U.S. Department of Labor Awards Nearly $14 Million to Support Job Training Programs at Virginia’s Colleges

Virginia State University (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Because Colleges No Longer Prepare The Students:

~ Grant to help colleges expand capacity to provide training programs ~ 

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Virginia State University and four of Virginia’s community colleges will expand their capacity to provide innovative training programs in partnership with employers, thanks to a nearly $14 million grant award from the U.S. Department of Labor’s (US DOL) Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training initiative. 

In Virginia, the  funding will  support the priorities of  Governor McAuliffe’s Executive Order 23, the “New Virginia Economy” Workforce Initiative, to increase STEM-H postsecondary education and workforce credentials, secure employment for veterans, align education with the needs of businesses, and diversify the economy.

“These five new grant awards will drive industry driven STEM-H credentials, apprenticeships and on the job training to help build the skilled, high tech workforce for Virginia businesses and industry sectors”said Governor McAuliffe.  “This is another step forward towards my vision of a new Virginia economy, and I congratulate each of the colleges on their success.” 

“The success of Virginia State University and our community colleges in securing these awards suggests the strength of regional public-private partnerships,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones.  “It’s encouraging to see our universities and community colleges working with employers, state agencies, non-profit organizations, and other partners to stand up new models of education and training that work for industry, job seekers, and for the Commonwealth’s economic development.” 

Virginia State University received $3,249,817 to provide training in the wireless industry for veterans, dislocated and underemployed workers, which includes the Warriors4Wireless program, one of only two such programs in the U.S.  The college will work to accelerate credential completion, implement new instruction models, bolster online and technology-enabled learning, implement apprenticeships, and offer Wireless Technician certificates and associate and baccalaureate degrees

Lord Fairfax Community College received $3,250,000 to create Knowledge to Work, a new type of educational search engine and online portal designed to help workers find free and low-cost learning resources tied to competencies and credentials, including badges, certificates, and degrees. These low-cost credentials will be targeted to high demand industries that align with the Governor’s STEM-H goals in healthcare, information technology and advanced manufacturing.

Danville Community College received $2.5 million to incorporate workplace experiential learning in advanced manufacturing in an educational setting. The new program, Retooling America, focuses on realistic, fully integrated training experiences in a full-scale manufacturing faciltiy , which will be housed at the college’s project partner, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.

Southwest Virginia Community College received $2.5 million to provide training in advanced manufacturing and carpentry industries through the college’s PluggedIn VA.  PluggedIn VA is a program, which provides expedited paths through a GED, postsecondary education and job training to a high demand job.

Thomas Nelson Community College received $2,476,840 to work with regional employers and workforce organizations to develop and implement an education and training system to produce multi-skilled technicians in advanced manufacturing.

“VSU is honored that the Department of Labor has entrusted us with federal assistance to develop this wireless infrastructure career training program,” said VSU President Keith T. Miller.   “The market demand for wireless network workers remains strong in our region and throughout the country.  This grant will help VSU stay at the forefront of helping to build Virginia’s economic and technological future.”

“Community colleges are at their best when they are bringing together employers and career-seekers from across the community, and that’s exactly what this grant will help us do,” said Glenn DuBois, Chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. “Virginia earned the largest amount of funding awarded to any state.  We take that to be a vote of confidence in the quality of our work and a challenge to go even further. We’re grateful for the opportunities this creates in helping us serve people across Virginia.”

A full list of grantees including project descriptions is available online athttp://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20141865.htm.

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Governor McAuliffe and Attorney General Herring Announce Agenda for Virginia Heroin and Prescription Drug Summit

Police State 2- The Takeover (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Beware The Coming Police State:

Governor McAuliffe and Attorney General Herring today released the full agenda for the Virginia Heroin and Prescription Drug Summit, to be held on October 2, 2014 in Charlottesville, and hosted by Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran and Attorney General Mark Herring. The summit will include law enforcement representatives from the local, state, and federal levels, and will feature Michael Botticelli, the Acting Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy, as the keynote speaker.

