WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development (IATF) and Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs (ACVBA) announced they will hold their next set of virtual public meetings on March 1 and 2, respectively, via Microsoft Teams.

"The IATF and ACVBA committee meetings are a quarterly opportunity for members and participants to come together and hear about the state of veteran-owned small businesses," said Acting Associate Administrator for the SBA Office of Veterans Business Development, Timothy Green. "Most importantly, it serves as a chance to discuss how SBA can continue to serve service members, veterans, and their families through resources, training, and other support."

WHAT: IATF and ACVBA Virtual Public Meetings

The IATF meeting will include committee member updates from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Treasury, Defense, and Labor; U.S. General Services Administration; Office of Management and Budget; North Carolina Business Center; the American Legion; VET-Force; and the National Veteran Small Business Coalition.

The ACVBA meeting will cover briefings from the SBA Office of Veterans Business Development, the SBA Office of Government Contracting and Business Development on the Veteran Small Business Certification program, VA, the University of Washington Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, and the Madison Services Group.

WHEN: IATF Meeting

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

• 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST
• ACVBA Meeting
• Thursday, March 2, 2023
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST

WHO: Timothy Green, Acting Associate Administrator, SBA Office of Veterans Business Development;Robert Bailey, ACVBA Chairperson, Veteran Small Business Owner; IATF and ACVBA Committee Members; Guest Speakers from Interagency Partners and Veterans Service Organizations

HOW: 

• The IATF will meet on Wednesday, March 1, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST via this Microsoft Teams link. To join the meeting by phone instead, use 206-413-7980 and enter the Conference ID: 953121976#.  
• The ACVBA will meet Thursday, March 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST via this Microsoft Teams link. To join by phone instead, dial 206-413-7980 and enter the Conference ID: 115439757#. 

Public comments and questions are strongly encouraged to be submitted in advance via email by February 28 to veteransbusiness@sba.gov. For technical support, please visit the Microsoft Teams support page. Meeting presentations and minutes will be available after both meetings at www.sba.gov/ovbd under the "Federal Advisory Committees" section. 

By Zahra Ndirangu. Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia students are returning to K-12 public schools — although enrollment has not returned to pre-pandemic levels — but there are fewer teachers due to an increase in teacher vacancies. 

The rebound comes after an enrollment decline the previous two years.

FALL MEMBERSHIP DATA

Enrollment numbers increased by more than 11,300 students from fall 2021 to fall 2022, according to data from the Virginia Department of Education.

VDOE annually collects statistics on the number of students enrolled in public school on Sept. 30. This report, known as "Fall Membership," is submitted by each school in Virginia that officially enrolls students.

Virginia K-12 enrollment sits just over 1.26 million full and part-time students combined. Part-time students are nonpublic school students who take one or more classes in a public school, according to VDOE. 

 The numbers show schools haven't reached the 2019-20, pre-pandemic levels of almost 1.3 million students.

The number of current part-time students decreased by over 100 students since the last school year. There was a significant increase of over 500 part-time students in the 2020-21 school year, while numbers fluctuated in prior years with no apparent trend.

The number of home-schooled students, including religious exemptions, decreased for the current school year, down 8% at almost 57,000 students. The previous two school years saw a spike in total home-schooled students, reaching over 65,500 home-schooled students in the 2020-21 school year. 

The category with the most home-schooled and religious exempt students is K-5, accounting for almost half of the total. 

TEACHER VACANCIES

There was a 25% increase in teacher vacancies throughout Virginia from the 2021 fall report to the 2022 fall VDOE report. The number of vacancies increased from just over 2,800 to over 3,500, according to the data, which does not include personnel or transportation positions. The numbers may have changed, as they pertain to a snapshot of data from fall 2022, because school divisions do not report daily, weekly or monthly data on unfilled positions, according to the VDOE.

There was a 12% increase in teachers leaving the workforce in the 2021-22 school year, when compared to the pre-pandemic yearly average, according to a Nov. 2022 report published by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, or JLARC. At the same time, there was a 15% decrease in newly licensed teachers, according to JLARC. 

As more teachers leave the profession, fewer teachers are being licensed, according to the JLARC report. Nearly all divisions surveyed for the report indicated that finding "fully qualified applicants" was among their biggest challenges when it came to staffing. 

The Richmond Education Association and other organizations have lobbied for better education funding and met with state lawmakers to provide support for educators, according to REA president Katina Harris.

There are a few changes that will help increase enrollment, according to Harris, and lawmakers need to commit necessary funding. Students will receive a better education with smaller classroom sizes, more available counselors and more teacher support for remedial learning programs, Harris said.

"At minimum, $1.3 billion is needed to fully fund our [Richmond City] schools right now," Harris said. "That shouldn't be that hard to ask because the children are literally the future."

Richmond City allotted just over $200 million in general funds for education in the 2023 fiscal year, according to the city's budget. The city has also budgeted $200 million in capital improvement funds for school modernization and improvement for the upcoming 2024 fiscal year.

HOME-SCHOOLER APPEAL

The pandemic contributed to the increase of home-schooled students, according to Yvonne Bunn, the director of homeschool support and government affairs for the Home Educators Association of Virginia. 

There was an almost 56% increase in total home-schooled students in the 2020-21 school year. The amount of K-5 home-schooled students doubled that year.

Many parents have chosen to continue home schooling even since schools reopened. Parents can tailor their children's education to their needs, according to Bunn. 

The home environment is safer for children who deal with bullying or harassment in public schools, Bunn said.

"It takes them out of that where they can be in their home, they can be more secure in their home," Bunn said. 

Home schooling in Virginia allows parents to meet their children where they are, rather than children struggling to keep up in schools, according to Bunn. 

"If they got average or below average, we'd go back over it to see how they could understand the material better," Bunn said. "So that's the key to home schooling, one-on-one tutoring, that's really the key."

