Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam

WHEREAS, Virginia’s world-class workforce is one the Commonwealth’s greatest assets, underpinning the success of our businesses, industries, and communities; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth’s rapidly growing economy has created numerous opportunities for workers with various certifications and skills; and

WHEREAS, to fill these jobs, Virginians need access to affordable training programs and skills that align with employer expectations in their region; and

WHEREAS, while no two individuals are the same, everyone deserves an opportunity to build a better life for their family; and

WHEREAS, Virginia’s publicly-funded workforce development system spans eight state agencies and twenty-four programs, differentiated in function but united in purpose; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Board of Workforce Development and Virginia’s fifteen local workforce development boards provide strategic leadership to identify regional workforce challenges and convene stakeholders to develop and deploy solutions; and

WHEREAS, a network of over sixty One Stop Career Centers across Virginia provide a wide variety of workforce programs to support individuals on their path to employment and help businesses find the talent they need; and

WHEREAS, Virginia’s Community College System, through its twenty-three colleges on forty campuses, provides world-class education and workforce training that enables individuals to gain the knowledge and skills to advance in their career and increase their earning potential; and

WHEREAS, Virginia’s Career Technical Education programs help more than one million high school students each year get on a career pathway, earn credentials for jobs, and advance to postsecondary education; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Employment Commission works tirelessly to support job seekers through periods of unemployment, lessening the burden and duration of these chapters; and 

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth’s Adult Basic Education programs help members of our community develop the essential skills they need to succeed in the 21^st century; and

WHEREAS, vocational rehabilitative services, provided by the Virginia Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, help Virginians realize their full potential and live fulfilling, financially secure lives; and

WHEREAS, every one of Virginia’s dedicated workforce professionals work tirelessly to deliver workforce solutions for businesses and individuals to meet the global challenges of tomorrow; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia recognizes that the development of the state’s workforce is a shared responsibility and appreciates the partnership of the business community and nonprofits; and

WHEREAS, as the capacity of Virginia’s workforce grows, so will Virginia’s ability to attract and retain the best jobs, increased wages, and a better standard of living for all Virginia families;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize September 2020 as WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.