Virginia Department of Transportation

Governor McDonnell today announced that the Virginia Department of Aviation has become the first state aviation agency in the United States to receive ISO 9001:2008 certification by undergoing an independent audit. ISO 9001:2008 is an international quality management standard that organizations implement to demonstrate their ability to provide services that meet statutory and regulatory requirements. This achievement demonstrates DOAV’s strong commitment to providing the highest level of service to the aviation community and the citizens of Virginia.

Speaking about the certification, Governor McDonnell commented, “This is an achievement not only for the Virginia Department of Aviation, but for the entire Commonwealth of Virginia. It is an honor that one of our state agencies has earned a place among the high-performing companies who have ISO certification.”

DOAV is the first state aviation agency in the nation, the first agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia and the second state agency in the nation to achieve ISO 9001:2008 certification (the Illinois Department of Transportation completed its certification effort in July 2009). Companies that achieve certification demonstrate top management’s commitment to their customers, establishment of clear policy, good planning, efficient resource management, effective records management, and continual analysis and improvement of business processes.

The Performance Management Group at VCU helped to integrate ISO principles into the culture of DOAV and instill its philosophy into day to day operations. Dr. Jim Burke, Director of the Performance Management Group stated, “It is our hope that this will be an example throughout the Commonwealth of how dedicated people and leadership can advance government in Virginia, even during difficult economic times.”

“By becoming the first state aviation agency to achieve ISO 9001:2008 registration, DOAV is setting the example for other states to follow,” said Chris Lupo, General Manager, NSF International Strategic Registrations, an authority on management systems registration. DOAV will maintain its certification by participating in bi-annual audits and complying with the strict requirements of quality standards.

About the Virginia Department of Aviation The Virginia Department of Aviation is a state transportation agency whose mission is to cultivate an advanced aviation system that is safe, secure, and provides for economic development; promotes aviation awareness and education; and provides safe and secure flight services for the Commonwealth leadership and state agencies.

Upon taking office McDonnell identified three top priorities for his inaugural session of the legislature. The Governor stressed in his January 18, 2010 remarks to the General Assembly:

• the importance of ensuring a balanced budget was passed on time without a tax increase;
• making substantive and smart investments in job creation and economic development;
• and implementing substantive education reform in the Commonwealth.

All three priorities have been accomplished. Further, the Governor’s legislative agenda also included successful initiatives to help position Virginia:

• to become the “Energy Capital of the East Coast”;
• to improve public safety and protect victims of domestic violence;
• to honor Virginia’s veterans;
• to conduct audits of major state agencies;
• and to increase the speed limit to 70mph on stretches of Virginia’s interstates.

In addition the General Assembly approved virtually all of McDonnell’s $50 million job creation and economic development investment package.

Speaking about his first-session legislative agenda the Governor remarked, “This has been one of the most challenging legislative sessions I have witnessed in 19 years of serving in Richmond. We confronted an unprecedented budget shortfall in the middle of the most severe recession in generations. The General Assembly faced the largest budget deficit in history, and I presented the largest amount of budget amendments ever by a Governor. These tough fiscal circumstances placed a premium on prioritization and bipartisan cooperation in our work. With the passage of the budget today, Republicans and Democrats have come together to make the very difficult decisions the voters sent us to Richmond to make, and to balance the budget through responsible reductions in spending, not tax increases. This session was always going to be judged on our ability to timely meet the budgetary challenges in front of us. We have done that. I thank the members of the House and Senate money committees, especially the conferees, for their strong, fiscally responsible, leadership.”

McDonnell continued, “Even while the budget demanded a large part of our time over the past two months, we also were able to successfully move forward with a broad legislative agenda. Our nearly 75 pieces of legislation represent one of the most ambitious legislative efforts by a first-session Virginia governor. Nearly 80 percent of our initiatives will become law, and it’s because of the same bipartisan cooperation that characterized the work on the biennial budget.”

He further noted, “Our “Jobs and Opportunity” Agenda will provide the state, localities, entrepreneurs and business owners with the resources and policies they need to make Virginia a job-creation leader as the nation emerges from this historic economic downturn. We have invested, wisely, in the future prosperity of our Commonwealth and citizens. Similarly, the “Opportunity to Learn” education reform agenda we put forward will position our public school students for success in the future, and help bring more educational resources to every community in the state, and will be particularly beneficial for at-risk and disadvantaged students. We have added new protections for victims of domestic violence, helped traffic move a little faster on our interstates, reopened closed rest stops, stepped-in to serve Virginia’s veterans who have given so much serving us, and positioned Virginia to reap the benefits of environmentally-safe offshore energy exploration and development and become the “Energy Capital of the East Coast.” I thank the members of the General Assembly for working with us this year. Together, we have done good things, even in a tough time, for the people of Virginia.”

Speaking about the Governor’s “Jobs and Opportunity” agenda, Delegate Danny Marshall (R-Danville) commented, “I was honored to join the Governor in his effort to position the Commonwealth for job creation and economic development in the years ahead. The measures that we passed, specifically bills to better utilize the Governor’s Opportunity Fund and expand our Enterprise Zones, are proactive policies that will help every region of Virginia prosper. The number one issue facing the citizens in my district, and Virginians statewide, is the need for good-paying jobs. In a tough economy, we have taken important steps to help in this effort, and it was the result of the Governor bringing together Democrats and Republicans to make it happen.”

Senator Steve Newman (R-Lynchburg), who played a the lead role in ushering the Governor’s “Opportunity to Learn” education reform agenda through the General Assembly, stated, “When we provide new learning opportunities for our public school students, we give them greater opportunities for future success. That is what we did this year in Richmond, by working across party lines. The “Opportunity to Learn” legislation put forward by the Governor will lead to the creation of more high-quality public charter schools, improve and expand virtual learning, and promote positive partnerships between our world-class colleges and universities and our local public education systems. Virginia’s students, parents and teachers will all benefit from this bipartisan education reform legislation championed by the Governor.”

