Governor McAuliffe Statement on Conflicting Federal Rulings on the Affordable Care Act

Seal of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement in response to the conflicting rulings of two federal courts on the Affordable Care Act:

“Conflicting court rulings on health care tax credits should not discourage Virginia families from seeking affordable health insurance through the federal marketplace. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond affirmed the validity of those incentives, and Virginians can be confident that low-cost health insurance will be available to those who participate in this fall’s open enrollment and meet eligibility criteria.

“I am disappointed in the decision by a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. I hope that an appeal to the full court will provide clarity and reassurance to all Americans, regardless of where they live, that they and their families will have access to preventive care and protection from burdensome medical bills.

“During the first open enrollment, 216,000 Virginians purchased insurance through the federal insurance exchange. I believe many more will participate during this fall’s enrollment, having learned from neighbors, co-workers and family members that they, too, can have affordable health insurance. Expanding access to affordable health care is a key component of building a stronger Virginia economy, and I will continue to work toward that goal.

Leaders Applaud McAuliffe for Executive Order Expanding Opportunity for Small, Women, and Minority Owned Businesses

McAuliffe (Photo credit: mou-ikkai)

Governor McAuliffe signed Executive Order 20: Advancing Equity for Small, Women, and Minority Owned Businesses (SWaM), which expands contracting opportunities for small businesses in the Commonwealth. The executive order sets the highest contracting goal in Virginia history of state expenditures to SWaM-certified businesses at 42%. It also creates a new “micro business” designation for small businesses with no more than 25 employees and no more than $3 million in revenue. Currently, over 80% of SWaM certified companies fall under this micro business category but often have to compete with companies over ten times their size for contracting opportunities.

This executive order is designed to ensure a more transparent, equitable, and inclusive procurement process for Virginia’s small, women, and minority-owned businesses, and has received praise from leaders across the Commonwealth:

Michael Zajur, President and CEO of the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:

“The Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce welcomes Governor McAuliffe's plans to encourage and maximize the participation of small, women, and minority owned businesses in state procurement. Not only will our chamber members benefit from increased contracting opportunities, but Virginia itself will benefit from the diversification of its economy through greater minority participation.”

Senator Don  McEachin, Henrico:

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Governor McAuliffe for his leadership in issuing this executive order. Today’s order will enable women and minority small business owners to compete on a level playing field. It will help ensure that small businesses are chosen for the quality of their work, and it will help give women and minority owners a fair shot at success.

I have repeatedly introduced a bill to address unfair contracting disparities, but have not been able to get it passed. Now, thanks to Governor McAuliffe, at least for the next three-and-a-half years, the problem is finally being fairly addressed.”

Senator Louise Lucas, Portsmouth:

“Nearly two decades ago, I introduced a resolution (SJ12) to ease the process of state procurement for minority owned businesses. Today, I am proud to say that Governor McAuliffe has taken executive action to ensure an equitable and inclusive procurement process. I am glad to have a governor who recognizes the achievements of all hard working Virginians.”

Delegate Ron Villanueva, Virginia Beach:

“Governor McAuliffe’s small, women, and minority owned business Executive Order was designed to remove unnecessary barriers and promote equity in the procurement process. By taking the initiative to ensure equality, the Governor is providing exactly the kind of leadership that Virginia needs.”

Delegate Rosalyn Dance, Petersburg:

“I am delighted with the leadership our Governor is showing today through his bold new initiatives that directly address the major obstacles and impediments that have deterred and at times prevented small women and minority businesses (SWAM) from being able to actively and successfully do business with state and local governments. This is in alignment with the legislation I have introduced this year and for the last several years along with my colleagues in the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus.”

Senator Mamie Locke, Hampton:

“The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus is pleased that Governor McAuliffe is issuing an Executive Order that focuses on small, women, and minority owned businesses.   This is a necessary step to ensure fairness, transparency, and equity for these businesses that are often left out of the procurement process.   I am especially excited about the opportunities for minority owned businesses for which the Caucus has been a strong voice and advocate.”

Delegate Charniele Herring, Alexandria:

"I am proud to stand with Governor McAuliffe today as he announces a step forward for small business – and for the fair inclusion of women and minorities in our Commonwealth's procurement process. We have been working toward more accountability and transparency for years – and this is positive action in the direction toward inclusiveness, which can only translate to strengthening our economy overall."

Delegate Jennifer McClellan, Richmond City:

“Today, I commend Governor McAuliffe for ensuring that our Commonwealth continues to take the lead on being the friendliest state in which to do business. It is important that we encourage SWaM businesses to come and invest their time and resources in Virginia. We must continue to level the playing field and be the standard to which other states craft their own compliance measures.”

Delegate Michael Futrell, Prince William:

“The value of this executive order cannot go understated, and I thank Governor McAuliffe for allowing SWaM businesses out there to have a fair chance at succeeding. The Governor’s vast knowledge in the business arena gives Virginia the advantage in continuing to be the friendliest state in which to do business. This administration’s continuous efforts to level the playing field for women and minorities speak to the changing landscape here in the Commonwealth.”

