Governor McAuliffe Signs Executive Order Establishing The New Virginia Economy Strategic Plan and Steering Committee, (The Old One Broke?)

English: Main Terminal of at dusk in Virginia, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today during his monthly appearance on WTOP’s “Ask the Governor,” Governor Terry McAuliffe signed Executive Order 26 establishing The New Virginia Economy Strategic Plan and Steering Committee. The executive order establishes the priorities that will form the foundation of the Governor’s economic development plan for the remainder of his term in office.

“This executive order reflects the approach that my administration and I will take to building a new Virginia economy during my term,” said Governor McAuliffe. “If we are going to compete in the global marketplace, now is the time to work together to balance our budget responsibly, protect and expand our world class infrastructure and education systems, and increase our efforts to bring innovative companies here to create jobs and help diversify our economy.”

NUMBER TWENTY SIX (2014)

ESTABLISHING THE NEW VIRGINIA ECONOMY

STRATEGIC PLAN AND STEERING COMMITTEE

Importance of the Taskforce

The Commonwealth of Virginia features vast natural and human resources that serve as the foundation of our economic strength. Our unparalleled educational system, highly educated workforce, competitive business climate, central mid-Atlantic location, and premium infrastructure have afforded Virginia years of recognition as a preeminent state for business and job growth.

            Virginia is well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities in various high-growth industries with high-wage employment, including healthcare, bio sciences, cyber security, and energy. According to the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, the Commonwealth ranks among the nation’s best knowledge-based, globalized, entrepreneurial, IT-driven, and innovation-based economies. Moreover, Virginia has one of the largest higher educational systems and among the most educated populations in the nation. 

            Virginia is an international gateway to move people and products quickly and efficiently, with fourteen commercial airports, including Dulles International. We offer the third largest state-maintained transportation network with six major interstates, an extensive railroad system, and a technologically-advanced port, capable of handling Post Panamax vessels. With agriculture as our largest industry, the Commonwealth will use these assets as we seek to increase agriculture and forestry shipments worldwide and to become the East Coast capital for agricultural exports.

            While Virginia enjoys inherent advantages and assets, we are facing unique economic headwinds. Recent federal budget cuts, reductions in defense spending, and the impact of sequestration have presented pressing challenges for Virginia’s economy. In this season of federal contraction, we must balance public and private sector enterprise for fiscal resilience. This vital imperative can be achieved by enhancing our fundamentals and addressing our challenges as an opportunity. By recalibrating our fiscal pathway and focusing our efforts on diversified, sustainable, and prospering industry sectors, the Commonwealth will excel in the global marketplace strengthened by a New Virginia Economy.

Establishment of the Steering Committee

By virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor under Article V, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia, and Section 2.2-205 of the Code of Virginia, I hereby establish the Governor’s New Virginia Economy Steering Committee (Steering Committee). The purpose of this Steering Committee is to create a four-year strategic plan for economic development, in collaboration with the business community, local and state officials, and economic development professionals.

The Commonwealth must attract new jobs and investment, and cultivate the next generation of job creators and entrepreneurs. My administration’s four-year strategic plan will focus on: 1) enhancing our infrastructure, 2) diversifying and growing our strategic industry sectors, 3) solidifying and promoting our competitive business climate, 4) nurturing a sustainable entrepreneurial environment, and 5) equipping Virginia’s workforce with in-demand skill sets to meet current and future business needs. The plan will also recommend specific executive and legislative actions to achieve these goals.

Composition of the Steering Committee

The Secretary of Commerce and Trade will chair the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will be composed of the Secretaries of Agriculture and Forestry, Finance, and Veterans and Defense Affairs, as well as the Secretaries of Administration, Education, Health and Human Resources, Natural Resources, Technology, and Transportation, as specified in Section 2.2-205 B of the Code of Virginia. The Steering Committee will engage representatives of relevant state agencies, local and regional economic development organizations and chambers of commerce, leaders in sectors significant to Virginia’s economy, and other organizations or individuals as designated by the Governor.