Virginia Commonwealth University student Celia Donnelly is a senior studying graphic design. Home schooling allowed her time to pursue her interests, which eventually led to her current studies, she said. Donnelly was home-schooled from K-12 in North Carolina, she said.

Parents can provide resources, such as curriculums that adapt to specific learning styles, that are not readily available in public school, or are not as standardized, according to Donnelly. 

"It's all standardized, you have a lot of people who need a lot of things, so just inherently there's going to be a lot of gaps ... and home schooling can help with that," she said. 

Donnelly's mother valued and through home-school taught her the ability to "question everything and stay curious" about the world around her, she said. 

LEGISLATION AND FUNDING

Virginia lawmakers allotted $3.2 billion in direct aid for state education in the 2022-24 biennium budget. The budget also included reforms for a 10% teacher pay raise split over two years. Funds from the American Rescue Plan act directed $125 million to fund a one-time, $1,000 bonus to educators last December.

Lawmakers have introduced proposals during the current General Assembly session to tackle the deficit of teachers, as well as the increasing number of home-schooled students. 

Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, introduced House Bill 1566, which would require the state to pay educators a rate equal to or above the national average salary for teachers. The bill reported from a House committee but did not advance from the Appropriations committee.

Del. John McGuire III, R-Goochland, proposed HB 1454. The bill would have eliminated the four criteria needed for parents and guardians to home-school their children. 

Virginia laws currently require that homeschooling educators must hold a high school diploma, be qualified by the Board of Education, provide children with a program that can be delivered through distance learning or provide evidence that they have an ability to provide adequate education. A House education subcommittee killed the measure.

Del. Marie March, R-Floyd, proposed HB 1475, which would prohibit schools from joining interscholastic organizations that would not allow home-schooled students. Similar versions of the bill to allow home-schooled students to play sports have been introduced for years. The bill passed an education subcommittee but was defeated in committee.

State budget amendments currently under debate by lawmakers also proposed an increase in education spending, according to a report by VPM. Additionally, House and Senate versions include a 2% salary increase that would extend to K-12 educators. 

RICHMOND – Today, the House of Delegates passed legislation that will reform how Dominion Energy is regulated. The bill is designed to lower costs for Virginia families, bring more stability, and ensure reliable service in the future. 

"Democrats came into session committed to lowering costs for Virginia families — and we stayed at the negotiating table until we were sure this bill would do exactly that," Leader Don Scott said. "It's the result of years of work — and we welcome the other party coming to the table to get this done. And the truth is, if Governor Youngkin hadn't been singularly focused on giving tax breaks to out of state corporations, we could've done even more for families this legislative session."  

Chair Charniele Herring  says, "Today marks the culmination of efforts to make the Commonwealth work for hard working Virginians. Democrats came ready to fight so that Virginians would see real oversight and reduced costs when it comes to their electricity. This bill will ensure affordability and reliability for years to come." 

"Families and businesses across Virginia are facing higher costs – we all know it and feel it – and today, we acted to change it," said Delegate Rip Sullivan. "While Democratic delegates have spent years tirelessly pushing for reform, today's success is not about scoring political points. It's about lowering costs for families and doing so in a bipartisan way. Today was a good day for every family and every business that has to pay an electric bill."

by Graham Moomaw, Virginia Mercury
February 21, 2023

State Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, defeated Republican pastor Leon Benjamin in Tuesday’s special election for a Richmond-centered seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, a victory that will make her Virginia’s first Black congresswoman.

McClellan, a corporate attorney who has championed progressive causes like abortion access and curbing climate change over 17 years in the Virginia General Assembly, cruised to victory in the heavily Democratic 4th Congressional District, with the Associated Press and other news outlets calling the race for her less than 30 minutes after the polls closed. 

McClellan will succeed the late Rep. Donald McEachin, who died in November after battling colorectal cancer. 

McEachin had defeated Benjamin in the last two election cycles in the 4th District, which runs from the Richmond region to Petersburg and parts of Southside Virginia.

“Jennifer McClellan’s history-making victory as the first Black woman to be elected to Congress from Virginia will have ripple effects across the Commonwealth,” Democratic Party of Virginia Chairwoman Susan Swecker said in a news release Tuesday night. “Her leadership will expand upon the outstanding progress and advocacy for which we remember Congressman A. Donald McEachin.”

McClellan raised her profile by running for governor in 2021, finishing third in a five-way Democratic primary dominated by former Gov. Terry McAuliffe. 

Despite that disappointing result, McClellan’s path to Congress has been decisive. Just before Christmas, her supporters propelled her to a lopsided firehouse primary win over Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, as she locked up the Democratic nomination for the vacant seat. 

Her race against Benjamin wasn’t particularly eventful. Campaign finance reports showed McClellan dominating the Republican in fundraising.

It’s unclear when McClellan will officially be sworn in to the new job. The General Assembly is in the final week of its 2023 legislative session, and McClellan is expected to continue voting in the statehouse until the results of Tuesday’s election are finalized.

The outcome will also mean more jockeying among Richmond-area Democrats looking to move up and fill the Virginia Senate seat McClellan is leaving behind.

Dels. Dawn Adams, D-Richmond, and Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, have expressed interest in running for the Senate job, as has Democratic activist Alexsis Rodgers.

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sarah Vogelsong for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and Twitter.

The 28th Annual Go Golfing for the Kids tournament, sponsored by Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Inc. will be held on Monday, May 1, 2022 at Magnolia Green Golf Club in Moseley, VA.

Jackson-Feild is a safe haven for children struggling with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. This tournament proceeds will be used to fund services for which Jackson-Field receives no funding. To date, the tournament has raised over $600,000. To help our children.

Sponsor a team of 4 for $700 or play as an individual for $175. All players receive lunch, 3 beverage tickets, snacks on the course, and dinner at the awards ceremony. Range balls will be provided, and the driving range will open 90 minutes prior to tee off.

If you have any questions, or would like to register now, email tbalsbaugh@jacksonfeild.org. Online registration will be made available soon.

