With approximately 5,000 defense companies in Virginia facing U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) spending reductions of more than $300 billion in the next five-plus years, Virginia stands to lose many high-paying jobs.  The GGDI is the Commonwealth’s only program that replaces DOD revenue streams for Virginia’s defense companies, which, in turn, preserves jobs and replaces declining state tax revenues for Virginia.

In its first two years, over 250 companies participated in VEDP’s GGDI program. More than 100 participants travelled to an international market in pursuit of new business.  In its third year, the DOD has granted $1.8 million for GGDI to assist Virginia’s defense-related companies that have been adversely affected by defense budget reductions. Virginia’s support of the GGDI is made possible by Governor McAuliffe’s funding of the Virginia International Trade Alliance (VITAL), announced last month.  VITAL’s goals are to increase Virginia’s exports by $1.6 billion and to create 14,000 trade-supported jobs over the next 5 years. 

The GGDI generates international sales for Virginia’s defense companies by providing the following:

·         Research on international markets
·         Export compliance
·         Digital localization
·         Technical translation and adaptation
·         Events with U.S. Combatant Commands and partner nations
·         Export training
·         Online portal of GGDI resources
·         Going Global training courses


Governor McAuliffe Announces Decrease in Virginia Unemployment Rate

RICHMOND – Governor McAuliffe announced today that Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage point in July to 4.8 percent. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remains below the national rate, which was unchanged in July at 5.3 percent.

The average weekly wage for private employers was $905.58 in July, 4.6 percent above a year ago.

“We are seeing tangible results from our work to build a new Virginia economy in communities across the Commonwealth by attracting new, high-growth industries and fostering growth in the existing businesses that represent our employment base,” said Governor McAuliffe. “The new jobs numbers demonstrate enhanced income security for Virginia's workers while offering the opportunity of lower costs for employers doing business in Virginia. We still have much work to do, and I remain committed to providing pathways to prosperity for all Virginia families and businesses.”

“This is more good news for Virginia,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones.  “Year over year employment is up, wages are up, and unemployment is down.  When the public and private sectors work well together as a team, we can accomplish what is necessary to continue our economic growth.”

From July of 2014 to July of 2015, Virginia’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment was up 40,700 jobs. Over-the-year, employment grew 1.1 percent, the sixteenth consecutive month of positive over-the-year growth. Over-the-year July job gains were recorded by both the private sector, which grew by 38,500 jobs, and the public sector, which grew by 2,200 jobs. Compared to a year ago, on a seasonally adjusted basis, 10 of the 11 major industry divisions experienced employment gains.

As employment grew faster than expected in the last year, unemployment insurance (UI) benefit payments decreased and UI revenues increased.   This produced an improved forecast solvency level for Virginia’s UI Trust Fund this year, which will likely eliminate the fund-building surtax in 2016, a year earlier than previously projected.  The fund-building surtax, which costs employers $16 per employee, has been in effect since 2010.

For a greater statistical break down visit the Virginia Employment Commission’s website at http://www.vec.virginia.gov/.


Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Governor McAuliffe Statement on the Supreme Court of Virginia

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe issued the following statement on the legislature’s failure to elect a Justice to the Supreme Court of Virginia:

“I am shocked and saddened that Republican leaders denied a sitting Supreme Court Justice a hearing, even as she sat at her desk, across the street from today’s Joint Courts of Justice meeting, continuing to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. This is not the Virginia way to treat anyone, let alone an outstanding female jurist. Republicans have yet to raise a single concern about Justice Roush’s legal skills or her integrity. Indeed, they have repeatedly acknowledged that her qualifications are unmatched.
“Republican leaders ultimately were incapable of electing anyone, leaving the state’s highest court in a state of uncertainty. It is disgraceful that Republicans have turned a serious decision affecting Virginia’s entire judicial system into an embarrassing partisan circus. I call on lawmakers to return to Virginia’s time-honored traditions for electing judges. I ask that they walk across the street and invite Justice Roush to a new hearing, one that is open and fair, and gives this highly qualified judge the respect she is due.

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Governor McAuliffe Launches Statewide Virtual Datathon Challenge


~ Teams from across Virginia will create new and innovative applications ~
(Or, How to get people to work for free)

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe today launched the 2015 Virtual Datathon Challenge, a competition that will bring together teams of innovators from across the Commonwealth to create new applications that improve government

“We can’t have an innovative new Virginia economy without an innovative government,” said Governor McAuliffe. “That’s why last year my administration launched Virginia’s first ever open data portal, and why last September we brought together state agencies to build brand new apps from scratch. This year, I’m challenging innovators across Virginia to use our state data in creative ways that will encourage collaboration and transparency within our government, enhance the services we provide our citizens, and build on our state’s reputation for innovative, efficient and customer-oriented government.”

Virginia Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson continued, “This Virtual Challenge will give all Virginians the opportunity to use data and technology to improve their government and how it serves their communities.  Apps are changing lives; we are seeing a movement where longstanding challenges are being solved by technology solutions developed by a growing population of civic coders. We want Virginia to lead the way.”

The Virtual Challenge winner will advance to the final round of competition at the statewide competition where they will compete for the Governor’s Cup.

For more information and competition registration, please visit data.virginia.gov.  To join the big data conversation, follow @DataVirginia and #TechInVA.