Strategic Plan Priorities:

The four-year strategic plan will address five economic development priorities:

1.      “Project Ready” Infrastructure – Virginia must ensure that our infrastructure assets and resources, such as healthcare, energy, housing, and broadband are ready to attract small, medium, and large scale projects throughout the Commonwealth and advance our competitive position locally, regionally, and globally.

2.      Diversified High-Growth Industries – Virginia must devote vital resources to strengthen thriving industries, while diversifying targeted high-growth industry sectors and expanding trading partnerships.

3.      Preeminent Business Climate – Virginia must ensure that tax, regulatory, and incentive policies sustain Virginia’s position as the best state to start, grow, and locate a business.

4.      Innovation and Entrepreneurs – Virginia must pursue policies and public-private partnerships that attract talent, promote business and social entrepreneurship, business development and investment, and encourage the creation and commercialization of new products and services.

5.      “Skills to Jobs” Workforce – Virginia must align higher education system priorities and resources to supply in-demand workers, transition veterans, and meet current and future employer needs, in the private and public sectors.

Staffing

Staff support for the Steering Committee will be provided by the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, the various secretariats and their agencies represented on the Steering Committee, and other agencies as may be designated by the Governor. All executive branch agencies will cooperate fully with the Steering Committee and will render such assistance as may be requested by the Chair. The Secretary of Commerce and Trade will ensure coordination between the development of the New Virginia Economy Strategic Plan and the Workforce Initiative.

The Steering Committee will provide a report to the Governor by no later than December 1, 2014, setting forth the Commonwealth’s proposed economic development strategic plan. The Steering Committee shall report annually to the Governor by no later than December 1 on progress toward achieving the goals established in the strategic plan.

Effective Date of the Executive Order

This Executive Order shall be effective upon its signing and shall remain in full force and effect until amended or rescinded by further executive order.

Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia this 27^th day of August 2014.

Terence R. McAuliffe, Governor

Attest:             _______________________________________

                        Levar M. Stoney, Secretary of the Commonwealth

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Governor McAuliffe and State Leaders Tout New Agricultural Resource Management Plan

The Harvesters (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(WEYERS CAVE) – Governor Terry McAuliffe today joined Virginia agricultural and conservation leaders in endorsing and promoting the state’s new agricultural Resource Management Plan (RMP) program. The program encourages farmers to increase their use of conservation best management practices while providing the agricultural community quantifiable credit for the practices they already have in place.

“This voluntary program makes sense for farmers and for Virginia’s ongoing push to keep the Chesapeake and surrounding waters clean,” said Governor McAuliffe. “ My administration has worked closely with agricultural and conservation groups to develop a program that is a ‘win’ for all those involved by promoting best conservation practices, while also better tracking the programs that farmers already have in place. Building a new Virginia economy means growing key industries like agriculture while protecting the natural assets that are essential to Virginians’ health and quality of life. I want to thank the agricultural and conservation groups that have come together on this important new plan.”

The Governor touted the new program at Cave View Farm in Weyers Cave alongside First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, Natural Resources Secretary Molly Ward, Agriculture and Forestry Secretary Todd Haymore. They were also joined by representatives from the Virginia Farm Bureau; the Virginia Agribusiness Council; the Virginia Dairymen’s Association; the Virginia Cattlemen Association; the Virginia Poultry Federation; the Chesapeake Bay Foundation; and the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. 

Delegate Ed Scott (Madison) and Senator Emmett Hanger (Augusta), the Patrons of the legislation creating the program, and Delegate Steve Landes (Augusta) also joined the Governor in endorsing RMPs.

“The Resource Management Program will be a critical part of our efforts to protect and restore our rivers, streams and the Chesapeake Bay,” said Secretary Ward.  “I am pleased how the partnership between our natural resource agencies and the agricultural community is working to make this program a success.  Virginia’s waters and farms will both benefit.”

“Virginia growers have a reputation of producing some of the highest quality agricultural commodities in the world and they rely on healthy lands and clean water to do so,” said Secretary Haymore.  “They also have a reputation of being good stewards of these precious natural resources, so I expect that we’ll see our growers utilizing fully the RMP program and getting full credit for the conservation practices they are using now and will be using in the future.”