Delegate Matthew James, Portsmouth:

“When Governor McAuliffe signed the small, women, and minority owned business executive order, he reminded us once again of his commitment to equality. This Executive Order sets a high bar for compliance, and failure to meet the SWaM plan requirements will be detrimental to the contractor’s future projects. The Governor is taking a stand and demanding inclusiveness, and I applaud him for that.”

Delegate Alfonso Lopez, Arlington:

"Virginians have always been pioneers when it comes to creating an environment that attracts businesses to generate new jobs and grow our economy. With the signing of today’s executive order, Governor Terry McAuliffe undeniably sets the Commonwealth apart in being one of the most marketable places for women and minority owned businesses in the country. Creating positive steps forward in compliance regulations and allowing businesses to compete on a level playing field is something we must always promote and excel at here in Virginia. I applaud Governor McAuliffe for taking such a significant and important step to guarantee that all of our communities win."  

Delegate Delores McQuinn, Richmond City:

“I applaud Governor McAuliffe for timely addressing the issue of SWAM businesses receiving contracts through the state's procurement process. This is an issue on which I have tirelessly worked for several years with my colleagues in the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. We are hopeful that the Governor's Executive order will eliminate the disparity minority and women owned businesses have faced for years in doing business with the Commonwealth.”

Senator Kenny Alexander, Norfolk:

“Governor McAuliffe's commitment to improving Virginia’s business climate includes providing small, women and minority owned business with the needed resources for success.  We should all applaud his inclusive approach.  These enterprises are the future of Virginia’s economy and their success is critical to long term job growth."

Delegate Lionel Spurill, Chesapeake:

“Today, Governor McAuliffe announced his plan to maximize the participation of small, women, and minority owned businesses in state procurement. This deliberate step towards creating an inclusive process is indicative of his devotion to equality for all Virginians.”

Governor McAuliffe Statement on Virginia Opportunity Educational Institution Ruling

. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement regarding the Norfolk Circuit Court’s ruling of the Virginia Opportunity Educational Institution (OEI) as unconstitutional:

“After carefully evaluating the Norfolk Circuit Court’s ruling, my administration has decided not to appeal the court’s decision. Two attorneys general and our own analysis support the Circuit Court’s reasoning on the legal issues at stake. The Constitution of Virginia clearly gives the primary responsibility for educating Virginia children to local school boards across the Commonwealth, while assigning the task of overseeing those efforts to the Virginia Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

“Unfortunately, the statute that established the OEI altered these relationships in significant and unconstitutional ways. There is no question that we must work together to ensure that every single Virginia student has access to a world class education in a public school, and I am confident there is a better way forward. I have asked Secretary of Education Anne Holton to preside over the coalition of government, nonprofit and private sector leaders who have a stake in improving Virginia’s underperforming schools so that we can better prepare all of our students to compete in a global economy.

“Despite our decision, I am grateful to the proponents of OEI for the constructive debate this legislation has initiated. It has helped us all focus on the importance of closing the achievement gap and paving the way for success and achievement in and out of the classroom. We can, we must, and we will do better for Virginia’s students.”

Governor McAuliffe Signs Executive Order Expanding Opportunities for Small, Women-Owned, and Minority-Owned Businesses

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Governor McAuliffe visited Astyra Corporation in Richmond to sign Executive Order 20: Advancing Equity for Small, Women, and Minority Owned Businesses. The executive order is designed to expand contracting opportunities to small, women-owned and minority-owned (SWaM) businesses in the Commonwealth and set a higher bar for SWaM contracting in Virginia state government.

The full text of the executive order is below:

ADVANCING EQUITY FOR SMALL, WOMEN, AND

MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES

Executive Order Number  20 (2014)

Importance of the Issue

            It is imperative for the Commonwealth of Virginia to maximize the participation of small businesses in state contractual work. For Virginia to remain competitive and continue to advance its small business goals, significant work still must be done for a more transparent, equitable, and inclusive process. Therefore, I am establishing a micro business designation within the small business certification and vital new state procurement initiatives.

            For purposes of this Executive Order: 1) “executive branch agency” shall include all entities in the executive branch, including agencies, authorities, commissions, departments, and all institutions of higher education; 2) “small businesses” shall include, but not be limited to, small, women-owned or minority-owned businesses; and, 3) “micro businesses” shall be defined as those certified small businesses that have no more than twenty-five (25) employees and no more than $3 million in average annual revenue over the three-year period prior to their certification.

            I am directing the following executive branch agencies that have statutory authority for procurement, in conjunction with the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (DSBSD) as provided in Code of Virginia § 2.2-1605(A)(6), to implement the requirements herein within their respective areas of procurement authority: Department of General Services (DGS), Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA), Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), those institutions of higher education that have autonomy in procurement granted under the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act (Code of Virginia § 23-38.88, et seq.), and other executive branch agencies that have statutory authority for procurement. 

