Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 15, 1994 TAG: 9405150079
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
If they have one lined up, what will life be like?
And if they don't, what will they do?
In a spirited, sunny commencement ceremony with upward of 25,000 looking on from the stands, Gov. George Allen used the occasion to assure the crowd that he's doing all he can to help and outline his administration's plans for economic progress.
"Economic freedom and opportunity are the keys to unlocking the potential of every individual to be self-reliant and independent," said Allen, his trademark cowboy boots peeking from beneath his academic robe.
"Virginia traditionally has been a leader among the states in creating jobs and opportunity," he said.
But the recession was not kind to the state, which lost 90,000 jobs in the past three years. In his still-young administration, Allen touted the potential of 19,000 jobs being created by the Disney's America theme park planned near Haymarket. And he pointed to the incentive package recently offered by the state to Volvo-GM to ensure the Dublin-based plant stays in the New River Valley, with its promise of 1,400 jobs.
"Building on these early achievements, we are continuing to move swiftly," he said.
Given the stiffly competitive market, "each of you will have to compete in order to succeed," Allen said. "Likewise, Virginia must compete for new jobs and new investment to thrive and to prosper."
To that end, Allen announced his selection for the state's "head coach for jobs," Wayne Sterling, who will become director of Virginia's Department of Economic Development. Sterling, executive director of the South Carolina Department of Commerce, has lured BMW, Hoffman-LaRoche and Hitachi to that state, Allen said.
Allen made clear that his initiatives will reach statewide.
"We will tap the talent at the local level to make our goal of 125,000 new jobs a reality. And no part of Virginia will be left out - especially not Southwest Virginia, where unacceptably high unemployment lingers."
At least one new tax incentive is geared to the relative wealth of a region. The Major Business Facility tax credit provides a $1,000 tax credit for each job created after the first 100.
"And in high unemployment areas, like much of Southwest Virginia," Allen said, "this threshold drops to every new job created after the first 50."
He did not overlook the high-tech contributions from the world of higher education, which the state would help to market.
"In doing so, we fully recognize that Virginia Tech and other colleges and universities across the commonwealth will be essential for our success.
"What does all of this mean to you, the class of 1994? For those who remain in Virginia, which we hope you will, it will mean a thriving economy - an economy with opportunities for good jobs, for advancement and for income growth. Virginia's higher education system holds the key to providing the opportunity for individuals to acquire the advanced skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing and highly competitive business world."
Allen, introduced by Tech President Paul Torgersen, also made a statement that, to some extent, must have been music to Torgersen's ears.
"Higher education in the Allen administration is a priority," Allen said.
Then he qualified: "But it also must be affordable."
Earlier this year, Allen signed an initiative that holds recently soaring tuition increases to the rate of inflation. At least for this year, he was willing to appropriate funding to help close the fiscal gap opened by his directive.
by CNB