Senator Janet Howell (D-Reston) patroned the Governor’s domestic violence bills in the State Senate and added, “Domestic violence is a tragedy. It tears families apart and destroys the lives of thousands of women and children every year. I joined with Governor McDonnell this session to pass two important reforms that will help to better protect our citizens. We will conform Virginia’s protective orders with those from neighboring states and extend protective orders for domestic violence victims who are still threatened. These common-sense measures were met with bipartisan support, and will provide additional protections to Virginians in every city and county.”

Below is a full breakdown of the Governor’s 2010 legislative agenda:

Job Creation/Economic Development

SB475 (Watkins)/ HB380 (Edmunds): Strengthens the criteria for Governor’s Opportunity Fund

• Provides that criteria to be used in awarding grants and loans from the Governor’s Development Opportunity Fund shall include (i) job creation, (ii) private capital investment, and (iii) anticipated additional state tax revenue expected to accrue to the state and affected localities as a result of the capital investment and jobs created.

SB554 (Puckett)/ HB1244 (D. Marshall): Allows the Governor discretion regarding the local match for the Governor’s Opportunity Fund

• Provides that the guidelines for the Governor’s Development Opportunity Fund may require an affected locality or localities to provide matching funds, which may be cash or in-kind, at the discretion of the Governor. In addition, the Governor may waive the cap on the amount of money that may be provided to any individual project if the project for which the waiver is granted is of regional or statewide interest.
• Incorporates HB602 (O’Bannon) and HB1371 (Lewis)

SB472 (Watkins)/ HB624 (Kilgore): Expands the Major Jobs Facilities tax credit

• Amends the Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit, lowering the threshold to 50 full-time jobs (Current law provides a $1,000 tax credit for major business facilities that create at least 100 qualified full-time jobs).
• In enterprise zones or economically distressed areas, the base or threshold is lowered from 50 newly created jobs to 25.
• Incorporates SB481 (Hurt) and HB853 (Morefield)

SB739 (Stosch/Whipple)/ HB1396 (Putney): Expands economic development incentive programs to attract major businesses to locate in Virginia

• Allows the use of funds from the Governor’s Development Opportunity Fund for construction or build-out of privately owned buildings
• Changes the caps for eligible projects awarded a Virginia Economic Development Incentive Grant (VEDIG) as follows: for eligible projects awarded grants prior to July 1, 2010, the aggregate amount of economic development incentive grants payable under this section in any fiscal year shall not exceed $6 million, and the aggregate amount of such grants outstanding at any time shall not exceed $30 million; and for eligible projects awarded grants on or after July 1, 2010, the aggregate amount of economic development incentive grants payable under this section in any fiscal year shall not exceed $6 million and the aggregate amount of such grants outstanding at any time shall not exceed $30 million.

SB 730 (Reynolds)/ HB1381 (Armstrong): Establishes a major employment/investment project site planning grant fund

• Establishes the Major Employment and Investment Project Site Planning Grant Fund to award grants to political subdivisions to assist in site development work for certain prospective projects.
• This fund will support efforts to improve site location development to encourage large businesses to locate to the Commonwealth and create new jobs.

HB555 (D. Marshall): Expands Enterprise Zones and reinvests surplus into real property grants

• Changes the eligibility for enterprise zone job grants in areas with an unemployment rate that is one and one-half times or more than the state average to positions paying at least 150 percent of the federal minimum wage including health benefits.
• Currently positions paying less than 175 percent of the federal minimum wage are not eligible for the job grants.
• Also provides that when the sum of grants for job creation and real property investment exceeds the total annual appropriation for payments, allocations shall be prioritized to fully fund the grants for job creation with any remaining funds to be allocated to the real property investment grants.
• Incorporates HB660 (Armstrong) and HB1299 (Crockett-Stark)

SB623 (Hanger)/ HB803 (Poindexter): Creates a Green Jobs tax credit

• Allows a $500 tax credit for the creation of “green” jobs for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2010.
• Each taxpayer is allowed a credit for up to 350 new green jobs and may qualify for the Enterprise Zone Grant program if the job is located in an enterprise zone.
• Incorporates HB268 (Englin) and HB1132 (Keam)

SB257 (Lucas)/ HB861 (Cline): Creates a motion picture film production tax credit

• Provides a refundable credit for any motion picture production company with qualifying expenses of at least $250,000, in an amount equal to 15 percent of the production company’s qualifying expenses or 20 percent of such expenses if the production is filmed in an economically distressed area of the Commonwealth.

SB474 (Watkins)/ HB792 (LeMunyon) – Provides for temporary business licenses

• Authorizes the regulatory boards within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation to issue a temporary license or certification to an applicant who holds a comparable license or certification issued by another state. A temporary license or certification shall be valid for not more than 45 days.

SB237 (Watkins)/ HB588 (Landes) – Dedicates a portion of the wine liter tax to wine promotion

• Requires the portion of the wine liter tax collected from the sale of wine produced by farm wineries to be deposited in the Virginia Wine Promotion Fund for use by the Wine Board.

SB428 (Herring)/ HB523 (Nixon)– Grants income tax exemption on capital gains related to investments in science based or bio-tech start-ups

• Grants an income tax deduction for any income taxed as a long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes or any income taxed as investment services partnership interest income that is related to a qualified investment in a technology and science start-up business having a principal office or facility in the Commonwealth and less than $3 million in annual revenues in the fiscal year prior to the investment. The deduction would relate to investments made between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2013.

SB644 (Howell)/ HB677 (May) – Establishes a biotech research performance grant program

• Establishes the Specialized Biotechnology Research Performance Grant Program for nonprofit entities engaged in research, development, and production related to molecular diagnostics and drug development that enter into a performance-based memorandum of understanding with the Commonwealth prior to June 30, 2010.
• Grants will be paid to an eligible entity based in Fairfax County that commits in the memorandum of understanding and fulfills its obligation to (i) make a new capital investment of at least $200 million, (ii) create at least 415 new full-time jobs, and (iii) meet any other criteria set forth in the memorandum of understanding.
• Grants from the program to a qualified entity shall not exceed $22 million in the aggregate.