Initiatives

            With a continuing rational basis for small business enhancement, and pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor under Article V of the Constitution of Virginia, the Code of Virginia, including Code of Virginia § 2.2-4310(C), and applicable Memoranda of Understanding and Management Agreements entered into pursuant to Code of Virginia § 23-38.88, et seq., I hereby direct my Cabinet Secretaries and all executive branch agencies to continue and advance the following on a race-neutral and gender-neutral basis:

1.       Exceed a target goal of 42%, which is the highest percentage of expenditures spent since FY 2004 for executive branch agencies with small businesses certified by DSBSD. This percentage applies to discretionary spending in categories from which the Commonwealth derives procurement orders, prime contracts, and subcontracts. DSBSD, in consultation with executive branch entities and institutions with procurement responsibilities, shall advance race-neutral and gender-neutral goals via annual agency Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned (SWaM) procurement plans. Each executive branch agency shall review and update its benchmarks, policies, and procedures to conform with this Executive Order and the implementing regulations adopted pursuant to Code of Virginia § 2.2-1605(A)(6) and thereby ensure that a greater percentage of purchases is made from certified small businesses, in goods and services categories from which the Commonwealth makes its purchases.

2.       Create the micro business designation, which shall include those certified small businesses that have no more than twenty-five (25) employees and no more than $3 million in average annual revenue over the three-year period prior to their certification. DSBSD shall develop a best practices method for identifying those small businesses that are eligible for the micro business designation. DSBSD shall also evaluate and offer recommendations for the implementation of the micro business designation by October 1, 2014.

3.       Expand the set-aside for competition among all certified small businesses to include purchases up to $100,000 for goods and nonprofessional services and up to $50,000 for professional services when the price quoted is fair and reasonable. In the procurement selection process for these set-asides, at least one of the proposals/bids shall be obtained from a micro business unless upon due diligence no micro business in a particular category exists or was willing to submit a proposal/bid. Purchases under $10,000, however, shall be set aside for micro businesses when the price quoted is fair and reasonable. Executive branch agencies that have statutory authority for procurement shall include these set-asides in their purchasing regulations, policies, and processes by no later than September 1, 2014. Current contracts will continue in accordance with their terms. The DSBSD will prepare a progress report describing executive branch agencies’ compliance with this requirement and deliver its report to the Governor’s Chief of Staff no later than October 1, 2014.

4.       Provide support to DSBSD in developing a uniform, statewide method for evaluating and monitoring small business (SWaM) procurement plans. Executive branch agencies shall require each prime contractor to include in its proposal(s)/bid(s) a SWaM procurement plan.

Before final payment is made, the purchasing agency shall confirm that the contractor has certified compliance with the contract’s SWaM procurement plan. If there are any variances between the contractor’s required SWaM procurement plan and the actual participation, the contractor shall provide a written explanation. The written explanation shall be kept with the contract file and made available upon request.

Contracts and renewals may include a provision allowing final payment to be withheld until the contractor is in compliance with its SWaM procurement plan. Prior to entering into a new contract or renewing a contract with a contractor, an agency shall review a contractor’s record of compliance with SWaM procurement plan requirements. A contractor’s failure to satisfactorily meet designated SWaM procurement plan requirements shall be considered in the prospective award or renewal of any future contracts with the contractor.

5.       Implement processes for producing SWaM subcontracting data as established by DSBSD in consultation with DGS and VITA. This subcontracting data must also include information on non-SWaM subcontractors performing on contracts over $200,000.

            These initiatives will spur creativity, promote economic justice and development, and encourage procurement participation by small businesses. In support of the initiatives set out above, I further direct the following actions to be taken by Cabinet Secretaries and executive branch agencies:

1.       DSBSD, in conjunction with DGS, VITA, VDOT, and higher education institutions with procurement autonomy, shall implement initiatives to enhance the development of small businesses in Virginia. Such initiatives shall include, but not be limited to:

·          Information on access to capital, including contract financing and bonding support and other opportunities for economic development;

·          Management and technical assistance programs;

·          Partnerships and outreach with local business groups, chambers of commerce, and other organizations to develop a diverse vendor base; and,

·          Statewide mentor/protégé and/or joint venture programs.

2.       DSBSD, with assistance from DGS, shall conduct a vendor outreach training program for each congressional district in the Commonwealth. Training shall include instructions on how to obtain certification, register with and research through the Commonwealth’s e-procurement system (eVA), respond to business opportunities with the Commonwealth, encourage SWaM participation, and overcome identified barriers.

3.       Executive branch agencies shall review the efficacy of implementing other small business enhancement tools and processes, such as:

·          Unbundling contracts;

·          Relaxing the requirement for mandatory attendance at pre-bid meetings;

·          Expanding time to respond to small purchase solicitations;

·          Alerting businesses to current and future procurement as well as subcontracting opportunities; and,

·          Streamlining the paperwork required of small businesses.

4.       The purchasing manuals, regulations and guidelines of all executive branch entities and institutions shall include updated SWaM purchasing regulations and/or guidelines to reflect the changes made in this Executive Order.

5.       Executive branch agencies shall actively recruit small businesses to seek certification from DSBSD, to register on eVA, and to compete for state procurement contracts. DGS and VITA shall develop guidelines that promote greater representation of SWaM businesses on such contracts.

6.       VDOT, for road and bridge construction, and DGS, for construction, shall develop guidelines to be used by executive branch agencies in making construction mobilization payments to businesses when reasonable and necessary to facilitate contract initiation.

7.       The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) shall send DSBSD its regular report to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade on new economic development announcements of business activity in the Commonwealth, inclusive of those announcements in which a VEDP administered economic incentive is provided. Such report will enable DSBSD to ascertain in a timely manner what opportunities the activity may bring for Virginia’s small businesses.