Director Botticelli has more than two decades of experience supporting Americans who have been affected by substance use disorders.  Prior to joining ONDCP, Mr. Botticelli served as Director of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, where he successfully expanded innovative and nationally recognized prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. During the summit, Director Botticelli will discuss the federal government’s role in working with localities to reduce drug trafficking and abuse, and resources available to combat this issue.

The Virginia Heroin and Prescription Drug Summit is held by the Virginia Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Office of the Attorney General, with the goal of addressing the  growing and dangerous epidemic of prescription opioid and heroin abuse in the Commonwealth. Governor McAuliffe also recently signed Executive Order 29, establishing the Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse, co-chaired by Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel, and Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran. The order asked the task force to suggest strategies that will raise public awareness about the dangers of misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, train health care providers on best practices for pain management, identify treatment options and alternatives to incarceration for people with addiction, and promote the safe storage and disposal of prescription drugs. The recommendations outlined and issues discussed in the Charlottesville summit will be factored into the overall recommendations by the task force.

The full agenda is below.

Virginia Heroin and Prescription Drug Summit

October 2, 2014

Charlottesville Doubletree Hotel

AGENDA

8:30 a.m.         Opening Remarks           

                        The Honorable Brian Moran

                        Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security

                               

            The Honorable Mark Herring

            Attorney General            

9:00 a.m.          Plenary Session

Personal Impact: Stories of Tragedy and Survival

               

Moderator:        Phillip Figura

Assistant Attorney General

Panelists:

Teresa Nelson, Stephens City, Virginia

Carolyn Weems, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Honesty Brackett Liller, Richmond, Virginia

10:30 a.m.       Plenary Session                                                                                               

Heroin by the Numbers: Data in Virginia

                               

Moderator:        Victoria Cochran

Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security

Panelists:

William Gormley, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Examiner, Virginia Department of Health

Linda Jackson, Director, Virginia Department of Forensic Science

Jayne Thatcher, Ph.D., Toxicology Group Supervisor, Virginia Department of Forensic Science

Mellie Randall, Director, Office of Substance Abuse Services, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services

Captain Gary Settle, Division Commander, Virginia State Police, Culpeper Field Office

Gregory Cherundolo, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration

12:15 p.m.        Keynote Speaker:           

The Honorable Michael Botticelli

Acting Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy

                               

1:00 p.m.          Director Botticelli, Attorney General Herring, and Secretary Moran media availability

1:15 p.m.          Plenary Session

Policy and Legislation: Strategies for Virginia

                               

Moderator:        Marc Birnbaum

Assistant Attorney General

Panelists:

The Honorable Timothy Heaphy, U.S. Attorney, Western District of Virginia

Tonya Vincent, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security  

The Honorable Nancy Parr, Commonwealth’s Attorney, City of Chesapeake

Chief Timothy Longo, Sr., Charlottesville Police Department

The Honorable Timothy Carter, Sheriff, Shenandoah County and Chairman, Northwest Virginia Regional Drug/Gang Task Force

2:30 p.m.         Regional Breakout Sessions

4:00 p.m.         Regional Reports and Recommendations                                            

                               

4:30 p.m.         Adjourn

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Governor McAuliffe Declares October as TechTober

RICHMOND – In an effort to highlight Virginia’s technological innovation and raise awareness about high performing industries, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe today declared October to be TechTober, a statewide celebration of Virginia’s high-tech sector.

“The tech sectors will play a significant role in building a new Virginia economy centered on innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Governor McAuliffe. “We need to do everything we can to retain, recruit and grow these industries to ensure that Virginia continues to be a leader in the global economy.  This starts with equipping Virginia’s students and workforce with the skills and resources they need to succeed in these rapidly expanding sectors.”

TechTober activities will focus on new and emerging industries in the Commonwealth, including information science, biotechnology, cyber security, advanced materials, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, energy, health and environmental technologies.