HB928 (Bell): Creates the Universities Clean Energy Development and Economic Stimulus Foundation

• Creates the Virginia Universities Clean Energy Development and Economic Stimulus Foundation as a body corporate and a political subdivision of the Commonwealth.
• The Foundation shall identify, obtain, disburse, and administer funding for (i) research and development of alternative fuels, clean energy production, and related technologies; (ii) support of economic development projects in disadvantaged rural areas; and (iii) the provision of assistance in the commercialization of alternative fuels and clean energy technologies.
• Funding shall be awarded only to those proposed projects that best meet the established criteria and purposes of this act.

SB473 (Watkins)/ HB604 (Merricks): Adds the Lieutenant Governor and Commerce and Trade Secretary to Center for Rural Virginia Board of Trustees

• Would add the Lt. Governor (or designee) and Secretary Of Commerce & Trade (or designee) as ex-officio members to the Board of Trustees of the Center for Rural Virginia.
• Lt. Governor and Secretary of Commerce & Trade would have voting privileges.
• Increases total membership from 18 members to 20 members.
• With the Lt. Governor taking an increased role in job creation and economic development, particularly in Southside and Southwest Virginia, it’s important for him to be as engaged as possible in boards and commissions that deal with economic development. Adding the Secretary of Commerce & Trade who has a vested interest, and actual experience in job growth and creation is an asset this Board could fully utilize.

HB1372 (Comstock): Changes the title of VEDP Executive Director to CEO

• Changes the title of the Executive Director of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to the Chief Executive Officer.
• This change is important because when VEDP is engaged in negotiations with companies, having VEDP represented by someone with the same title as the person with whom he is negotiating enhances Virginia’s bargaining position instead of a title that could contribute to the appearance that he is governmental and does not understand their business concerns. Often in such negotiations, subtle things like this can make a significant impact and we expect this legislation to help VEDP recruit new jobs and investment to Virginia.

HB756 (Stolle): Requires 80 percent of revenue and royalties from offshore oil and natural gas production to go to transportation and 20% to go to the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium

• Requires that all revenues and royalties paid to the Commonwealth as a result of offshore natural gas and oil drilling shall be distributed 70 percent to the Transportation Trust Fund, 20 percent to the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium, and the remaining 10 percent to localities for improvements to infrastructure and transportation.

Military/Veterans

SB455 (Hurt/Stosch)/ HB262 (Sherwood/Greason): Waives fees for veterans starting a small business

• Exempts veterans from paying the Department of Business Assistance’s handling fee when establishing a small business through the one-stop small business permitting program.

SJ13 (Puller/Stuart)/ HJ33 (O’Bannon): Advances a Constitutional Amendment for tax exemptions for veterans

• Grants exemption from taxation on real property that is the principal residence of a veteran (or widow or widower of a veteran) if the veteran has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor agency pursuant to federal law to have a 100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability.

HJ137 (Cosgrove ): Designation of Honor and Remember Flag as state emblem

• Designates the Honor and Remember Flag as the Commonwealth’s emblem of service and sacrifice by the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Public Safety

HB1198 (Iaquinto): Expands list of offenses for sex offender registry and requires residency verification by State Police

• Provides that offenses for which a condition of registration is that the offense was committed against a minor, a physically helpless person or a mentally incapacitated person, the court shall determine by agreement of the parties or by a preponderance of the evidence, whether the victim of the offense was a minor, physically helpless or mentally incapacitated
• Also provides that the residency of those offenders under the supervision of the Department of Corrections or Community Supervision pursuant to § 37.2-919 shall be verified by the State Police
• The Department shall give notice to a sex offender committed to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, prior to his release, of his requirement to register with the State Police as a sex offender; and that the Department shall give notice to the State Police immediately if such an offender escapes from custody.
• If a sex offender escapes from a jail, the jailer shall notify the State Police immediately of an escape.

SB467 (Howell)/ HB931 (Bell): Conforms Virginia’s protective orders with those of neighboring states

• Requires the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court, on an annual basis, to consult with the appropriate judicial authorities of adjacent states concerning the forms used in the issuance of protective orders. The Executive Secretary shall coordinate the contents of such protective order forms with other states in order to facilitate the enforcement of foreign protective orders in the Commonwealth and the enforcement of Virginia protective orders in other states.

SB468 (Howell)/ HB930 (Bell): Extension of protective orders when a domestic violence victim is still under threat

• Allows a petitioner who has obtained a protective order in cases of family abuse or stalking to obtain an extension of such order for a period of two years.
• There is no limit on the number of extensions that may be requested.

SB486 (Hurt)/ HB1121 (Gilbert): Strengthens the sharing of juvenile criminal information related to gang activity

• Places an affirmative duty on the Department of Juvenile Justice to provide information to law-enforcement that may aid in initiating or furthering an investigation of a criminal street gang.
• The bill also requires, rather than allows, the Department or locally operated court services unit to release to law enforcement information on a juvenile’s criminal street gang involvement and the criminal street gang-related activity of others
• Incorporates HB254 (Miller) and HB255 (Miller)

HB682 (J. Miller): Creates Gang Free Zones

• Expands current “gang-free school zones” to the broader “gang-free zones” and includes any publicly owned or operated community center or recreational center.

SB520 (Norment)/ HB934 (Bell): Expands death penalty to include murder of auxiliary police office

• Adds auxiliary police officers and auxiliary deputy sheriffs to the capital murder statute so that the death penalty can be imposed for their murder.

