Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is calling for $353 million from the latest federal coronavirus relief bill to go toward boosting economic recovery efforts for small businesses and industries that took a hit during the pandemic.
Northam outlined the proposed investments at a news conference Monday, marking the first specific proposal for Virginia's $4.3 billion portion of American Rescue Plan funding he's made public.
Northam and fellow Democrats who control the General Assembly had previously issued a joint statement outlining their shared priorities for the money, without concrete specifics. Lawmakers will convene next month in Richmond for a special session to allocate the funding.
Northam is calling for $250 million to go toward the Rebuild VA economic recovery fund, which provides grants to small businesses and nonprofits. Demand has been high for the program.
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The governor also proposed allocating $50 million for Virginia Tourism Corp. initiatives and $53 million for other small business programs, including a fund intended to jump-start industrial projects.
“With the American Rescue Plan, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild from the impacts of the pandemic, revitalize our communities, and invest in our shared prosperity," Northam said in a statement.
Other announced priorities for Democrats include public health, rebuilding the state's unemployment trust fund and accelerating broadband access.
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Every Republican in Congress voted against the sweeping pandemic relief bill that President Joe Biden signed into law in March.
