A new set of funding will include training for those with Virginia careers.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced he has recommended more than $2.7 million in Appalachian Regional Commission funding for 17 projects in Southwest Virginia. The projects will address economic development, early childhood education, health programs, job training and water quality.

“The programs funded through these grants will address a variety of important community needs in Southwest Virginia,” Kaine said in a press release. “The work of the ARC is critical to the quality of life of citizens in Appalachia and I am happy to recommend these projects for funding.”

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A new program will help create new Pennsylvania teaching jobs.

The Keystone Innovation Starter Kit program will invest $2.5 million to help local economies, provide economic growth and cement the state’s reputation as a world-class leader in faculty recruitment and advanced technology.

Specifically, the program will allow 18 colleges, universities, academic medical institutions and research institutions across the state to recruit top faculty researchers in advanced knowledge areas.

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Anyone looking for a Maryland job may have a tough time finding work.

The State of Maryland has lost 39,000 jobs since January 2008. According to an article by Gazette.net, about 185,000 workers were unemployed during January 2009, an increase of 15 percent from December 2008 and an increase of 72 percent from last year. The state’s unemployment rose from 5.4 percent to 6.2 percent during January, the highest unemployment rate since 1993.

Maryland had a total non-farm employment of 2,574,400 workers during January, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 2,568,400 during December 2008, but a decrease of 1.5 percent from last year.

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The recently-passed federal economic stimulus plan will create more jobs in Washington, D.C. than anywhere else in the country.

Cassidy & Pinkard Colliers recently released a report stating that the greater Washington area will benefit the most from the Recovery and Reinvestment Act. According to an article by GlobeSt.com, this is not a surprise, as generally when the economy reaches a recession, population growth in the D.C. area exceeds other cities by 15 to 20 percent.

That means the stimulus, which amounts to $787 billion overall, will garner more jobs and needed office space for Washington, D.C.
Typically, for every $1 billion in federal spending, 7,000 jobs are created in the Washington area. The new stimulus could give D.C. $23 billion during the next three years, meaning 30,000 Washington D.C. jobs could be created by 2010 and 64,000 jobs could be created by 2019.

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A local plant’s investments will soon create new Virginia manufacturing jobs.

SPARTA Composite Products is planning to invest $13.2 million to open a new manufacturing facility in Suffolk, Va., a move that will create 198 jobs during the next five years. Gov. Tim Kaine approved a $300,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund for the project. The facility will be used to manufacture composite parts for the aerospace and defense industry.

The facility is expected to be operation by December and will begin hiring workers during the third quarter of 2009, according to an article by the Star Exponent. SPARTA already operates three facilities in Virginia, where the company produces composite products for aircraft and missile and munitions products for the defense industry.

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