GO Virginia, a new approach to growing high-paying jobs statewide, hasn’t even handed out its first grants yet (that’s expected to happen Tuesday), but it’s already asking for significantly more funding in the state’s next budget.
The entity governed by high-profile business leaders, academics and elected officials who decide which job-creating projects will get funding and which won’t is asking for $77 million for the next two years of the state’s budget cycle: $39.8 million to divvy out among nine regional councils, $28 million for statewide grants, $7.2 million for regional support (or $800,000 for each of the nine councils for administrative costs) and $2 million to cover staffing at the Department of Housing and Community Development. The grant money would carry over if unused.
GO Virginia launched last year with $28 million to get nine regional boards up and running. Of that $22 million was dedicated to funding projects. Proposals from Hampton Roads have included digital shipbuilding training, broadband cable expansion and a drone park.
