Tree Nuts, Chockfull of Healthful Fats, May Help You Live Longer

English: a walnut and a walnut core (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Dr. Mercola

Many people needlessly shun raw nuts from their diet, believing their fat content contributes to weight gain. But mounting research suggests nuts such as pecans and macadamias may actually help you live longer—and help you lose weight to boot.

This isn’t so surprising considering the fact that tree nuts are high in healthful fatsthat, contrary to popular belief, your body needs for optimal function. Also, to optimize your health, weight, and longevity, you’ll want to shift your body from sugar-burning mode to fat-burning mode. One of the simplest and most effective ways to do this is to implement intermittent fasting.

In order for your body to begin burning fat as your primary fuel instead of sugar,it is helpful to swap non-vegetable carbohydrates like sugar and grains in your diet with high-quality healthful fats. Raw nuts are one source of such fats.

Nut Consumption Associated with Life Extension, Study Finds

A recent study published in NEJM was a large-scale, 30-year long study done at Harvard.1, 2, 3, 4 It found that people who regularly ate a small handful of nuts at least seven times per week were 20 percent less likely to die for any reason, compared to those who largely avoided nuts in their diet.

They also tended to eat more fruits and vegetables, and were leaner than their nut-eschewing counterparts. Nut eaters were more likely to exercise and take dietary supplements. As reported by the Washington Post:5

“Even those who ate nuts less than once a week had a seven percent reduction in risk. Consuming nuts at least five times a week corresponded to a 29 percent drop in mortality risk for heart disease, a 24 percent decline for respiratory disease and an 11 percent drop for cancer.”

The study does have its weaknesses. For example, participants only filled out dietary questionnaires once every two to four years. They also included all types of nuts (including peanut, which is not a nut but a legume and not nearly as health promoting as tree nuts).

The study also didn’t differentiate how they were prepared (i.e. raw or roasted, for example). That said, the result of the featured study has added support from previous research.

For example, a study6 published in the Annals of Internal Medicine earlier this year found that middle-aged women who followed a Mediterranean-style diet rich in nuts and vegetables were approximately 40 percent more likely to survive into later decades without developing some form of chronic disease—including age-related memory deterioration.

Healthful fats and antioxidants, obtained from nuts and vegetables respectively (although nuts also contain beneficial antioxidants, by the way), are both critical factors for brain health. Lead researcher of the featured study, Dr. Ying Bao, told Boston.com:7

“I’m fairly confident in our results. We have long known that nuts are nutritious foods filled with folate, potassium, fiber, good monounsaturated fats, and antioxidants.”

This is a Flash-based audio and may not be playable on mobile devices.

Tree Nuts—Good Sources of Healthful Fats

All nuts are not necessarily created equal, and tree nuts are, from a nutritional stand point, far preferable to peanuts, which is technically a legume. My main objections to peanuts are that they tend to:

• Distort your omega-3 to omega-6 ratio as they are relatively high in omega-6
• Be frequently contaminated with a carcinogenic mold called aflatoxin
• Be one of the most pesticide-contaminated crops

My favorite nuts are macadamia and pecans, as they provide the highest amount of healthy fat while being on the lower end in terms of carbs and protein. Most nuts’ nutritional makeup closely resemble what I consider to be an ideal ratio of the basic building blocks—fat making up the greatest amount of your daily calories, followed by a moderate amount of high-quality protein and a low amount of non-vegetable carbs.

The main fatty acid in macadamia nuts is the monounsaturated fat oleic acid (about 60 percent). This is about the level found in olives, which are well known for their health benefits.

I have been consuming macadamia nuts and pecans almost daily since I started lowering my overall protein intake about a year ago. I primarily use raw macadamia nuts, but also enjoy pecans. They provide a great source of calories and are a phenomenal snack alternative.

To gain a better idea of what I’m talking about, please refer to my Food Pyramid for Optimal Health.