Ethics/Good Government

HB485 (Lingamfelter): Authorizes a financial audit of several large state agencies

• Directs the Governor to initiate on July 1, 2010, an operational and programmatic performance review of (i) the agencies under the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Secretary of Public Safety, (ii) the Department of Education, including primary and secondary education funded by the Commonwealth, and (iii) any other department, agency, or program of the Commonwealth in the executive branch of state government that the Governor deems necessary to effect savings in expenditures, a reduction in duplication of effort, and programmatic efficiencies in the operation of state government.
• The review shall be concluded by December 1, 2011 and conducted by a private management consulting firm.

SB506 (Smith): Bans political contributions to Governor during large procurements

• Provides that neither the Governor, his political action committee, nor any pertinent Secretaries shall knowingly solicit or accept a contribution, gift, or other item with a value greater than $50 from any bidder, offeror, or private entity who has submitted a bid or proposal pursuant to the Virginia Public Procurement Act, the Public-Private Transportation Act, or the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act during the bidding period. Furthermore, no bidder, offeror, or private entity who has submitted a bid or proposal under such acts shall offer or promise to make such a gift to the Governor, his political action committee, or any of his pertinent Secretaries. The restrictions only apply if the stated or expected value of the contract is $5 million or more and do not apply to contracts awarded as the result of competitive sealed bidding.

Transportation

SB201(Blevins) / HB42 (Oder): Authorizes a performance audit of VDOT

• Requires JLARC to administer a performance audit of the Commonwealth’s transportation programs.
• The audit will be paid for by savings realized from the audit.

SB537 (Newman)/ HB856 (Carrico) – Increases speed limit from 65 to 70 mph

• Increases the general highway speed limit on interstate highways where it is presently 65 mph to 70 mph.

Education

SB737 (Newman)/ HB1390 (Lingamfelter/Dance): Improves the quality of charter school applications

• Requires the public charter school applicant to submit its proposed charter application to the Board of Education for review, comment, and a determination as to whether the application meets approval criteria developed by the Board, prior to submission to the local school board.
• Provides a public charter school applicant with an opportunity to petition the local school board for reconsideration after seeking technical assistance from the Department of Education and receiving public comment.

SB738 (Newman)/ HB1388 (Richard P. Bell): Develops criteria for Virtual School programs

• Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop, and the Board of Education to approve, criteria for approving and monitoring multi-division providers of online courses and virtual school programs.
• Also allows local school boards to enter into contracts with approved private or nonprofit organizations to provide such courses and programs.

SB736 (Newman)/ HB1389 (Peace/McClellan): Establishes College Partnership Laboratory Schools

• Allows for the establishment of college partnership laboratory schools by any public institution of higher education that operates an approved teacher education program. Such schools shall be public schools established by a contract between the governing board of the school and the Board of Education. Teachers working in such schools shall be employees of the institution of higher education and shall either be licensed by the Board or eligible for such license.

Tom Perriello

One of the top concerns I hear from working families in Central and Southern Virginia is that the cost of electricity is too high. Especially throughout this tough winter, folks are dealing with brutal energy bills because Virginia state law allows power companies to hike rates before they are approved by the State Corporation Commission. While I do not have jurisdiction over the state, I am working on the federal level to bring down the cost of electricity, particularly for rural households.

The cheapest energy is the energy you don’t use in the first place because of efficiency or conservation improvements. That’s why I have joined a bipartisan coalition of Senators and Congressmen in introducing a bill to establish a Rural Energy Savings Program for people served by rural electric cooperatives. The bill, H.R. 4785, is estimated to create 20,000 to 40,000 jobs a year, save Virginia families and businesses money on their electric bills, and conserve energy. The bill has support from both parties in the U.S. House and Senate, and has already been proven to save money for consumers and boost U.S. jobs.

Over 1.1 million people in Virginia are currently served by rural electric cooperatives. Our legislation provides $4.9 billion in loan authority through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service to these electric cooperatives to offer low-interest micro-loans to residential and small business customers for energy-saving retrofit and structural improvements. Put simply, this will pay for Virginians to fix up their houses to save electricity and pay for it by reducing electric bills. The program will be a boon for the domestic manufacturing and construction industries, as energy-efficiency products are almost exclusively manufactured in the United States and installation jobs cannot be exported. The program builds on the existing co-op infrastructure that has strong community ties and a demonstrated 75-year history of on-bill financing for consumer loans.

Trained contractors will conduct energy audits to determine what sorts of energy efficiency improvements are warranted. Typical consumer loans will be $1,500 to $7,000, and will cover sealing, insulation, heat pumps, HVAC systems, boilers, roofs and other improvements that the utility has demonstrated to RUS will produce sufficient savings. Participating consumers repay the co-ops for the installation and material costs through an extra charge on their utility bills within not more than a 10 year window. The energy savings from the upgrade will cover most, if not all, of the cost of the loan. Consumers will save more on their energy bills after the loan is repaid, saving most families hundreds of dollars annually. Every dollar loaned by RUS to the co-ops is repaid to the taxpayers within ten years after the cooperative re-lends the funds to the consumer.

I’m proud to have co-sponsored the legislation along with Congressmen James Clyburn (D-SC), Ed Whitfield (R-KY), and John Spratt (D-SC) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Johnson (D-SD), and Michael Bennett (D-CO).

These efficiency programs will not only create jobs locally, but also make our rural homes more sustainable and cost efficient in the long run. I’m proud to be part of this bipartisan bill because saving on energy costs and creating clean energy jobs is something both parties can agree on.

Please feel free to contact me to share your concerns and ideas. You may call 1-888-4-TOM4US (1-888-486-6487); write to 1520 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515; or visit www.perriello.house.gov to sign up for my weekly e-newsletter.

Tom Perriello

Rep. Tom Perriello is an original cosponsor of a bipartisan bill to establish a Rural Energy Savings Program to create jobs, save Virginia families and businesses money on their electric bills, and conserve energy. He joined a bipartisan coalition of Senate and House Members along with rural electric cooperatives and energy industry leaders in introducing the legislation yesterday. The bill, H.R. 4785 [PDF], is estimated to create 20,000 to 40,000 jobs a year.

