Governor McAuliffe Announces 596 New Jobs at Fort Monroe in the City of Hampton

Fort Monroe, Virginia (also known as Fortress Monroe) is a military installation located at Old Point Comfort on the tip of the Virginia Peninsula at the mouth of Hampton Roads on the Chesapeake Bay in eastern Virginia in the United States. For more info, please see talkpage. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

~ Liberty-Source PBC to invest $1.56 million in customer service operation~ 

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Liberty-Source PBC, a flexible onshore business process outsourcing model that uniquely harnesses the talent of military spouses, will invest $1.56 million to establish an operation at Fort Monroe in the City of Hampton.  The company will provide finance, accounting, human resources, customer care and additional support services for its clients, creating 596 new jobs.

               Speaking about the announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “Liberty-Source PBC is a tremendous addition to the Hampton Roads region.  The company’s delivery model is centered on employing staff from the U.S. military community, and Fort Monroe and the City of Hampton have a long and storied military history.  In addition to active duty men and women in Virginia, thousands exit the military each year in the Commonwealth, and Liberty-Source will make a great social and economic impact providing opportunities to valuable government assets.”

            “The addition of nearly 600 new jobs is significant news for Fort Monroe and the City of Hampton,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade.  “An operation at a former U.S. Army post is a perfect fit for Liberty-Source PBC’s business model.  The companywill add economic vitality to a location with a centuries-old military tradition while drawing on the prevalent talents of the strong workforce in the region.”

Liberty-Source is a business process outsourcer (BPO) delivering finance and accounting, human resources, customer care and specialized industry solutions for clients seeking a flexible, onshore and cost-effective solution.  The company offers large multinational companies the first viable onshore alternative to a traditional offshore BPO model.  In addition, its compelling, socially conscious mission—providing career and training opportunities to the dedicated, under-employed pool of highly skilled military spouses—benefits both clients and, in this case, the broader Virginia community.

“Our unique operating model provides clients a solution unlike anything else on the market,” said Deborah Kops, Chairman, Liberty-Source.  “As an onshore BPO, Liberty-Source provides clients agile, tailored solutions which can deliver the spectrum of their business process needs.”

By harnessing the power of military spouses and creating strong alliances with leaders in the education, consulting and technology sectors, Liberty-Source is able to rapidly implement powerful solutions that meet the changing needs of its clients.  A Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), Liberty-Source is for-profit, yet designed as a responsible and sustainable enterprise, managed for the benefit of its clients, its shareholders and the broader public interest.

“Virginia is the ideal location to headquarter a BPO operation,” said Steve Hosley, president and CEO of Liberty-Source.  “With over 30,000 active military from all 5 branches in the greater Hampton Roads area, Fort Monroe provides us access to a highly skilled and dedicated workforce.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Hampton, the Fort Monroe Authority, and the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance to secure the project for Virginia.  Governor McAuliffe approved a $300,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Hampton with the project.  Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“In addition to its long and proud history, Hampton has a strong military tradition.  Hampton is a perfect fit for Liberty-Source’s mission to bring jobs back to the U.S. and employ hundreds of military spouses,” said Hampton Mayor George Wallace.  “With our supportive environment, friendly neighborhoods, excellent schools and quality of life, we believe that Liberty-Source is making a great investment in Hampton.”

"We're thrilled to welcome Liberty-Source to Fort Monroe,” said Glenn Oder, Executive Director of the Fort Monroe Authority.  “The company’s hiring of military veterans and family members of our active duty service men and women is admirable.  That makes it even more meaningful that they can call Fort Monroe home."

Governor McAuliffe continues to push for a better transportation system and a stronger Virginia economy

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Good Morning,

I wanted to make sure you saw the Virginian-Pilot editorial and Daily Press article below highlighting the Governor’s continued efforts to improve Virginia’s transportation system and grow our economy.

Reforming Port Authority -- again

The Virginian-Pilot Editorial Board

Gov. Terry McAuliffe's decision last week to reshape the Virginia Port Authority's board marks the latest effort to correct the bustling port's financial condition and stabilize an economic juggernaut rocked by turmoil in recent years.

By replacing five of the board's 11 appointed members, including the board's chairman and vice chairman, McAuliffe has implemented significant change. The scope of that change, however, is designed to inflict less disruption than the 2011 overhaul by his predecessor, Bob McDonnell.

McDonnell replaced 10 of 11 members that year, an unprecedented move among a series of abrupt changes during his term that hindered the port's finances and operations. The former governor's inability to articulate a clear vision for the port, and stick to it, injected uncertainty that adversely affected business.

In a span of three years, his administration negotiated a 20-year lease of APM's sophisticated terminal in Portsmouth, sought to purchase the terminal outright, then entertained bids for companies to operate state-owned terminals in Norfolk, Portsmouth and Newport News.

