Governor McDonnell Announces "Virginia: Growing Strong" Tour from May 7 to May 12
– Governor to Travel Commonwealth; Attend Events at Job-Creating Projects Statewide –

Tour Will Take Governor from Jonesville in Far Southwest Virginia Mountains to Deck of Navy Cruiser Anchored in Norfolk
Governor's Cabinet Will Also Tour Virginia at the Same Time

RICHMOND - Following recent news of record-high agriculture exports; Virginia's unemployment rate falling to 5.6 percent, the lowest rate in over three years; and the passage of a balanced budget that directs historic new resources to higher education, puts significant new funding into K-12 education and dramatically improves the solvency of Virginia's Retirement System, with no tax increases; and continuing his administration's focus on job creation and economic development, Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that he is embarking on a "Virginia: Growing Strong" statewide tour over the next week. The statewide tour is aimed at highlighting private-sector growth around the Commonwealth and celebrating bipartisan successes from the recent General Assembly session. The tour will take the Governor all across the Commonwealth from Jonesville in far Southwest Virginia to Winchester in the northern Valley; Danville in southern Virginia to the deck of a Navy cruiser anchored in Norfolk. A full tour schedule is available below.

"Virginia is growing strong again. While difficult economic times are not completely behind us, and Virginia will continue to face challenges on the road to recovery, the Commonwealth is showing significant signs that it is growing strong again. Our 5.6 percent unemployment rate is the lowest in over three years, the lowest in the southeast, and it has fallen by 23 percent since we took office. Our new biennial budget puts historic new resources into higher education, over half a billion in new funding into our K-12 system, and stabilizes our retirement system for the years ahead. And we did this without raising taxes. We are making government live within its means, and be more efficient and effective. Agricultural exports are setting records, buoyed by breakthroughs like direct cattle shipments to Canada and soybean exports to China. Businesses continue to choose Virginia as the best place to grow and expand, while Pollina and CNBC recognize Virginia as the best place in the country in which to do business. These are Virginia successes. They are the result of Virginians coming together across party and regional lines to get things done and get results. We are celebrating that. My cabinet and I will be crisscrossing the state to thank Virginians for their great work through tough times, and to hear directly from them what we can do in Richmond to keep Virginia growing strong in the years ahead."

"Virginia: Growing Strong" Statewide Tour Schedule
May 7 - May 12

Monday, May 7

• 8 a.m. Governor McDonnell's Cabinet Kicks-Off Statewide Tour During Weekly Cabinet Meeting (Open Press)
  Cabinet Conference Room
  3rd Floor, Patrick Henry Building
  1111 E. Broad St.
  Richmond

• 12:15 p.m. Governor McDonnell Visits EIT, Inc.
  350 Slayton Avenue
  Danville

• 2 p.m. Governor McDonnell Signs Jobs and Economic Development Legislation and Cuts Ribbon at Grand Opening of ICF International
  ICF Operations Center
  980 Beaver Creek Drive
  Martinsville

Tuesday, May 8

• 11:40 a.m. Governor McDonnell Visits Fredericksburg Machine & Steel
  2202 Airport Avenue
  Fredericksburg

• 2:30 p.m. Governor McDonnell Signs Legislation to Protect Victims of Sexual and Domestic Violence
  Northern Virginia Community College (Annandale Campus)
  Robert Ernst Community Cultural Center
  8333 Little River Turnpike
  Annandale

Wednesday, May 9

• 9 a.m. Governor McDonnell Makes Land Conservation Announcement
  National Sporting Library and Museum
  102 The Plains Road
  Middleburg

• 12:30 p.m. Governor McDonnell Visits DuPont Front Royal Plant
  7961 Winchester Road
  Front Royal

• 2 p.m. Governor McDonnell Signs Legislation to Promote Agriculture and Forestry Industry
  Cave View Farm
  147 Cave View Lane
  Weyer's Cave

• 3:30 p.m. Governor McDonnell Visits Charlottesville-Based State Employees
  Fontaine Research Park
  900 Natural Resources Drive, Suite 800
  Charlottesville

Thursday, May 10

• 9 a.m. Governor McDonnell Signs College- and Career-Ready Legislation; First Part of "Opportunity to Learn" Agenda
  Virginia High School
  1200 Long Crescent Drive
  Bristol

• 12 p.m. Governor McDonnell Visits Ruby's Steak House for Lunch
  191 Industrial Drive
  Pennington Gap

• 12:45 p.m. Governor McDonnell visits Lee High School and Lee County Career and Technical Center
  200 General Lane
  Jonesville

• 3 p.m. Governor McDonnell Signs Coalfield Employment Enhancement Tax Credit and Coal Mine Safety Legislation
  **Details will be announced Wednesday, May 9

Saturday, May 12

• 10 a.m. Governor McDonnell Delivers Commencement Address at Christopher Newport University
  The Great Lawn, Christopher Newport University
  Newport News

• 2 p.m. Governor McDonnell Holds Military Appreciation Month Event Aboard the USS San Jacinto
  Naval Station Norfolk
  Virginia Beach

Please Note : Media outlets interested in covering the event should contact Naval Station Norfolk Public Affairs at (757) 322-2576 for (757) 438-4245 cell by 2 p.m., Friday, May 11.

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