Gov. Bob McDonnell announces agriculture and forestry industries grant recipients

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today the recipients of fiscal year 2013 planning grants from the Governor’s Agriculture & Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID). Eleven projects covering more than thirty localities have been awarded a total of $249,000 to support the growth of agricultural and forestry projects in the Commonwealth.

University of Virginia team wins Governor’s Business Plan Challenge

Chris Graham

Timothy Higgins, Andrew Andreae and Jessica Ungerleider, representing the University of Virginia, won the Capital One Grand Prize today at the Governor’s Business Plan Challenge. In recognition of Virginia’s strong entrepreneurial environment, the statewide challenge, co-hosted by Work It, Richmond, featured the best business plans or concepts crafted by undergraduate students this year.

Staunton Downtown Development Association hosts Todd Barman from the National Trust Main Street Center

Contributors

On Wednesday, May 1 through Friday, May 3, Todd Barman, sponsored by Virginia Main Street will visit Staunton to tour the Downtown Service District and host a variety of meetings with the SDDA stakeholders, Economic Development Committee, Board, and economic development partners to evaluate the District and do some strategic planning and education about succession planning for business owners and trainers.

Community groups mobilize for gang prevention project

Contributors

Glenn Martin, Gang Prevention Program Coordinator with the Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth announces that on Tuesday April 23, 2013, from 3-5:00PM, at the Farrier Court Apartment Complex in Staunton, adults and youth will work side-by-side to complete a community building beautification project which includes an indoor wall mural, and the planting of flowerbeds and trees on facility grounds.

tim kaine

Tim Kaine joins bipartisan group introducing Troop Talent Act of 2013

Contributors

Today U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) introduced the Troop Talent Act of 2013. The bipartisan bill will help ease the transition of servicemembers from active duty to the civilian workforce by improving the alignment of specialty skills acquired in the military with civilian credentials or licenses required for post-service employment.

mark warner

Sen. Mark Warner seeks assurances on drinking water for military families

Chris Graham

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) today asked Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to take action to protect military families from unsafe levels of lead in drinking water. Recent tests at two Hampton Roads Navy child care centers found lead in drinking water that far exceeded Environmental Protection Agency safety levels. Lead exposure has been found to cause serious medical issues including permanent damage to the brain and nervous system, which can result in behavioral and learning problems. Sen. Warner urged Secretary Hagel to confirm that appropriate testing has occurred at other military facilities across all branches of the military services.