Governor McAuliffe Announces 25 New Jobs in Warren County

~ Nature’s Touch Frozen Foods to invest $1.8 million in first Virginia operation ~

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Canada-based Nature’s Touch Frozen Foods will invest $1.8 million to establish its first Virginia operation in Warren County. The company, which established its first U.S. entity in Vermont in 2009, imports the highest quality of fruits and vegetables and assembles and distributes them across the U.S. The project will create 25 new jobs.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “Attracting new businesses to Virginia is essential to building a new Virginia economy, and we are thrilled to add Nature’s Touch Frozen Foods to the roster of more than 750 internationally-based companies that call the Commonwealth home. With close proximity to the Virginia Inland Port, Warren County offers ideal logistics to this company expanding its footprint in the U.S. market and distributing its project across the nation. Global companies continue to choose Virginia for our world-class business environment, high-quality workforce and transportation infrastructure, and we will continue to leverage our outstanding assets.”

“Today we welcome another international company to Virginia,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “Nature’s Touch Frozen Foods is a well-established, growing company that will continue to expand in the U.S. in order to serve increasing demand for its high-quality product in the marketplace. We look forward to the company’s success in Warren County.”

Nature’s Touch was founded in 2004 with a vision to change the way consumers looked at frozen fruit. The company packed its first order from a small rented room in a warehouse in 2005, and, in less than 10 years, has won the private label frozen fruit accounts of all major grocery chains in Canada. The goal of Nature’s Touch is to provide the highest quality frozen fruit and vegetables at a competitive price and give consumers a consistent quality experience.

“The choice of Virginia was made easy for Nature's Touch Frozen Foods,” said Theo Prokos, Director, Nature's Touch Frozen Foods. “The welcome and cooperation of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to identify potential locations and promote the benefits of Virginia, coupled with the efforts of Front Royal and the Warren County Economic Development Authority, helped us find Interchange Port Services. The combination of close proximity to a sea port and easy access to major highways was tough to beat. In our case, the state authorities ensured that Virginia was the Best State for Business.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Warren County, the Warren County Economic Development Authority (EDA), and the Interchange of Front Royal to secure the project for Virginia. The company is eligible to participate in the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“The EDA is pleased to have Nature’s Touch become part of our business community,” said Patricia S. Wines, Warren County EDA Chairman. “We value each business that chooses Warren County as their place of business as we know they have many options to choose from, and we look forward to their success in our community.”

(Please note:  The governor is doing everything he can to make sure small business has no chance in his new Virginia economy and he is pulling every trick he can to make sure this is the case.)

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Governor McAuliffe Signs Executive Order Protecting Virginia’s Coastal Resources

Today Governor Terry McAuliffe signed an Executive Order continuing the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, a network of Virginia state agencies and local governments designed to protect the natural and economic assets located within Virginia’s coastal regions.

“From protecting the wildlife and fisheries of the Chesapeake Bay to meeting the threat of sea level rise, Virginia has a responsibility to protect our coastal areas and the vital natural and economic resources they offer,” said Governor McAuliffe. “The Coastal Zone Management Program is a critical framework for our Commonwealth’s stewardship of these important assets, and I intend to give it the full support of my administration.”

U.S. Representative Robert Wittman continued, “For over 25 years Virginia’s Coastal Zone Management Program has helped coordinate the Commonwealth’s efforts to protect  and restore coastal communities and natural resources. Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay, wetlands, and beaches are national treasures; these efforts to enhance coastal communities and ecosystems benefit us all.”

Below is the full text of the executive order:

NUMBER THIRTY FIVE (2014)

CONTINUATION OF THE VIRGINIA

COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Importance of the Initiative

           

            The Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program's (“Program”) mission is to create more vital and sustainable coastal communities and ecosystems. The Department of Environmental Quality will serve as the lead agency for this networked program and will be responsible for allocation and assignment of all federal funds received for the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program Implementation Grant.

            By virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor under Article V of the Constitution of Virginia and under the laws of the Commonwealth, including but not limited to Sections 2.2-103 and 2.2-104 of the Code of Virginia, and subject to my continuing and ultimate authority and responsibility to act in such matters, I hereby continue the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program.

