Northern Virginia Technology Council Releases Its 2015 Legislative Priorities

In many states, the start of a new year means gearing up for a new legislative session. That includes Virginia, where the General Assembly is scheduled to convene on Jan. 14.

The Northern Virginia Technology Council, the largest such technology council in the United States, has outlined its priorities for the upcoming session and sent a letter to every state lawmaker and members of Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s administration.

According to the NVTC’s letter:

Ongoing economic uncertainty and federal spending cuts underscore the importance of continuing efforts to grow and diversify Virginia's technology economy by focusing on technology and innovation, research investment, targeted economic development incentives that enhance Virginia’s competitiveness, entrepreneurship, new company formation and growing commercial markets. Moreover, shifting federal priorities provide Virginia with significant opportunity to leverage its strengths and assets in cybersecurity, data centers, cloud-focused industries, health IT, big data analytics, energy, mobility, and other growth sectors to attract new jobs and investment.

The 2015 priorities include, according to the NVTC:

• Restoring funding cuts to the CIT GAP Funds.
• Extending Virginia’s capital gains exemption for investments in technology, life sciences and energy businesses.
• Providing Virginia’s Mach37 Cyber Accelerator with statutory and budget authority to accept private sector funding and investment to support its operations.
• Launching a new veterans employment performance grant incentive to encourage small and mid-size businesses to hire veterans.

Read the NVTC’s full letter below:

Dear Delegate:

On behalf of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) and our approximately 1,000 member companies and organizations, we would like to wish you a productive and successful 2015 legislative session.

Please find enclosed NVTC’s 2015 Legislative Agenda which advocates policies and investments that focus on competitiveness and economic growth, STEM education and workforce, veterans employment, and infrastructure to ensure Virginia remains a top state for business and a global technology center.

Ongoing economic uncertainty and federal spending cuts underscore the importance of continuing efforts to grow and diversify Virginia's technology economy by focusing on technology and innovation, research investment, targeted economic development incentives that enhance Virginia’s competitiveness, entrepreneurship, new company formation and growing commercial markets. Moreover, shifting federal priorities provide Virginia with significant opportunity to leverage its strengths and assets in cybersecurity, data centers, cloud-focused industries, health IT, big data analytics, energy, mobility, and other growth sectors to attract new jobs and investment.

We ask you to support the current and future workforce needs of our technology community through continued investments in STEM education. In addition, state programs to train veterans returning to the Commonwealth and facilitate their employment are important complements to private sector efforts including NVTC's Veterans Employment Initiative. We urge you to enhance Virginia's critical infrastructure, which is vital to the growth and competitiveness of technology businesses.

Specifically, NVTC’s 2015 priorities include:

• Restoring funding cuts to the CIT GAP Funds
• Extending Virginia’s capital gains exemption for investments in technology, life sciences and energy businesses
• Providing Virginia’s Mach37 Cyber Accelerator with statutory and budget authority to accept private sector funding and investment to support its operations
• Launching a new veterans employment performance grant incentive to encourage small and mid-size businesses to hire veterans

In closing, we hope you will consider a long-term strategic view of the Commonwealth's future. We see tremendous opportunity for Virginia to further distinguish itself this year as a top state for business and a global technology center. While we recognize and appreciate that Virginia has significant economic and budget challenges, we also recognize that global competition for jobs and new businesses continues to accelerate.

Virginia cannot expect to see a return on investment unless Virginia is willing to make an investment.

Smart economic development investments must be meaningful, targeted and tailored to the promotion of collaborative research, innovation, and entrepreneurship as well as the launching of new cutting-edge technology businesses in the Commonwealth. NVTC maintains a full-time presence in Richmond during the General Assembly session.

If there is anything we can do to help you this session or any feedback we can provide, please feel free to contact NVTC Vice President of Policy Josh Levi, NVTC Public Policy Manager Troy Murphy or Myles Louria of Hunton Williams. Their contact information is attached.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of NVTC's 2015 legislative priorities. We look forward to working with you this session and hope we can count on your support.

Sudhakar Kesavan

NVTC Board Chair

Bobbie Kilberg

NVTC

CEO, ICF International President & CEO

(Image by Rose-Marie Henriksson / Shutterstock.com)