We’ve completed this article with editing and a lot of bonus photos. I’m sorry for the phone photos at the top part of the article. Something was on the lens and I never noticed… but hey, slightly blurred photos are better than none.
We’ve moved across the road to the RCATT building for our third event of the day. Governor Terry McAuliffe will be leading a roundtable discussion on economic and workforce development. According to the schedule, we’ll have Secretary of Education Anne Holton, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore, Special Advisor for Rural Partnerships, Mary Rae Carter, and Advisor for Workforce Development, Elizabeth Creamer joining in the discussion.
Refresh the page often for the latest happenings and photos!
We’re still in the cabinet meeting. No idea when this event will start.
A photo of something cool at RCATT while we’re waiting.
Waiting for the Governor now. And he’s here and we’re underway.
Introductions and openings, now McAuliffe talks about latest trade trips.
Saying “I love selling” talking about economic development.
Eric Deaton says offering scholarships has helped DRMC get skilled workers.
Eastman Coatings from Henry County says partnership with local community colleges is the key.
William Gentry, owner of the new tire molding company at the old Corning plant explains how RCATT & DCC helps gets people into workers he can hire with a lot less training needed.
DCC’s president, Bruce Scism, talks about how millions of dollars are needed every few years to keep up with new machines and technology.
Julie Brown says workforce certifications are important. Eric Deaton says hiring veterans works great for the hospital. Ikea says they are having trouble filling jobs at times. One panel member suggests job fairs in high schools.
McAuliffe says we need to start STEM education earlier in the school system and keep kids excited to learn. Martinsville mayor Kim Adkins plugs the Launch Place for entrepreneurial efforts. Of course, she gets paid by them for some consulting work.
I just realized that this roundtable is actually square.
Mary Rae Carter says agritourism is a growing industry. Moderator points out that there is a big skills gap between potential employees and their potential jobs.
DCC President Scism talks about starting welding training in high school but it will take money to get the program started.
Steven Gould says to keep the school students informed on what jobs are available and the skills that will be needed. Karl Stauber makes a good point that a big part of this region is in North Carolina and the governor nor his administration can do anything there. Another good point is that there needs to be aid offered to non-traditional students.
Big 7th and 9th grade career fair coming up in November at the Old Dominion Agriculture Complex. McAuliffe says he will be here for that. Over 5000 students over two days.
We’re wrapping up here and the tour of the River District in about an hour.
And here’s the bonus photos as promised…
The participants start to file in.
That’s one big squaretable… roundtable.
Hey look, it’s Mike Mannen from Faneuil!
The other side of the roundtable session. We’ve got Karl Stauber, Julie Brown, Nancy Pool, Matt Leonard and Ed Owens among others.
Mary Rae Carter, Todd Haymore, the guy who moderated the debate who talked so fast that you couldn’t understand him in that giant echo chamber, Terry McAuliffe and Anne Holton
Steven Gould & Mary Rae Carter
Matt Leonard, hello!
Nancy Pool & Matt Leonard
Nettie Owens, Clarance Monday & Jessie Barksdale
Nancy Pool & Terry McAuliffe
Bruce, were there any city council members there and if so who?
I don’t believe any city council members were at this event. Steven Gould was from the school board was there. Adding lots more photos now.
This is where the problem is with the politics of today. It is about party over people. We have city council members who show up for many things but let the governor show up who is not in their party and there is a no show of any city council members Republican or Democrat. There was a Pittsylvania county BOS person there.It is pitiful that no city council members could be bothered to go and show its about the best interest of the people/city over their personal party support. This shows how polarized the people in politics are these days.One party will not even listen to the other party any more much less try to work with them. Its both sides.
This is the Governor or our State…making a HUGE effort to learn about and offer suggestions to and for our community…..EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF OUR COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE ARRANGED TO ATTEND AT LEAST SOME, IF NOT ALL OF THESE EVENTS. I did see Lee Vogler and his shadow (the new councilman, his name escapes me at this moment) at the event to learn about boards and commissions. They both took the opportunity for a photo op with Levar Stoney.
They were all at the kickoff breakfast except Buddy Rawley. He was in Finland so he gets a Free Pass.
[…] Governor’s Economic Development Roundtable – LIVE! […]
The Governor of 5 counties in Northern Virginia.
It’s a positive, encouraging sign that each of the last few governors seemed to prioritize economic development in Southside. We all know that it has been needed in the worst way, and I think that things have been going in the right direction as of late; hope to see this continue! Just a few questions:
(a) Has anything become of the Rorer James Building, the old newspaper headquarters?
(b) Is there anything currently built – or in development – in the space along Memorial Drive between the MLK Bridge and before the old Mill building?
(c) Is the train station a truly functional one now? By that, I mean to ask whether there are ticket agents, and a proper lobby where passengers can sit and read, eat, etc., while waiting for their train.
I have more, but I did say “a few”, so I’ll keep my word and note the others, as appropriate in one of the upcoming news post-discussion sessions that follows.