Governor McAuliffe Announces U.S. SBA Grant to Support Virginia’s International Trade Program

~ Program increases exports for Virginia’s small businesses ~

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Virginia has received $578,500 in grant funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant Program.  The STEP grant is designed to increase the number of small businesses that are exporting and to raise the value of exports for those small businesses that are currently exporting. 

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “International trade is a key part of my plan to create private sector jobs and build a new Virginia economy that is less reliant on the federal government.  By providing resources and services to increase international trade, we help Virginia businesses find new customers around the world and, in turn, create new jobs for Virginians. We are pleased to continue this effective partnership with our federal partners to provide assistance to even more of Virginia’s small businesses.”

“In 2014, more than 86 percent of Virginia’s exporting companies were small and medium-sized companies with fewer than 500 employees. These firms generated more than 28% of Virginia’s total products exported,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones.  “Helping Virginia small businesses sell their products and services abroad is one of our most effective business expansion strategies.”

The STEP Grant will generate international sales for Virginia’s small businesses by providing the following international trade promotion services for eligible small businesses:

·         Opportunities to participate in international trade shows

·         Face-to-face meetings with potential customers and partners by travelling to international markets

·         Website translation, search engine optimization and localization

·         Advertising and translation services

Receipt of this federal grant was made possible by Governor McAuliffe’s $1.0 million funding of the Virginia International Trade Alliance (VITAL), which was announced in July 2015.  To date, two federal grants totaling over $2.4 million have been awarded to Virginia to increase international trade.   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 SBA grant will be administered by the International Trade Division of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

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Constitution Seminar for Youth Announced

On September 9, 1777, future Chief Justice of the U.S Supreme Court John Jay had the opportunity to address the Grand Jury of Ulster County, NY.  Among his remarks, he said: “Every member of the State ought diligently to read and to study the constitution of his country and teach the rising generation to be free. By knowing their rights, they will sooner perceive when they are violated, and be the better prepared to defend and assert them.” 

At the Constitution Leadership Initiative, we have taken John Jay's charge to heart.

Although I've had to cancel the previously announced seminar planned for 29 August due to low registrations, I have rescheduled it for 19 September (two days after Constitution Day) and moved to a new location.

The seminar is built around the book "Our Constitution Rocks" by Juliette Turner, and each participant age 14-18 will receive a free copy.  This is an explanation of the Constitution written by a teen for teens.  In addition, each child will receive a free box lunch and Pocket Constitution.  All this is made possible by generous donations to CLI's Young Patriot's Fund.

This will be a wonderful opportunity for students to study the entire U.S. Constitution in one sitting and learn of the events which led to it as well. 

There will be a special guest appearance (via Skype) by Constituting America President and Founder Janine Turner (mother of Juliette).

Parents who wish to audit the seminar with their children will be asked to pay $10 to cover the cost of their lunch.

All participants must be pre-registered to participate.  The seminar is limited to 30 participants.  Register via email to Gary@constitutionleadership.org or by calling 757-867-9120.

Request your assistance in publicizing this important and worthwhile event.

Thanks for your help in the cause of freedom.

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Governor McAuliffe Announces 110 New Jobs for Charlotte County

Seal of Charlotte County, Virginia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

~The Corsi Group to invest approximately $5 million in first Virginia manufacturing operation~ 

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that The Corsi Group, a leading manufacturer of custom and semi-custom cabinetry, will invest approximately $5 million to establish its first Virginia manufacturing operation in Charlotte County. Virginia successfully competed against Kentucky for the project, which will create 110 new jobs.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “Speaking about today’s announcement in Keysville, Governor McAuliffe said, “The addition of more than 100 new jobs is significant news for Charlotte County as it continues to rebound economically.  As The Corsi Group expands its footprint and establishes its first East Coast manufacturing operation in Virginia, we celebrate a new corporate partner in a region that offers a robust, skilled workforce and improved cost competitiveness to the company’s expanding customer base. This new manufacturing operation will complement the existing industry base in Southern Virginia well, and we look forward to the mutual benefit and success for Charlotte County and Corsi.”

“We welcome The Corsi Group to Virginia and Charlotte County,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “Advanced manufacturing is a thriving industry in the Commonwealth, and Corsi joins an impressive roster of manufacturers that have invested more than$13.7 billion in Virginia over the last 10 years. We are confident that the company will benefit from the business friendly environment in Charlotte County and the Southern Virginia region.”

Headquartered in Indianapolis, The Corsi Group was founded in 1973 as a designer and manufacturer of custom cabinetry, and today has completed more than 50,000 projects.

“We are confident in our choice of Charlotte County as our best for quality labor, a business-friendly governmental environment, and area supporting companies with whom we will work,” said Pat Corsi, Founder and Chairman and CEO of The Corsi Group. “We plan to continue our past practices of community involvement to add local value beyond the jobs we will be creating.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Charlotte County and Virginia’s Growth Alliance to help secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Charlotte County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $375,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The company may be eligible to receive benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity will provide funding and services to support the company’s training activities.