We hope to see you on the green this May 1st and help children and their families achieve wellness from mental illness.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin applying for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup starting February 27 through April 7, 2023. CRP is a cornerstone voluntary conservation program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a key tool in the Biden-Harris administration’s effort to address climate change and help agricultural communities invest in the long-term well-being of their land and natural resources.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

By Faith Redd, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. -- Creativity should be valued as an important part of the Virginia economy, said the state lawmaker behind legislation to create the Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program.

Del. Jackie Glass, D-Norfolk, introduced House Bill 2376 to establish a dedicated funding source for grant awards no more than $20,000 each to independent content creators and creative entrepreneurs. 

The program would be managed by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority. VEDP collaborates with local and regional partners to encourage expansion and diversification of Virginia's economy, according to its website.

A creative worker is considered anyone that produces and distributes creativity and arts-based goods and services, according to a handout from Glass.

Virginia's creative workers produce film, art, music, software, video games, television and radio, according to the bill.

The U.S. creative economy annually generates over $900 billion, according to Glass. Almost $18 billion of that is generated in Virginia. The creative economy businesses in Virginia lost at least $2.6 billion in revenue in 2020, according to Glass. 

Noah "Noah-O" Oddo is a local entrepreneur. Oddo owns Charged Up ENT, a record label that has been around since 2002. He opened the flagship store of Charged up ENT in Richmond's downtown Art's District.

Oddo would put the money directly into his business if there was grant funding, he said. 

 "We can't exist without the people's support," Oddo said. "If you would like to see more of this and Virginia to continue to grow in this direction, that's what's needed, support in the form of dollars."

The bill did not have enough support to make it through the House General Laws subcommittee, where it was tabled on a 4-2 vote. However, there was support for the idea, Glass said.

Glass said people from the other side of the aisle approached her to discuss further action, including Del. James Morefield, R-Tazewell.

Glass and Morefield will work alongside the VEDP after the General Assembly session ends, to try and secure funding, Glass said.

"It's not dead, I mean, it's dead as far as a piece of legislation, but it's not dead administratively," Glass said.

There is also the Virginia Commission for the Arts, a state agency that offers creative grants. The VCA invests in arts leaders, arts educators, and arts practitioners, according to its website.

The creative industry is among the most impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic drain on nonprofits and other funding sources, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Brent Royal is a Richmond entrepreneur who owns the Good Money Counting Kit clothing brand. He sells products through social media and his website. Royal said he was discouraged to hear that the bill failed. He thinks the bill could have helped small businesses struggling from inflation and the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Royal worked two jobs to start his businesses, he said. He also launched the nonprofit Good Money Give Back and he puts 10% of his profits into it, to help the community. For example, Royal gave flowers to teachers for Valentine's Day, has held clothing and backpack drives for children, and is working on a mentoring program for young men.

Royal previously received grant funding and would apply for potential VEDP funding if the process moved forward. He would reinvest in the community by opening a clothing store, creating jobs for locals and using profits to reinvest in his nonprofit, he said.

The main focus for his brand is to inspire entrepreneurship, according to Royal. The state could do a better job at maintaining relationships with entrepreneurs, he said.

"It's kind of hard to be an entrepreneur in Virginia, just because there's so many different tax things you have to deal with federally, locally," Royal said.

Glass introduced the bill because she is a creative entrepreneur herself, she said. She has a podcast called "Your Neighbor's Hood," where she discusses uncomfortable cultural conversations with content creator Christina Kimbrough, according to the website. Glass monetized the venture, she said.

Creative entrepreneurs have the heart to create work but struggle to make a living out of what they do, Glass said.

"We don't have that creative infrastructure here," Glass said. 

The funding for creatives is considered sustainable, because 83 cents of every $1 invested in a creative worker is reinvested locally, according to a handout from Glass. The creative sector also increases travel and tourism to improve the economy.

"This is another industry of economics that can drive and bring dollars to the commonwealth," Glass said.

Oddo visited the state Capitol with Creatives for Virginia on Jan. 24 to lobby for the bill. 

"I'm trying to let people know in our generation these are the things that matter," Oddo said. "If you don't organize, if you don't speak out in order to change these things, there's not going to be the things you want to see done in our society and you'll just constantly be in the state of reaction toward what's going on." 

By Adrianna Lawrence, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia lawmakers this week shot down the last bill of seven introduced to reverse the adopted California standard on electric vehicles Tuesday afternoon.

Del. Tony Wilt, R-Rockingham, proposed House Bill 1378 to repeal the 2021 law allowing the Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board to implement emission standards for vehicles with a 2025 or later model year.

The current Clean Car law, adopted from California and soon to be implemented in Virginia, states 35% of all new cars and trucks sold in Virginia with a 2025 model year must be electric. By 2035, 100% of new models on the market must be electric, according to California's final regulation order.

Wilt introduced the bill for several reasons, he said. He questioned whether Virginia's infrastructure can withstand 100% electrical powered cars in 12 years, Wilt said.

"In such a short period of time, we start putting these demands on electric grids of having the capabilities to keep up with electric generation," Wilt said. 

The bill passed in the House with a party-line vote of 52-48. 

Ahead of the final House vote, Wilt expressed concern over the cost of electric vehicles and said "they still cost significantly more upfront." 

"Which can make them unattainable," Wilt said.

Wilt's bill died in the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources committee on a party-line 8-7 vote to pass by indefinitely. Other similar measures introduced in the Senate were incorporated into one bill that met the same outcome in the same committee.

Virginia residents will look to surrounding states to buy combustion engine vehicles because of the decrease of those available cars and the expensive costs of electric vehicles, according to Wilt. 

"And so we're actually taking the revenues out of the state of Virginia," Wilt said.

Wilt believes in a renewable energy future but said it should be done incrementally. 

"Instead of these heavy-handed governmental mandates to meet these deadlines and so forth, let the free market dictate that," Wilt said.