The program, which was approved in the 2011 General Assembly session, encourages farmers to have a private sector RMP developer create a plan for their farm or any portion of it. The plan will incorporate the property’s current stream buffer, soil conservation, nutrient management and stream exclusion practices and recommend other practices needed. Once the plan is approved and implemented, the property is deemed to be in compliance with state nutrient and sediment water quality standards. This certainty remains in place during the plan’s nine-year lifespan. Virginia is the nation’s fifth state, and the first in the Chesapeake Bay region, with an agricultural certainty program.

“The idea behind the RMP was to advance water quality improvement and at the same time provide farmers an opportunity for some regulatory assurance,” said Delegate Ed Scott (R-Culpeper), a patron of the legislation.  “We’ve got farmers who have put literally thousands of best management practices on the ground, through this process we’ll give them credit for those practices and help identify other practices available to make further progress on water quality goals.”

RMPs can assist farmers in becoming more efficient and profitable by helping them use fertilizers more wisely, increasing yields and improving livestock health, safety and productivity. The certainty afforded to farmers with an RMP plan will also provide them greater confidence as they plan for investments in their operations going forward.  Knowing that investments made now in protecting water quality will afford safe harbor over the nine year life of the plan will make it easier to invest in additional production activities, giving farms greater opportunities at revenue and profitability. 

“I am pleased to join in the roll out of this program after my colleagues and I in the General Assembly approved this program with support from the agricultural and environmental community,”said Delegate Steve Landes (R-Augusta).  “As we continue to promote the agriculture and forestry industries in Virginia, we know that a commitment to our conservation practices will reap economic benefits as well.”

In addition to encouraging farmers to implement practices to receive the certainty, the program willdocument practices in use, providing verified data to validate the agricultural sector’s level of conservation implementation. Better tracking of agricultural conservation practices through the use of resource management plans will also provide decision makers more accurate data when determining future funding needs for cost-share and other incentive programs.

“Resource management plans can provide many benefits to make our region’s farms more efficient and profitable while crediting our farmers for their stewardship of Virginia’s natural resources,” said Senator Emmett Hanger (R-Augusta County).  “Protecting our farms and our natural resources are one in the same, and Virginia benefits from having so many united public and private partners on this effort.”

Money is available through the Virginia Agricultural Cost Share program to fund both the development and implementation of RMPs and the practices needed to complete one. Farmers can work directly with RMP developers to apply for development of a plan on their property. DCR is currently working to expand the number of developers available to farmers and is accepting applications for certified resource management plan developers.

For more information on resource management plans, farm operators can contact their local soil and water conservation district or go to DCR’s website at www.dcr.virginia.gov and click on “Soil and Water.”

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Virginia Agriculture and Conservation Leaders Applaud Virginia’s New Resource Management Plan

The seals of the Commonwealth of Virginia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Leaders from the agriculture and environmental communities across the Commonwealth released the following statements today following the Governor’s visit to Weyers Cave to tout the Commonwealth’s new Resource Management Plan. Governor McAuliffe attended the event today and witnessed some of the best practices at work in the farming community. The Resource Management Plan will help build a new Virginia economy by expanding best practices on Virginia farms that make operations more efficient and cost effective while reducing impacts on Virginia waters, including the Chesapeake Bay.

Wayne Pryor, president, Virginia Farm Bureau:

“The RMP program is an opportunity for all Virginia farmers, regardless of the scale of their operations or the commodities they produce, to voluntarily consult with certified professionals on the entire scale of conservation BMPs they could employ; to develop a customized plan; and to enter into a nine-year agreement that is subject to compliance review. Those plans and agreements will assure them that, for the life of the agreements, they are in compliance with state and local water quality standards. The Virginia Farm Bureau applauds Governor McAuliffe for his leadership and support for this important program.”

Katie Frazier, president, Virginia Agribusiness Council:

“The Virginia Agribusiness Council applauds the launch of Resource Management Plans as a voluntary mechanism to achieve both water quality goals and provide farmers with regulatory certainty. Since the General Assembly approved the program in 2011 with our support, we have been anxiously awaiting the implementation of this exciting new approach to conservation. The Council looks forward to continuing to work with the Governor, DCR, DEQ, VDACS, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts as the RMP program fully launches in late 2014.”

