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Governor Kaine to Sign Economic Crisis Strike Force Legislation in Galax
– Legislation codifies ‘one-stop’ assistance for impacted communities –

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced today that he will travel to Galax on Tuesday, March 21, 2006, to sign General Assembly legislation creating an Economic Crisis Strike Force to assist workers in communities hit by a sudden economic dislocation, such as the loss of a major employer.

House Bill 1499 was sponsored by Delegates Danny Marshall and Dwight Jones, and Senate Bill 535 was co-sponsored by Senators Charles Hawkins and Yvonne Miller. The measures, which codify the Strike Force concept pioneered by the Warner Administration, include an emergency clause, allowing the measure to become law immediately upon the Governor’s signature.

Over the past decade, Southside Virginia has experienced a steady loss of manufacturing jobs, due largely to the impact of foreign trade. Within the past six months, the City of Galax has learned of the imminent loss of about 500 furniture industry jobs, and the community learned of the imminent loss of 330 textile jobs just this week.

“When I sign this legislation on Tuesday, it will immediately activate the Economic Crisis Strike Force for the Galax community,” Governor Kaine said. “I will direct state agencies to immediately set-up a Coordinated Economic Relief Center (CERC) in the city, making it easier for displaced workers to access a wide range of federal, state, and local assistance that is available. In addition, these CERCs also can provide a range of useful information and services that can help workers seek out new employment opportunities and pursue retraining for new skills.”

Once a CERC is established, typical services provided to its customers include:

• Information on employment opportunities with local companies.
• Job Fairs
• Assistance from private and non-profit organizations
• Assistance from faith-based and mission-oriented organizations
• Intake for unemployment insurance claims (VEC)
• Intake for job search (VEC)
• Job Search Assistance services (VEC)
• Monthly cash assistance payments (DSS)
• Child and family healthcare insurance (FAMIS, DSS)
• Assistance with emergency medical bills (DSS)
• Childcare assistance (DSS)
• Food Stamps (DSS)
• Cash payments for fuel assistance (DSS)
• Community college workforce training programs (VCCS)
• Workforce Investment Act services.

In January 2002, then-Governor Mark R. Warner signed an Executive Order establishing an economic crisis strike force for Virginia communities facing disaster-like economic crisis conditions, such as mass-layoffs or natural disasters that overwhelm a community’s ability to respond without coordinated assistance from the state government.

Ultimately, CERCs were established in Martinsville, Marion, Clarksville and South Boston. In the first year of operations, these centers served approximately 22,605 customers, and partnered with over 30 non-government organizations in addition to state and local government agencies.

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