Natural consumer demand for electric vehicles is what should drive the market to go green, according to Wilt.

Virginia needs to "decouple" from California and establish standards unique to Virginia, according to Wilt and other Republicans who have spoken against the measure. 

Trip Pollard, senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, said it is not legally possible to create a Virginia-specific standard.

States either accept the required Clean Air Act federal regulation or choose the more protective standard introduced by California. 

"The General Assembly decided in '21 that we want to choose the more protective option," Pollard said. "We can't set our own standards."

The reasoning behind this is simple, Pollard said: Car manufacturers cannot meet 50 different state regulations. 

"The manufacturers got that written into the Clean Air Act decades ago because they don't want to have to produce 50 different models of vehicles for different states," Pollard said.

California sought a waiver from the EPA to create its own standards, which now allows states to also choose California's stricter standards. 

So far, 17 other states have adopted California's clean car standards, according to the California Air Resources Board.

Many advocates for the Clean Car law, including Pollard, point out these next few years in the General Assembly are crucial for prepping the state's infrastructure for electric cars. 

Along with legislative action, Virginia has already begun receiving incremental funding that will be over $100 million through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, according to Pollard. Private companies, such as Tesla, are distributing electric car chargers as well, he said.

Even with these initiatives, some legislators are already giving up on the law before it has even taken effect, according to Pollard. 

"To me it makes no sense to repeal these standards now, when they offer such enormous health and environmental benefits," Pollard said.

Lawmakers can ditch the adopted California standard and go back to the less protective federal one if the Clean Car law does not work out, according to Pollard.

Environmental organizations, like the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, strongly believe in keeping the Clean Car law in place due to the harm combustion engine vehicles bring to Virginia's air quality.

"Transportation emissions are Virginia's largest driver of climate change," said VLCV deputy director Lee Francis. "They make up about half of our total carbon pollution."

Electric vehicles are popular right now and there is a fast growing shift toward electric vehicles, according to Francis. 

"A lot of it is driven by the auto manufacturers themselves," Francis said.

General Motors, Ford, BMW and Honda are just some of the car manufacturers shifting toward zero emission vehicles, according to Forbes.

Lawmakers, lobbyists and Gov. Glenn Youngkin have attempted to repeal the Clean Car law since 2021. Citizens question what the state's future of electric vehicles will look like by 2026.

The effort to overturn the Clean Car law could be a factor in the upcoming November election, according to Stephen Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington and a political science professor.

All seats are up for reelection in the currently Republican-majority House and the Democratic-majority Senate. 

Candidates will compete for Senate and House seats in new districts recently redrawn to keep up with population changes. The redistricting could favor Democrats more since the population changes across Virginia put more districts in Democratic-leaning areas, Farnsworth said.

House Republicans will use the Clean Car law as a part of their campaign to be reelected, he said.

"Republicans often run on issues of individual freedoms and a bill that comes out of California and shapes public preferences in a liberal direction is a useful thing for Republican candidates to talk about," Farnsworth said.

The Air Pollution Control Board will implement the standard shortly after Jan. 1, 2024 and auto manufacturers will have to abide by it to sell their vehicles in Virginia, according to the board's vehicle standards.

By Ryan Nadeau, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Rev. Mark Jefferson looked out into the auditorium. Students gathered around almost every table, stacks of fact sheets and folders of notes spread out before them. Their time together was nearly at an end. Jefferson spoke with a calm determination.

  "I'm here as your fellow brother on the way," Jefferson said. "I'm here to remind you that because you live, and because you gather in this place, the world has the potential to be better."

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy hosted its first in-person Student Day of Action on the first Friday of February, to help students learn to engage with legislators. VICPP is an advocacy organization focused on social and economic policy. The group works with multi denominational congregations throughout the state.

An estimated 150 people attended the event, said organizer Terri Erwin. Attendees came from 18 different schools: 13 four-year institutions, two seminaries and three community colleges. 

"There's nothing that can replace the experience of ... seeing a bunch of young people, and realizing how human a process lawmaking really is," Erwin said. "It's people. And any person who chooses to can be a part of it."

Ethan Hemmings, a Shenandoah University Conservatory student, felt empowered to meet with lawmakers. 

"At the end of the day, these senators and delegates are just people, just like you and I," he said. 

Hemmings spoke to lawmakers about measures to end solitary confinement and cap some prison fees. 

"I feel that using my voice in a positive and constructive manner not only changes my life, but it can also change the lives of others," he said.

Erwin said she witnessed a "transformative effect" after the meetings, and the students were "so pumped up." 

Attendees participated in a total of 77 legislative visits, according to Erwin.

Students met at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Richmond before and after holding their scheduled visits. The groups reflected on their experiences.

Gabriela Leija-Hernandez represented the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement. Her group met with Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham. 

"He [Obenshain] kept on saying, 'it'll be a future thing,' and we just kept on pressing," she said. "The future could be right now, so let's do it."

Keisha Walker, VICPP administrative and finance director, said there were leaders in the group. 

"They all exist, and we wanna bring them together so they will become familiar with one another and the issues that are important to everyone," Walker said.

Shenandoah University student Scott Goodrich wants to be a state senator. He came prepared with several pages of notes and a desire to be heard. 

"There is definitely a place for emotions in politics, as it's a very emotional subject," he said. "Politics is in every part of our lives."

Goodrich is motivated by a quote from a blog post he once read: "The anger in your heart warms you now, but will leave you cold in your grave." This mindset could lead to more effective legislative work, he said.

The main thing Goodrich wants to see from leaders? "I want them to grow a backbone," he said.

King Salim Khalfani, VICPP's criminal justice reform organizer, told students this is only the beginning. 

"In Virginia, you must be as consistent as the raindrops," Khalfani said. 

Young people are fully capable, Erwin said. 

"It's impossible not to feel hopeful after what we saw," Erwin said.