The privatization plan collapsed last year, after the port authority board rejected the offers and stuck with Virginia International Terminals Inc., the quasi-public organization that built the port into the third-busiest on the East Coast.

The tumult of the past few years at the port, however, provides no excuse for the continuing financial losses posted by the port. McAuliffe has pointed out the losses were greater than previously disclosed, and he has leaned heavily on the port authority's leadership, including new Executive Director John Reinhart, to improve its fiscal condition.

Reinhart has helped shepherd some organizational changes that should slow the losses, but more work will be needed to help the port realize the profits that ought to come with the recent record cargo volume.

The newly appointed members to the port authority's board include names recognizable across Hampton Roads and Virginia: G. Robert Aston Jr., CEO of Suffolk-based TowneBank; former state Del. Alan Diamonstein; Gary McCollum, Cox Communications senior vice president; John Milliken, chairman of the port authority's board until 2011; and Val McWhorter, a Northern Virginia attorney.

Their breadth of experience and knowledge should help to provide effective oversight of a hub that supports more than 340,000 jobs and brings in $40 billion-plus in revenue to public coffers each year.

VDOT fast-tracking I-64 widening project, hoping to ease Hampton Roads traffic

By Cathy Grimes – The Daily Press

On Tuesday Jim Utterback, Virginia Department of Transportation Hampton Roads District director, and consultant project manager Steven Chapin briefed James City County supervisors on the state of the $144 million Interstate 64 widening project at their monthly meeting.

With both Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne pushing the effort to alleviate congested traffic in Hampton Roads, the project is gathering steam.

It will widen I-64 to six lanes from the Jefferson Avenue exit to just south of the Lee Hall exit, roughly 5.5 miles. The new 12-foot lanes will be added inside the existing east and westbound lanes, and the agency will widen six bridges along the route.

Utterback said the department issued a request for qualifications and has had five bidders respond. He told the James City supervisors the department hopes to issue request for proposals this summer "with the goal of awarding the contract this December."

VDOT spokeswoman Jennifer Gwaltney said construction may begin in early 2015. VDOT officials estimate the project will be complete in Winter 2018.

During the presentation, Chapin said the agency is fast-tracking the project to "provide as much congestion relief as possible as quick as possible."

He noted the Federal Highway Administration issued its record of decision on the project on Monday, and VDOT will hold a design public hearing on April 30 at Woodside High School in Newport News. The three-hour event begins at 4 p.m.

Gwaltney said the hearing gives community residents a chance "to review the project exhibits on display and to provide comments and/or suggestions on the proposed project."

The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization board ranked the widening effort first on its list of projects on which to use new regional transportation revenue made possible by the 2013 transportation law. The money comes from regional sales and gas taxes. The HRTPO voted to use $44 million of the new funds to extend the widening project to Lee Hall from its original termination point of Fort Eustis Boulevard. State and federal funds also are part of the mix.

Utterback said the extension will ease problems when the interstate narrows back to four lanes as opposed to doing so near the Fort Eustis Boulevard exit.

Chapin said the project will affect property owned by Newport News and will require about 15 acres for stormwater management. Additionally VDOT may install sound barriers along some sections of the road.

Local officials have expressed some concerns about proposed landscape designs for the widened interstate. Chapin said the median currently in place ranges between 64 feet to 88 feet wide. VDOT plans to use three landscape techniques on medians after widening: a mix of shrubs and trees with concrete barriers on two stretches, grass with no barriers on one wide section south of the Fort Eustis Boulevard exits and double guardrail barriers on most of the rest of the road.

Newport News officials had expressed concern about the proposals when VDOT met with them at a recent City Council Work Session.

"This is our gateway into the city and it's really important we show off," said City Manager Jim Bourey. "It makes a huge difference if we have landscaping."

At the James City County Board meeting, Supervisor John McGlennon echoed Bourey's words, saying it was important to have "an attractive entryway" to the county from the south.

Utterback said VDOT is looking at other interstates and considering possible low-maintenance landscape treatments to improve the appearance of the medians.

"We're still early on," Utterback said.

VDOT spokesman Ron Watrous said the agency will work closely with the localities "to deliver a project that meets regional travel needs and inspires a sense of pride in Hampton Roads communities."

The widening project is the first of three segments that eventually will widen I-64 to Exit 234 north of Williamsburg. VDOT officials estimate the entire project will cost is $583 million.

Grimes can be reached by phone at 757-247-4758. Daily Press reporter Michael W. Shapiro contributed to this story.

Interstate-64 widening public hearing

When: 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 30

Where: Woodside High School, 13450 Woodside Lane, Newport News

What: VDOT officials will present an update on the project and potential designs for landscaping and bridge widening.

There will be time for questions and answers, and officials will be available to discuss the project.

