Virginia Leading the Way http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/rss/HomePageRSS.cfm Leading the Way - Latest News Releases (c) Leading the Way 2009 Commonwealth of Virginia <![CDATA[Virginia Named Infrastructure State of the Year]]> September 1 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Virginia has been named the Infrastructure State of the Year by CG/LA Infrastructure LLC, a global leader in public and private infrastructure development. States were evaluated with a model that combines quantitative information and an eight criteria qualitative model. Virginia ranked highly in the areas of infrastructure vision, leadership and project quality.

"This award is recognition that, despite hard economic times, we are doing a great job with what we have and are positioning ourselves for an economic rebound," Governor Kaine said. "Alongside our rankings in education, management and business attraction, this accolade shows that Virginia is investing strategically and creatively in its future."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1052 <![CDATA[Virginia's Latest No. 1 Ranking as a Pro-Business State]]> June 24 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Virginia's pro-business environment has garnered the Commonwealth its latest No. 1 ranking nationally. The top slot accorded to Virginia this week by Pollina Corporate Real Estate Inc., a top U.S. corporate site relocation expert, marks the third time the company has recognized the state with its highest ranking and the sixth time overall that the Commonwealth has received national recognition as the most business-friendly state under the leadership of Governor Kaine.

Other recognitions received during Governor Kaine's administration include the most business-friendly state in America (Forbes.com 2006-2008), one of the best states for business (CNBC 2007 and 2008), the top-performing state government in America (Governing Magazine 2008) and the state where "a child is most likely to have a successful life (Education Week 2007)."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=980 <![CDATA[Unique Program to Review Emissions From Grandfathered Facilities is Unveiled ]]> June 23 — 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).

"This initiative is a giant step forward in improving air quality in Virginia, protecting the health of our citizens, and preserving the environment," Governor Kaine said. "The Commonwealth is proud to be a leader in addressing the emissions of these older facilities as we continue our efforts to reduce air pollution overall."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=979 <![CDATA[New Report: Virginia Cited as National Leader in Results- Based Budgeting ]]> February 17 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine called attention today to a new report by the Pew Center on the States that commends the Commonwealth's data-based and results-oriented approach to budgeting and management as an effective decision-making strategy for addressing current fiscal challenges. Virginia was among four states - along with Utah, Maryland, and Indiana - to be highlighted in the report by the Pew Center's Government Performance Project.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=878 <![CDATA[Virginia Ranked #1 for Historic Districts Listed]]> January 21 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today highlighted Virginia's ranking as first among the 50 states and U.S. territories for the number of historic districts added to the National Register of Historic Places during federal fiscal year 2008. It is the fourth consecutive year in which Virginia has achieved top ranking for districts listed. ]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=861 <![CDATA[Virginia's growth in high-tech exports leads the nation ]]> September 2008 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today applauded Virginia's success in leading the nation in growth of high-tech exports. According to the American Electronics Association (AeA), the nation's largest high-technology trade association, Virginia experienced a $1.1 billion increase in high-tech goods exports since 2006 - the largest increase of any state. The growth led to an 11th-place national ranking for Virginia compared to the Commonwealth's 21st-place ranking in 2006.

The finding was released Tuesday in AeA's annual report, "Trade in the Cyberstates 2008: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade," which ranks all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Virginia also recently received the Presidential "E Star" Award personally from President George W. Bush for superior export performance.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=786 <![CDATA[Virginia Rated Best in Nation for I.T. Management, Information Security]]> September 2008 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Virginia has received top honors in the nation for information security and technology management from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). Both programs received first place honors from NASCIO at its 20th annual Recognition Awards program yesterday in Milwaukee.

"Virginia has led the nation in its efforts to utilize information technology to improve citizen service, lower costs and tap into the strengths of the private sector," Governor Kaine said. "This prestigious national recognition for our innovative public-private partnership to transform our IT infrastructure is important validation of our direction."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=785 <![CDATA[Virginia One of Five Most Successful States in America for Reducing Poverty]]> August 2008 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that The Heartland Institute's comprehensive study Welfare Reform after Ten Years gives Virginia high marks for the success of anti-poverty and welfare reform policies in the Commonwealth. ]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=756 <![CDATA[<img src = 'http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases//images/homepageNRphotos/BestOfTheWeb2008.png' alt = 'News Release Photo' align = 'right' hspace='10'/>Commonwealth of Virginia Receives 'Best of the Web' Ranking]]> August 2008 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced today that Virginia's official state portal Web site, www.virginia.gov, has been named first in the nation among the 50 states in the Center for Digital Government's annual Best of the Web program. This prestigious honor follows an extensive redesign of the Web portal, which uses colorful imagery to invite participation in online services and features new "Web 2.0" functionality to enhance the user experience. The new Web site design went live in June of this year.


]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=755 <![CDATA[<img src = 'http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases//images/homepageNRphotos/VaForbes-No1.gif' alt = 'News Release Photo' align = 'right' hspace='10'/>Commonwealth receives third straight 'Best State for Business' ranking by Forbes.com ]]> July 2008 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Virginia continues to lead the nation as Forbes.com's "Best State for Business." It is the third consecutive year Virginia has been top ranked. The Commonwealth finished in the top 10 in four of the six categories examined in the review, which was published today.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=732 <![CDATA[State Earns Top National Ranking for Moving Virginians From Public Assistance to Work]]> July 2008 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Virginia has been ranked highest in the nation for job entry rates for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients for federal fiscal years 2005 and 2006, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, Virginia had the second highest job retention rate for each of those years. This marks the third year in a row that Virginia has ranked so highly.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=695 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Hails Virginia Economic Development Partnership for National Export Award]]> May 2008 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today applauded the Virginia Economic Development Partnership's Division of International Trade for superior export performance that earned it the coveted President's "E Star" Award for Export Service. President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez will present the award May 20 to Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Patrick O. Gottschalk and VEDP International Division Director Paul Grossman at the White House. ]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=666 <![CDATA[Virginia Gets Top Grade in Performance]]> March 2008 — Virginia again received the top score in the Government Performance Project's "Grading the States 2008" report, the nation's only comprehensive, independent analysis of how well each state performs in serving the public. In the first such rating in three years, Virginia achieved an overall grade of A- for performance. Two other states- Utah and Washington - received an A- grade, and the national average was B-. Virginia also received an A- ranking in the most recent "Grading the States" assessment in 2005. ]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=621 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Highlights Virginia's #1 Ranking for Historic Districts]]> February 2008 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today highlighted Virginia's ranking as first among the 50 states and U.S. territories for the number of historic districts added to the National Register of Historic Places during federal fiscal year 2007. It is the third consecutive year in which Virginia has achieved top ranking for districts listed. ]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=614 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Announces this Week's Second #1 Business Ranking for Virginia]]> July 2007 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced today that CNBC, the leading financial news cable channel that reaches influential business and financial leaders around the world, has designated Virginia as its "Top State for Business." Earlier this week, Virginia was awarded a similar "Best State for Business" designation for a second consecutive year by Forbes.com, the Internet site of the Forbes family of business publications. ]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=464 <![CDATA[Virginia Receives Top Business Ranking for Second Year]]> July 2007 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Virginia again led the nation in Forbes.com's "Best States for Business" ranking. In its second year, the review examines multiple objective measurements, including business cost, regulatory climate, quality of the workforce, and economic growth. Forbes.com is the official Internet site of the Forbes family of business publications. ]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=461