The event has a deeper meaning than just a singular day of action, Erwin told the group. 

"The fact that we showed up, and put young Virginians on their radar screen — really, really matters," Erwin said. 

All 140 seats in the General Assembly are up for election this November. Erwin said this "shuffling of the deck" provides an opportunity for young voters to participate in their legislature in a substantial way.

"What I found in all that travel, is not that young people don't care," Jefferson said to the group near the end of his keynote address. "What I found is that the stories people tell about you are often not true."

By Anna Chen, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. – Lawmakers crossed the midpoint of the General Assembly session earlier this week. 

Almost 600 bills in the House and over 500 in the Senate advanced, and only one bill passed both chambers by Feb. 7.

Stephen Farnsworth, director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies, said there will be a delay in the passage of controversial measures.

"Even things that passed in one house that are contentious will face problems in the other house, given divided government," Farnsworth said. 

"Hot-button issues" are unlikely to reach the governor's desk, Farnsworth said, due to the Democratic-majority Senate and Republican-majority House.

"The Senate won't accept abortion restrictions and the House won't accept gun control," Farnsworth said. "Key issues are going to be delayed until one party ends up controlling both chambers and the governor's office."

The Senate passed a higher percentage of bills than the House. Almost 52% of proposed House bills advanced, and the Senate had an almost 66% success rate. The statistics don't reflect resolutions, or bills carried over from last session.

Gianni Snidle, communications director for the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus, said he thinks a lot less legislation will advance this session. 

"If they're [House of Delegates] sending bills over that's ripping freedoms away from LGBTQ people, from women, from Virginians, we're going to kill those bills here," Snidle said. 

Lawmakers are debating key issues such as reproductive freedoms, gun control, rate regulation and more, Snidle said.

"It's just a flurry of common sense gun control legislation that has gotten out of the Senate and other bills helping Virginia families be able to craft and achieve their American Dream," Snidle said.

Jeff Ryer, press secretary for the Senate Republican Caucus, said top issues in the second half of the session include crime—courts and penalties—as well as consolidation of workforce development programs. A high profile crime bill addresses organized retail theft, with versions in the House and Senate, Ryer said. 

"There's been a lot of agency bills that have passed out of both chambers, meaning things that that individual government agencies have requested to have passed," Ryer said. 

Lawmakers amend the state budget in odd numbered years. The budget is a top priority, including tax cuts and spending initiatives, according to Ryer. 

The two chambers will have more time to work on the budget now, as there are fewer bills to pick up after crossover day, Farnsworth said. 

"That may involve tax cuts, it may involve additional resources devoted to schools," Farnsworth said. "We'll have to see where there's going to be areas of agreement."

General Assembly 2023 stats

The legislative scorecard of bills passed is not the only measure of a lawmaker's effectiveness, according to Farnsworth.

"The contents of the legislation usually matter more than the won-loss ranking," he stated. "A bill that has a tangible, direct benefit to the district or is strongly desired by a key segment of the electorate in the district is the gold standard of legislative effectiveness." 

Capital News Service analyzed some bill stats from the midpoint, using the Legislative Information System spreadsheet. 

In the House, 31 legislators introduced 15 bills—the most allowed.

Del. Robert Bloxom Jr., R-Accomack, advanced the most bills in the House—with 14 of his 15 bills moving to the Senate. 

Del. Les Adams, R-Pittsylvania, had all of his 13 measures move to the other chamber.

Nine delegates were unable to advance any measures, including Dels. Marie March, R-Floyd, and Sally Hudson, D-Charlottesville, who each introduced 15 bills and saw none advance. 

Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, introduced 32 bills, with an 84% pass rate. Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, had the most bills pass out of the Senate; he advanced 28 of his 30 bills.

The newly-elected Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, was the only senator with a 100% passage rate. He advanced all six bills to the House. Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, passed 18 of her 19 bills. 

Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, was the only senator who advanced no bills. She introduced 17 bills.

The session is slated to adjourn on Feb. 25 and reconvene for unfinished business on April 12. After that, election season begins in earnest. All 140 General Assembly seats will be up for grabs in November. 

Initiative will feature Presidential Cabinet members highlighting the Biden-Harris Administration's whole-of-government commitment to advancing Latino prosperity

WASHINGTON – Following President Biden's State of Union address on Tuesday, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman traveled to Tucson, Arizona today to announce plans for the upcoming Biden-Harris Administration Latino Prosperity Tour. This tour will spotlight the whole-of-government approach the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to support, uplift, and invest in the Latino community, as well as underscore the Administration's ongoing commitment to expanding pathways to prosperity in Latino communities across the nation. While Latinos generate nearly $2.8 trillion in economic activity, studies show that a significant opportunity gap persists due to underinvestment. The multi-city tour will feature resources from across the federal government that support education, housing, entrepreneurship, and more as avenues to generate economic wealth and address the racial wealth gap.

"President Biden is investing in America, and this tour connects the Latino community to those federal investments – meeting people everywhere they are to turn their possibilities into reality," said Administrator Guzman. "For the Latino community, entrepreneurship is a pathway to prosperity, to successful community outcomes, and generational wealth building. As the daughter of a small business owner, and as an entrepreneur myself, I have seen first-hand the difference that access to resources and support can have. That is why I am thrilled to lead this effort on behalf of the Biden-Harris Administration, and look forward to hitting the road with my fellow Cabinet members and senior leadership over these next few months."

"The Biden-Harris Administration is leading the way to ensure Latino families across the nation can live with dignity, respect, and achieve success," said White House Senior Advisor to the President Julie Rodriguez. "Latinos are hardworking, starting small businesses at historic rates, and committed to making their lives and communities better. With the Latino Prosperity Tour, the Biden-Harris Administration is able to shine a spotlight on local Latino leaders and small business owners who are a powerful testament to this Administration's efforts to increase economic opportunity for Latino communities so that they can use their full potential and build generational wealth."