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Hampton Roads Leaders Applaud Governor McAuliffe

I-64 on the Hampton Roads Beltway, north of I-264 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Governor McAuliffe’s recent appointments of G. Robert Aston, Jr., Alan Diamonstein, Gary McCollum, Val McWhorter, and John Milliken to the Virginia Port Authority Board received resounding praise from Hampton Roads leaders. Governor McAuliffe’s appointments reflected his vision of bringing leaders with strong business backgrounds and institutional knowledge of the port to the board in order to turn the page on recent port performance and usher in a new era of economic growth to the region and the Commonwealth. Below are statements from leaders in the area in support of the announcement:

Senator Kenneth Alexander, Norfolk:

“The importance of a strong port for this region’s economy cannot be emphasized enough. I applaud Governor McAuliffe for taking the lead in making sure our port is revitalized through the selection of these business-focused appointments. To ensure that our port can steadily grow, there must be a Port board whose membership posses the business oriented vision to guide the Port of Virginia in a productive and fiscally responsible fashion.”

Mayor Linda Johnson, Suffolk:

“Governor McAuliffe has shown a clear vision for the Port of Virginia through his appointments made to the Virginia Port Authority Board. Bringing back fiscal responsibility through a business-oriented approach catalyzes this vision. The Governor and his administration have shown commitment to ensuring that Virginia is the number one agriculture exporter on the East Coast, and the only way to accomplish that is with a successful Port.” -Mayor Linda Johnson - Suffolk

 Mayor Paul Fraim, Norfolk:

"The Port of Virginia is a strong selling point when encouraging businesses and other entities to locate to the Hampton Roads region. Governor McAuliffe and his administration continue to take strong steps forward to safeguard our economic and business interests, and this is shown through the appointments made to the Virginia Port Authority Board. These individuals will bring their strong business acumen and move the Port towards sound profitability and sound financial success. I strongly support the Governor’s vision for diversifying Virginia’s economy and that is demonstrated through his commitment to strengthening Virginia’s Port.” 

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GOVERNOR MCAULIFFE SIGNS INTO LAW THE HAMPTON ROADS TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION

I-64 on the Hampton Roads Beltway, north of I-264 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Elected officials representing the Hampton Roads region to make transportation decision and be held accountable for them

Governor Terry McAuliffe signed into law today the establishment of the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commissioner (HTAC).  Comprised of locally elected officials, the commission will have the organizational structure and leadership in place to determine how new regional money - $200 million annually - will be invested in transportation projects.  The new funding is part of the transportation funding package passed by the General Assembly last year.

“Decisions on how transportation projects are financed and delivered must represent the best interests of the residents and communities of the Hampton Roads region,” said McAuliffe.  “In working with Senator Louise Lucas, Senator Frank Wagner and Delegate Chris Jones, we had a common vision for critical transportation decisions to be made at a regional level.  We turned our vision into action by passing a new law that gives local governments the ambitious charge to deliver a transportation system that will benefit the region’s mobility, economy and quality of life. Locally elected officials will now have the challenge to determine what is best for the region.  They will have authority to make important transportation decisions and be held accountable for them.”

The 23-member commission will consist of mayors from local governments, state legislators from the region and area Commonwealth Transportation Board members. Decisions will be based on a two-thirds majority vote of elected officials on the commission, representing at least two-thirds of the region’s population. 

HTAC’s job is to deliver an actionable transportation plan this fall, with construction beginning on the first of the projects in 2016.  High priority projects include Patriots Crossing, Monitor Merrimac Bridge and Tunnel expansion, High-Rise Bridge replacement, Route 460/58/13 Connector, I-64/I-264 Interchange and I-64 widening.

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Governor McAuliffe, Mayor Sessoms Offer Bipartisan Support for Closing the Coverage Gap

McAuliffe (Photo credit: mou-ikkai)

Governor Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms, and Cox Communications Vice President of General Operations in Virginia Gary McCollum on Thursday urged members of both parties in the General Assembly to work together to negotiate a budget that closes the health care coverage gap. The bipartisan group – McAuliffe a Democrat and Sessoms and McCollum Republicans – said it is smart business for Virginia to bring its own taxpayer dollars back to the Commonwealth to provide healthcare coverage to up to 400,000 Virginians and lower insurance premiums on Virginia businesses.

“If we close the coverage gap, we can save Virginia taxpayers $1 billion over the next eight years, provide 400,000 Virginians with access to quality health insurance, and create as many as 30,000 jobs,” said Governor McAuliffe. “I put forth a proposal last week that protects Virginia by closing the coverage gap in the form of a pilot program, where we accept federal funds for two years, while the money is 100% paid for, and then we evaluate if we want to continue with the program.