William C. Baker, president, Chesapeake Bay Foundation:

“The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) has long supported farm conservation practices like those called for by Virginia’s Resource Management Plan Program, especially fencing livestock out of local streams and rivers. We support Governor McAuliffe’s call for farmers across Virginia to embrace these conservation practices by participating in the RMP program. That would mean cleaner water, more productive farms, a healthier Bay, and a more robust economy.”    

William C. “Sparky” Crossman, president, Virginia Grain Producers Association:

“The Virginia Grain Producers Association supports these plans not only because of their direct benefit to our farmers and the environment, but because participation in the program is voluntary and the program is flexible. It gives the farmer the ability to select the mix of practices best suited to their farm in order to meet necessary standards. The RMP program is critical to ensuring our farms can feed a growing population while keeping the promises we made to protect and restore our local environment and the Chesapeake Bay.”

Eric Paulson, president, Virginia State Dairymen’s Association:

"The Virginia State Dairymen's Association commends the Governor on signing the Resource Management Plan (RMP) into law. This program will provide farmers with another tool to track and implement conservation practices with a level of certainty. This voluntary program will allow farmers to account for the many conservation practices they have already implemented on their farm. "

Kendall Tyree, executive director, Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts:

"The potential value of the RMP program to water quality is significant, in which we expect Virginia's Soil and Water Conservation Districts to play a vital role. We applaud the Governor for his effort and continued support of voluntary conservation efforts.”

           

Jason Carter, executive director, Virginia Cattlemen’s Association:

"The Virginia Cattlemen's Association membership is certainly supportive of sound environmental management to ensure preservation of the resources so vital to our businesses and industry.  We are appreciative of the Governor's desire to maintain, and add to, a suite of voluntary and cost shared best management conservation practice options for our producers to choose from within the management of their cattle operations."

Hobey Bauhan, president, Virginia Poultry Federation:

“Poultry farmers have a proven commitment to conservation practices for improving water quality.  While a state regulatory program already governs poultry litter management, many poultry farms have other farming activities which could be covered under a voluntary Resource Management Plan.  I commend the Governor for his leadership on this program and encourage farmers to take a close look at participating.”

Please Re elect US Senator Mark Warner so he can finish the job.

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Governor McAuliffe Affirms Virginia’s Commitment to River, Chesapeake Bay Public Access

Map of . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

RICHMOND — Governor Terry McAuliffe today joined officials from the National Park Service and the Chesapeake Conservancy, as well as local and state partners, on the banks of the Potomac River at Caledon State Park in King George County to affirm Virginia’s commitment to increasing public access to rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.

“Protecting the health and vitality of Virginia’s waterways and promoting their use means we can connect people from all over the world with our Commonwealth’s natural resources and grow our economy as well,” said Governor McAuliffe. “My team and I want to continue to provide Virginia’s residents and visitors more places to swim, fish, put in a canoe and just be in nature. By partnering with the National Park Service, the Chesapeake Conservancy and others to increase access to our waterways in the Chesapeake Bay region, Virginia will create opportunities for more people to enjoy and appreciate the countless natural, cultural and historic treasures found here.”

The Commonwealth of Virginia and the National Park Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding to advance mutual commitments to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail and the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail. A focus of the trails is to bring to the region new opportunities for public access, recreation, education and heritage tourism.

Today’s event at Caledon State Park dedicated a new canoe-in campground enabling paddlers to rest or stay overnight in a primitive campsite. Development of the campground was a collaborative effort among the National Park Service, the Chesapeake Conservancy, and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, which manages Virginia state parks.

“Development of this canoe-in site increases people’s access to the river and to one of the country’s most significant summering spots for bald eagles,” said Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward. “This contributes to both the state park’s and the trails’ goals of allowing visitors to experience this area’s unique natural treasures.”

Canoe-in campgrounds were identified as a key need during development of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Public Access Plan. The plan, which calls for adding 300 new public access sites in the bay watershed by 2025, is part of the broad federal, state and nongovernmental strategy to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay.

Members of Virginia’s Youth Conservation Corps built the campground with financial support from the National Park Service. Each campsite measures 20 feet by 30 feet and offers a picnic table, fire ring and lantern post.