The bill provides $4.9 billion in loan authority through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to electric cooperatives to offer low-interest micro-loans to residential and small business customers for energy-saving retrofit and structural improvements. The program will be a boon for the domestic manufacturing and construction industries, as energy-efficiency products are almost exclusively manufactured in the United States and installation jobs cannot be exported. The program builds on the existing co-op infrastructure that has strong community ties and a demonstrated 75-year history of on-bill financing for consumer loans.

“Rural households are getting hit the hardest with rising energy costs. These efficiency programs will not only create jobs locally, but make our rural homes more sustainable and cost efficient in the long run. I’m proud to be part of this bipartisan bill because saving on energy costs and creating clean energy jobs is something both parties can agree on,” said Rep. Perriello.

Trained auditors and contractors will conduct energy audits to determine what sorts of energy efficiency improvements are warranted. Typical consumer loans will be $1,500 to $7,000, and will cover sealing, insulation, heat pumps, HVAC systems, boilers, roofs and other improvements that the utility has demonstrated to RUS will produce sufficient savings. Participating consumers repay the co-ops for the installation and material costs through an extra charge on their utility bills within not more than a 10 year window. The energy savings from the upgrade will cover most, if not all, of the cost of the loan. Consumers will save more on their energy bills after the loan is repaid, saving most families hundreds of dollars annually. Every dollar loaned by RUS to the co-ops is repaid to the taxpayers within ten years after the cooperative re-lends the funds to the consumer.

Rep. Perriello co-sponsored the legislation along with Congressmen James Clyburn (D-SC), Ed Whitfield (R-KY), and John Spratt (D-SC) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Johnson (D-SD), and Michael Bennett (D-CO).

The video below is of of Rep. Perriello at yesterday’s press conference unveiling the legislation:

VMFA Muse Award

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is accepting nominations for the 6th annual Muse Awards, which champion creativity and innovation in business in Virginia.

The deadline for nominations is May 1.

The Muse Awards are presented each year to nine Virginia companies that demonstrate a uniquely creative approach to their products, services, campaigns, organizational structure, or other aspect of their business. A Top Muse award is presented to the business with the most outstanding creative approach.

Businesses, professional organizations and chambers of commerce are eligible to nominate for-profit businesses.

The Muse Awards’ emphasis on creativity extends to the Un-Gala awards-presentation event itself. With a different theme each year, the Un-Gala is a departure from traditional awards dinners and ceremonies. The theme each year is a closely guarded secret.

“This year’s Muse Awards takes on a spectacular new dimension,” says John Lucas, who is a senior vice president of RBC Wealth Management and is the VMFA Business Council chairman. “Not only will we recognize the important role that creativity plays in the success of Virginia businesses and recognize VMFA as an extraordinary resource for creative inspiration, we’ll also celebrate the success of VMFA’s expansion. The Un-Gala will be June 16 in the museum’s new James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Wing and throughout the reinstalled galleries.”

Created in 2005, the Muse Awards are sponsored by VMFA’s Business Council.

Winners receive a one-year VMFA Corporate Patron membership (valued at $1,000) and a trophy patterned after the chambered nautilus, which is meant to symbolize the natural evolution of creativity.

Nomination forms, guidelines and highlights from last year’s event are available at www.vmfamuseaward.com. Forms may also be requested by sending an e-mail to “elizabeth.lowsley-williams @ vmfa.museum” (remove spaces and quotes) or by faxing 804-340-1465.

Finalists will be announced May 15.

ABOUT THE VMFA BUSINESS COUNCIL An association of executives and leaders from area businesses, the VMFA Business Council is dedicated to promoting and maintaining an active dialogue between Virginia’s business community and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. By working directly with the business community, the VMFA Business Council aims to highlight and promote the valuable contributions the museum makes to the quality of life and economic vitality of the region. More about the VMFA Business Council is available on the Web at www.vmfa.museum/business_council.html.

Muse Committee Members:
Chairman – John Lucas, RBC Wealth Management
Communications – Charles Ajemian, Mediaflux Corporation
Invitations-Programming – Steve Hedberg, Richmond Magazine
Judging – Eric Taylor, Genworth Financial
Sponsorships – Phil Conein, TECHEAD
Treasurer – John Cole Scott, Closed-End Fund Advisors
Un-Gala – Karin Patel, Creative Office, and Megan Terry, MBM Marketing

Cline promotional photograph shortly before her 1961 life-threatening car crash

Virginia’s status as a destination for those who love the arts receives a special boost this spring with the launch of Minds Wide Open: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts, a statewide celebration of music, dance, theater, literary and visual arts. The first statewide initiative of its kind, Minds Wide Open focuses on plays, choreography, compositions, paintings, photography or films created by women or featuring women as the primary focus. Performances and exhibitions will occur at venues throughout the Commonwealth.

Virginia has been the birthplace or home of some of the most beloved women artists. Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline and Shirley MacLaine are American legends. Daphne Reid has delighted audiences as both an actress and director. Photographer Sally Mann, artist P. Buckley Moss and writer Rita Mae Brown are celebrated as among the very best of their medium. Their legacy is shared by women throughout Virginia whose talents inspire those around them.

From March through June 2010 Minds Wide Open offers more than 5,000 performances, exhibitions and events across Virginia to honor women who have shared the treasures of their hearts through artistic expression. Included are signature performances by the Richmond Ballet, Anoushka Shankar, the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Shakespeare and the Virginia Chamber Orchestra. Venues range from metropolitan concert halls and theaters to community centers and libraries.

Minds Wide Open offers a chance to take a memorable journey in Virginia through its Standing Ovation Vacation Sweepstakes. Twelve special arts getaways complete with tickets to events such as theater, ballet and concerts — and including accommodations and dining — will be given away from March through June 2010. Register to win at www.ArtsVA.com, where you can also find a complete schedule of Minds Wide Open events and exhibitions.

