Community groups mobilize for gang prevention project

AFP

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

AFP

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.

Staunton receives Virginia Main Street Milestone Awards

AFP

On Friday, March 22, Staunton Downtown Development Association (SDDA) and the city of Staunton were presented with Virginia Main Street Milestone Achievement Awards for the contribution of over 80,000 volunteer hours dedicated to downtown revitalization and for fostering more than 500 building improvement projects in the city’s historic commercial district.

McDonnell announces 205 new jobs in Pulaski County

AFP

Gov. Bob McDonnell today announced Red Sun Farms, a producer of high-quality hydroponic vegetables, will invest a total of $30 million to establish its first U.S. high-technology greenhouse production operation in Pulaski County. The company will erect climate controlled greenhouses on 45 acres of land in the New River Valley Commerce Park to grow quality greenhouse grown vegetables, creating 205 new jobs within five years. Virginia successfully competed against Tennessee for the project.

Fields of Gold receives Building Collaborative Communities Grant

AFP

Agritourism in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia will be able to roll out a whole new range of activities in the coming years thanks to a recent $60,000 grant from the Building Collaborative Communities program. The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission will administer the grant on behalf of the Fields of Gold region. Funds will be allocated to develop partnerships, create business support services for farmers and agritourism operators, market the Valley’s rich agricultural offerings and build a sustainable organizational structure for long-term viability.