Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of Governor Bob McDonnell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2010
Contact: Stacey Johnson
Phone: (804) 225-4260
E-mail: Stacey.Johnson@Governor.Virginia.Gov

Governor McDonnell Promotes Virginia’s Seafood Industry, Tours Vineyard in Visit to Eastern Shore

~ Participates in Groundbreaking for New Robert S. Bloxom Eastern Shore Agricultural Complex in Melfa; Highlights Wine Industry at Chatham Vineyards and Winery in Machipongo~
--Melfa Complex Named After Former Virginia Delegate and Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Robert S. Bloxom--

MELFA- Governor Bob McDonnell visited the Eastern Shore today to participate in the groundbreaking for a new Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) regional office and seafood packing facility in Melfa. Later he took a tour of the Chatham Vineyards and Winery in Machipongo. The Governor was joined on the trip by First Lady Maureen McDonnell; Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore; and Matt Lohr, newly appointed Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Speaking about the groundbreaking for the Robert S. Bloxom Eastern Shore Agricultural Complex in Melfa, the Governor noted, “Virginia’s seafood industry is one of the oldest industries in the United States and one of the Commonwealth’s most economically important. We are the nation’s fourth largest producer of marine products, trailing only Alaska, Louisiana and Washington. The annual economic impact of the industry is over half a billion dollars a year, and there are approximately 11,000 full and part-time jobs in Virginia connected to the seafood industry. It is a vital part of the Virginia economy of today and tomorrow. And it is with a focus on tomorrow that we are breaking ground on this new facility –it will meet the needs of our seafood industry well into the 21st century. It will also encourage the further development of one of Virginia’s greatest natural resources, our fisheries, as well as the expansion of statewide, regional, domestic, and international markets for these great products.”

Commenting on the visit to the Chatham Vineyards and Winery, McDonnell remarked, “Wineries and vineyards across the Commonwealth, both large and small, contribute significantly to Virginia’s economy, providing jobs and financial benefits. With the help of bipartisan legislation passed this session that supports the Commonwealth's wine and grape promotional and research efforts, the Virginia wine industry, including Chatham Vineyards and Winery, will be able to grow and attract more visitors from all over the world. That is a win-win for Virginia.”

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Todd Haymore, added, "The Eastern Shore is one of the most important agricultural regions of the Commonwealth. "From seafood to vegetables to poultry to grains to wine grapes, the Eastern Shore is responsible for producing some of the highest quality and most in demand products in the nation and around the world. The Robert S. Bloxom Eastern Shore Agricultural Complex and workers manning this new facility will help ensure that the growers, producers, and watermen on the Eastern Shore will have the resources that they need to continue producing these top quality products."

To enhance the economic opportunities for the citizens of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, the Commonwealth is establishing a centralized, modern facility for freezing and storing fresh seafood products at the site of the Eastern Shore Farmers’ Market. Today’s system allows fishermen to unload product directly at the dock for sale to wholesale and retail outlets represented there. With blast freezing and freezer storage, fishermen can spread out the catch instead of flooding the market, and they can add value to the product, thus commanding a higher price. In addition, a new office facility for VDACS will be built to consolidate agency marketing and consumer protection services into one location. Office space for the Eastern Shore Soil and Water Conservation District will also be provided in the new office building.

~ Funds to Expand Availability of Broadband in Rural Communities on Eastern Shore ~

RICHMOND–Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced an additional $1,000,000 grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to fund Phase IV of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Broadband Buildout. The project is projected to create 20 jobs and will be financed by the Community Development Block Grant – Recovery (CDBG-R) program. The Buildout had previously been identified as an alternate project, but funding was made available after portions of the first round of grants went unused.



“Today we are announcing an important project on Virginia’s Eastern Shore that will not only bring critical broadband infrastructure to the area, but will also create 20 new jobs as a result of the Recovery Act,” said Governor Kaine. “Broadband access is an important tool in the development and recruitment of business and I am confident that this grant will pay dividends in the short term and for years to come.”

The broadband project will create a broadband network to serve the towns of Nassawadox, Exmore, Willis Wharf and Belle Haven. It will allow for new and enhanced medical service through increased connectivity to major health care facilities such as the Shore Memorial Hospital, Shore Cancer Center, Eastern Shore Rural Health, Eastern Shore Community Services Board, and a large number of physicians groups.

Projects funded by the CDBG-R program must meet CDBG requirements in addition to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) objectives such as timeliness and readiness; recovery act objectives; maximizing job creation and economic development benefit; and demonstration of a regional or statewide significance of the project.

“Projects funded through the CDBG-R must not only meet standard CDBG requirements, they must also assist those impacted by recession, invest in projects with long-range economic development benefits, and foster energy independence,” said DHCD Director Bill Shelton. “By providing broadband access to residents of the Eastern Shore, this project meets all of those goals and more.”

Governor Kaine has made the expansion of affordable broadband access a key part of his economic development efforts because of its transformative potential, especially in rural Virginia. Under Governor Kaine, the Commonwealth convened the Broadband Roundtable to develop a “last-mile” telecommunications blueprint for advancing his goal of ensuring broadband access for every Virginia business. During his term the Commonwealth also released the state’s first broadband availability map to give policy makers, local government leaders, and service providers a more detailed picture of broadband coverage in Virginia as they work to provide "last-mile" broadband in their communities.

For more information, visit: www.dhcd.virginia.gov.