Governor Abigail Spanberger held a Rural Prosperity Summit in Lexington to outline the state's focus on expanding economic opportunity in rural Virginia, creating jobs, and supporting agriculture and forestry. The summit brought together local leaders, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations from across rural Virginia.
The summit comes as Virginia has announced several major economic development projects in rural areas. This week, the governor announced a $412.5 million expansion by M.C. Dean in Caroline County, expected to create nearly 2,000 jobs. The state has recently celebrated other investments, including a $64 million project in Isle of Wight County and a $500 million manufacturing facility by Avio USA in Pittsylvania County.
Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery said more than a third of the administration's announced projects have been directed to rural Virginia, representing over 5,000 new jobs and more than $6 billion in capital investment. The state has also distributed a $7.2 million grant to expand childcare in Southwest and Southside Virginia.
At the summit, the governor announced Virginia's first dedicated Director of Outdoor Recreation, a position focused on growing the outdoor recreation economy and supporting communities that rely on tourism. A statewide listening tour on outdoor recreation strategy began this week in Southwest Virginia.
The governor also met with leaders and healthcare professionals at Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital to discuss challenges facing rural healthcare in Virginia. According to the state, the governor's biennial budget, signed in July, allocates more than $500 million to protect healthcare access for rural Virginians from federal healthcare cuts.