"As the first Latina Mayor of Tucson, I am proud to welcome Administrator Guzman to our great city and host the announcement of the Biden-Harris Administration's Latino Prosperity Tour," said Mayor Regina Romero. "At the city level, we know how crucial it is to meet constituents where they are, and I am thrilled to see the Biden-Harris Administration take steps to further their efforts to engage and invest in Latinos across the country, as we will here in Tucson."

The lingering issues exacerbated by COVID-19 have created growing economic challenges for communities of color, especially in Latino communities. The Biden-Harris Administration has addressed disparities in Latino communities by helping more entrepreneurs achieve the dream of business ownership, expanding access to health care, and providing student debt relief. The Latino Prosperity Tour will directly engage underserved Latino populations in conversation, gather feedback, provide connection, and discuss ways the Biden-Harris Administration can address the unique access barriers they are experiencing.

Through historic investments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act, the Biden-Harris Administration continues its commitment to deliver on the promise of increasing opportunity for all, including every Latino family and community.

About the Latino Prosperity Tour

SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, the highest-ranking Latino official on the economy in President Biden's Cabinet, will be touring the country with fellow Cabinet members to highlight the historic investments the Biden-Harris Administration has made in Latino communities, in addition to featuring resources available across the federal government. Administrator Guzman and other members of the Cabinet will hear first-hand from diverse Latino communities across the nation about their needs. Details of the tour will be shared as it progresses, including stops in rural, diaspora, and growing Latino communities. More information about tour steps, participants, etc., will be announced in the near future.

Ending emergency SNAP benefits will impact food security, organizers say

By Hollyann Purvis
Capital News Service 

RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia residents will soon lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program COVID-19 emergency allotments, something community organizers say will impact food security for thousands. Enrollment increased from 330,000 state participants when the program launched in March 2020, to 470,000 current participants, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

SNAP is a federal nutrition assistance program that provides benefits to qualifying low-income individuals and families, according to the government. The final issuance of emergency allotments will take place on Feb. 16.

Qualified households saw an increase to the maximum allotment if they did not already receive full benefits, according to the initial approval for the SNAP increase. 

The USDA grants waivers that allow select states to issue emergency allotments of benefits, according to the agency. These waivers are based on a public health emergency declaration by the Department of Health and Human Services and are applicable when a state declares an emergency or disaster, such as the pandemic.

The decrease in benefits comes after Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which ended the additional allotments.

The Neighborhood Resource Center of Greater Fulton is a nonprofit organization that provides nutritional, financial and educational support to low-income individuals across Richmond, according to the center. 

Breanne Armbrust, executive director of the NRC, said she has seen firsthand how increased SNAP benefits impact the community.

When benefits increase, there are less people who need food pantry bags, according to Armbrust. 

"It allows them to have some flexibility with their funds to be able to do other things that are just as essential as eating," Armbrust said.

The impact of reduced SNAP benefits is going to be "catastrophic," in part due to the rising cost of food, according to Armbrust.

"With the inflation that's happening that's based on corporations raising prices of food, like the grocery stores raising prices, I just don't know what people are supposed to do," Armbrust said. 

It takes approximately six months for a person in economic struggle to be able to adjust their finances to offset the rising cost of expenses, according to Armbrust. 

"This notification is so last minute that I don't believe it's going to allow people to adjust their budgets to be able to prepare for that," Armbrust said. 

Virginia's SNAP emergency allotments have been extended 34 times since the initial two-month request, according to the USDA. 

Virginia residents have experienced much lower food insecurity over the course of the pandemic because of increased SNAP benefits, according to Eddie Oliver, the executive director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. 

The Federation of Virginia Food Banks is a nonprofit state association that works with the seven regional food banks in Virginia to improve nutrition security, according to Oliver. 

"We know the second they end and they go back to their previous levels, then we know we're going to see that in our pantry lines that we're going to be affected for sure," Oliver said. 

Oliver said that while food insecurity is not a new problem, the pandemic has put the issue in the spotlight. The "stronger safety net" for food insecurity present during the pandemic worked well, according to Oliver. 

"We know the expiration of emergency allotments will create a hunger cliff in Virginia for our 900,000 neighbors who rely on SNAP to keep food on the table," Oliver stated in an email. 

Virginia's seven regional food banks are preparing for a "surge in demand" for food assistance, according to Oliver.

John Jones, food insecurity researcher and assistant professor in Virginia Commonwealth University's Center for Environmental Studies, advocated for expanded SNAP benefits in Virginia. Increased benefits are a "powerful" way to mitigate the worst effects of poverty, Jones said.

"When you're expanding the amount of money that people are receiving or expanding the number of people that can receive this, that's going to positively impact food security and negatively impact food insecurity," Jones said. 

Virginians can find local food bank information on the Virginia Food Bank Locator, a service provided by the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. 

Agency to Host Virtual Informational Events for Qualified Applicants February 6-9.

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced virtual events will be held for applicants for its seventh Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC). The GAFC will offer $13 million in prizes awarded in 2023 and 2024 aimed at expanding growth accelerators and creating innovative partnerships with inclusive approaches toward supporting entrepreneurs in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) and research and development (R&D). 

“SBA’s impactful Growth Accelerator Fund Competition provides prizes to entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs) that serve as catalysts for our thriving, inclusive national innovation ecosystem,” said Bailey DeVries, Associate Administrator of Investment and Innovation. “These awards reflect a priority across the Biden-Harris Administration to advance equity by incentivizing greater collaboration and partnership among stakeholders and supporting the development of inclusive growth accelerators that will empower underserved entrepreneurs. I encourage ecosystem builders and entrepreneurial support organizations with great ideas to accelerate growth and drive for innovation to apply as soon as possible.”

