Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine visited several Downtown Staunton businesses on Thursday on a walking tour that took him to a new downtown restaurant, a music store and the Stonewall Jackson Hotel. AFP editor Chris Graham walked with the governor and filed a column and video report on the quick pit-stop visit to the Queen City.
How will Virginia do as the economy awakens from recession into growth? Just fine, according to Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine.
“We just got named last week the best state for business for the fourth year in a row by Forbes. And Forbes and CNBC both gave us that ranking this year and kind of said the same thing. OK, the national economy has been tough, mayors have been dealing with it, governors have been dealing with it, businesses and families. But as the economy starts to improve, and it is starting to improve, I think Virginia is in a great spot, and that’s what Forbes and CNBC both said, that we’re as positioned to come out of the recession strong as anyone,” Kaine told reporters after a walking tour of Downtown Staunton on Thursday.
Small cities like Staunton are also well-poised to get back on the road to recovery. Kaine pointed to the work done by city leaders to put the Queen City in that position.
“Staunton gets credit for doing a lot of things on their own,” Kaine said. “They’ve done some very innovative tax policies to help renovate old structures. We had done some similar things in Richmond when I was on City Council and mayor. In fact, some of the same folks who were doing projects are doing projects in both cities.
“To see with Mayor King and members of Council here what’s happened is always exciting. I spent part of my honeymoon here in 1984, and my wife and I always love to come back and see things that are happening,” Kaine said.
Video: Kaine talks with reporters
– Story and Video by Chris Graham
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