Finding Ways to Create Jobs

Find Local Jobs at CulpeperJobs.com

Published in the Culpeper Star Exponent on October 25, 2010


McDonnell Announces 240 New Jobs in Pulaski County May 06, 2010. Governor McDonnell Announces 300 New Jobs in City of Radford May 11, 2010. McDonnell Announces MeadWestvaco to Move to Virginia May 24, 2010. Va. officials welcome Northrop Grumman to Falls Church Jul 12, 2010. McDonnell Announces Microsoft to Locate Major Data Center in Mecklenburg Aug 27, 2010. Governor McDonnell Announces 174 New Jobs in Winchester Sep 10, 2010.


These are a few of the announcements on Governor Bob McDonnell’s website that describe the jobs introduced so far this year in Virginia. It is great to see jobs in other areas of Virginia since we all benefit from the jobs in our Commonwealth. We are fortunate to have major employers in Culpeper that have weathered the economic storm and preserved many jobs. It is also very good to see the Terremark / Verizon development unveiled. However, we have some work to do in supporting more job creation.


Jobs in my view are the foundation of economic recovery in our community. With unemployment bordering 10%, and probably more unofficially, the cost to our community is significant in government financial support. The potential for a reemployed workforce to buy houses and liquidate our abundance of foreclosures could firm up real estate price levels. Newly employed workers could thus increase the much needed tax revenue into the Town and County. Tax revenues that are desperately needed for school teacher raises, emergency services funding, and investment in maintaining our roads.


Creating local jobs for the approximately 40% of our workforce that commute out of Culpeper would be one of the best “Buy Local” programs that we could implement. Four hours of commuter time per day could be replaced with time and energy invested in local shopping and local community support.


We have heard it through the news cycles, the election speak, the rhetoric of elected leaders - jobs should be our priority. There are no projections for a quick economic recovery. Our policy decisions need to be driven by job creation potential. What are our immediate opportunities?


It is time for Water and Sewer to be negotiated and resolved between the Town and the County. There is every reason that this issue can be resolved and put into the DONE column with a big sign – JOBS WELCOME. We are close, and yet there are a few “Hypothetical’s” and “What If’s” that attempt to make “Water and Sewer Progress” oxymoronic…. Our legacy for 2010 should be Leadership, Statesmanship, and Vision.

What impact would Traffic Impact Fees (TIF’s) have on job creation? We need revenue for road maintenance. We need to have projects funded for our roadway infrastructure. Would TIF’s discourage new businesses to locate in Culpeper? Would TIF’s discourage local businesses to grow and add locations? Are there any other sources for transportation revenue to fund road work? There are no easy answers, and yet right now, we need jobs and we need to find ways to encourage job growth.


Our public policies can lead the way in setting the table for job creation. We can choose not to participate in the “Jobless Recovery”.


Best Regards


Jim Charapich
President / CEO
Culpeper Chamber of Commerce