Sept. Va. General Fund revenue increases 7.6%
Virginia’s General Fund revenue for September increased 7.6% compared to September 2019, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The increase was driven by growth in payroll withholding and corporate and recordation tax collections, according to the governor’s statement. “Virginia’s General Fund revenues are increasing, and we have been able to avoid the major revenue shocks th[...]
Northam announces wind training alliance
Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday announced the formation of the Mid-Atlantic Wind Training Alliance, Virginia’s first workforce training collaborative for the offshore and onshore wind energy industries. The program will offer industry-required certifications for wind project operations and long-term maintenance. The New College Institute in Martinsville will serve as the host institution, [...]
Va. allocates $30M to improve broadband access
Virginia is making $30 million in federal CARES Act funding to improve broadband access in underserved localities. Eligible projects must be completed by the end of the year, which is within the time constraints for spending the federal funding. This would mean more Virginians could get access to high-speed, broadband service before 2020 ends, according […]
Va. to expand networking program to new regions
During the next two years Virginia will invest $1.7 million to expand the Network2Work workforce development initiative, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. The commonwealth will partner with the Virginia Community College System to pilot the Network2Work model in the Shenandoah Valley, Hampton Roads and greater Richmond regions. Network2Work was established by Piedmont Virginia Community Colleg[...]
Smithfield Foods donates $100K to aid homeless vets
Smithfield Foods Inc. donated $100,000 to to support state government programs for homeless veterans and their families, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The donation from the Smithfield Foundation presented to the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation will be designated to the Veteran Homeless Fund, which provides one-time gap assistance to homeless veterans in the process of […]
Va. jobless claims drop slightly last week
Virginia saw a small decrease in the number of initial jobless claims last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday, but the number of initial claims filed from mid-March through the Sept. 26 filing week totaled 1.167 million, or 28.4% of pre-pandemic payroll employment. For the week ending Sept. 26, 9,377 Virginians filed initial claims […]
State to allocate $10M in block grants for COVID-19 recovery
The state government is earmarking more than $10 million in federally funded Community Development Block Grants (CBDG) for COVID-19 recovery projects across the commonwealth, including some small business assistance funds, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday. “Our administration remains committed to investing in rural communities during this unprecedented health crisis and as we work to rebuild [...]
State rent, mortgage relief program expands to aid landlords
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday the expansion of the state’s Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP) to include financial assistance for landlords. The RMRP was launched in late June with $50 million in federal CARES Act funding to assist households facing eviction or foreclosure due to COVID-19. Landlords can now apply to receive financial assistance […]
Northam expands $70M Rebuild VA program
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday that the $70 million economic recovery program Rebuild VA is expanding its eligibility criteria to allow more small businesses to apply for economic relief grants. Under the Rebuild VA program, which launched in August, businesses that received federal CARES Act funding are now eligible to receive up to $10,000 in […]
Hampton Roads to deploy first electric buses in Va.
Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday signed legislation that will bring zero-emission electric buses to Virginia as part of an initiative to change public transportation in Hampton Roads. Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Louise Lucas and Del. Alex Askew creates the first-ever dedicated Hampton Roads Regional Transit Program and Fund, which will be managed by the […]
Northam casts ballot on first day of early voting
Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday voted early in person at the Richmond general registrar’s office on the first day of Virginia’s 45-day early voting period. Amid the pandemic, Virginians, through a new law, are permitted to vote absentee by mail or in person at their local registrar’s office or satellite locations. Under legislation signed by […]
Four Va. localities earn Main Street designation
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday that the towns of Cape Charles, Onancock, Tappahannock and Tazewell have joined the Virginia Main Street Program, which, through the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), provides services to strengthen downtown communities. Designated towns must participate in an application process to receive services including market analysis, marketplace[...]