8.       Every executive branch agency shall utilize the Commonwealth’s central electronic procurement system (“eVA”) as its purchasing and/or posting system beginning at the point of requisitioning for all procurement actions, including but not limited to technology, transportation, and construction, for the purpose of identifying available small businesses, and for tracking purchase requisition details from those businesses. DGS, in consultation with VDOT, shall develop guidelines pertaining to the content of requisitions, in order for data to be captured in a timely, accurate, and consistent manner.

9.       Each executive branch agency shall designate a SWaM equity champion to ensure equity in the solicitation of procurement proposals/bids and awarding of contracts. 

10.   Agency heads, senior managers with procurement responsibility, procurement personnel, and end users with purchasing charge cards shall be evaluated on small business purchasing goals as part of their employee evaluations.

11. DSBSD shall coordinate with the Virginia Association of Counties, the Virginia Municipal            League, and the Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing to identify opportunities                                           for state and local government entities to collaborate in order to maximize procurement      equity for small businesses.

Reporting Requirements

1.       The Secretary of Commerce and Trade shall study the potential advantages of providing start-up incentives, including federally-funded grants, to certified small businesses. This shall include a review of the economic impact of providing the incentives and whether such incentives would promote the profitability and sustainability of such businesses. The Secretary of Commerce and Trade shall provide a report to the Governor’s Chief of Staff by no later than December 1, 2014.

2.       Cabinet Secretaries shall monitor their agencies’ spending with all certified small businesses, and report on the results quarterly. DSBSD shall develop a standard reporting format for such purposes. The report shall include information on purchases made from all certified small businesses. In addition, the Secretary of Commerce and Trade will assess overall state performance, and report quarterly to the Governor.

           

           Each Cabinet Secretary shall evaluate the performance of their agencies in implementing     these directives. DSBSD, in cooperation with each Cabinet Secretary, shall provide quarterly          reports to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade regarding the Commonwealth’s progress in    enhancing opportunities for SWaM businesses. The reports shall delineate the            Commonwealth’s spending in detail by SWaM category and agency.

3.       The Secretary of Commerce and Trade shall conduct a study on a new small business designation, with prospective set-aside opportunities, that would be between twenty-five (25) and one hundred (100) employees and between $3 and $10 million. The study shall be delivered to the Governor’s Chief of Staff no later than December 1, 2014.

4.       Executive branch entities and institutions with procurement responsibilities shall review practices, procedures, and proposal evaluations criteria to identify and remove barriers or limitations to SWaM participation. A section on “barriers or limitations” shall be included in annual agency SWaM plans. SWaM plans shall be developed and submitted to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade on September 1 of each fiscal year.

5.       The Secretary of Commerce and Trade will prepare and deliver a report to the Governor no later than October 1, 2015, detailing compliance with this Executive Order and providing spend performance metrics from the prior fiscal year.

          

Effective Date of this Order

            This Executive Order replaces Executive Order 33 (2006), issued by Governor Timothy M. Kaine, and shall be effective upon its signing and shall remain in full force and effect unless amended or rescinded by further executive order.

            Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia this 22nd day of July, 2014.

                       

________________________________

Terence R. McAuliffe, Governor

Attest: 

_______________________________

Levar M. Stoney, Secretary of the Commonwealth

Governor McAuliffe Announces Solicitation of Applications for a Second Round of FACT Fund Grants

(Photo credit: ussocom_ru)

Governor McAuliffe announced that grant applications are being accepted from Virginia localities to address encroachment of military or security installations.  These grants are being supported with $4,361,600 in the Virginia Federal Action Contingency Trust (FACT) Fund. Virginia localities that have had or have pending identifiable or measurable negative impacts caused by encroachment upon military or security installations are eligible to apply for these grant funds.

The deadline for the receipt of applications is July 31 and the application and guidance documents can be found on the website of the Virginia Secretary of Finance http://finance.virginia.gov/agency-information/fact-fund/.

During the 2014 Special Session, the General Assembly reverted $4,361,600 of the FACT Fund balance included in the introduced Budget Bill.  During the 2014 Reconvened Session, the Governor vetoed this reversion. The Governor’s veto had the effect of restoring the balance to the FACT fund, making it available for the 2014-2015 FACT Fund grants.

“Virginia’s military installations play a critical role in keeping our nation safe and our Commonwealth’s economy healthy,” said Governor McAuliffe. “The FACT Fund is an invaluable tool to help mitigate the threat of encroachment or other issues that could put our bases at risk. That is why I fought to keep this funding in the budget, and why I am looking forward to reviewing these applications from communities that are invested in keeping our military assets and the jobs and economic growth that come with them in the Commonwealth.”

The FACT Fund was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 2012 to limit risks associated with or offset the adverse economic impacts of closure, relocation, or realignment of federal military or security installations or other federal agencies located in Virginia. 

Governor McAuliffe Announces Virginia Oyster Harvests Continue to Climb

Chargrilled oysters (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

~Last year’s harvest increased to the highest level since 1987~

Newport News, VA. –Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Virginia’s oyster harvest jumped another 25 percent last year, surging past 500,000 bushels, the most in nearly a generation.