Virginia has the highest concentration of high tech jobs per capita in the nation. With TechTober, Governor McAuliffe and his administration aim to leverage that strength by hosting informational, hands-on events, highlighting tech activities happening during TechTober, and launching a new mentor program for students.

The Governor also announced the launch of “Mentors for Momentum,” a new program designed to connect  businesses, organizations, educators and other professionals with students interested in studying and experiencing technology. These mentors will help inspire students by sharing job experiences, providing internships and supporting school, college and university activities.

To sign up for the Mentors for Momentum program or to view TechTober events, please visit Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson’s homepage: www.technology.virginia.gov.

Read the proclamation here.

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Governor McAuliffe Announces $11.9 million Workforce Innovation Fund Grant

The seal of the United States Department of Labor (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

~ Grant will advance employment and financial literacy for 1,800 Virginians with barriers to higher education and employment ~ 

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Virginia has been selected by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to receive an $11.9 million grant to advance employment and financial literacy for 1,800 Virginians in challenging environments.  Virginia received the largest single grant award of any organization or state in the $50.7 million DOL Workforce Fund grant competition which awarded funds to 11 organizations in nine states.       

The successful Workforce Innovation Fund grant proposal was jointly developed by the Office of the Governor and the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).  Grant activities will focus on implementing the Working Families Success Network (WFSN) model at six of the Commonwealth’s One Stop employment centers. 

The WFSN model was developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.  Four of Virginia’s 23 community colleges are already implementing the model in collaboration with the Achieving the Dream organization.  The model helps individuals cut through red tape and access services and resources to help them earn good-paying jobs.

This grant and the activities align with Governor Terry McAuliffe’s executive order establishing his “New Virginia Economy” workforce initiative, a robust plan that calls for 50,000 new STEM-H credentials earned by 2018.

“In order to create a new Virginia economy, our education and workforce development systems must give the necessary support to level the playing field for success,” said Governor McAuliffe.  “This program will help our community colleges and One Stop Career Centers provide students the necessary financial and support services to help them succeed in a 21^stcentury economy.”

“This grant will allow Virginia to implement a proven model of workforce development that doesn’t just train people for a job, but helps them to build their financial and career management skills.” Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones said. 

“Earning a college credential is no longer optional for those seeking in-demand jobs,” said Glenn DuBois, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System. “This grant is a vital step in positioning Virginians to realize the American Dream.” 

The VCCS Workforce Development Services unit will oversee the five year project, working with six regional workforce investment boards that are responsible for delivery of services authorized under the federalWorkforce Investment Act. 

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Virginia Governor and Attorney General Thumb Nose At State Constitution

3 girls kissing. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5129 Offered June 19, 2014 Directing the Speaker of the House of Delegates to appoint counsel in the court in whichBostic v. Rainey is pending to permit the General Assembly to intervene and defend vigorously the constitutionality of Article I, Section 15-A in such court and in all other proceedings in any other court.


---------- Patron-- Marshall, R.G. ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

WHEREAS, the plaintiffs in Bostic v. Rainey (Bostic),  now pending in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, attack the constitutionality of Article I, Section 15-A of the Constitution of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, engagement of special counsel in Bostic is necessary because Mark R. Herring, the Attorney General of Virginia, without legal  authority and without precedent, not only ceased defending the validity of Article I, Section 15-A but joined the plaintiffs in convincing the trial judge to hold that Article I, Section 15-A was unconstitutional; and

WHEREAS, engagement of special counsel in Bostic is also necessary because the Governor of Virginia, violating his constitutional obligation under Article V, § 7 of the Constitution of Virginia to ensure that the laws of the Commonwealth be faithfully executed,  has refused to exercise the authority granted to him by § 2.2-510 of the Code of Virginia to employ special counsel to defend the constitutionality of Article I, Section 15-A of the Constitution of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the case of INS v. Chada, 462 U.S. 919 (1983), involved a situation analogous to that involved in Bostic in which the United States House of Representatives and Senate successfully intervened, and the United States Supreme Court stated that Congress is the proper party to defend the validity of a statute when an agency of government, as a defendant charged with enforcing the statute, agrees with plaintiffs that the statute is inapplicable or unconstitutional; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Speaker of the House of Delegates engage special legal counsel to move the court in which Bostic v. Raineyis pending to permit the General Assembly to intervene and defend vigorously the constitutionality of Article I, Section 15-A in such court and in all other proceedings in any other court.