POLICY GOALS

            State agencies having responsibility for the Commonwealth's coastal resources shall promote the Coastal Zone Management Program consistent with the following goals:

Coastal and Ocean Resource Protection

            Goal 1: To protect and restore coastal and ocean resources, habitats, and species of the Commonwealth. These include, but are not limited to, wetlands, subaqueous lands and vegetation, beaches, sand dune systems, barrier islands, underwater or maritime cultural resources, riparian forested buffers, and endangered or threatened species.

            Goal 2: To restore and maintain the quality of all coastal and ocean waters for human and ecosystem health through protection from adverse effects of excess nutrients, toxics, pathogens, and sedimentation.

            Goal 3: To protect air quality.

            Goal 4: To reduce or prevent losses of coastal habitat, life, and property caused by shoreline erosion, storms, relative sea level rise, and other coastal hazards in a manner that balances environmental and economic considerations.

Coastal and Ocean Resource Sustainable Use

            Goal 5: To provide for sustainable wild fisheries and aquaculture.

            Goal 6: To promote sustainable ecotourism and to increase and improve public access to coastal waters and shorefront lands compatible with resource protection goals.

            Goal 7: To promote renewable energy production and provide for appropriate extraction of energy and mineral resources consistent with proper environmental practices.

Coastal and Ocean Management Coordination

            Goal 8: To ensure sustainable development on coastal lands and support access for water-dependent development through effective coordination of governmental planning processes.

            Goal 9: To avoid and minimize coastal and ocean resource use conflicts through research, planning, and a forum for coordination and facilitation among local, regional, state, and federal government agencies, interest groups, and citizens.

            Goal 10: To promote informed decision-making by maximizing the availability of up-to-date educational information, technical advice, and scientific data including the use of new tools such as marine spatial planning.

IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT

            The following agencies, in cooperation with local governments, as appropriate, shall have primary responsibility for implementing the enforceable policies of Virginia's Coastal Zone Management Program as approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

Responsible Agency and Enforceable Policies

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

Point source water pollution management and nontidal wetlands management

Air pollution

Nonpoint source pollution management

Coastal lands management

Marine Resources Commission (MRC)

            Primary sand dunes management

            Tidal wetlands management

            Subaqueous lands management

            Fisheries management (shared with DGIF)

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF)

Fisheries management (shared with MRC)

Department of Health

Shoreline sanitation

The following agencies are responsible for assisting with the program:

Department of Conservation & Recreation

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Department of Forestry

Department of Historic Resources

Department of Mines, Minerals & Energy

Department of Transportation

Virginia Economic Development Partnership

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Virginia Department of Emergency Management

            In addition, other agencies that conduct activities that may affect coastal resources shall conduct such activities in a manner consistent with and supportive of Virginia's Coastal Zone Management Program. For purposes of this Program, the Coastal Area shall mean Tidewater Virginia as defined in Section 28.2-100 of the Code of Virginia, inclusive of all tidal waters out to the three nautical mile Territorial Sea Boundary.

            The Director of the Department of Environmental Quality shall monitor all state actions that affect coastal resources. When, in the judgment of the DEQ Director, a state agency, regulatory board, or commission is about to act in a manner that appears to be inconsistent with the Program or has established a pattern of actions that appears to be inconsistent with the Program, the Director shall discuss the situation with the head of such agency, board, or commission to determine if a consistency problem exists.

            If, after discussion, the head of such agency, board, or commission and the Director of DEQ are in disagreement about the existence of a consistency problem, the Director will inform the Secretary of Natural Resources of the disagreement. The Secretary shall then determine if a state interagency consistency problem exists.

            If the head of such agency, board, or commission and the Director of DEQ agree that a consistency problem exists, they shall attempt to resolve the problem. If they cannot resolve the problem, the Director shall advise the Secretary that an unresolved interagency consistency problem exists.

            Upon notification of the existence of an unresolved consistency problem, the Secretary shall review the problem, determine how it should best be resolved, and affect such resolution within the Secretariat of Natural Resources or consult with other Cabinet Secretaries to resolve a consistency problem with agencies, boards, or commissions not within the Secretariat of Natural Resources. If unable to resolve the problem, the Secretary shall report to the Governor and recommend appropriate action. The Governor shall have the ultimate responsibility for resolving any interagency consistency problem that cannot be resolved by the Secretary of Natural Resources.

            Any person having authority to resolve consistency problems under the terms of this Executive Order shall resolve those problems in a manner that furthers the goals and objectives of the Program as set forth above and in accordance with existing state law, regulations, and administrative procedures.