Love of art and of travel has always been among the best reasons to visit Virginia and each year the Commonwealth seems to add new venues to its existing collection. In Richmond the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts reopens in the spring of 2010 after the completion of a dazzling expansion project. Norfolk’s Chrysler Museum of Art houses a gorgeous collection of portraiture and Tiffany glass. The new Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke is a work of art in itself and houses paintings and sculpture by famous names. In Alexandria, the Torpedo Factory Art Center houses the working studios of more than 80 artists.

Performing arts have a home throughout the Commonwealth and draw audiences from around the world. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts hosts the biggest names in music. The new Richmond Center Stage complex is a multi-venue facility for theater, music and dance. In Abingdon the historic Barter Theatre is where actors such as Patricia Neal, Ernest Borgnine and Gregory Peck got their professional starts. The mountain music venues of The Crooked Road — Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail are found throughout Southwest Virginia and are packed for each performance.

Special arts events can be found throughout Virginia at nearly any time of year. The Richmond Folk Festival and the Virginia Arts Festival are filled with song and dance while the Virginia Film Festival and the Virginia Festival of the Book draw film and literature enthusiasts from all over. Each June Virginia Beach’s Boardwalk Art Show Festival brings thousands to the beachfront. Lorton, in Northern Virginia, is one of several Virginia cities with a monthly Art Walk.

Combining the arts with visits to Virginia’s wineries, historic sites, wonderful restaurants, great cities and memorable small towns makes for the best of vacations or getaways and helps connect hearts to what’s really important. For trip planning information visit www.Virginia.org or call 1-800-VISITVA for a free Virginia is for Lovers Travel Guide.

Flood watches and warnings cover the majority of the Commonwealth; all Virginians should be aware of their risk for flooding and be prepared to evacuate from quickly rising water if necessary.

“We will continue to see rain falling for the next 24-36 hours, and at times it will be very heavy rainfall,” said Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. “Everyone should assess their risk of flooding now and be prepared to evacuate.”

Rivers are not forecast to crest until late Sunday or early Monday — after rains stop. Flooding could occur as late as Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

Prepare for flooding

• Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify a flood hazard.
• • Flood Watch or Flash Flood Watch: there is an increased possibility of flooding or a flash flood in your area.
  • Flood Warning: flooding is occurring or will likely occur very soon. If you are advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
  • Flash Flood Warning: flash flooding is occurring. Seek higher ground immediately; do not wait for instructions.
• Be prepared to evacuate. Do not return to your home until local authorities say it is safe. Even after floodwaters recede, roads could be weakened and could collapse. Buildings might be unstable, and drinking water might be contaminated. Use common sense and exercise caution.
• Use common sense and available information. If water is rising quickly or you see a moving wall of mud or debris, immediately move to higher ground.
• Do not walk through moving water, if possible. Look for areas where the water is not moving. What might seem like a small amount of moving water can easily knock you down.

Drive safely

• Know the road conditions before you hit the highways. Visit http://www.511virginia.org or dial 511 from any phone for real-time traffic information and road condition reports.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. If your vehicle becomes surrounded by rising water, get out quickly and move to higher ground, if possible.
• Flood water might cut off access to roads. Be prepared to stay where you are until floodwaters recede.

Stay Informed

• Listen to weather-alert radios to stay informed of flood watches and warnings.
• Also monitor commercial radio, television and the Internet.
• Keep in mind that after a flood, it could be hours, or even days, before emergency personnel are able to reach you.

More flood preparedness information is available at http://www.readyvirginia.gov/stayinformed/floods.cfm.

Plavix reduces the risk of heart attack, unstable angina, stroke, and cardiovascular death in patients with cardiovascular disease by making platelets less likely to form blood clots. Plavix does not have its anti-platelet effects until it is metabolized into its active form by the liver enzyme, CYP2C19.

People who have reduced functioning of their CYP2C19 liver enzyme cannot effectively convert Plavix to its active form. As a result, Plavix may be less effective in altering platelet activity in those people. These “poor metabolizers” may not receive the full benefit of Plavix treatment and may remain at risk for heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death.

“We want to highlight this warning to make sure health care professionals use the best information possible to treat their patients,” said Mary Ross Southworth, Pharm.D., a clinical analyst in the Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

In May 2009, the FDA added this warning to the drug’s label. After reviewing more data, the agency felt it was important to highlight this risk in a boxed warning.

It is estimated that 2 percent to 14 percent of the U.S. population are poor metabolizers. The FDA recommends that health care professionals consider alternative dosing of Plavix for these patients, or consider using other anti-platelet medications. Tests are available to assess CYP2C19 genotype to determine if a patient is a poor metabolizer.

Patients should not stop taking Plavix unless told to do so by their health care professional. They should talk with their health care professional if they have any concerns about Plavix.

Plavix is made under a Bristol-Myers Squibb – Sanofi Pharmaceuticals partnership.

For information: FDA Drug Safety Communication: Reduced effectiveness of Plavix (clopidogrel) in patients who are poor metabloizers of the drug

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm203888.htm

Budget cuts will burn down the house.

On Friday March 12, the Virginia Organizing Project presented the Governor’s office with a giant check in the amount of $921.01 towards the state budget. The check represents proceeds from “bake sales for the budget” held statewide last Thursday.

The check was delivered along with a message that a cuts-only approach to the budget shortfall is irresponsible and will hurt public systems and structures at a time when Virginians need them most. The group calls for a balanced approach to the budget that includes revenue.

Janice “Jay” Johnson, Chairperson of the Virginia Organizing Project made the following remarks:

“We are presenting this check today to show that our legislators and our Governor have choices with the state budget. We went out and raised $921.01 in revenue. We wish there could be more zeros behind that number but any small amount of revenue helps.

