VA gov touts skills development

Coordination of workforce training efforts across city, county and state lines was the focus of a forum in southern Virginia that included Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine and members of his cabinet among its speakers.

“What a treat to walk in the room and see such a great turnout,” Kaine said at the beginning of his speech. “It’s a tribute to the fact this issue – the economic future of the region, the workforce skills of folks who live in Southside Virginia and Northern North Carolina – is at the very top of everybody’s mind.”

The governor said one of the biggest problems attracting new businesses to Virginia has been a lack of a fully-skilled job force, and that despite the many benefits offered to companies he hoped to attract to Virginia, other states and nations got those companies because they had better workforce training.

“We are in an era now where talent is the most precious commodity in the world. That’s what attracts business,” Kaine said.