Effective Date of the Executive Order

            This Executive Order rescinds Executive Order No. 18 (2010), issued by Governor Robert F. McDonnell. This Executive Order shall be effective upon its signing and shall remain in full force and effect until June 30, 2018, unless amended or rescinded by further executive order.

            Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia on this 2nd day of December, 2014.

____________________________________________

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Terence R. McAuliffe, Governor

Attest:

____________________________________

           Secretary of the Commonwealth

(Please note:  This only applies to government entities and those who contract with the government.  Not one area of this applies to the people or to any businesses, unless they contract with the government.  With that said, who cares?)

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Governor McAuliffe Announces First Mid-Atlantic Commercial Hops Processing Operation

~ Loudoun County’s Black Hops Farm To Become Largest Hopsyard and Processing Facility in Commonwealth ~

Project Enhances Virginia’s Position in Fast Growing Craft Beer Industry

LEESBURG – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Black Hops Farm, LLC will initially convert 15 acres of former pasture land into a hops yard and build a new processing facility, thus becoming the largest hops yard in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic’s first commercial-scale hops production and processing facility.  The new Black Hops Farm facility will revolutionize the hops industry in Virginia, allowing hops growers to harvest and process efficiently their hops for market.  The new processing capacity will enable existing Virginia producers to move assuredly in expanding their production and will encourage new producers to enter the market by removing key barriers to the profitable production and marketing of local hops.  In addition to supporting current and prospective hops producers, the facility will benefit Virginia’s craft brewery industry as a whole by increasing the amount of hops produced in the state, as well as their quality and their ability to be used by a greater number of brewers. 

Speaking at Black Hops Farm about the announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “I am pleased to announce that Virginia, thanks to this important investment by Black Hops Farm, will be home to the first commercial-scale hops processing operation in the Mid-Atlantic region.  This is a significant win for the Commonwealth as it fills a critical need for current and future craft brewers and builds on my administration’s efforts to increase Virginia’s position in the fast growing craft beer industry.  In addition, this entrepreneurial venture is an excellent example of the important role that our diverse agricultural industry can and will play in my economic development strategic plan to build a New Virginia Economy.”

The company, providing important hops processing services for the entire region, will invest about $1 million, create 11 new jobs in Loudoun County, and source more than 60 percent of their hops from Virginia over the next three years.  The Commonwealth of Virginia is partnering with Loudoun County and Black Hops Farm on this project through the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID). 

“This one-of-a-kind facility in Loudoun County represents another step forward for Virginia as we become bigger players in the nation’s fast growing craft beer industry, which saw sales increase by more than 17 percent in 2013,” said Todd Haymore, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.  “This project enhances the Commonwealth’s position in the industry, which had an economic impact of just under $625 million last year, by promoting the research and production of hops, a huge potential cash crop for our agricultural producers.”

Black Hops Farms will invest in the site improvements, buildings, and equipment needed to convert the former residence and horse farm into a commercial hops production and processing facility.  A key role for the new processing facility will be to provide hops for Commonwealth Gin, as it is one of the important botanicals used in the production, so it can eventually be a 100 percent Virginia-sourced spirit.

“We’re so excited to be playing a part in the growth of the hops industry in Virginia here in partnership with Loudoun County,” said Jonathan Staples of Black Hops Farm. “Our collaboration with Solomon Rose and Organarchy Hops from Maryland has already made this a regional hops project with the benefit of their skills, expertise, and knowledge of the industry.  The Governor’s leading role in projects as large as Stone in Richmond, to our facility in Lucketts, makes clear to us that the state is committed to being a major player in the beer and spirits world and has allowed us to accelerate this project by several years. With so many farmers already growing hops across the state, we’re hoping that we can play a part in making Virginia the hops capital of the East Coast.”

In supporting the AFID grant to Black Hops Farm, LLC, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Vice-Chairman Shawn Williams said, “This state-of-the-art hops processing facility will sustain the quality and function of Loudoun-grown hops past the harvest season and will set Loudoun as a premier grower of hops on the East Coast.  This type of agricultural business exactly fits the Board of Supervisors’ Rural Economy Business Development Strategy, and will contribute to the economic vibrancy of Loudoun County.”