In the featured study,8 those who ate a one-ounce serving seven times or more per week appeared to benefit the most. One ounce of nuts equates to just over 28 grams, or about a small handful. The following list shows the nutrition facts9 in grams per one ounce for your most common tree nuts:

Tree Nut Numbers are grams per ounce	Fat	Protein	Carbohydrates
Macadamias	22	2	4
Pecans	20	3	4
Pine nuts	20	4	4
Brazil nuts	19	4	3
Walnuts	18	4	4
Hazelnuts	17	3	5
Cashews	13	4	9
Almonds	14	6	6
Pistachios	13	6	8

More Nutritional Facts

Generally speaking, each type of nut will offer a slightly different mix of nutrients for your health, so it’s a good idea to include a variety of nuts rather than sticking to one at the exclusion of all others. For instance:

• Raw macadamia nuts are a powerhouse of a nut, containing a wide variety of critical nutrients including high amounts of vitamin B1, magnesium, manganese, and healthful monounsaturated fat, just to name a few.
• Pecans: Pecans contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals, and research has shown they may help lower LDL cholesterol and promote healthy arteries. One of my favorite treats is candied pecans in a salad at a restaurant. I know they have sugar, but a few grams or less a day is not going to cause a major problem provided you’re eating a healthy whole food diet, opposed to processed foods (which are loaded with hidden fructose).
• Walnuts: Walnuts are good sources of plant-based omega-3 fats, natural phytosterols, and antioxidants that are so powerful at free-radical scavenging that researchers have called them "remarkable.”10 Plus, walnuts may help reduce not only the risk of prostate cancer, but breast cancer as well. They’ve also been shown to reverse brain aging in rats and boost heart health in people with diabetes.
• Almonds: One of the healthiest aspects of almonds appears to be their skins, as they are rich in antioxidants including phenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, which are typically associated with vegetables and fruits. A study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry11 even revealed that a one-ounce serving of almonds has a similar amount of total polyphenols as a cup of steamed broccoli or green tea. Be careful not to overeat almonds though as they are high in protein, nearly one gram per almond.
• Brazil Nuts: Brazil nuts are an excellent source of organic selenium, a powerful antioxidant-boosting mineral that may be beneficial for the prevention of cancer.

To Become an Efficient Fat Burner—Eat More Healthful Fats

As mentioned earlier, one of the keys to optimal health is to switch your body from burning sugar to burning fat as its primary fuel. This requires a shift in diet, away from non-starchy vegetable carbohydrates toward foods that are high in healthful fats—such as those found in tree nuts. Many would benefit from getting as much as 50-85 percent of their daily calories from fats. Although this sounds like a lot, by volume the largest portion of your plate would be vegetables because they have so few calories. Examples of healthful fats would be:

Avocados	Butter made from raw grass-fed organic milk	Raw dairy	Organic pastured egg yolks
Coconuts and coconut oil	Unheated organic nut oils	Raw nuts, such as almonds, pecans, macadamia, and seeds	Grass-fed meats

Besides making sure you’re eating the right foods, intermittent fasting can be quite helpful for achieving this metabolic shift, and here’s why: It takes about six to eight hours for your body to burn the sugar stored in your body as glycogen. However, most of us never deplete our glycogen stores because we eat three or more meals a day. This teaches your body to burn sugar as your primary fuel and effectively shuts off your ability to use fat as a fuel.

Most people need several weeks of intermittent fasting, but some may need several months to teach their body to turn on the fat burning enzymes to effectively use fat as their primary fuel. It is important to understand though that once you teach your body to burn fat effectively and you are normal body weight without high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol, you only need to do intermittent fasting occasionally. You can go back to eating three meals a day as long as you keep your ideal body weight.

I prefer to think of intermittent fasting as a lifestyle rather than a diet. You could even think of it as intermittent eating rather than intermittent fasting, as all you’re doing is restricting your eating to a smaller window of time each day rather than grazing from early morning to late at night. I restricted my eating to a 6- to 7-hour window each day until I became fat adapted and lost about 10 pounds. Now, I still rarely ever eat breakfast but will have some nuts. Many days I only eat one meal around 2-4 PM, but several days a week, I will have two meals.

Weight loss is not the only beneficial side effect of intermittent fasting. It has also been shown to generally extend lifespan much in the same way calorie restriction and extended fasting, but without the suffering that goes along with those methods. It is likely that calorie restriction works to increase longevity by improving insulin and leptin resistance and also inhibiting the mTOR pathway by protein restriction. Healthful fat does not impair any of these pathways and appears to be the solution to having a regular calorie diet and still reap the rewards of calorie restriction.

