ISSUE #11 – Warner, Kaine Were Bad on Economy

May 22nd, 2009

“We have not been successful at going after what I call the big production facilities, BMW, ThyssenKrupp, International Paper, Kia, Toyota.”

- Terry McAuliffe  (Washington Post Debate, May 19, 2009)

Speaking of Tim Kaine’s record, McAuliffe said, “You should be ashamed of yourself, and as governor, I will fight for every deal, and I'll bring in more jobs than 49 other governors in this country."

– Terry McAuliffe (Washington Post, McAuliffe: Virginia Can Do Better on Job Creation, April 22, 2009)

 
FACTS

How has Virginia done on investment and job creation? Since 2001, Virginia’s Economic Development Partnership has brought in: Over $26 BILLION in new and expanded business investment and created over 220,000 new jobs. (Virginia Economic Development Partnership)

OK, but what about BIG projects? The ones McAuliffe is always talking about?

$600 million -- Canon. Manufacturing facility in Hampton Roads brings 1,000 jobs, $600 million investment. 2008. (Governor’s Press Release. Governor Kaine Announces over 1000 jobs for Virginia. April 2007)

 $1.2 billion -- Micron Technologies. Semiconductor company invests $1.2 billion in Virginia economy. 2005. (Governor’s Press Release.  Governor Warner Announces Nearly 900 Jobs Created Due to Micron Expansion in Manassas. November 4, 2005)
 
$1 billion -- Infineon Technologies. Semiconductor company makes $1 billion investment in Henrico county, creating 1,200 new jobs. 2004. (Governor’s Press Release. Infineon Technologies Moves Forward with Major Semiconductor Expansion in Henrico County; Governor Warner Announces Company’s Commitment to Virginia. April 2004)

$501 million, 542 jobs -- Rolls-Royce. Aircraft engine assembly.

$500 million, 300 jobs -- Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Biomedical research

$450 million -- MAERSK/APM. International shipping firm locates $450 million investment in Hampton Roads. 2004. (Governor’s Press Release. Governor Warner Announces New Deepwater Container Terminal, April 20, 2004)

$300 million, 500 jobs – Philip Morris. Research and Development Center.

$281 million, 740 jobs --  Swedwood North America. IKEA furniture manufacturing.

$227 million, 2,500 jobs -- Corporate Executive Board. Business analysis and research services.

$2.2 million, 949 jobs – ICT Group. Call center.

$363 million -- AREVA/Northrop Grumman. Global defense contractors invest $363 million in Newport News. 2008. (Governor’s Press Release. Governor Kaine Announces 540 New Jobs for Newport News. October 23, 2008)

(Sources: Unless otherwise noted, source is the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Virginia Announcements Database. http://virginiascan.yesvirginia.org/ResourceCenter/AnnouncementsWeb.aspx)

Virginia has been recognized as one of the most business-friendly states in the nation.

Best State in the Nation for Business three years running by Forbes.com 

Top State for Business by CNBC 

Top Performing State by Governing Magazine 

Best Managed State in the Nation by Governing Magazine 

Top 10 Pro-Business state by Pollina 

(Source: Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Prominent Accolades. http://www.yesvirginia.org/whyvirginia/awards.aspx)

The simple fact is that Terry McAuliffe clearly has no knowledge of Virginia’s efforts at economic development and his campaign must tear down the work of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to make him look good.



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