Virginia Workforce http://www.workforce.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/rss/HomePageRSS.cfm Workforce - Latest News Releases (c) Workforce 2009 Commonwealth of Virginia <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Marks Significant Milestone for Business One Stop ]]> November 9 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced that Virginia's Business One Stop, an online tool for entrepreneurs, has been utilized by more than 15,000 entrepreneurs to aid their business operations and create jobs. The Business One Stop is an on-going project through the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and began in May 2008 to consolidate business licensing, registration and permitting into one a single user-friendly online system.

"The thousands of entrepreneurs who have used our One Stop, including 8,587 new businesses, know first-hand why Virginia is the best state for business in the country," Governor Kaine said. "This online tool and the efforts of the Department of Business Assistance allows businesses to take care of business, rather than spend days visiting different offices to fill out paperwork."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1137 <![CDATA[72 New Jobs in Green Building Sector is Announced ]]> October 1 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced that Shenandoah Sustainable Technologies, LLC (SST), a Rockingham County based sustainable construction company will add 72 jobs and $600,000 in capital investment throughout Virginia over the next three years. The company serves residential, commercial and faith-based communities with a variety of sustainable utilities, including geothermal heating/cooling systems, solar and wind power, and rainwater and wastewater collection systems.

"One of the goals of my Renew Virginia Initiative is to position the Commonwealth as a leader in alternative energy generation, energy conservation, and research and development. An expansion like this, especially in these economic times, tells me that Virginia's business climate positions us well to come out of this recession strong," said Governor Kaine."By developing and nurturing a green energy industry here, we will not only address our growing energy needs in a more responsible way, but we will also help stimulate Virginia's economy."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1099 <![CDATA[Eastern Shore Community College Opens New Business Development and Workforce Training Center]]> September 16 — The community officially inaugurated Eastern Shore Community College's new $7.2 million Business Development and Workforce Training Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by over 100 people, including several who played key roles in its establishment.

The new center will help the college accommodate its current programs and expand offerings in areas including information technology, industrial technologies, nursing, customer service and self-enrichment classes.

Daniel LeBlanc, senior advisor to Gov. Tim Kaine for Workforce, thanked local and state officials on behalf of the governor for their help in getting the new center built. LeBlanc said the new center represents "so much opportunity to do the right thing for the people of the Eastern Shore."

]]> <![CDATA[New Roanoke Valley Workforce Center is Home Base for Job Seekers]]> September 15 — At the new center, a short trip down Hershberger Road from the former location near Valley View Mall, the Virginia Employment Commission is just one partner among many.

In addition to filing for unemployment insurance benefits and performing job searches, a visitor can tap a host of resources at what (is) described as the state's first fully comprehensive "one-stop" work force center -- with resources ranging from information about housing assistance to details about job training, earning a GED or seeking postsecondary education.

]]> <![CDATA[Measures to Meet Obligations of Unemployment Compensation Program are Announced ]]> September 16 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine filed a request with the U.S. Department of Labor for a repayable advance of $252 million from the Federal Unemployment Account to meet the obligations of the Virginia Unemployment Compensation Program through December 2009. Current projections indicate Virginia's Trust Fund will be depleted in mid-October, requiring advances at that time.

The unprecedented demand placed on Virginia's unemployment insurance trust fund by current economic conditions has pushed the fund below legally mandated solvency levels. When the fund falls below 50% of the level deemed "sufficient" by the state code, as is expected to occur, a mandatory fund builder tax is automatically added to all employers' contribution rates. This additional levy will begin January 2010 and remain in place until the fund is rebuilt to at least 50% solvency.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1073 <![CDATA[Job Seekers Workshops for Northern Virginia are Announced]]> September 14 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced five free Northern Virginia Job Seeker workshops between September 2009 and January 2010. The workshops are the result of a collaboration of the Governor's Economic Crisis Strike Force with online employment service Monster and The SkillSource Group, Inc. (SSG), the non-profit arm of the Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board (NVWIB). The workshops will focus on supporting all job seekers with advice and techniques they need to stand out to potential employers.

The first Northern Virginia Job Seeker Workshop will be held on Monday September 21, 2009 from 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm at the Fairfax County Government Center. Registration is requested as space is limited.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1071 <![CDATA[Roanoke Workforce Center Opens]]> September 14 — put text here Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced the opening of the Roanoke Workforce Center, Virginia's second comprehensive one-stop workforce center. The Center will serve jobseekers and businesses in the region from one central location and will house local and state government agencies and not-for-profit organizations.

Plans are underway to open another nine centers in Virginia. These centers are designed to have all participating organizations work as one unit to better meet the common goals of a region so that the communities will be better served through enhanced communication and dialogue between the various stakeholders, whether they are a service provider or customer.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1070 <![CDATA[Virginia Employment Commission Employees Thanked]]> July 20 — "The men and women at this VEC office, and at other similar offices across the Commonwealth that I have visited in recent months, are working hard to help people affected by this economy,", Governor Kaine said as he thanked Virginia Employment Commission employees in Alexandria. About 64,000 individuals are out of work in northern Virginia and the unemployment rate is more than double what is was last year.

In response to high unemployment statewide, Governor Kaine called together an Economic Crisis Strike Force to coordinate action among the state and local agencies responding to the unprecedented layoffs. The task force has held eight public meetings to coordinate resources and has shepherded legislative changes through the General Assembly. Currently the task force is working to expand opportunities for veterans and is coordinating a series of resource fairs in the hard hit areas of the state.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=999 <![CDATA[Partnership with Microsoft to Offer Job Training is Unveiled ]]> June 15 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Virginia will join forces with Microsoft in an innovative public-private partnership to provide free technology training to displaced workers. Through the Microsoft Elevate America program, the software and technology giant will work with the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) to distribute 11,250 vouchers for technology training and certification. Elevate America also provides a wide variety of other free resources on its website including basic skills training and career resources to find internships and jobs.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=975 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Kicks Off Next Phase of Stimulus.Virginia.Gov]]> March 12 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today launched an overhauled Stimulus.Virginia.Gov, transforming the state's original, pioneering website into Virginia's comprehensive online portal for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

With the conclusion of the project solicitation phase of the Commonwealth's program to implement the recovery plan, the website is transitioning to present a wide range of information related to the ARRA - including maps, graphs, charts, and downloadable tables that allow citizens to see where proposals have originated, where money is flowing, and what specific projects and geographies are benefiting from recovery plan funding. ]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=896