Reasons to Give Intermittent Fasting a Try

If you’re ready to start intermittent fasting, consider skipping breakfast, make sure you stop eating three hours before you go to sleep, and restrict your eating to an 8-hour (or less) time frame every day. In the 6-8 hours that you do eat, have a moderate amount of healthy protein, eliminate or severely minimize carbs like pasta, bread, and potatoes, and exchange them vegetables and  plenty of healthful fats. As already mentioned, this includes raw nuts and other foods like butter, eggs, avocado, coconut oil, and olive oil.

Remember, it will take a few weeks to a few months for your body to make the transition to fat burning mode, and you will need to exercise some willpower and self-discipline to get there. Just gradually extend the time that you start your first meal until it is in the afternoon.

Once your body has made the shift from carb burning to fat burning mode, you can expect cravings for sweets and food in general to rapidly decrease. This is a huge boon for most people, I’m sure. I know it was for me. For many, the desire for sweets and junk food will disappear entirely. Remember, it will typically take a few weeks, and you have to do it gradually, but once you succeed to switch into fat burning mode you’ll be easily able to go without food for 18 hours and not be bothered by hunger.

Another phenomenally beneficial side effect that occurs is that you will radically improve the beneficial bacteria in your gut.

Supporting healthy gut bacteria, which actually outnumber your cells 10 to one, is one of the most important things you can do to improve your immune system so you won’t get sick, or get coughs, colds, and flus. You will sleep better, have more energy, have increased mental clarity and concentrate better. Essentially every aspect of your health will improve as your gut flora becomes balanced.

Based on my own experience with intermittent fasting, I believe it’s one of the most powerful ways to shift your body into fat burning mode and improve a wide variety of biomarkers for disease. The effects can be further magnified by exercising while in a fasted state. For more information on that, please see my previous article “High-Intensity Interval Training and Intermittent Fasting - A Winning Combo.” Clearly, it’s another powerful tool in your box to help you and your family take control of your health, and an excellent way to take your fitness to the next level.

When Buying Nuts, Consider These Facts

To increase the positive impacts on your health, look for nuts that are organic and raw, not irradiated or pasteurized. If you choose to use almonds (remember that they are relatively high in protein), be aware that pasteurized almonds sold in North America can still be labeled "raw" even though they've been subjected to one of the following pasteurization methods:

• Oil roasting, dry roasting, or blanching
• Steam processing
• Propylene Oxide (PPO) treatment (PPO is a highly toxic flammable chemical compound, once used as a racing fuel before it was prohibited for safety reasons)

There are generally no truly "raw" almonds sold in North America, so don't be misled. It is possible to purchase raw almonds in the US, but it has to be done very carefully from vendors selling small quantities that have a waiver from the pasteurization requirement. The key is to find a company with the waiver that is not pasteurizing them. When consumed with these guidelines in mind, raw, organic nuts are a convenient and enjoyable superfood to add to your diet. And this is precisely why they’re recommended as one of the best sources of healthy fats in my nutrition plan.

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Federalist Papers No. 31. The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the General Power of Taxation)

From the New York Packet. Tuesday, January 1, 1788.

HAMILTON

To the People of the State of New York:

IN DISQUISITIONS of every kind, there are certain primary truths, or first principles, upon which all subsequent reasonings must depend. These contain an internal evidence which, antecedent to all reflection or combination, commands the assent of the mind. Where it produces not this effect, it must proceed either from some defect or disorder in the organs of perception, or from the influence of some strong interest, or passion, or prejudice. Of this nature are the maxims in geometry, that "the whole is greater than its part; things equal to the same are equal to one another; two straight lines cannot enclose a space; and all right angles are equal to each other." Of the same nature are these other maxims in ethics and politics, that there cannot be an effect without a cause; that the means ought to be proportioned to the end; that every power ought to be commensurate with its object; that there ought to be no limitation of a power destined to effect a purpose which is itself incapable of limitation. And there are other truths in the two latter sciences which, if they cannot pretend to rank in the class of axioms, are yet such direct inferences from them, and so obvious in themselves, and so agreeable to the natural and unsophisticated dictates of common-sense, that they challenge the assent of a sound and unbiased mind, with a degree of force and conviction almost equally irresistible.

