The State of Virginia and Microsoft have teamed up to help prepare people for jobs in Virginia.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine recently announced that the state and Microsoft are launching the Microsoft Elevate America program, an innovative public-private partnership to provide free technology training to displaced workers. Microsoft will work with the Virginia Community College System to distribute 11,250 vouchers for technology training and certification.

“Virginia already has one of the best workforce development systems in the country - this program means we’ll have another exciting tool at our disposal,” Kaine said. “This partnership will provide thousands of Virginians with the technology skills they need to attain and sustain employment as the economy recovers. At the same time, this critical training will ensure Virginia’s workforce emerges from this economic downturn stronger than ever, and ready to compete on a global level.”

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A new initiative could help create a slew of PA teaching jobs in important fields.

Gov. Edward G. Rendell recently announced a proposal to increase student achievement, address teacher shortages and prepare the state’s future workforce for high-demand fields. The proposal would allow skilled professionals in the science, technology, engineering and math fields to share their expertise.

The proposal would institute residency teaching certificates to attract mid-career professionals to teaching positions. The proposal is a response to President Barack Obama’s call for “innovative work” at the state level to promote math and science education. Pennsylvania also is one of only six states that received a National Governors Association grant to establish a STEM Center.

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A focus on the state’s aerospace industry could help create many Maryland science jobs.

Gov. Martin O’Malley recently announced a strategic vision for expanding the space industry throughout Maryland. This comes only days after the state unveiled a multi-year plan to expand its biotech industry. The new vision is designed to take advantage of the innovation and uniqueness of the state’s federal institutions.

Maryland is home to 16 of the country’s top 25 space industry manufacturing and service companies, including the Goddard Space Flight Center and the Hubble Space Telescope Science Institute. The state also has attracted private sector space industry companies like CSC, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, ATK, ARINC, Orbital Services, SAIC, Battelle, General Dynamics, Hughes Network Systems and Honeywell.

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Construction has begun on a project that will eventually create thousands of D.C. office jobs.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and officials from Forest City Washington and the General Services Administration recently announced that work has begun on The Park at The Yards, a 5.4-acre public waterfront park that will overlook the Anacostia River. The Park is a major part of The Yards project, which will include the development a 42-acre urban neighborhood.

When completed, The Yards will accommodate about 2,700 new condos and apartments; 400,000-square-feet of restaurants and shops; 1.8 million-square-feet of office space and the preservation of unique historical buildings already on the site. The Yards is expected to house more than 4,700 new residents. The project also will create 7,700 new jobs, most of them office jobs, which will generate about $450 million in yearly salaries.

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One of the few states that didn’t see an increase in unemployment during April, jobs in Virginia are continuing to hold their own.

During April, the State of Virginia saw its unemployment rate come in at 6.8 percent, even with the March unemployment rate and lower than the national unemployment rate of 8.9 percent. The state had a total non-farm employment of 3,669,000 workers during April, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 3,673,100 workers during March and a 2.7 percent decrease from last year.

As has been the case in most places during the last few months, the construction industry took the biggest hit. The industry employed 194,100 workers during April, down from 197,600 workers during March and a 14.4 percent decrease from last year.

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Gov. Edward G. Rendell recently announced his plan to invest in three venture capital firms that will help create biotech jobs in PA.

The Commonwealth Financing Authority recently approved $5 million in new investments to the firms through the New PA Venture Capital Investment program, which provides loans to venture capital firms to invest in growth-stage companies. The three firms are expected to leverage an additional $15 million in private investments that will be used to support more than 20 early stage companies in Pennsylvania.

The New PA Venture Capital Investment program was authorized to provide $60 million in loans to venture capital managers and leverage another $180 million in private equity for a total investment of $240 million in the local economy. According to the National Venture Capital Association, Pennsylvania is currently third in the nation in jobs created by venture-backed companies.

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An effort between Gov. Martin O’Malley and the Mediterranean Shipping Company will help keep hundreds of Maryland careers in the state.

O’Malley and officials from MSC recently signed a six-year extension to the current contract between the Port of Baltimore and the MSC, an international container shipping company based in Geneva. The deal will help keep 628 direct jobs in Maryland and ensure the continued shipment of containerized cargo through the Port of Baltimore.

“In these difficult economic times, I am very pleased to receive an extended commitment from one of the top container shipping companies in the world,” O’Malley said in a press release. “This extension keeps good-paying, family-supporting jobs at the economic engine that is the Port of Baltimore. Maryland is proud to be signing the third long-term contract in a year when many ports are facing much harder times.”

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Several youths will have the opportunity to participate in D.C. summer jobs this year.

About 24,000 youths 14 to 24-years old in Washington, D.C. have already registered for the city’s 2009 Summer Youth Employment Program, which had an early registration deadline of May 1. This is the highest level of enrollment the city has seen in years, which is good news since the program faced some backlash last year. This year’s program runs from June 18 to August 21.

This year the city also is able to offer a record number of job opportunities. Program participants will have a variety of job options, including working in many District agencies, the private sector, the federal government - including the White House - and the Mayor’s Conservation Corps.

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One company is upgrading much of its equipment in an effort to maintain several Virginia manufacturing jobs.

It was recently announced that Owens-Illinois, Inc. will invest $20 million to upgrade equipment at its manufacturing plant in James City County. The upgrades, made possible through a public-private collaboration, will enhance the energy efficiency and technological capabilities of the plant, as well as maintain the plant’s 180 employees. Owens-Illinois manufactures glass containers for food, beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages.

“O-I is seizing the opportunity to make the James City County plant stronger and more competitive, which will help keep quality manufacturing jobs in James City County,” Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said in a press release. “Together, we are working to keep jobs in the region and the Commonwealth during this challenging economic time. As the largest manufacturer of glass containers in the world, Virginia is proud to boast this corporate partner.”

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Thousands of Pennsylvania jobs will be created by new projects in Allegheny County.

Gov. Edward G. Rendell recently announced his support for 12 projects throughout the county that will generate almost half a billion dollars in total investment and create or retain about 6,750 jobs. Rendell noted that Pittsburgh has received a lot of attention for its revitalization efforts during the last six years.

“Pennsylvania has not been immune to the challenges of the national recession, but here in Allegheny County, we’re seeing a solid return on our investments in projects that create jobs and improve the quality of life,” Rendell said in a press release. “We’ve invested in this region and reinvigorated downtown Pittsburgh by building on our strengths—our workforce, some of the world’s best universities, and our talents in the creative economy.

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