“Over the past few years, Virginia has become the oyster capital of the East Coast, and that is great news for our Commonwealth’s economy,’’ said Governor McAuliffe. “The growth we’ve seen in the oyster harvest is extraordinary, but hardly a surprise. Virginia produces the best tasting oysters in the world, and every sustainably-harvested oyster helps clean the Chesapeake Bay and create good jobs in a tough economy. There is no question that Virginia is for oyster lovers.”

Over the past 12 years, the oyster harvest in Virginia has increased from 23,000 bushels in 2001 to an estimated 504,000 bushels last year. This is the highest level seen since 1987 and is 25 percent more than the 409,000 bushels harvested in 2012.

Preliminary harvest estimates show gains in both wild-caught oysters from public oyster rocks as well as from privately leased water bottoms.

Harvest from public oyster grounds grew from 150,534 bushels in 2012 to 213,152 bushels last year, and the harvest from privately leased growing areas continued six years of sustained growth, rising from 258,496 bushels in 2012 to 408,912 bushels last year.

“State investments in our oyster replenishment program are showing positive results,” said Molly Joseph Ward, Secretary of Natural Resources. “Keeping this momentum is vital to the growth of the oyster industry. Our comprehensive fisheries management programs, combined with private sector investments, are having a very positive impact for the Bay, consumers and the economy. We need to keep moving forward.”

The dockside value of the oyster harvest increased to $22.2 million last year, up from $16.2 million in 2012.

The ripple effects through the economy from last year’s harvest resulted in an estimated $58.4 million in economic value, using a multiplier of 2.63 on a dockside value of $22.2 million, a formula established by the late Dr. James Kirkley, a well-respected Virginia Institute of Marine Science seafood industry economist.

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission’s management of  the oyster stocks includes rotational oyster harvest areas and deployment of fossil oyster shells mined annually from the beneath James River on to public oyster grounds. These fossil shells become home for naturally occurring oyster larvae that attach to them during spawning and grow to form new adult oysters that will reach market size in roughly three years.

This oyster replenishment program provides substantial ecological as well as economic benefits, as the oysters filter the water during growth to a market size of three inches. Oyster reefs provide important forage and refuge habitat for invertebrates as well as juvenile crabs and finfish species.

“Oysters are doing well right now. We are making tremendous progress,’’ said VMRC Commissioner John M.R. Bull. “But oysters are still susceptible to disease and other environmental factors outside of our control. A lot of people have put a lot of work into getting Virginia into this position and it is paying dividends. It is worth celebrating, but we need to keep in mind that oysters live in a dynamic, ever-changing ecosystem.”

Virginia’s history of oyster harvests can be found here

http://mrc.virginia.gov/SMAC/VA-Oyster-Harvests.pdf

Governor McAuliffe Announces 800 New Jobs for Arlington County

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

~CEB to invest $149.7 million in new global headquarters ~ 

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that CEB, the leading member-based advisory company, will invest $149.7 million in a new headquarters operation to support the company’s next-generation workplace plans and accommodate its growing global requirements. The company has signed an Agreement to lease approximately 350,000 square feet of space in The JBG Companies’ new Central Place development in Rosslyn, Virginia. CEB will be the marquee tenant in the building to be named “CEB Tower.” CEB plans to move to its new global headquarters in 2018. The project will create 800 new jobs.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “Virginia has proudly served as home to CEB since its move from the District in 2008. A new global headquarters and investment of this magnitude are tremendous testaments to the confidence the company has in Arlington County and the Commonwealth as it grows its presence internationally, and creates the workspace and technology for jobs of the 21^st century. As Governor, I am committed to bringing projects like these to Virginia—those that create high-paying jobs and will help to diversify and protect the Virginia economy from federal budget cuts. We celebrate this impressive global headquarters operation and 800 new jobs, and look forward to CEB’s continued success in Virginia for years to come.”

            “CEB’s cutting-edge new headquarters in CEB Tower will accommodate the company’s expanding global requirements and provide room to continue its positive growth trajectory into the future,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “This tremendous project ensures the company’s long-term commitment to the Commonwealth, and Virginia is proud to boast CEB on its roster of corporate headquarters.”

CEB equips more than 10,000 organizations around the globe with insights, tools, and actionable solutions to transform enterprise performance. By combining advanced research and analytics with best practices from member companies, CEB helps leaders realize outsized returns by more effectively managing talent, information, customers, and risk. Member companies include nearly 90% of the Fortune 500, more than 75% of the Dow Jones Asian Titans, and 85% of the FTSE 100.

“Virginia has a vision for economic development and they are committed to working with companies to bring it to fruition,” said Tom Monahan, CEB Chairman & CEO. “This Agreement simply would not have been possible without the exceptional partnership of the Commonwealth and Arlington County. The Governor’s office and our local government representatives clearly demonstrated why Virginia is a great state for business. Under their leadership, we are confident in Arlington’s future as a business hub and thrilled to be a landmark business in—and significant economic contributor to—the Rosslyn community.” 