The objects of geometrical inquiry are so entirely abstracted from those pursuits which stir up and put in motion the unruly passions of the human heart, that mankind, without difficulty, adopt not only the more simple theorems of the science, but even those abstruse paradoxes which, however they may appear susceptible of demonstration, are at variance with the natural conceptions which the mind, without the aid of philosophy, would be led to entertain upon the subject. The INFINITE DIVISIBILITY of matter, or, in other words, the INFINITE divisibility of a FINITE thing, extending even to the minutest atom, is a point agreed among geometricians, though not less incomprehensible to common-sense than any of those mysteries in religion, against which the batteries of infidelity have been so industriously leveled.

But in the sciences of morals and politics, men are found far less tractable. To a certain degree, it is right and useful that this should be the case. Caution and investigation are a necessary armor against error and imposition. But this untractableness may be carried too far, and may degenerate into obstinacy, perverseness, or disingenuity. Though it cannot be pretended that the principles of moral and political knowledge have, in general, the same degree of certainty with those of the mathematics, yet they have much better claims in this respect than, to judge from the conduct of men in particular situations, we should be disposed to allow them. The obscurity is much oftener in the passions and prejudices of the reasoner than in the subject. Men, upon too many occasions, do not give their own understandings fair play; but, yielding to some untoward bias, they entangle themselves in words and confound themselves in subtleties.

How else could it happen (if we admit the objectors to be sincere in their opposition), that positions so clear as those which manifest the necessity of a general power of taxation in the government of the Union, should have to encounter any adversaries among men of discernment? Though these positions have been elsewhere fully stated, they will perhaps not be improperly recapitulated in this place, as introductory to an examination of what may have been offered by way of objection to them. They are in substance as follows:

A government ought to contain in itself every power requisite to the full accomplishment of the objects committed to its care, and to the complete execution of the trusts for which it is responsible, free from every other control but a regard to the public good and to the sense of the people.

As the duties of superintending the national defense and of securing the public peace against foreign or domestic violence involve a provision for casualties and dangers to which no possible limits can be assigned, the power of making that provision ought to know no other bounds than the exigencies of the nation and the resources of the community.

As revenue is the essential engine by which the means of answering the national exigencies must be procured, the power of procuring that article in its full extent must necessarily be comprehended in that of providing for those exigencies.

As theory and practice conspire to prove that the power of procuring revenue is unavailing when exercised over the States in their collective capacities, the federal government must of necessity be invested with an unqualified power of taxation in the ordinary modes.

Did not experience evince the contrary, it would be natural to conclude that the propriety of a general power of taxation in the national government might safely be permitted to rest on the evidence of these propositions, unassisted by any additional arguments or illustrations. But we find, in fact, that the antagonists of the proposed Constitution, so far from acquiescing in their justness or truth, seem to make their principal and most zealous effort against this part of the plan. It may therefore be satisfactory to analyze the arguments with which they combat it.

Those of them which have been most labored with that view, seem in substance to amount to this: "It is not true, because the exigencies of the Union may not be susceptible of limitation, that its power of laying taxes ought to be unconfined. Revenue is as requisite to the purposes of the local administrations as to those of the Union; and the former are at least of equal importance with the latter to the happiness of the people. It is, therefore, as necessary that the State governments should be able to command the means of supplying their wants, as that the national government should possess the like faculty in respect to the wants of the Union. But an indefinite power of taxation in the LATTER might, and probably would in time, deprive the FORMER of the means of providing for their own necessities; and would subject them entirely to the mercy of the national legislature. As the laws of the Union are to become the supreme law of the land, as it is to have power to pass all laws that may be NECESSARY for carrying into execution the authorities with which it is proposed to vest it, the national government might at any time abolish the taxes imposed for State objects upon the pretense of an interference with its own. It might allege a necessity of doing this in order to give efficacy to the national revenues. And thus all the resources of taxation might by degrees become the subjects of federal monopoly, to the entire exclusion and destruction of the State governments."