"The Corsi Group's reputation precedes itself, and Charlotte County and its Industrial Development Authority are extremely appreciative of their decision to locate the company's third U.S. manufacturing facility to our County,” said Dr. Nancy Carwile, Chairman, Charlotte County Board of Supervisors. "We are excited and pleased with the faith they have shown in Charlotte County's workforce and the employment opportunities that Corsi will provide for our citizens. We look forward to working with the company."

"The Virginia Tobacco Commission is extremely proud to welcome the Corsi Group to Charlotte County, and we look forward to the many benefits that Corsi will provide the citizens through good jobs and their community involvement,” said Gary D. Walker, Commissioner, the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. “This announcement could not come at a better time for our people and the future of our county."

Charlotte County is one of nine jurisdictions that make-up Virginia’s Growth Alliance, a regional economic development agency.

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Many Animals Were Harmed In The Making Of This Show

Animal Planet (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A popular Animal Network "guided reality show" allegedly chronicling animal rescue efforts actually inflicted harm on several different types of animals for the sake of the production, Mother Jones reported on Tuesday.

"It's a damn bullsh*t show," one local animal park owner said after confirming the show, Call of the Wildman, actually used a zebra from his business during an episode. "You know it, and I know it. It's just entertainment, cheap entertainment. It gives everybody a job or something to do."

The show follows star Ernie "Turtleman" Brown Jr. as he supposedly rescues animals that have made their way to homes or businesses. Brown is licensed in the state of Kentucky as a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO). He is allowed to trap animals for pay but required to report his captures to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. A disclaimer mentioning that the show contains "some dramatizations" was added to the program on its 13th episode."* Ana Kasparian, John Iadarola (TYT University) and Jimmy Dore (The Jimmy Dore Show) break it down.

*Read more here from Arturo Garcia / Raw Story:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/22...

Gee, Animal Planet is faking it's animal rescues?  Now isn't that interesting!  The entire channel is a fraud created for it's entertainment value?  That is just insane.  How many people bought into the fraud?  Are we seeing something here?

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Governor Bob McDonnell Announces Contract for U.S. Route 460 Phase II Project in Buchanan County

English: The state seal of Virginia. Српски / Srpski: Застава америчке савезне државе Вирџиније. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Design-build contract will use coal synergy to reduce project costs by 50%

BUCHANAN COUNTY— On-site of the U.S. Route 460 Connector Phase I construction project in Buchanan County, Governor Bob McDonnell announced today a contract has been signed to begin the second phase of U.S. Route 460 construction.

            The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), in coordination with the Office of Transportation Public-Private Partnerships, recently signed a contract with Bizzack Construction, LLC, Lexington, Ky. to design and build the 6.2-mile section to rough grade.  Bizzack Construction, LLC, also serves as the design-build contractor for Phase I.

            “Creating new access through better transportation will fuel economic development and tourism opportunities never available with the current network of roads,” Governor Bob McDonnell said.  “The Route 460 Connector and the Coalfields Expressway are key connections that will open southwestern Virginia to more job and business opportunities.”

            Transportation Secretary Sean T. Connaughton added, “By executing a design-build contract, the Commonwealth is able to deliver this project at a much reduced cost.  This contract brings Virginia one step closer to creating an improved highway network and connectivity between Route 460 in Virginia and Kentucky, which are federally-designated as Corridor Q, and the Coalfields Expressway. ”

            Bizzack recently acquired Rapoca Energy, succeeding Rapoca Energy in the partnership with VDOT to build the Route 460 Connector Phase II to rough grade.  VDOT entered negotiations with Bizzack in 2012, and in June the Commonwealth Transportation Board authorized VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley to award and execute a $108 million design-build contract to construct the road bed to rough grade. 

            U.S. Route 460 Connector Phase II will be a 6.2-mile limited access four-lane highway, connecting to Kentucky’s newly constructed Route 460.  The connector in Virginia is broken into two sections, the first already under construction at the Kentucky line near Breaks Interstate Park. 

            The west end of the U.S. Route 460 Connector in Virginia will connect to a proposed interchange for the Coalfields Expressway. 

            The design-build contract will use the coal synergy concept to provide a rough grade road bed at a reduction of over 50% in costs.

            The estimated cost of the design-build contract – taking into consideration the savings from coal synergy - is approximately $108 million.

            Coal synergy reduces road building costs substantially by using the coal companies’ larger-scale earth moving equipment and construction techniques common to the coal industry to prepare the road bed to rough grade, and allowing the companies to recover marketable coal reserves during the road bed preparation. 

            In August 2009, VDOT awarded the $113 million design-build contract for the construction of the .8-mile section of Phase I of the connector, which includes the construction of twin high-level bridges that will be the tallest in Virginia when completed. 

            The bridges will be over 250-feet-high and 1,700 linear feet in length.  They will span Route 610 (Conaway Road) and Grassy Creek.  The .8-mile Phase I project begins at the Kentucky state line, meeting up with the improvements Kentucky is making to Route 460. 

            An access ramp to Route 80, improving access to Breaks Interstate Park, is part of the U.S. Route 460 Connector Phase I.  Secondary connections to Routes 609 and 693 from Route 80 are also being constructed.