Virginia Governor Discusses Initiative To Improve Economy of Southside
Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell arrived at Southside Virginia Community College in Alberta Monday morning to discuss workforce development and unemployment in the area and announce a determination to make Southside “a workforce-ready community.”
“Along with Mary Rae Carter, Virginia’s First Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade for Rural Economic Development, we plan to continue to come to Southside Virginia to see what we can do to help you,” Governor McDonnell told a gathering of Southside Virginians representing prisons, public schools, local government and local industry.
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| Governor McDonnell arrives at SVCC for discussion of development and unemployment. |
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He noted the 12 percent unemployment rate in Brunswick County calling it “painfully high” as compared with the overall 6.7% in the state. He talked of the development of a long term strategic plan in the area and said education is a huge piece of the necessary economic development plan. Funding of $3 million will be invested in workforce development through Virginia’s community colleges for immediate help, he said.
In an effort to work together as a region, the Governor listened to members of a panel about efforts and ideas to accomplish the goal. Those on the panel included James Jones, owner of Jones Electric Company in Brunswick County, Brian Calhoun, owner of three small businesses in the county, Scott Burnette, CEO of Community Memorial Healthcenter in Mecklenburg County, Zeb Elliot, Chief Technology Officer for Buggs Island Telephone Telecommunications in Mecklenburg, Marvin Harris, SVCC telecommunications student and employee of BIT, Terri Hickson, SVCC Nursing student, Dr. John J. Cavan, SVCC President, Dr. Bob Leber, Senior Advisor to the Governor for Workforce Development and Deputy Commissioner of the Virginia Employment Commission, Deputy Secretary Carter, Peter Blake, Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development of the Virginia Community College System, Debra Smiley, Interim Director of Workforce Development and Continuing Education at SVCC and Dennis Smith, Director for Workforce Development, Daniel Campus.
Many of the panelists pointed to partnership experiences with the SVCC to provide the training for the workers necessary to maintain and grow their businesses. Burnette talked about the creation of the SVCC program to train Registered Nurses and how this extremely successful program had negated the need for CMH to hire contract nurses. Calhoun has hired drivers for his company from the SVCC Truck Driver Training School and noted that trade related programs offered by the community college aid his business. Jones talked about the impact of the Apprenticeship program in meeting his employment needs and Elliott noted that a Broadband Stimulus grant his company received would not have been possible without a partnership with the college to train the needed workforce.
Dr. Leber reiterated the Governor’s commitment to economic development through a strategic plan. The five goals of that plan are Leadership in the region and state, Collaboration, Innovation using the available technology, Measurement by being able to track concepts with metrics, and reliable Funding.
Dr. Cavan spoke on behalf of SVCC and the many partnerships with other community agencies. He noted the college has the state’s largest dual enrollment program with 1, 970 high school students who receive college and high school credit for classes, the Governor’s School which is located on both campuses of the college, Middle College that has five locations in the SVCC service area and provide GED preparation for students ages 18 – 24. The college also provide workforce training having awarded more than 2,000 Career Readiness Certificates in the region in the last year.
Another partnership initiative has been launched with the Department of Corrections to decrease recidivism through education in a Campus Within Walls Program at Lunenburg and Greensville Correctional Centers.
Governor McDonnell vowed to battle the struggling economy with a pro-business environment, a belief in entrepreneurship and more investment in education, making Virginia one of the most highly educated nations in the country.
(c) 2011. Southside Virginia Community College. All rights reserved.
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