“I believe this plan sets forth a pathway for the House and Senate to come to a compromise and pass a budget that funds our core priorities and brings our federal money home to close the coverage gap. As you can see at this press conference today, this is not about Republican or Democratic politics – it’s about doing the right thing for Virginia families and for our economy.”

Mayor Sessoms continued, “If the General Assembly acts to close the coverage gap, over 14,000 people in Virginia Beach would be eligible for coverage. The business case has been made – now is the time to act. Virginia needs to move forward with a plan to close the coverage gap. Our leaders in Richmond have forged bi-partisan consensus on difficult issues in the past and I know they can do the same now.”

McCollum added, “As a large employer in Virginia, Cox Communications understands that a healthy workforce is our most important asset. Having a strong healthcare provider network in a community is critical to economic development. In the Hampton Roads region, some of the largest employers – outside of the military and other federally funded operations – are Sentara, Riverside and Bon Secours. It is time for our representatives in Richmond to come together, in a non-partisan manner, and find a way to “yes”, a way to a solution that protects taxpayers, draws down federal funds and closes the coverage gap in Virginia.”

Governor McAuliffe last week released a budget that includes a two year pilot program to close the coverage gap and offers Republicans and Democrats in the General Assembly a platform for negotiations about how best to structure a plan to use Virginians’ federal tax dollars to cover hundreds of thousands of people and create as many as 30,000 jobs. The McAuliffe budget includes $225 million in savings over the biennium from closing the coverage gap and invests those funds in long-term healthcare spending reserves, a 2% raise for all full-time state employees, and the increased funding for the Virginia Retirement System. 

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Gloucester, VA BoS Meeting Notes and Spreadsheets, March, 2014

Gloucester, VA BoS Meeting Notes for March 18th, 2014 from Chuck Thompson

Gloucester, VA County Budget Spreadsheet from Chuck Thompson

Gloucester, VA School Budget Compiled Spreadsheet. from Chuck Thompson

Above is posted once again the video from the most recent Board of Supervisors meeting held March, 18th, 2014 with notes from local resident Mr Mowry as well as spreadsheets provided by Mr Mowry showing allocations of taxpayer dollars as utilized by the county as well as the school board.

What is troublesome is the fact that both the county and the school board have increasing wages each and every year.  In this economy where most people have not seen raises in years or very little in the way of raises, county employees have been enjoying wage increases all along and they are budgeted for more over the coming years.  We know Federal employees who have not received wage increases in years until this year and all they are getting this year is a one percent increase and for 2015, they are only scheduled for another one percent increase.

  The Daily Press just did a comparison story on counties throughout Hampton Roads and most counties have cut payroll, employees, and halted raises.  That report started with the Sunday March 9th, 2014 paper.   How are Gloucester officials justifying these pay raises in this economy?

  It looks to us like there are many areas that can and should be cut back and or even eliminated.  The single largest tax hike in recent history if not in all American history has hit most Americans and it's well known as Obamacare.  How much more pressure can people take?  

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Virginia Receives Increased Homeland Security Grant Funds

Hampton Roads and National Capital regions gain UASI funding

RICHMOND, Va. – Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that Virginia has received $7.4 million in Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) funds for fiscal year 2014 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a 15 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. These grants are provided to strengthen the commonwealth’s ability to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.

In addition, both the Hampton Roads and National Capital regions will receive increased funding for fiscal year 2014 as part of the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI). The Hampton Roads region was identified as a high-threat, high-density urban area and will receive $1 million in renewed funding. The National Capital region will receive $53 million in UASI funding, a 2.2 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. UASI grants are provided for law enforcement and terrorism prevention and typically include training and exercises, updates to current planning and procedures, and lifecycle replacement of equipment.

“This significant increase in federal homeland security grant funding will greatly improve Virginia’s ability to keep our families, communities and economic assets safe,” said Governor McAuliffe. “As home to some of the world’s largest military installations and critical government infrastructure, Virginia is a strategic partner in national defense and homeland security. These funds are vital to us as we plan and prepare for known and unknown threats. We especially appreciate that the Hampton Roads region was added back in to the UASI program. I salute the hard work of those with Hampton Roads governments and organizations as well as state agencies that made the case and developed the documentation to gain this crucial funding for sustaining regional preparedness initiatives.”

Virginia's proposal for the federal grants is developed with input from local and state governments, nonprofit organizations and others from throughout the commonwealth. The proposal identifies statewide and regional projects that will improve Virginia's capabilities to plan for and respond to manmade and natural emergencies. Funds will be distributed to localities on a regional basis.

Further information on DHS’s preparedness grant programs is available at www.dhs.gov andhttp://www.fema.gov/grants.

Our Notes:  Looks like increased funding for the police state.  But at least it all has a nice spin and added flavor to it so it does not look that bad.  I wonder if they know the widow's son?  

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