Loan program to promote energy efficiency

AFP

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced the recapitalization of the Commonwealth’s Energy Leasing Program, a loan program to finance energy efficiency projects in state agencies. The Commonwealth has secured $40 million in financing for the projects, including $10 million in capital from Grant Capital Management, a state-certified SWAM vendor. The loans are expected to be…

JMU calendar of events

AFP

An updated calendar of events at James Madison University in Harrisonburg. Sept. 25: International Week at JMU: For a full schedule of IWeek events, visit www.jmu.edu/international/iweek/schedule.shtml. Sept. 25-30: Art in the Arboretum, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, Frances Plecker Education Center at the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum: The tapestries of Joan Griffin use wool, silk and…

Tech to raise funds for BC linebacker

Chris Graham

Head coach Frank Beamer and the Virginia Tech football team announced Thursday a fundraiser to aid Mark Herzlich, a linebacker for Boston College, in his fight with cancer. Team United wristbands will be sold for $1 each this Saturday as the Hokies take on the Miami Hurricanes at 3:30 p.m. Members of the Virginia Tech…

Forbes: Virginia remains ‘Best State for Business’

AFP

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Virginia will remain in first place as Forbes.com’s “Best State for Business.” It is the fourth consecutive year Virginia has been top ranked. The Commonwealth finished in the top 10 in three of the six categories examined in the review, which was published today. “With our low corporate…

Virginia launches program to increase health-care access for small-business employees

AFP

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced on Monday that Virginia has been awarded $912,658 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through its new State Health Access Program (SHAP) to provide greater access to affordable health coverage for workers in Virginia’s small firms. The federal award will increase each year of the five-year grant…

Wagner announces Republicans and Independents for Wagner committee

AFP

At an event Tuesday morning in Virginia Beach, Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor Jody Wagner announced the “Republicans and Independents for Wagner” steering committee. The committee, comprised of twenty-one Republicans and Independents from throughout the Commonwealth, is led by Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms, Fredericksburg Mayor Tom Tomzak, Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam, former State Sen….

Tom Perriello | Fifth District Report

AFP

I’m proud to report that last week the U.S. House passed an amendment I offered to address early childhood education in rural areas as part of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. The legislation creates an Early Learning Challenge Fund, which would award competitive grants to states that implement improvements to the state’s early…

David Cox | The thesis

David Cox

Twenty years ago a Regent University student named Robert F. McDonnell wrote a thesis for his master’s degree. Unearthed by the Washington Post, it’s become fodder for the political campaign this same Mr. McDonnell, now universally known as “Bob,” is waging as a Republican for governor. His conclusions have drawn plenty of fire. In the…

Unemployment down in Virginia for second straight month

AFP

Gov. Tim Kaine today highlighted a second consecutive month of declining unemployment rates in Virginia. The Commonwealth’s August seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 6.5 percent, following rates of 7.1 percent in June and 6.9 percent in July. The August rate makes Virginia fifth lowest among unemployment rates nationally and maintains the Commonwealth’s ranking as…