U.S. textile and apparel manufacturers see plenty of demand for products. Yet, profit margins are tighter than ever thanks to competition from foreign-made clothing which are produced at a fraction of the U.S. cost. Only the fittest companies survive by combining a U.S. presence with foreign production.
Many of the textile jobs in Virgina have been outsourced. Mark Warner wants to help those workers.
RICHMOND - Governor Warner announced today that the Virginia Employment Commission has awarded $1,098,500 of Workforce Investment Act Dislocated Worker funds to the South Central Workforce Investment Board (WIB) as part of a retraining initiative for displace textile workers. It is anticipated that Southside Virginia Community College will provide a large portion of the training under this grant, including training through its well-known heavy equipment training program.
"I visited Charlotte County in February to see and hear for myself the impact of the closing of the WestPoint Stevens plant in Drakes Branch that resulted in 450 workers losing their jobs," said Governor Warner. "I promised then that the Commonwealth and its agencies would be there to support the county and its citizens as they undertook the difficult task of recovering from this large layoff."
"This award will provide a variety of retraining and related services to help workers affected by the recent closings of the WestPoint Stevens plant, as well as the Weavexx plant in Farmville, and the Blackstone Manufacturing plant," said Governor Warner. "In February, I also asked the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) to work with Charlotte County to develop a new approach to help market the County to potential employers. The County and VEDP have now developed a strong plan that I believe will be successful in the long run."
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2005/Apr05/0405.htm
I like Mark Warner. He may be in a Red state but he is a true Democrat. He wasn't afraid to raise taxes in Virginia and sell the benefits of those increases to the people. He believes that government programs can add to the quality of life of people in his state and help them get back on his feet.
I hope he runs for President in 2008. We need him.