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Arlington County to help secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $4.5 million grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Arlington County with the project. The Governor also approved $5 million in funds from the Virginia Economic Development Incentive Grant (VEDIG). VEDIG was established as a self-funded program of performance-based incentives that the Commonwealth awards to exceptional economic development projects with large numbers of employees and very high wages relative to average wages for that particular area. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“CEB is exactly the type of business Arlington needs as we move forward as a leader in the innovation economy,” said Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette. “Today’s announcement is a shining example of how the new initiatives we’ve implemented this year are increasing Arlington’s economic competitiveness and ensuring our place as a leading community for technology businesses of the future.”

How Sugar Harms Your Brain Health and Drives Alzheimer’s Epidemic

English: PET scan of a human brain with Alzheimer's disease (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Dr. Mercola

Alzheimer's disease, a severe form of dementia, affects an estimated 5.2 million Americans, according to 2013 statistics.1

One in nine seniors over the age of 65 has Alzheimer's, and the disease is now thought to be the third leading cause of death in the US, right behind heart disease and cancer.

A growing body of research suggests there's a powerful connection between your diet and your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, via similar pathways that cause type 2 diabetes.

Contrary to popular belief, your brain does not require glucose, and actually functions better burning alternative fuels, especially ketones, which your body makes in response to digesting healthy fats.

According to some experts, such as Dr. Ron Rosedale, Alzheimer's and other brain disorders may in large part be caused by the constant burning of glucose for fuel by your brain.

Alzheimer's disease was tentatively dubbed "type 3 diabetes" in early 2005 when researchers discovered that in addition to your pancreas, your brain alsoproduces insulin, and this brain insulin is necessary for the survival of brain cells.

Sugar Damages Brain Structure and Function

In your brain, insulin helps with neuron glucose-uptake and the regulation of neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, which are crucial for memory and learning. This is why reducing the level of insulin in your brain impairs your cognition.

Research2 has also shown that type 2 diabetics lose more brain volume with age than expected—particularly gray matter. This kind of brain atrophy is yet another contributing factor for dementia.

Studies have found that people with lower levels of insulin and insulin receptors in their brain often have Alzheimer's disease. But according to recent research published in the journal Neurology,3 sugar and other carbohydrates can disrupt your brain function even if you're not diabetic or have any signs of dementia.

To test their theory, they evaluated short- and long-term glucose markers in 141 healthy, non-diabetic, non-demented seniors. Memory tests and brain imaging were administered to assess their brain function and the actual structure of their hippocampus. As reported by Scientific American:4

"Higher levels on both glucose measures were associated with worse memory, as well as a smaller hippocampus and compromised hippocampal structure.

The researchers also found that the structural changes partially accounted for the statistical link between glucose and memory. According to study co-author Agnes Flöel, a neurologist at Charité, the results 'provide further evidence that glucose might directly contribute to hippocampal atrophy.'"

The findings suggest that even if you're not diabetic or insulin resistant (and about 80 percent of Americans fall into the latter category), sugar consumption can still disrupt your memory.

Long-term, it can contribute to the shrinking of your hippocampus, which is a hallmark symptom of Alzheimer's disease. (Your hippocampus is involved with the formation, organization, and storage of memories.)

The authors of the study suggest that "strategies aimed at lowering glucose levels even in the normal range may beneficially influence cognition in the older population."

'Normal' Blood Sugar Levels May Still Be High Enough to Cause Problems

Normally, a fasting blood sugar level between 100-125 mg/dl is diagnosed as a pre-diabetic state. A fasting blood sugar level of 90-100 is considered "normal." But in addition to the featured research, other studies have also found that brain atrophy occurs even in this "normal" blood sugar range.

Neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter, MD insists that being very strict in limiting your consumption of sugar and non-vegetable carbs is one of THE most important steps you can take to prevent Alzheimer's disease for this very reason.

He cites research from the Mayo Clinic, which found that diets rich in carbohydrates are associated with an 89 percent increased risk for dementia. Meanwhile, high-fat diets are associated with a 44 percent reduced risk.

Download Interview Transcript

Sugar Lobby Threatens Organizations and Buries Science on Health Effects

Compelling research shows that your brain has great plasticity, which you controlthrough your diet and lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, the American public has been grossly brainwashed by the sugar and processed food industries into believing that sugar is a perfectly reasonable "nutrient" that belongs in a healthy diet.  

Without accurate information, it's certainly more difficult to make health-affirming choices. Newsweek5 recently ran an article revealing just how far the sugar industry will go to defend its market share:

"According to a new report6 from the Center for Science and Democracy... industry groups representing companies that sell sweeteners, like the Sugar Association and the Corn Refiners Association... have poured millions of dollars into countering science that indicates negative health consequences of eating their products.

For example, when a University of Southern California study from 2013 found that the actual high fructose corn syrup content in sodas 'varied significantly' from the sugar content disclosed on soda labels, the Corn Refiners Association considered paying for its own counter research.

A consultant suggested that the counter research should only be published if the results aligned with their goal of disputing the USC study: 'If for any reason the results confirm [the University of Southern California study], we can just bury the data,' the consultant wrote, according to the report."

According to the Center for Science report, the Sugar Association even threatened the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO had published a paper on sugar, recommending a 10 percent limit on added sugars, stating that added sugars "threaten the nutritional quality of diets."

