January 30, 2006
Greetings once again from Richmond! One of the issues that I am focused on this session is workforce training. My district is in need of training for young people entering the workforce and for those who have been in the workforce and now need new skills.
It has been extremely unfortunate that our area has seen one manufacturing facility after another close over the last few years. Finding a new job for these hardworking folks has been tough, but finding a job that requires the same skills as the job they lost has proven almost impossible. The point I am trying to make to my fellow legislators is that we have employers who are in need of good employees so we must help both parties meet their needs.
A few poignant examples of the statewide need for skilled workers would include 22,000 new nurses within 5 years; 100,000 skilled manufacturing jobs to replace retiring workers by 2011; and we also have a shortage of skilled construction workers.
Virginia is currently spending $250 million a year on workforce training, not counting what the localities and private employers pay. But we must make changes because we are not keeping pace with new technologies and new systems of production.
My belief is that we should not throw more money at this issue. I contend that we must focus our attention on being more efficient with the resources we are currently spending. Currently, the state has 24 training programs in nine agencies under three of the Governor's cabinet Secretaries. This makes it almost impossible to compare the success of one program over another.
I am working with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Manufacturer's Association to establish a more effective way to evaluate and compare the existing programs so more Virginians are better trained.
A better trained workforce makes all of Virginia a good place to do business. It makes it easier to attract new businesses and retain existing business. It makes employees more valuable and therefore employers pay better wages. This improves the quality of life for all and makes our communities a better place to live for all.
Another initiative that I am very excited about is Senate Bill 540. This bill would create the Community College Transfer Grant Program and I am co-sponsoring this legislation along with Senator Walter Stosch. Senate Bill 540 would make it much less expensive to attend college by allowing a young person to be accepted at any of our four colleges and attend the closest Community College for the first two years then finish the last two at the four year college. Currently young people do take courses at the Community College but they then must be accepted at the four college. This will make the process much more streamlined for students and their families, and will also save a considerable amount of money.
As always, I welcome your input and hope you will feel free to contact my office whenever there are issues of concern to you or you need my assistance in dealing with state government. You can reach me by email, by telephone at 804-698-7515 or by mail at P.O. Box 396, Richmond, VA 23218.