Entrepreneurs interested in applying for the Growth Accelerator Competition are encouraged to join one of the informational online webinars. The online webinars will provide information on the competition and will facilitate connections between ESOs and potential partners working on similar themes across the nation. The webinar offerings are as follows:

• Feb. 6: National Security and Global Competitiveness, including but not limited to National Security and Defense; International Trade; Public Health
• Feb. 7: Domestic Manufacturing and Production, including but not limited to AgTech, Food Security, and Nutrition; Supply Chain Resiliency; Critical and Resilient Infrastructure
• Feb. 8: Climate and Renewable Energy, including but not limited to Climate and Environment, Energy, and Sustainability
• Feb. 9: Under-Represented People, Places, and Themes

Interested applicants should RSVP for a webinar here: https://bit.ly/GAFC23ThemeConvening. Stage One Catalyze submissions are being accepted now until Feb. 24. Multiplier Bonus Prizes will be available for new and rural-focused Ecosystem Partners.

Since 2014, SBA has made nearly 400 awards to Innovation Growth Accelerators in 52 states and territories, establishing a solid network of innovation support for startups and small businesses across the country. New this year, the competition places greater emphasis on fostering connections across innovation ecosystem stakeholders. Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) motivated to strengthen and increase equitable access to resources for underserved communities and industries should visit Challenge.Gov.

Competition rules, requirements, and additional information can be found at https://www.challenge.gov/?challenge=sbaaccelerators2023.

The Pre-Application Webinar can be found at https://youtu.be/0DX5gnkWRTU.

By Anna Chen, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. – Elected officials serving in the Virginia General Assembly have a short amount of time to potentially discuss thousands of proposed measures that are either defeated or signed into law. 

Over 1,900 bills were introduced this session, in addition to joint resolutions and legislation carried over from last year. So far, over 100 bills have failed to advance in the House and over 300 in the Senate. There are over 1,000 bills pending in the House and over 500 in the Senate, with the session midpoint approaching. 

Here are a few of the bills that failed to advance this session. 

Senate Bill 1288: Petition for defendant to pay child support due to wrongful death of child's guardian resulting from driving under the influence

The measure introduced by Sen. Bill DeSteph, R-Virginia Beach, would allow the court to consider child support payment in an instance of wrongful death of a child's parent or legal guardian that was caused by driving under the influence. 

The legislation was passed by indefinitely with a 14-0 vote in the Senate Judiciary committee and is likely dead for the session. 

Committee members felt the bill did not add additional value to the current scenarios in wrongful death civil cases. 

Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, questioned the legislation because it is not "a policy solution to a specific problem."

"It's not clear to me why we would say 'you pay child support if somebody dies by drunk driving instead of murder,'" Surovell said during the committee.

Senate Bill 880: In-person absentee voting period shortened to week prior to any elections

The measure, introduced by Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, would shorten the in-person absentee voting period to seven days prior to the election. Currently, absentee voting in person begins 45 days before the election. 

The bill would create a burden at high-volume localities, Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, said during the committee hearing.

"They would need hundreds of people [staff] to get those people not having to wait for hours and hours in line," Ebbin said 

The legislation was passed by indefinitely with a 10-4 vote in the Senate Privileges and Elections committee.

House Bill 1720: Eliminates one-year divorce waiting period due to cruelty, bodily hurt

Del. Nadarius Clark, D-Portsmouth, introduced a measure to eliminate the one-year period spouses wait to be pronounced divorced and legally separated. A separation or divorce would be granted before the one-year period in cases of spousal abuse such as cruelty, reasonable apprehension of bodily harm, abandonment or desertion and more by either party. The bill would have applied to divorce filings on or after July 1. 

A divorce is currently permitted if the parties lived apart without interruption for one year, or entered into a separation agreement and have no minor-aged children born or adopted, and lived apart without interruption for six months. 

An anti-human trafficking advocate and victim of spousal abuse offered testimony on behalf of the bill. 

"Right now, this does not solve the problem that Del. Clarke wants to solve," said Richard Garriott, with the Virginia Family Law Coalition, in opposition to the bill. "We have a solution for that, it is called an emergency and permanent protective order."

The House of Delegates Courts of Justice subcommittee defeated the bill with a 5-3 vote.

House Bill 2003: Enforcement of sexual harassment and workplace discrimination training and education 

Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, introduced a bill to require employers with 50 or more employees to provide annual interactive sexual harassment and workplace discrimination training and education. Employees in a supervisory role would be required to complete at least two hours of training. Other employees would be required to complete one hour. 

A provision in the bill called for migrant and seasonal agricultural workers to have the one-hour training, to start Jan. 1, 2024.

Employees would receive a certificate of completion.

A House Commerce and Energy subcommittee recommended the bill not advance, with a 5-3 vote. Still to come

There will be plenty of other failed bills this session. In fact, gridlock is to be expected when "voters put one party in charge of one chamber and the other party in charge of the other," according to Stephen Farnsworth, director of the University of Mary Washington Center for Leadership and Media Studies and a political science professor.

"From guns to abortion to taxes to schools, Republicans and Democrats in Richmond demonstrate over and over again that there is little interest in compromise in these polarized times," Farnsworth stated in an email. 

The session is approaching the midpoint with "crossover day" on Feb. 7, which is when a bill must have passed its respective chamber in order to advance, or it will be left behind.

RICHMOND – As the options and opportunities for legal gaming in Virginia expand, Virginia State Police is launching a statewide gaming tip line and online form for the public to report concerns of suspected gaming operations. Anyone needing to report criminal violations of gaming laws associated with Virginia lottery games, sports betting, casino gaming, fantasy contests, and/or horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering is encouraged to call the new toll-free tip line, 1-833-889-2300, or report the unlawful activity online at www.vsp.virginia.gov/services/gaming-complaint-form. State police is authorized to investigate illegal gaming taking place in person, online and even on social media platforms. Anonymous tips are welcome.

"Virginians need to be aware that if you choose to participate in gaming activities, the programs are regulated and must be operated within the confines of Virginia law", noted Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police. "These reporting options are designed to help protect consumers and Virginia from being taken advantage of, and to maintain the integrity of the gaming programs."

