Richmond, VA - Anne Holton continued her tour of community colleges and universities today with stops at Virginia State University (VSU) in Petersburg and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College (JSRCC) Parham Campus in Richmond. At both schools, Holton shared Governor Tim Kaine’s strategies to improve Science Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) curriculum, career and technical education, and workforce development.
“Tim is a strong believer in a talent economy. He knows that we need to work together to invest in education to continue to have a competitive workforce in a global economy,” said Holton. “Tim understands that adequately funding education is one of the most important ways we can keep Virginia’s economy strong.”
Throughout the day, Holton emphasized Kaine’s strong record of making education a priority. During his term as governor, Kaine worked to increase pre-k enrollment by 40 percent, expanded workforce training programs and technical education opportunities, and worked with the General Assembly to pass the largest higher education bond package in state history.
“Virginians need a leader like Tim in the Senate who is willing to work across the aisle to invest in education,” said Holton. “As governor during the worst recession since the Great Depression, Tim had to make tough but necessary cuts to the budget, but he also worked with members of both parties to invest in the Commonwealth’s community colleges, four year universities, and workforce training programs.”
Both VSU and JSRCC benefitted from the record 2008 bipartisan higher education bond package Kaine helped pass as governor. Both colleges received upgrades to their science and technology facilities.
Holton has toured colleges and universities across the Commonwealth to share Kaine’s economic vision with students, educators, and administrators. Previous stops include visits to Tidewater Community College (Virginia Beach Campus), Norfolk State University, George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College (Woodbridge Campus), Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, Northern Virginia Community College (Annandale Campus), Rappahannock Community College, Paul D. Camp Community College, John Tyler Community College, the College of William and Mary, Richard Bland College, and Virginia Western Community College.
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