The Sugar Association shot off a letter to the director general, warning him that, unless WHO withdrew the study, the Sugar Association would persuade the US Congress to withdraw the WHO's federal funding. The following year, when WHO published its global health strategy on diet and health, there was no mention of the offending sugar study.

The Sugar Lobby Deserves Blame for Fueling Chronic Disease Epidemics

Indeed, despite overwhelming evidence showing that sugar, and processed fructose in particular, is at the heart of our burgeoning obesity and chronic disease epidemics, the sugar lobby has been so successful in its efforts to thwart the impact of such evidence that there's still no consensus among our regulatory agencies as to the "factual" dangers of sugar...

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data,7 13 percent of the average American's diet is sugar. In the UK, a recently published report8 by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommends limiting your added sugar intake to five percent, in order to avoid obesity and type 2 diabetes. They calculate this to be the equivalent of 25 grams of sugar (5-6 teaspoons) per day for women, and 35 grams (7-8 teaspoons) for men.

This matches my own recommendations for healthy, non-insulin resistant individuals—with one key difference. I recommend restricting sugar/fructose consumption to 25 grams from ALL sources, not just added sugar. This includes limiting your non-vegetable carbohydrates as well. Crazy enough, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition still recommends you get 50 percent of your daily energy intake in the form of starchy carbohydrates, which will undoubtedly and significantly raise your risk of insulin resistance. If you're insulin/leptin resistant, diabetic, overweight, or have high blood pressure, heart disease, or cancer, I recommend restricting your sugar/fructose consumption to a maximum of 15 grams per day from all sources, until your insulin/leptin resistance has been resolved.

Dietary Guidelines for Maintaining Healthy Brain Function and Avoiding Alzheimer's Disease

It's becoming increasingly clear that the same pathological process that leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes may also hold true for your brain. As you over-indulge on sugar and grains, your brain becomes overwhelmed by the consistently high levels of glucose and insulin that blunts its insulin signaling, leading to impairments in your thinking and memory abilities, eventually causing permanent brain damage.

Additionally, when your liver is busy processing fructose (which your liver turns into fat), it severely hampers its ability to makecholesterol, an essential building block of your brain that is crucial for optimal brain function. Indeed, mounting evidence supports the notion that significantly reducing fructose consumption is a very important step for preventing Alzheimer's disease. 

Because of the very limited treatments, and no available cure as of yet, you're really left with just one solid solution, and that is to prevent Alzheimer's from happening to you in the first place. As explained by neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter, Alzheimer's is a disease predicated primarily on lifestyle choices; the two main culprits being excessive sugar and gluten consumption.

Another major factor is the development and increased consumption of genetically engineered (GE) grains, which are now pervasive in most processed foods sold in the US. The beauty of following my optimized nutrition plan is that it helps prevent and treat virtually ALL chronic degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's. Dr. Perlmutter's book, Grain Brain, also provides powerful arguments for eliminating grains from your diet, particularly if you want to protect the health of your brain. In terms of your diet, the following suggestions may be among the most important for Alzheimer's prevention:

• Avoid sugar and refined fructose. Ideally, you'll want to keep your total sugar and fructose below 25 grams per day, or as low as 15 grams per day if you have insulin resistance or any related disorders. In one recent animal study, a junk food diet high in sugar resulted in impaired memory after just one week!9 Place recognition, specifically, was adversely affected.
As a general rule, you'll want to keep your fasting insulin levels below 3, and this is indirectly related to fructose, as it will clearly lead to insulin resistance. However, other sugars (sucrose is 50 percent fructose by weight), grains, and lack of exercise are also important factors. Lowering insulin will also help lower leptin levels which is another factor for Alzheimer's.
• Avoid gluten and casein (primarily wheat and pasteurized dairy, but not dairy fat, such as butter). Research shows that your blood-brain barrier, the barrier that keeps things out of your brain where they don't belong, is negatively affected by gluten. Gluten also makes your gut more permeable, which allows proteins to get into your bloodstream, where they don't belong. That then sensitizes your immune system and promotes inflammation and autoimmunity, both of which play a role in the development of Alzheimer's.
• Eat a nutritious diet, rich in folate, such as the one described in my nutrition plan. Vegetables, without question, are your best form of folate, and we should all eat plenty of fresh raw veggies every day. Avoid supplements like folic acid, which is the inferior synthetic version of folate.
• Increase consumption of all healthful fats, including animal-based omega-3. Beneficial health-promoting fats that your brain needs for optimal function include organic butter from raw milk, clarified butter called ghee, organic grass fed raw butter, olives, organic virgin olive oil and coconut oil, nuts like pecans and macadamia, free-range eggs, wild Alaskan salmon, and avocado.
Contrary to popular belief, the ideal fuel for your brain is not glucose but ketones. Ketones are what your body produces when it converts fat (as opposed to glucose) into energy. The medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) found in coconut oil are a great source of ketone bodies, because coconut oil is about 66 percent MCTs. In 2010, I published Dr. Mary Newport's theory that coconut oil might offer profound benefits in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. She has since launched one of the first clinical trials of its kind to test this theory.
Also make sure you're getting enough animal-based omega-3 fats, such as krill oil. (I recommend avoiding most fish because, although fish is naturally high in omega-3, most fish are now severely contaminated with mercury.) High intake of the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA help by preventing cell damage caused by Alzheimer's disease, thereby slowing down its progression, and lowering your risk of developing the disorder.
• Optimize your gut flora by regularly eating fermented foods or taking a high-potency and high-quality probiotic supplement
• Eat blueberries. Wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content, are known to guard against Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases. 

