FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, June 22, 2015
Contact:
Paul Logan
703-403-6464 (m)
p.logan@vachamber.com
RICHMOND – The Virginia Chamber Foundation’s Center for Trade announced today that it has contracted with McDearman Associates, LLC to conduct a study on the role of trade in Virginia’s economy. The study, which will include a regional breakdown of trade’s economic impact, will be released Sept. 24 at the Virginia Chamber’s Forum on Trade and Infrastructure.
Speaking about the upcoming study, Keith Martin, Executive Director of the Virginia Chamber Foundation, said, “One in four jobs in Virginia depend on trade, and we know that 7,600 Virginia small businesses are exporters. This new study will give policy-makers and business leaders in Virginia a better idea of the full impact of trade in the Commonwealth and the effectiveness of our current policies regarding trade.”
William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business will also partner with the Chamber Foundation and McDearman Associates to quantify the statewide output and job impacts, and state government tax impacts, of Virginia-produced exports.
McDearman Associates will conduct interviews with exporting companies and provide in-depth data and analysis on trade’s role in Virginia. The study will also include an assessment of Virginia’s current programs and activities related to exports and trade.
ABOUT THE VIRGINIA CHAMBER FOUNDATION:
The mission of the Virginia Chamber Foundation is to strengthen Virginia’s long-term competitiveness through implementation support for Blueprint Virginia. The Foundation conducts research, provides metrics for the state’s progress and produces events on issues facing business.
ABOUT BLUEPRINT VIRGINIA:
Blueprint Virginia is a comprehensive initiative to provide business leadership, direction and long-range economic development planning for Virginia. For twelve months over 2012-2013, the Blueprint process engaged business and community leaders from around the state through grassroots involvement. Briefings were held in more than 30 communities where hundreds of Virginia citizens voted on priority issues for their region and the state. The Blueprint Virginia project collaborated with more than 300 organizations and over 7,000 participants to develop “A Business Plan for the Commonwealth,” which provides elected officials and private sector leaders with a roadmap for economic competitiveness.
More information regarding Blueprint Virginia is available at http://www.vachamber.com/blueprint-virginia-plan/