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Governor McAuliffe Announces Administration Appointments

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced additional appointments to his administration today. The appointees will join McAuliffe’s administration focused on finding common ground with members of both parties on issues that will grow Virginia’s economy and create more jobs across the Commonwealth.

Secretariat of the Commonwealth

Board Appointments

Board of Trustees of the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia

·       Emmett W. Toms, Jr.* of Waynesboro, Manager, VA State and Local Affairs, Dominion

Charitable Gaming Board

·       Tanya A. Conrad of Newport News, City of Newport News Law Enforcement and Member of the 192^nd Fighter Wing, The Virginia Air National Guard

·       Randy Green of Mechanicsville, Sales Manager for the State of Virginia, Lancaster Bingo Company

·       James Lewis of Alexandria, Communications Director, U.S. House of Representatives

·       Betty Ann Sword of Cedar Bluff, Retired

Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board

·       Julia Marsden of Burke, former Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Washington, DC division of Balmar Printing and Graphics

Governor’s Advisory Board on Volunteerism and National Service

·       Colonel Lettie J. Bien (USAR, RET) of Charlottesville

·       Jessica M. Bowser of Alexandria, Professional Educator and Advocate for Public Education

·       Richard A. Cabellos of Manassas, Director, County of Fairfax, Southgate Community Center, Reston

·       The Honorable John Taylor Chapman, City Councilman, City of Alexandria

·       Elizabeth B. Childress of Richmond, Government Affairs Specialist, Spotts Fain Consulting

·       Vanessa Diamond* of Richmond, Director HandsOn Greater Richmond

·       Mark Fero* of Ruther Glen, Programs and Public Safety Financial Manager, Office of the Attorney General of Virginia

·       The Honorable Terry C. Frye of Bristol, Commissioner of Revenue, City of Bristol

·       Peter J. Goldin of Richmond, Associate State Director, Federal Advocacy, AARP Virginia

·       Julie C. Grimes* of North Chesterfield, Communications Manager, Virginia Department of Education

·       Ashley W. Hall of Richmond, Director, Strategic Engagement, United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg

·       Eleanor Matthews of Winchester,  Senior at John Handley High School

·       Amy P. Nisenson of Manakin Sabot, Executive Director of The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation and non-profit consultant

·       Karen Kennedy Schultz, PhD of Winchester, Professor, Shenandoah University;  Director, The Center for Public Service and Scholarship

·       Seema Sethi, MPS, MBA of Fairfax, President and CEO of Society for Enrichment of Asians

·       Karen J. Stanley* of Chester, Chief Executive Officer CARITAS

·       Laurie S. Turner of Herndon, Public Affairs Director, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Washington, D.C.

·       James H. Underwood of Midlothian,  Business Manager, Local Union No. 666, IBEW 666

·       Leslie Van Horn* of Norfolk, Executive Director, Federation of Virginia Food Banks

Safety and Health Codes Board

·       Louis J. Cernak, Jr. of Clifton, Retired

·       John D. Fulton of Mechanicsville, President/Owner, E. McLauchlan & Sons, Inc.

·       Travis M. Parsons of Annandale, Senior Safety and Health Specialist, Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America

·       Daniel A. (Danny) Sutton* of Timberville, Live Production Manager – VA Division, George’s Family Farms, LLC

·       Thomas A. Thurston* of Sandston, International Staff Representative, Communications Workers of America

Virginia Board for People with Disabilities

·       Vicki Beatty of Richmond, Owner, Virginia Parent Advocates, LLC

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

·       Martin J. Barrington* of Manakin Sabot, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Altria Group, Inc.

·       Tyler Bishop of Richmond,  Senior Vice President, McGuire Woods Consulting

·       Louise B. Cochrane* of Richmond, Philanthropist

·       Ivan P. Jecklin, JD* of Richmond, Co-President, General Counsel, Weinstein Properties

·       Kenneth S. Johnson of Richmond, CEO of Johnson, Inc.

·       Pamela Reynolds of Richmond, Past Chair of the Board of Trustees, and stalwart supporter of cultural heritage in Richmond and the mid-Atlantic region.

*Denotes reappointment

Re Elect Mark Warner for US Senator For More.

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