Gov. Bob McDonnell told his job creation panel to think big when it comes to recommending ways to create jobs in Virginia. Fresh off his first foreign trade mission, McDonnell said that the state consistently rated among the nation’s two most business-friendly has lost ground in luring its share of new jobs…

The Governor’s Commission on Economic Development and Job Creation held its second full meeting today at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond. The Commission is led by Lieutenant Governor and Chief Jobs Creation Officer Bill Bolling and the Governor’s Senior Economic Advisor Bob Sledd. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor have charged the Commission with developing a series of innovative, achievable policy recommendations to help create jobs and stimulate economic growth in Virginia.

First, President Obama credited his federal stimulus package with producing 73,000 jobs in Virginia. Then, one day later, Gov. Robert F. McDonnell announced that he had helped create 71,500 jobs in Virginia since taking office — in part because of the strong economic climate he had fostered.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said Thursday that his week-long trip to Europe will likely bring new jobs and investments to the commonwealth. “It has been exciting to meet with some of our large trading partners,” he told reporters on a conference call from Germany. “It has been exciting to meet with some of our large trading partners,” he told reporters on a conference call from Germany.

The number of non-farm jobs in Virginia rose in June from the year before for the first time in 22 months, according to data released yesterday by the Virginia Employment Commission. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in Virginia last month by 22,600 jobs compared with May and 1,500 jobs compared with June 2009.