A record of economic development
Governor Warner was the keynote speaker at the 40th annual meeting of the Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission in Lebanon on Wednesday, which attracted close to 300 elected officials, economic development professionals, and business leaders from Russell, Tazewell, Buchanan and Dickenson counties.
They gathered to discuss the region’s economic development. Here are some excerpts from Governor Warner’s remarks about how his administration was able to help the economy of a region that was hard-hit by a lagging economy:
“Those of you in this room know better than I the long journey you have taken together. This region has been undergoing a steady transformation from its traditional coal-based economy for a long time now.”
For most of the past two decades – or even longer—the unemployment rate in Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell counties rarely fell below double-digits. In fact, for a time, it typically hovered in the high double-digits.
And this was occurring even as Virginia’s statewide jobless rate trended below 5 percent during most of the 80’s and 90’s.
“You know, we don’t call this “The Fightin’ Ninth” for nothing. The leaders of this region did not give-up hope. And you continued to work hard – as a team – in a bipartisan way—forming innovative local, regional, state and federal partnerships. “Seven years ago, many of you were even willing to take a chance on a “cell-phone guy” from Northern Virginia when he ran for Governor. I promised you then I would not forget about you or the challenges facing this region. And I certainly hope you believe I kept my word to you.”
During the Warner Administration, Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell counties landed $67 million in new investment and more than 2,000 new jobs.
The 2002 higher education bond package Governor Warner successfully led to voter approval included a combined $18 million in new resources for UVA/Wise, Southwest Virginia Community College, and the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.
Governor Warner set a goal of extending clean, safe drinking water to 25,000 additional people within five years, and targeted state and federal resources in a smart, targeted way to ultimately bring safe water supplies to 70,000 people in just four years.
“Now, many of you might know that, once again, I am a job applicant. I am asking Virginians to consider me for service as their representative in the United States Senate.“I’ll end tonight right where I began.
“Seven years ago, I promised you that I would not forget about you or the challenges facing this region. And I didn’t. I repeat that pledge to you tonight.”