This mode of reasoning appears sometimes to turn upon the supposition of usurpation in the national government; at other times it seems to be designed only as a deduction from the constitutional operation of its intended powers. It is only in the latter light that it can be admitted to have any pretensions to fairness. The moment we launch into conjectures about the usurpations of the federal government, we get into an unfathomable abyss, and fairly put ourselves out of the reach of all reasoning. Imagination may range at pleasure till it gets bewildered amidst the labyrinths of an enchanted castle, and knows not on which side to turn to extricate itself from the perplexities into which it has so rashly adventured. Whatever may be the limits or modifications of the powers of the Union, it is easy to imagine an endless train of possible dangers; and by indulging an excess of jealousy and timidity, we may bring ourselves to a state of absolute scepticism and irresolution. I repeat here what I have observed in substance in another place, that all observations founded upon the danger of usurpation ought to be referred to the composition and structure of the government, not to the nature or extent of its powers. The State governments, by their original constitutions, are invested with complete sovereignty. In what does our security consist against usurpation from that quarter? Doubtless in the manner of their formation, and in a due dependence of those who are to administer them upon the people. If the proposed construction of the federal government be found, upon an impartial examination of it, to be such as to afford, to a proper extent, the same species of security, all apprehensions on the score of usurpation ought to be discarded.

It should not be forgotten that a disposition in the State governments to encroach upon the rights of the Union is quite as probable as a disposition in the Union to encroach upon the rights of the State governments. What side would be likely to prevail in such a conflict, must depend on the means which the contending parties could employ toward insuring success. As in republics strength is always on the side of the people, and as there are weighty reasons to induce a belief that the State governments will commonly possess most influence over them, the natural conclusion is that such contests will be most apt to end to the disadvantage of the Union; and that there is greater probability of encroachments by the members upon the federal head, than by the federal head upon the members. But it is evident that all conjectures of this kind must be extremely vague and fallible: and that it is by far the safest course to lay them altogether aside, and to confine our attention wholly to the nature and extent of the powers as they are delineated in the Constitution. Every thing beyond this must be left to the prudence and firmness of the people; who, as they will hold the scales in their own hands, it is to be hoped, will always take care to preserve the constitutional equilibrium between the general and the State governments. Upon this ground, which is evidently the true one, it will not be difficult to obviate the objections which have been made to an indefinite power of taxation in the United States.

PUBLIUS

Related articles

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• Anti Federalist Papers No. 25 - Objections To A Standing Army (Part II)
• Federalist Papers No 28, The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered (3)
• Federalist Papers No. 25. The Same Subject Continued (The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered)
• Anti Federalist Papers No. 30-31 - A Virginia Anti-Federalist On The Issue Of Taxation
• Federalist Papers No. 29. Concerning the Militia

Governor McDonnell Announces General Tickets Now Available for Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic

English: Governor of Virginia at CPAC in . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tickets available on ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000

Featuring: JMU vs. Hampton and Virginia Tech vs. VCU

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced Governor's Holiday Hoops classic tickets are now available for purchase onticketmaster.com and by phone at 1-800-745-3000. The 2013 Classic will be held on Saturday, December 21^st at the Richmond Coliseum. The Classic will feature a men's basketball double-header with the Dukes of James Madison University taking on the Pirates of Hampton University at 3 p.m. and the Virginia Tech Hokies matching up with the VCU Rams at5:30 p.m.

Tickets for the double-header had previously only been on sale through the box offices of the participating universities. Now, fans can purchase tickets directly through the Richmond Coliseum and Ticketmaster. Information about how to purchase a ticket to both games can be found below. In addition to the games, the Classic is a major food and fundraiser for Virginia's Food Banks. Detailed information regarding the food drive is also below. The Classic will be telecast live nationally on the NBCSN.

“I am pleased to announce that general tickets for the second edition of the ‘Governor's Holiday Hoops Classic’ on December 21^st at the Richmond Coliseum are now available from Ticketmaster,” said Governor McDonnell. “The double header will feature four of Virginia's top basketball programs in an exciting and spirited double-header. With one ticket, fans will be able to watch JMU and Hampton at 3 p.m., followed by Virginia Tech and VCU at 5:30 p.m.  It’s going to be an afternoon and evening of tremendous basketball featuring in-state rivalries. I hope Virginians from all across the state will join us at the Coliseum on December 21^st.”

Governor McDonnell continued, “In addition to watching some great basketball, I hope fans will also consider supporting the cause of the classic through a donation to Virginia's Food Banks. I encourage all students, faculty, staff, and fans to consider making a food or financial donation on behalf of their participating university in the food drive competition.”

Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe added, “I am looking forward to joining Governor McDonnell at the Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic, a must-attend event for Virginians who love college basketball and want to lend a hand to families in need. I hope every Virginian will show their support by attending these great games and making a donation to help Virginia food banks in their mission to end hunger this holiday season.”

Virginians are encouraged to make donations in support of their participating university here: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/governorsClassic/.

   

The 2013 Governor's Holiday Hoops Classic is the second installation of the Classic. In 2012, a doubleheader featured Richmond against George Mason and UVA against Old Dominion.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2013 GOVERNOR'S HOLIDAY HOOPS CLASSIC

The Matchups

Saturday, December 21st at the Richmond Coliseum

3:00 p.m. James Madison University vs. Hampton University

5:30 p.m. Virginia Tech vs. Virginia Commonwealth University

Tickets

Tickets for the event are on sale NOW through Ticketmaster.

Ticket Prices

Club Seats $70                                      

Lower Bowl $50

Upper Bowl $35

300 Level $20

Student Floor $10

One ticket is good for admission to both games of the doubleheader. Doors open one hour prior to the start of the first game.

The Classic Website

Fans are encouraged to visit www.Governor.Virginia.Gov/GovernorsClassic for the latest information on the 2013 Governor's Holiday Hoops Classic games.

NBCSN

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell announced in 2012 that college basketball fans nationwide will be able to watch the 2012 and 2013 “Governor's Holiday Hoops Classic.” NBCSN will again telecast the 2013 doubleheader basketball games live from the Richmond Coliseum.

NBCSN, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 80 million homes, the Emmy Award-winning network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL), Premier League, Formula One, Major League Soccer (MLS), IZOD IndyCar Series, Tour de France, and beginning in 2015, NASCAR. In addition, NBCSN features college football, college basketball, college hockey, cycling, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown  and Breeders' Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Action Sports Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such asCostas Tonight, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk, and The Dan Patrick Show. NBCSN is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

Cause of the Classic

Virginians are encouraged to make donations, here:http://www.governor.virginia.gov/governorsClassic/.

At the end of the food drive, Virginia's food banks will tally up the food and funds received, and the winners for each matchup will be announced on December 21st. Fans can donate on campus or online to support their institutions bid to raise the most food in support of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks.

The Federation of Virginia Food Banks is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit state association of food banks affiliated with Feeding America. Composed of the seven regional Virginia/Washington DC food banks, the Federation supports the food banks in providing food, funding, education, advocacy and awareness services and programs throughout the Commonwealth. The Federation is the largest hunger-relief network in the state, serving over 1,012,500 Virginians last year. Last year, the Federation of Virginia Food Banks distributed over 108 million pounds of food and grocery product.

The Governor's Holiday Hoops Classic is made possible by the generous support of the following event sponsors:

Alpha Natural Resources

Bank of America

BonSecours Richmond Health System

CarMax

Comcast

Dominion

Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc.

Intuit

MeadWestvaco

Newport News Shipbuilding

Pepsi

Ukrop's Homestyle Foods

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Governor McDonnell Announces $45 Million Investment in Amherst County

English: The state seal of Virginia.(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Greif to upgrade packaging manufacturing operation

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Greif (NYSE: GEF, GEF.B), a world leader in industrial packaging products and services, will invest $45 million in its operation in Amherst County. The plant upgrade includes technology improvements which will deliver significant reduction in energy consumed to produce paper products.

            Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “This significant investment is a tremendous win for Amherst County and the Commonwealth. Greif’s plant has been in continuous operation since 1975 and employs nearly 300 Virginians. Investing $45 million in technology upgrades secures the mill’s competitiveness in the containerboard market, and thus secures the future of the operation and its employees for years to come.”

            “Greif has thrived in Amherst County for nearly 40 years,” said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “The proximity and abundance of Virginia’s raw material supply is an important factor, as is the trained workforce and convenient access to the company’s customer base. This investment is significant for the region, and the upgraded equipment will reduce the energy consumed in the manufacture of Greif’s products.”

            Headquartered in Delaware, Ohio, Greif (NYSE: GEF, GEF.B) produces steel, plastic, fiber, flexible and corrugated containers, packaging accessories and containerboard, and provides blending, filling and packaging services for a wide range of industries.  The company also manages acreage in the United States. With more than 200 operating locations in more than 50 countries, Greif is positioned to serve global as well as regional customers.

