Bolling Speaks at Business Round Table

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Though the economy is only gradually turning around, Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling said the state is doing everything it can in preparation to "grow business" when things get better.

Bolling, who chairs Gov. Bob McDonnell's newly created Virginia Economic Development and Jobs Creation Commission, said the legislature recently allotted roughly $50 million to invest in future economic development.

The money will help state government do what it can to for economic development, Bolling told a group of Manassas business leaders and city officials Thursday during a round table breakfast at the Center for the Arts.

"I think I can safely tell you that our emphasis is on economic development and job creation and is the strongest emphasis that we have had in Virginia in a very long time," Bolling said.

Bolling outlined some of the things commission members were doing to aid economic development in the state. They include meeting with employers and asking what administration can do to help and targeting businesses outside of the state to let them know of Virginia's lower taxes and business-friendly regulations.

"We want to be really doing some things that show how government can help support the private sector," Bolling said. "I think we have more tools today to help recruit new businesses and to create jobs in Virginia."

A secondary function of the round table breakfast was to get ideas from the business leaders about how to make economic development happen.

While he acknowledged that it wasn't government's role to create economic growth, Bolling told the audience members that he hoped they would be able to figure out ways that government could help.

"As you're meeting around your tables this morning, I hope that you will think about the simple question "What is it that government can do to help my business be more successful?" he said.

After Bolling left, the business leaders brainstormed at their tables to formulate questions and concerns about economic development in Manassas, and wrote down their suggestions.

City Manager Lawrence D. Hughes collected the notes and talked about a few of them.

He said the suggestions fell into several categories including expedited building processes and promoting the city's history.

Hughes said getting building permits, inspections and such would be easier once building started again.

"The city has been working on that heavily for the last year. As the economy turns, we will be pre-pared," he said.

Hughes said that the history-promoting would happen soon in a strong way with the upcoming 150th anni-versary of the Civil War.

"We'll be doing that in the coming days in preparation of the susquecentennial," Hughes said. "You'll be hearing more about that as we move forward."

Hughes told the participants that he would compile the notes and send them out for feedback and ideas.

Frank Nozzolillo, a Sherwin Williams sales representative, said he thought the round table format will work.

"I think it's important to get the ideas of business owners," Nozzolillo said.

SOURCE: The News & Messenger