Loudoun County Economic Development Director Buddy Rizer added, “The construction of this hops drying and pelletizing facility will support Loudoun’s emerging farm brewery sector, and strengthen the link between the county’s rural and urban economies. It will encourage more local entrepreneurs to grow hops, because having the ability to process them will expand the market for them. This is the catalyst that we need to increase agricultural production of hops in Loudoun County.”

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) worked with Loudoun County to secure this expansion for Virginia.  Governor McAuliffe approved a $40,000 grant from the AFID Fund to assist Loudoun County with the project.  Black Hops Farm is also committing to purchase at least 3,500 pounds of Virginia hops over the next three years, an average of 61% of their purchases.

According to a 2013 economic impact study conducted by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia, agriculture and forestry are two of Virginia’s largest industries with a combined economic impact of $70 billion annually.  Agriculture generates more than $52 billion per annum, while forestry induces over $17 billion.  The industries also provide more than 400,000 jobs in the Commonwealth.  More information about the Weldon Cooper Center’s study can be found at http://www.coopercenter.org/node/2/publications/economic-impacts-agriculture-and-forestry-virginia-revised-2012.

About the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund

The AFID Fund was created during the 2012 session of the General Assembly and is being embraced by the McAuliffe Administration as an important tool in growing the Commonwealth’s agriculture and forestry sector and helping to make Virginia the leading exporter of agricultural and forest products on the East Coast.  More information about the AFID grant, which has the flexibility to assist projects large and small throughout Virginia, can be found at http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/agribusiness/afid.shtml.

(Continuing the growth of corporate welfare against the wishes of the people.  Maybe it's time to stop funding the Governor's office.)

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Governor McAuliffe Statement on the President's Executive Actions on Immigration

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement following President Obama’s executive actions on immigration:

“I applaud President Obama’s efforts to ensure that undocumented workers who are living, working, and paying taxes in the United States are no longer under constant threat of deportation. Families come here to achieve the American Dream and to provide a better future for their children. Over the last few years, Virginia has become increasingly diverse, with many first-generation Americans, and I believe this diversity adds value to our Commonwealth. 

“I also have spoken with business leaders across the Commonwealth and the nation who have called for skilled worker immigration reform to ensure that top international talent who have come to the United States are encouraged to stay here to pursue their careers. In order to build a new Virginia economy, we must make sure that international entrepreneurs have opportunities to start their businesses and create jobs here. The actions President Obama took today will help us achieve those goals.

“While these are important steps, it is clear that comprehensive immigration reform is still needed. Senators Kaine and Warner have shown great leadership on this issue, and it is my hope that Congress put their differences aside and take decisive action to build upon the progress President Obama announced today.”

(Guess that means we can keep our housekeeper and gardener for now.  Sweating bullets over that.  Just hated putting down the Rolling Stones magazine and High Times to watch the news broadcast.  Now it's on to Mad Magazine.)

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Governor McAuliffe Statement on Campus Sexual Violence

Sex and Violence (album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

RICHMOND – I was deeply disturbed to read about the sexual assault allegations outlined in Rolling Stone magazine. Sexual violence is a nationwide problem, and it is critical that our schools acknowledge that this is a pervasive issue and take bold action to end it. 

Earlier today, I spoke to the university leadership and conveyed my deep concerns with what has been reported. We are in agreement that a full and fair investigation must be pursued, and I have called for a zero tolerance strategy to combat campus sexual assault. I have asked university officials to conduct a full review of all of their policies and procedures and if decided, to bring in outside experts to assist in this effort. 

We must also find ways that our local law enforcement and prosecution efforts can better align with university actions. Earlier this year, I signed Executive Order 25 establishing the Governor’s Task Force on Combating Campus Sexual Violence, sending a message that Virginia will not tolerate sexual violence on our campuses or in our communities. Now is the time to act — we must ensure that survivors are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, and we must do more to hold perpetrators accountable.

As the parents of five children, this is an issue Dorothy and I care deeply about.  I look forward to seeing strong recommendations from the task force that will help keep more Virginians safe and ensure that our students are free from the threat of sexual violence. 

(Never mind the fact that we promote sexual violence in every aspect of our society.  You are not supposed to act on what we teach you.)

{Anyone getting a kick out of the news source Terry McAuliffe uses?  Rolling Stones magazine?  Does he also get news from High Times magazine?}

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