“We have got to really begin to look at other options for the state of Virginia. We have got to take some serious looks, as citizens and as organizations, at the correct approach to this budget crisis. We cannot rely on a cuts-only approach. These cuts touch everybody. This is not about the haves and have-nots. This is about people whose children are disabled who are not going to get the help that they need and about children who will not get a decent education. The cuts are across the board and cutting very deeply.

“When this General Assembly finishes, we will be ‘fee’d’ to death. What is the difference between charging a million little fees and raising taxes? If it comes out of your pocket, it doesn’t matter if it comes out of the left or the right. It’s still coming out. My grandfather had a saying: If you keep cutting off your porch to feed your fire, eventually you are going to burn your house down. That is where we are in the state of Virginia. We are burning our house down.”

See images of check presentation at Flickr.

Green Marketing in a Bad Economy

“Green Marketing in a Bad Economy” is the subject of a Richard P. Gifford Lecture in Business Ethics by Mark Glickman on March 23, 2010 at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Ballroom, Hall Campus Center at Lynchburg College.

Glickman talks about practical ways for becoming green along with creative strategies to leverage green efforts in the marketplace and community.

Glickman is President of The Glickman Group, a strategic marketing/PR agency representing and providing a wide range of services and counsel to the world’s leading resorts, developments, and destinations.

Glickman was recently selected as one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing” by the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI).

He has earned a reputation as one of the hospitality industry’s most knowledgeable marketing and public relations advisers, providing marketing expertise and creative services for management companies, independent resorts, destinations, and developments throughout the world. He is a frequent speaker on green marketing and crisis management.

Glickman was recently featured on The Travel Channel’s “Extreme Green” program, and is frequently quoted in major national and international media outlets on green marketing. He is currently working on a book called “Marketing Paradise.”

Glickman collaborated with Virginia Tourism Corporation and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to develop the Virginia Green certification program for Virginia businesses and is currently serving on the Virginia Green Advisory committee to help develop criteria and standards for the new Virginia Green golf course certification program.

The late Richard P. Gifford was a vice president for General Electric and a leader in the business, civic, educational, and religious life of the Lynchburg community. After his death, friends and business colleagues established in his honor and memory an endowment to bring to the Lynchburg College campus and local community a series of outstanding and nationally recognized executives and scholars in business, leadership, and economics.

Previous lecturers have included such well known speakers as Sherron Watkins, former vice president of Enron Corporation; Dr. Nariman Behravesh, chief economist and executive vice president of Global Insight; The Hon. William S. Cohen, former U.S. Secretary of Defense; and Janet Reno, former U.S. Attorney General.

For more information, contact Shannon Brennan, director of media relations, at 434/544-8609.

“On January 15, 2003, Paul Warner Powell was convicted in Prince William County Circuit Court of the brutal capital murder and attempted rape of sixteen year old Stacie Lynn Reed. Powell was previously convicted of the rape and attempted murder of Stacie’s fourteen year-old sister.

“On May 8, 2003, the trial court, in accordance with the jury’s verdict and recommendation, sentenced Powell to death. Powell admitted to the murder and attempted rape, and thus Powell’s guilt is not at issue. On January 27, 2010, the Circuit Court set the execution date for March 18, 2010.

“On February 23, 2010, Powell filed a petition for clemency requesting that I commute the sentence of death to a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

“Powell’s trial, verdict and sentence have been reviewed and affirmed by state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of Virginia, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. I have considered the petitioner’s principal arguments concerning gubernatorial conflict and prejudicial errors in the admission of evidence, and found them not to warrant commutation.

“After conferring with the appropriate parties, as well as thoroughly reviewing the clemency petition and the judicial opinions regarding this case, I find no compelling reason to set aside the sentence that was selected by the jury and imposed and affirmed by the courts.

“Accordingly, I decline to intervene.”

Following that statement, Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement regarding his policy for the consideration of capital murder clemency requests during his administration. McDonnell’s statement follows his first action on a capital murder case, noted above.

“As Governor, Article V, Section 12 of the Constitution of Virginia vests in me the solemn duty to rule on clemency petitions in capital cases, to include reprieves, pardons and commutations. This Constitutional obligation carries with it great responsibility. Virginia governors have consistently exercised this duty with diligent evaluation of the law and facts, and thoughtful judgment. I will do the same. Each clemency petition that comes to my desk will be thoroughly considered by my staff and me in keeping with the gravity of the decision that must be made.

“Before reaching each decision, I will conduct a full review of the petitioner’s court records, and consult with the appropriate parties, including the Attorney General’s Office and the petitioner’s counsel. However, as there are important new legal remedies now in place in the Commonwealth to ensure that prisoners can file a writ of actual innocence in state court if they have new evidence to present, it is not my role to commence a new legal proceeding. Clemency petitions are to be granted only in those rare cases in which the ends of justice require such an extraordinary remedy, such as undoing a wrongful conviction where there is no legal recourse, or otherwise correcting injustices that the regular criminal process is unable to consider.

“A decision regarding clemency brings some finality to a lengthy process, even as some court actions may remain pending. After suffering the tragic loss of a loved one, the families and friends of the victims should not be required to wait with uncertainty until the day the execution is scheduled to take place to know if it will occur. For families to travel to the Greensville prison facility only to learn of a stay or commutation is not just. Similarly, the petitioner should know the decision regarding clemency well before the day of the execution, so if the decision is not favorable he may focus on final visits with family, religious advisors, and others, rather than on legal and clemency proceedings. To ensure this occurs in each case, absent extraordinary circumstances, I will decide upon each clemency petition and notify the appropriate parties no later than five days prior to the scheduled date of the execution.”

Explore Engineering at Sweet Briar

The Margaret Jones Wyllie ‘45 Engineering Program at Sweet Briar College invites sophomore, junior and senior high school women for an overnight introduction to the field of engineering and the rewarding career opportunities it offers. “Explore Engineering at Sweet Briar” begins with a welcome by the department faculty and student mentors at 5 p.m. Friday, April 9 and concludes Saturday afternoon.