(The Governor and the Attorney General both took oaths of office and in that oath, swore to uphold the Constitution of Virginia.  Neither one of them is willing to do so and if they are not willing to do so here, what other areas are they going to destroy?  What laws are they willing to break to get their way?  Why are Virginians allowing this?  In a democratic republic, the people decide.  That decision was already made by the people.  Now these two clowns are doing everything they can to destroy the state Constitution.  They both need to be thrown out of office once and for all.  They are no friends to "WE THE PEOPLE", but instead they are political terrorists!)

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Gloucester, VA Animal Control Retaliates Against Us For Exposing Them (Part One)

Retaliation.  Above what you see is Animal Control officer Jeff Stillman taking pictures of me while I was at a local Animal Swap meet at Tractor Supply a couple of weeks ago.  I was with a couple of friends and met with other people who I know at this meet.  The pictures were taken of not only me, but also a couple of the friends I was with.  What set this off?  Nothing that I did.  I could care less that he was there.  I was not even aware that he was doing this until one of the people I was talking with told me he was taking my picture.

Once I was made aware of what he was doing, it became a battle of the cameras.  It would seem clear that this is retaliation for my reporting issues surrounding other Animal Control officers and how they seem from every appearance, to be following made up illegal county ordinances as well as reporting on them as they use government vehicles for personal use.

After several minutes of the Battle of the Cameras, he pulled behind Tractor Supply and called in the Sheriff's department.  Numerous deputies showed up.  After about another 10 minutes, several Sheriff's deputies get out of their vehicles along with Jeff and then they walk up to where I am with a friend and stare us down.  Since that did not work for them, they removed themselves to the middle of the swap meet and it became a Mexican standoff.  I was not about to leave just because they wanted to be intimidating.

Now is this stalking by Jeff Stillman against me and my friends?

  https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/victims/documents/stalking.pdf

That is a tough one.  Technically, Animal Control in the state of Virginia are not considered law enforcement in one area but are in other areas.  They are not police.  Do they have the authority to conduct public investigations?  Not from what I could find.  What right did he have to do this?  If he was out of uniform?  Who cares.  But he was in uniform and on county, hence, taxpayer time.  Am I even someone who needs to be checked out for animal issues?  Don't you have to own animals first?

So if I can not be considered someone who needs to be watched for past animal abuses, then why is he doing this?  All we can come up with is this is pure retaliation.

This picture above is from a story we did on Animal Control where this deputy was about to break into a vehicle and take someone's personal property.  The owner came out just in time.  She was acting on what we have shown to be an illegal county ordinance in our view based on all available state codes and the Dillon Rule research.

That illegal ordinance is in the sign above, again, based on our research and reported here on this site.

Jeff Stillman still has a job even though we reported this issue to county officials.  What did they do, just slap him on the hand while patting him on the back for this retaliation?  This is only part of the story.  There is more coming soon.  This guy carries a gun.  Do I feel safe knowing he is still on the road?  No.  But there seems to be no state law against what he has done.  That means we are all in danger with this guy being out there and county officials don't seem to care.  Who is next?  You?  Will he decide to not use a camera the next time and use his gun?  Who knows?  Either way, it seems clear that he is unstable.

Steve Baranek from another story we did on Animal Control.

This picture was taken inside of Buying It Used, owned by yet another Animal Control deputy.  The above is of County property.  How was it acquired?  It's against county ordinance for county employees to buy county used goods from the county auction site which is how county property is supposed to be disposed of.  The projector says Petsworth School on it's side.

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