Other Helpful Dietary Tips and Valuable Supplements

Another helpful tip is to reduce your overall calorie consumption, and/or intermittently fast. As mentioned above, ketones are mobilized when you replace carbs with coconut oil and other sources of healthy fats. A one-day fast can help your body to "reset" itself, and start to burn fat instead of sugar. As part of a healthy lifestyle, I prefer an intermittent fasting schedule that simply calls for limiting your eating to a narrower window of time each day. By restricting your eating to a 6-8 hour window, you effectively fast 16-18 hours each day. To learn more about intermittent fasting, please see this previous article.

Also be aware that when it comes to cholesterol levels and Alzheimer's, lower is NOT better. Quite the contrary. According to Dr. Perlmutter, research shows that elderly individuals with the lowest cholesterol levels have the highest risk for Alzheimer's. They also have the highest risk for dying. As he says, the war on cholesterol is fundamentally inappropriate and harmful.

Finally, there's a short list of supplement recommendations worth noting for their specific benefits in preventing and treating dementia. So, although your fundamental strategy for preventing dementia should involve a comprehensive lifestyle approach, you may want to take special note of the following natural dietary agents. These four natural foods/supplements have good science behind them, in terms of preventing age-related cognitive changes:

1. Gingko biloba: Many scientific studies have found that Ginkgo biloba has positive effects for dementia. A 1997 study fromJAMA showed clear evidence that Ginkgo improves cognitive performance and social functioning for those suffering from dementia. Another 2006 study found Ginkgo as effective as the dementia drug Aricept (donepezil) for treating mild to moderate Alzheimer's type dementia. A 2010 meta-analysis also found Ginkgo biloba to be effective for a variety of types of dementia.
2. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA): ALA has been shown to help stabilize cognitive functions among Alzheimer's patients and may slow the progression of the disease.
3. Vitamin B12: A small Finnish study published in the journal Neurology10 found thatpeople who consume foods rich in B12 may reduce their risk of Alzheimer's in their later years. For each unit increase in the marker of vitamin B12 the risk of developing Alzheimer's was reduced by two percent. Remember sublingual methylcobalamin may be your best bet here.

Lifestyle Strategies That Can Help Ward off Alzheimer's Disease

Lifestyle choices such as getting regular sun exposure and exercise, along with avoiding toxins, are also important factors when it comes to maintaining optimal brain health. Here are several of my lifestyle suggestions:

• Optimize your vitamin D levels with safe sun exposure. Strong links between low levels of vitamin D in Alzheimer's patients and poor outcomes on cognitive tests have been revealed. Researchers believe that optimal vitamin D levels may enhance the amount of important chemicals in your brain and protect brain cells by increasing the effectiveness of the glial cells in nursing damaged neurons back to health.
Vitamin D may also exert some of its beneficial effects on Alzheimer's through its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. Sufficient vitamin D is imperative for proper functioning of your immune system to combat inflammation that is also associated with Alzheimer's.
• Exercise regularly. It's been suggested that exercise can trigger a change in the way the amyloid precursor protein is metabolized,11 thus, slowing down the onset and progression of Alzheimer's. Exercise also increases levels of the protein PGC-1alpha. Research has also shown that people with Alzheimer's have less PGC-1alpha in their brains12 and cells that contain more of the protein produce less of the toxic amyloid protein associated with Alzheimer's. I would strongly recommend reviewing the Peak Fitness Technique for my specific recommendations.
• Avoid and eliminate mercury from your body. Dental amalgam fillings, which are 50 percent mercury by weight, are one of the major sources of heavy metal toxicity. However, you should be healthy prior to having them removed. Once you have adjusted to following the diet described in my optimized nutrition plan, you can follow the mercury detox protocol and then find a biological dentist to have your amalgams removed.
• Avoid aluminum, such as antiperspirants, non-stick cookware, vaccine adjuvants, etc.
• Avoid flu vaccinations as most contain both mercury and aluminum, well-known neurotoxic and immunotoxic agents.
• Avoid anticholinergics and statin drugs. Drugs that block acetylcholine, a nervous system neurotransmitter, have been shown to increase your risk of dementia. These drugs include certain nighttime pain relievers, antihistamines, sleep aids, certain antidepressants, medications to control incontinence, and certain narcotic pain relievers.
Statin drugs are particularly problematic because they suppress the synthesis of cholesterol, deplete your brain of coenzyme Q10 and neurotransmitter precursors, and prevent adequate delivery of essential fatty acids and fat-soluble antioxidants to your brain by inhibiting the production of the indispensable carrier biomolecule known as low-density lipoprotein.
• Challenge your mind daily. Mental stimulation, especially learning something new, such as learning to play an instrument or a new language, is associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's. Researchers suspect that mental challenge helps to build up your brain, making it less susceptible to the lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease.

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