Governors Manchin and Kaine Meet At Bluefield Partnership Roundtable
Governors Manchin and Kaine Meet At Bluefield Partnership Roundtable
West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin and Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine met in the Bluefield region today to discuss ways in which the two states can pursue regional cooperation developing infrastructure, workforce development, and access to affordable health care. The Governors of both Virginias last convened in Bluefield in the summer of 1924, when West Virginia Governor Ephraim Franklin Morgan and Virginia Governor Elbert Lee Trinkle held a similar cross-border meeting.
Governors Manchin and Kaine led a midday roundtable discussion on interstate collaboration with community and business leaders from both states at the Town Hall in Bluefield, Virginia. The discussion focused on infrastructure improvements that could boost economic development efforts in the region, including broadband initiatives, followed by a dialogue on providing top quality educational and training programs. The roundtable also included a discussion of strategies to improve workforce shortages in critical medical professions, and ways the two states could work across their common border to improve access to affordable health care for citizens.
"This cross-border approach to solving our shared challenges allows our local, state, and regional partners to address some immediate and longer-range priorities," Governor Kaine said. "In addition, this partnership will help localities in this region work together to become a competitive economic unit - one that can attract new investment and improve the overall quality of life for many of our citizens."
"Despite the existence of a state line, the workforce in the Bluefield area is closely linked in Virginia and West Virginia," Governor Manchin said. "We will work to expand reciprocity opportunities between the higher education institutions that serve this region, and to improve the availability of workforce training programs."
Following the roundtable discussion in Virginia, the Governors served as co-keynote speakers at the 101st Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner in West Virginia.
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