Governor McAuliffe says when he addresses lawmakers about the state's budget this week, he intends to talk about his new economic development package.
His initiative includes legislative proposals that the governor says are necessary to reduce the Commonwealth’s reliance on federal dollars.
McAuliffe’s plan emphasizes increased investments in workforce development—and aligning such training with employer needs by region. It also includes more dollars for the Governor’s Opportunity Fund, increasing public-private partnerships, and tax credits for green jobs. The governor was asked how he will convince lawmakers to ante up for more funds when the state is cash-strapped.
"The Virginia of old, where we were so reliant on the federal government, is over. We have to grow, we have to diversify, broadband, all of those issues, that's how you diversify an economy."
The governor believes there is enough bipartisan support for economic diversity in the General Assembly that much of what he's proposing will pass.