            “Investing in our Virginia mill operation is a sound business decision,” said Mitch Heishman, Technical Manager, Greif. “Our state and local officials have been a pleasure to work with.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Amherst County Economic Development Authority to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $350,000 performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership program, an incentive available to existing Virginia companies.

            “This huge investment by Greif is wonderful news for Amherst County,” said Robert Curd, Chairman of the Amherst County Board of Supervisors, and Don Manley, Chairman of the Amherst County Economic Development Authority. “The upgraded facility will position one of our most important businesses for decades to come, helping to insure the strength of the local economy as well as the community leadership roles of the company and its employees.  Of course, the contribution to the local tax base is important to the delivery of County services.  Amherst County is pleased to have been able to support this corporate decision through the local business incentive program.”

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Governor McDonnell Announces Federal Action Contingency Trust (FACT) Fund Grants

English: Governor of Virginia at CPAC in . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

FACT Funds Allocated to Five State and Local Agencies Negatively Affected by Federal Budget Reductions, Sequestration, or Operational Changes

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced the recipients of the Federal Action Contingency Trust (FACT) Fund grants. The FACT fund was proposed by Governor Bob McDonnell, and officially established in the 2012 General Assembly Session, to help Virginia counter actions taken by the federal government that may adversely impact the citizens and economy of Virginia. This is the first year funds have been allocated.

“In October we once again saw the detrimental effects of a federal government shutdown. The shutdown had a direct, negative impact on the Commonwealth,” said Governor McDonnell. “It was yet another reminder that Virginia cannot rely on an increasingly dysfunctional federal government. These grants will help Virginia repair the damage caused by the federal government’s irresponsible budgeting practices and the uncertainty created for the states by the ongoing policy paralysis in Washington.”

In 2012, the General Assembly created the FACT Fund Advisory Commission, composed of General Assembly members, to assist in the review of the FACT Fund requests. The Senate Finance Committee Chairman and House Appropriations Committee Chairman appointed the members of the Advisory Commission. The Advisory Commission is composed of five members from the Senate Finance Committee: Chairman Walter A. Stosch, Senators Janet D. Howell, L. Louise Lucas, Frank W. Wagner, and John C. Watkins. The Advisory Commission is also composed of five members of the House Appropriations Committee: Chairman Lacey E. Putney, Delegates R. Steven Landes, S. Chris Jones, L. Scott Lingamfelter, and Rosalyn R. Dance. Secretary of Finance Ric Brown, Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng, and Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel serve as technical advisors.

During the 2013 Session of the General Assembly, the purpose of the FACT Fund was more narrowly defined to be used only to: (1) offset the potential loss of any revenue to the Commonwealth, either directly or indirectly related to any actions of the United States Congress as part of any federal budget reductions and (2) up to $5,000,000 may be provided to: (A) develop plans and implement strategies to prevent or limit the adverse economic impacts of closure, relocation, or realignment of federal military or security installations or other federal agencies located in Virginia, including actions to evaluate military and command clusters to access their vulnerability for closure, relocation or realignment, and (B) make remedial efforts to promote renewed economic growth in jurisdictions (localities) adversely effected by closure, relocation, or realignment decisions on the part of the federal government.

Localities and State agencies that have had or have pending negative impacts caused by announced federal budget reductions or sequestration actions were able to apply for FACT Fund Allocations. Private entities could also serve as partners with localities or state agencies in their applications.

FACT Fund Grant Recipients and Projects

Recipient: Arlington County Government, through Arlington Economic Development, with Private Partner Amplifier Ventures

Award: $350,000

Summary: In partnership with the Arlington Economic Development, a Department of the Arlington County Government, Amplifier Ventures will use the funds to support and promote renewed economic growth. It will do so by preparing for widespread reorientation of its technology employment sector and assist in the development of a vibrant and self-reinforcing economy of smaller, innovative technology product companies. Arlington County will match the funds by 50 percent.

“Arlington is thrilled to partner with Amplifier Ventures and be part of this prestigious group of grant recipients,” stated Jennifer Ives, Director of Innovation & Strategic Partnerships with Arlington Economic Development. “Virginia and Arlington recognize the value of strong partnerships between the government and private sector, as well as the opportunity for innovation that can arise from robust public-private partnerships. This award validates the many recent successes Arlington and Amplifier Ventures have helped create in the realm of national security innovation and will allow us to help cultivate and grow even more businesses in Arlington and across the Commonwealth.”

