A plan to grow the economy, even in rural areas like Patrick County, is a centerpiece of gubernatorial hopeful Ed Gillespie’s campaign.
Gillespie, the GOP nominee in the November election, said if elected, he would be around to make sure that happens. He said he plans to spend a lot of time in Patrick County and other areas of Virginia, even holding cabinet meetings in different regions of Virginia to make sure government is more accessible.
Gillespie made a swing through Stuart Saturday, first at the Insurance Center of Patrick, then W&W Produce and Howell’s Grocery, before heading to Hillsville and eventually to the Fiddlers Convention in Galax.
He will face Democratic challenger Ralph Northam, and Libertarian Party candidate Cliff Hyra, in the Nov. 7 election.
When in Stuart, Gillespie attended a business roundtable that included Del. Charles Poindexter, R- Glade Hill, local business representatives and others.
“I’m here to talk about business and to help get things going” in a positive direction Gillespie said, and noted economic development encompasses many areas, from infrastructure – like high speed Internet – to education/workforce training, tourism and creating a business friendly environment that will make it easier for small businesses to start up and flourish.
Gillespie said his economic plan will produce growth, even in rural areas like Patrick County, because it focuses on diversification and provides for the creation of the kind of environment necessary for small businesses to start up and grow.
Gillespie said his plan includes cutting individual taxes by 10 percent (about $1,300 annually for a family of four). Phased in over three years and fully funded with existing revenue, the cut would help create an estimated 53,000 new, full-time jobs in the private sector, he said.
If successful, it would mark the first cut of the individual tax rate since 1972.
Gillespie said his recently unveiled plan to expand high speed Internet access is critical to economic development, education and other factors, including “the population drain,” because it will help keep younger people in rural areas. It also will help keep family farms in families because farmers rely on the internet for several purposes, including selling products, according to Gillespie. He also noted that younger farmers in particular are accustomed to the connectivity.
“When it comes to creating economic growth and jobs in the Commonwealth, having access to high speed internet in every corner of Virginia is critical,” Gillespie said, and added he will work to ensure at least half of the 900,000 Virginians currently lacking Internet access will have it by the end of his term as governor.
He will not eliminate the Commonwealth’s Development Opportunity Fund (formerly the Governor’s Opportunity Fund), which provides incentives to businesses locating or expanding in Virginia.
However, Gillespie said he believes the incentive program “needs to be more targeted,” with a “greater emphasis on those areas of the Commonwealth” which most need economic development and/or economic growth.
He also recently unveiled a plan to grow Virginia’s estimated nearly $22 billion outdoor industry. The plan provides for, among other things, launching “The Outdoor Dominion,” a searchable website that catalogs available recreation activities.
Administered by the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the site would include links to maps, costs and other applicable information, including license applications for hunting and fishing.
In healthcare, Gillespie said there “is no doubt, we’ll have to address the lack of insurer and provider” market. He said he would work to allow insurance companies to compete across state lines. That would include networking with governors in other states, including Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Gillespie said he will unveil a detailed healthcare reform plan to address the issue later this summer.
Gillespie and his wife Cathy have three children. The family lives in Fairfax County.