The sessions include an overview of the program and information on internships, scholarships and careers; a panel discussion with current students; tours of the College’s physics and engineering labs; and a segment where attendees can “try on” engineering through hands-on design exercises. Past participants have designed electronic clothing, built robots that make art and made their own iPod speakers.

Attendees will see engineering in action — and get a sense of the difference it can make in people’s lives — through the work SBC students are doing. Lately, some have been busy building a biodiesel processing plant to help fuel College vehicles while others are developing a functional yet low-cost prosthetic hand.

Participants share meals in the dining hall with engineering students, faculty and staff, and stay in the residence halls with student mentors.

Sweet Briar offers a rigorous but supportive learning environment where the classes are small and faculty work closely with students. The curriculum emphasizes experiential learning from the first day, design as a fundamental element of engineering, and creating solutions to human problems in a global context. It stresses a multidisciplinary approach to engineering with particular emphasis on electrical and mechanical systems.

“Explore Engineering” is partially funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and is available at no cost to participants, including accommodations and meals. A $20 deposit is required to reserve a spot, which will be refunded to those who attend the event.

Visit www.engineering.sbc.edu and click on the “Explore Engineering Spring Weekend” program flyer link for registration information or contact the program director, Hank Yochum, at “hyochum @ sbc.edu” (remove spaces and quotes) or (434) 381-6357. Registrations received by March 25 will be given highest priority.

Apples could be better than donuts!

Work can be a disaster for your diet, especially if you’re in an office that stocks vending machines with high-calorie chips and candy bars. Soda wreaks havoc on a diet as it is comprised of empty liquid calories, more than 250 in just one 20-ounce bottle. If you’re not prepared to succeed, you can easily succumb to a snack-attack and add hundreds of unwanted and non-nutritious calories. You’re most vulnerable during the mid-afternoon, so have healthy ammunition at hand.

• Coffee: A cup or two in the morning can get you going, and even improve concentration, but too much coffee will have the opposite effect, making it more difficult to concentrate and possibly causing insomnia. If you load your coffee up with cream and sugar, you’ll be taking in extra, unwanted calories. For a pick-me-up before 3 PM, have a cafe “light”: half strong black coffee (or decaffeinated) and half nonfat milk. Heat the milk in the microwave first (about 30-40 seconds, depending on your microwave’s strength), and then add the coffee. Sweeten with Splenda or other sweetener of choice.
• Snacking: Snacking is a smart strategy for people trying to control their weight. It may seem counter-intuitive, but studies show that eating smaller meals more frequently can actually help you lose weight. Instead of eating three “square” meals, eating smaller, mini-meals helps you maintain energy throughout the day and stay motivated to choose healthy foods.
• • Cereal: A cup of mini shredded wheat or favorite non-sugary cereal with a cup of nonfat milk, yogurt, or soy yogurt makes a great office snack. Hot oatmeal in convenient single servings can be microwaved in your office kitchen.
  • Cheese: Low fat varieties: read the label, the first ingredient should be skim milk. One ounce of Jarlesberg or other low fat cheese wrapped with your fruit is tasty. Nonfat or 1% cottage cheese is a great snack; mix with salad herbs or black pepper for added flavor.
  • Dips & Dippers: Avocado dip (guacamole), chickpea dip (hummus), or tomato salsa, all made without mayonnaise (use a little olive oil instead) are perfect dips for cut-up raw veggies.
  • Fruit: Whole fruit including berries, melon, apples, oranges, and grapefruit have the most fiber and fewest grams of carbohydrate per serving. Eat along with some nonfat yogurt, low fat cheese, or a handful of nuts. You’re too busy to prepare? Buy pre-washed and cut melon.
  • Mini Pita Pizza: Top ½ of a whole wheat mini pita with tomato sauce, a little low fat mozzarella cheese, and oregano to taste. Broil in a toaster oven until cheese melts.
  • Nuts: An ideal combination of unsaturated fat, protein, and carbohydrates, nuts are portable and nutritious. Buy dry roasted (no oil added) unsalted nuts, peanuts in the shell, and eat a “handful,” about 200 calories, depending on the variety.
  • Popcorn: Air-popped popcorn is your best bet. For more flavor, add a quick spray of olive oil and a tablespoon of Parmesan cheese. “Lite” microwave popcorn has more fat than air-popped, and it’s hydrogenated (the worst kind).
  • Raisins: Mix a small box of raisins with nuts or dry roasted pumpkin seeds for a healthy trail mix.
  • Rice cakes: Spread a tablespoon of natural peanut butter (without hydrogenated fat or sugar added) on your rice cakes and top with a teaspoon of unsweetened preserves.
  • Smoothies: If you have a kitchen at work, smoothies are ideal snacks. Blend 1 cup of nonfat milk, ½ cup of nonfat sugar-free yogurt, 2 drops of vanilla extract, and 1 cup of ice. Optional: add a ½ cup of berries.
  • Wrap-ups: Spread a small whole-grain tortilla with a teaspoon of mustard and wrap-up one ounce of any lean meat, including turkey or chicken breast, roast beef, lean ham, or shrimp.
  • Yogurt: Individual cups of nonfat, sugar-free yogurt are a great source of calcium. Stir in ½ cup of unsweetened crunchy cereal.
• Portable Coolers: Invest in a portable cooler that is big enough to hold a few cups of yogurt and some fresh fruit for you to keep on hand at work.
• Water: Drink a glass of water (or from the bottle that you should have at your desk). Wait 15 minutes, and then have your snack. I guarantee you’ll feel more satisfied.

Registered and licensed dietitian Susan Burke March, MS, CDE, is the author of “Making Weight Control Second Nature: Living Thin Naturally” – a book intended to liberate serial “dieters” and make living healthfully and weight-wise intuitive and instinctual over the long term. She may be reached online at www.SusanBurkeMarch.com.