Recipient: Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC)

Award: $300,000

Summary: The NVRC will use the grant to perform analytic studies and formulate strategies that are intended to renew economic growth in the negatively impacted localities. The grant will be matched by 50 percent by private sector participants. The NVRC will create the Northern Virginia Alliance, which will provide “organizational leadership” to combat negative impacts of the federal budget reductions in Northern Virginia. The Alliance, with George Mason University and PMC Group (a private research entity) will complete a regional economic analysis to provide information on defense and non defense spending and formulate strategies for impacted localities.

Robert Lazaro, NVRC Chairman and Mayor of Purcellville, said, “On behalf of the local elected officials of Northern Virginia, we are very pleased with the announcement today that the Northern Virginia Regional Commission will be a recipient of the Governor's FACT fund grant program.  NVRC has been a leader in bringing the military leadership of Northern Virginia together, and more importantly in solving problems related to BRAC decision-making.  This money will provide an opportunity for NVRC to increase its role in providing solutions to future potential military down-sizing in our region.”

Recipient: Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) with Private Partner Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA)

Award: $250,000

Summary: SVHEC in conjunction with VMA will use the grant to address unemployment rate among Virginia veterans. Specifically, the program will provide vocational training for veterans to attain and refine job skills and competencies required in advanced technology industries. The grant will be matched by an in-kind contribution of 50 percent from the VMA.

Speaking about the award, Brett Vassey, President and CEO of the Virginia Manufacturers Association said, “The VMA and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center are appreciative of this grant and the support of the FACT Fund Commission and Governor McDonnell. These resources will help Military2Manufacturing reduce the unemployment rate among veterans and Virginia National Guardsmen, in particular, by giving them skills and credentials that will get them ready for advanced manufacturing jobs.”

Recipient: Stafford County Government

Award: $100,000

Summary: The Stafford County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of the Stafford Technology and Research Center, will use the grant to assess current market conditions and specific client needs associated with the wide range of defense and intelligence clients at Marine Corps Base Quantico. The funds will be used to prepare detailed risk analysis, refine and enhance the strategic plan, assess more thoroughly and prepare for additional BRAC impacts, and develop adjustments to existing plans to more effectively respond to continued challenges and uncertainties in the Commonwealth’s economy. Stafford County will match 100 percent of the grant.

“Stafford County is focused on creating an enviable business climate,” said Susan B. Stimpson, Chairman of the Stafford Board of Supervisors.  “We have eliminated four business taxes in the past several years, including the BPOL Tax, and are now supporting $500 million in new infrastructure in the County. We are dedicated to enhancing transportation with our investments in our voter-approved transportation bonds and working in partnership with the Commonwealth on the HOT lanes project, and we are confident that these efforts will pay dividends for years to come.  We are committed to ensuring that our progress is not muted by government budget battles, but by building on the strengths of the Quantico Region.  With the Governor’s welcome announcement, Stafford’s Tech Park initiative is now positioned to quickly leverage partnerships that will move the Commonwealth forward – while protecting this critical Base.”

Recipient: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Award: Fiscal Year 2014- $1,000,000

            Fiscal Year 2015- $1,199,495

            Fiscal Year 2016- $436,998

Summary: Virginia Tech will use the funds to position itself as a leader in unmanned aircraft systems research and development. These efforts will promote growth in the private sector and provide a means of diversifying the Commonwealth’s economy to counteract declines in other federal research spending. Virginia Tech will use the funds to mitigate the impact of $29 million in reduced salaries, research, and development spending for the Naval Support Facility in Dahlgreen, Virginia, the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia, and the Fort Pickett Army National Guard Maneuver Training Center in Blackstone, Virginia. Virginia Tech will match 50 percent of the fiscal year 2014 grant.

“Virginia Tech is honored to be leading this effort for the Commonwealth of Virginia and extremely gratified by the Commonwealth’s support,” said Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. “We are convinced that Virginia, teamed with New Jersey and Maryland, is poised to make the mid-Atlantic region the leader in unmanned aircraft system research, development, testing and evaluation, and manufacturing. I’m proud of our faculty with the Virginia Center for Autonomous Systems and Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science for providing vital expertise in autonomous systems to this effort.”

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