Extra Credit Reading
Questions Remain over Health Care Reform
Who has Shed the Most Jobs?
CBO Projects Slow Economic and Employment Growth
Road to Recovery: Transforming America's Transportation
No Such Thing as Shovel Ready

Stat of the Month: 17% of Americans have a popular view of the federal government. See more here. 
 

Local Government Briefing

County of Roanoke

After two years of sometimes acrimonious debate, the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors announced last week that they will likely vote on the proposed Large Wind and/or Utility Wind Energy System ordinance at their September 13th meeting. More than 65 speakers testified during a recent public hearing, including the Chamber's VP of Public Policy, Tori Williams. The ordinance will provide guidelines on the development of wind energy, including restrictions on turbine noise and setback requirements.

Position: The Chamber supports a large scale and/or utility wind energy ordinance that is consistent with similar ordinances in jurisdictions throughout Virginia and neighboring states. The County should avoid overly restrictive ordinance language that might inhibit its ability to recruit alternative energy providers.

City of Roanoke  
The Roanoke City Council formally adopted an Arts and Culture Plan into the City's Comprehensive Plan. Developed by the Arts Commission, the plan outlines a number of strategies to strengthen arts and culture institutions by improving collaboration and promoting greater alignment with the City's economic development goals. A copy of the plan presented to Roanoke City Council can be found here. 
 

Botetourt County

The race for the Valley District for the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors took an interesting twist on Monday as incumbent Don Assaid, running as an Independent after losing the Republican nomination to Donald "Mac" Scothorn, was disqualified because of questions over his filing petition. One of Assaid's petitioners no longer resided in the Valley District forcing the electoral board to invalidate 74 signatures. Assaid fell short of the 125 signatures needs to be certified as a candidate. Another independent candidate, Helen Tippie, also failed to submit enough valid signatures. Unless Assaid can find a legal remedy, Scothorn will waltz to the November election unopposed. See more here.
 

Quality of Life Projects Briefing

One of the Chamber's priorities is to monitor the development of quality of life projects in our region.  Enhancing our region's considerable amenities is vital to attracting and retaining young workers, fresh capital, and innovative thinking. Below is a list of recent developments:

Evans Spring - Valley View Interchange
Representatives from the City of Roanoke's Planning, Building, and Development Department have held two public meetings to collect feedback from City residents on the future of approximately 150 acres of vacant land adjacent to Interstate 581 across from Valley View Mall.

Interstate access to these undeveloped tracts will likely become a reality after the completion of a $71 million expansion of the Valley View Boulevard Interchange in 2015. The land, currently owned by several developers, is surrounded by three different neighborhoods whose residents expressed concern about the impact of traffic and the use of eminent domain to acquire property. A summary of comments from the public hearings can be found here. Moving forward, the City will likely conduct a series of smaller focus group meetings as the continue to formulate a neighborhood plan for the area.