Virginia

Enhanced stormwater regulations will reduce runoff pollution in waters of Chesapeake Bay, Virginia's waterways

October 05, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine highlighted the adoption of enhanced stormwater regulations by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board today. The new regulations are expected to reduce the impact of polluted runoff from new developments into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways in the Commonwealth.    » read more »

Consumers can purchase energy-efficient products tax free October 9-12; claim state rebates and federal credits on qualifying products

October 01, 2009 -- STAUNTON – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the launch of the Virginia EnergyEfficiency Rebate program, a new program to encourage the purchase ofhigh-efficiency equipment and products. The program will use $15 million infunds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment act to provide rebates toresidential and commercial consumers on certain qualifying equipment and products.    » read more »

$1.8 billion in ARRA funds would raise passenger rail speed to 90 MPH along busy I-95 corridor

October 02, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Virginia has submitted its second application for funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) to develop the I-95 Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor. The application for approximately $1.8 billion would fund 19 projects along the Petersburg to Washington, D.C. section of the Corridor and raise passenger rail speed to up to 90 MPH by 2017.    » read more »

Number of poor air quality days declines from 76 to three statewide

October 02, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced significant improvements in Virginia's air quality during the past decade. Between 1999 and 2009, the Commonwealth saw a 96 percent decrease in the number of days that exceeded the national air quality standard for ground-level ozone at monitoring stations statewide, with summer 2009 standing out as the best year on record.    » read more »

$40 million in loans available for state agencies to improve efficiency, save money

September 25, 2009 -- RICHMOND -- Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the recapitalization of the Commonwealth's Energy Leasing Program, a loan program to finance energy efficiency projects in state agencies. The Commonwealth has secured $40 million in financing for the projects, including $10 million in capital from Grant Capital Management, a state-certified SWAM vendor.    » read more »

Delinquent taxpayers can "Get Square" with no penalties and half the interest charges between October 7, 2009 and December 5, 2009

September 28, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today helped launch Get Square VA, a program administered by the Virginia Department of Taxation offering amnesty to delinquent taxpayers who pay their back taxes between October 7, 2009 and December 5, 2009.

Most delinquent taxpayers, business or individual, may pay back taxes to the state of Virginia during this limited window with no penalties and half the normal interest charges. The Commonwealth aims to collect $48 million during the amnesty period, and funds collected will go into the general fund to support education, health, and public safety programs.    » read more »

Commonwealth will request federal loan for October-December 2009; mandatory fund builder tax to take effect January 2010

September 16, 2009 -- RICHMOND -- Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today 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.    » read more »

$8,605,100 in funds to Virginia's AutoGas Corridor Development Program

August 26, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has appropriated significant funding for the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy's Paving the Way with Propane: The AutoGas Corridor Development Program. The AutoGas Corridor Development Program is a unique, progressive project aimed at building the infrastructure for public and private vehicle operators to convert existing vehicles from conventional gasoline to clean propane AutoGas.    » read more »

Governor Kaine Unveils Unique Program to Review Emissions From Grandfathered Facilities; Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to evaluate older facilities for compliance with federal air quality standards

June 23, 2009 -- RICHMOND- Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced a groundbreaking initiative to survey air pollution from facilities throughout the Commonwealth that were initially grandfathered by the 1970 federal Clean Air Act. In the first program of its kind in the nation, Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will determine whether older facilities previously not subject to direct reviews currently comply with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).    » read more »

Governor encourages sustained involvement by Virginia volunteers in their communities; First Lady Holton joins Secretary of the Interior Salazar to kick of Presidential initiative

June 22, 2009 -- RICHMOND - Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today applauded the launch of the United We Serve initiative, a national effort by the Obama administration to promote and sustain community involvement. To kick off the initiative in Virginia, First Lady Anne Holton and Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources Nikki Rovner joined U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar at the Big Meadows area of Shenandoah National Park to perform invasive weed removal. Governor Kaine will participate in a number of programs throughout the summer as part of the initiative.    » read more »

Virginia, software giant to provide displaced workers with free technology training through the Microsoft Elevate America program

June 15, 2009 -- RICHMOND - Virginia 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.    » read more »

June 15, 2009

Governor Kaine Announces Alcoa Howmet Expansion in Hampton; Company to invest up to $25 million

RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Alcoa will invest up to $25 million to increase capacity and production of investment castings for industrial gas turbines at its Hampton operations.

"Alcoa Howmet has been a steadfast contributor and strong corporate citizen in Hampton since it opened in 1974," Governor Kaine said. "This expansion reflects Alcoa Howmet's continued commitment to its workforce and the City of Hampton, and I am delighted the company's long-term, positive experience in Virginia led to an expansion of this magnitude."    » read more »

Maryland And Virginia Senators Introduce Bill To Support Chesapeake Bay Clean-Up; Strengthens NOAA's data collection, resource management & public outreach

June 10, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD), along with Senators Mark R. Warner and Jim Webb (both D-VA) today introduced the Chesapeake Bay Science, Education and Ecosystem Enhancement Act of 2009, which would strengthen and enhance the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) role in the multi-state Chesapeake Bay clean-up effort.    » read more »

Governor Kaine Signs Executive Order to Improve Energy Efficiency and Reduce Environmental Impact of State Government

June 10, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today issued Executive Order 82, which will significantly expand efforts to reduce the energy and environmental impact of executive branch agencies and institutions. As part of the Governor's Renew Virginia initiative, this policy promotes energy and water efficient buildings, encourages reductions in employee travel and commuting, and will minimize the use of disposable materials.    » read more »

Governor, Congressional delegation discuss solutions to the crisis at Regional Forum

June 08, 2009 --
RICHMOND - Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the award of $17.5 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Funding to localities for purchasing and rehabilitating foreclosed homes so that they can be resold to low-to-moderate income families. This announcement follows the award of $7 million in funding in April.

"We have worked quickly to put together an effective program to address the impact of foreclosures across the state," Governor Kaine said. "Virginia is not immune from our national economic problems, and we are continuing to take steps to ease the housing crisis by finding and applying solutions."    » read more »