Virginia State Police (VSP) launched the new tip line in accordance with Virginia Code 52-54, which officially establishes within VSP an Office of the Gaming Enforcement Coordinator for the Commonwealth. The purpose of the coordinator is to synchronize the enforcement of gaming laws by federal law enforcement, VSP, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), all other state law enforcement, local law enforcement, and Commonwealth Attorneys. The office also serves as a liaison between the federal government and Virginia for the purposes of any federal investigation into illegal gaming activities occurring within Virginia.

For those needing to report general charitable gaming complaints, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) can be reached at 804-371-0498.

RICHMOND, VA — The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is again offering a chance to hunt bull elk in the Elk Management Zone (Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise counties) of Virginia for the upcoming hunting season. October 2022 marked the inaugural elk hunt with all six hunters successfully harvesting bulls. The largest was an 8x9, weighing 852lbs live weight and scoring Boone & Crockett Club non-typical 413 & 7/8 inches net and 433 & 5/8 inches gross.   

"It was so rewarding to see all the work and effort that DWR, RMEF, and the Southwest Sportsmen (SWVA), along with many volunteers, had put in over the last ten years to make sure Virginia's first elk hunt was a success," said Leon Boyd, President of the SWVA and DWR Board Member "I had the honor to meet and visit with all the lottery winners and their families—to be able to sit by the campfire and share their love of wildlife and the outdoors as much as I do never gets old. I was also able to visit with hunters who were on their first big game hunt. The quality of elk in Virginia is amazing and I look forward to many successful elk seasons in the future. After the elk hunt ended in October, I found myself getting even more excited about the 2023 lottery and knowing we will have another excited group of hunters experiencing what it's like to harvest an elk in the Commonwealth. This group, along with DWR, partners and myself, will make memories for a lifetime."  

The hunt for the 2023–2024 season will be held Saturday, October 14, 2023 – Friday, October 20, 2023. There are five (5) antlered elk licenses available for this year's hunt via lottery. The application period for the elk lottery will open February 1, 2023, and close March 30, 2023. Applications for a special elk hunting license can be obtained online, under elk hunting, or by calling the Department of Wildlife Resources at 1-866-721-6911 for assistance in applying via phone.  

Applications require a non-refundable fee of $15 for Virginia residents and $20 for out-of-state residents. Winners of the elk hunting application will then need to purchase a special elk hunting license for $40 for in-state residents, and $400 for out-of-state residents. The special elk hunting license is not transferrable to another individual. Winners of the randomized computer drawing will be notified by May 30. You can also check the status of your application by visiting your DWR GoOutdoorsVA account.  

DWR plans to award a sixth antlered elk license to a conservation organization through the Elk Conservation License Program; that organization would then be required to conduct a raffle for the license. Details on this year's winning organization and raffle will not be available until spring 2023.   

For more information, please visit: dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/elk/hunting/elk-lottery/  

KENBRIDGE, VA, January 31, 2023 - Benchmark Bankshares, Inc. (BMBN), the Kenbridge-based hold­ing company for Benchmark Community Bank, announced unaudited results for the quarter and year ending December 31, 2022. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2022 amounted to $3,938,784 or $0.87 per share, compared to $2,684,505, or $0.59 per share, posted for the fourth quarter of 2021.  Net income for the year amounted to $13,239,600, or $2.93 per share, a 15.08% increase over net income of $11,524,043, or $2.55 per share, earned in 2021. 

Notable Items:

• Net interest income increased by 17.99%, from $33.3 million to $39.3 million when comparing 2022 to 2021.
• Total loans held for investment increased by $171.8 million, or 26.6%, during the year as commercial loan demand remained strong despite rising interest rates during the year.
• Noninterest income for the year amounted to $8.6 million, down from $8.7 million, primarily due to a $935,730 decline in gains from the sale of loans as residential mortgage demand declined due to higher interest rates. 
• A total of $702,159 was expensed to the bank’s employee stock ownership plan during 2022 to provide for current plan liquidity needs and to allow for future stock repurchases.  The bank expensed $450,000 to the plan during 2021.
• A total of $1,018,067 was provisioned to the loan loss reserve during the year, compared to a provision of $330,384 last year. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans was 0.84% as of December 31, 2022, down from 0.91% last December.
• The bank did not hold any foreclosed property as of December 31, 2022, while non-accrual loans decreased from $610,413 to $539,966 during the year.
• Interest expense on borrowings, used to support the company’s stock repurchase program, amounted to $126,657 for the year, compared to $188,412 recognized in 2021.  Total borrowings were reduced from $3.8 million to $2.7 million during 2022.
• A total of 6,550 common shares were repurchased during 2022 at an average price of $24.00 per share.  A total of 33,172 shares were repurchased at an average price of $19.48 during 2021.  The Company had 4,521,648 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2022.

As of December 31, 2022, total assets were $1.12 billion, an increase of $84.1 million, or 8.1%, over the December 31, 2021 balance of $1.04 billion. Over the past twelve months, total loans held for investment have increased by $171.8 million, or 26.6%, while total deposits have increased by $82.9 million, or 8.7%. 

Shareholders’ equity, net of unrealized gains and losses on investment securities, was $93.4. million as of December 31, 2022, an increase of $10.0. million, or 12.0%, over the December 31, 2021 balance of $83.3 million. All capital ratios exceeded regulatory guidelines for a well-capitalized financial institution under the Basel III regulatory requirements as of December 31, 2022.

Key Financial Ratios:

• Comparing 2022 to 2021:
• Return on average equity increased from 14.12% to 15.83%.
• Return on average assets increased from 1.18% to 1.23%.
• Earnings per share increased from $2.55 to $2.93.
• Yield on loans decreased from 5.33% to 4.98%.
• The bank’s cost of funds decreased from 0.30% to 0.21%.
• Net interest margin increased from 3.63% to 3.89%.
• Book value of the company increased from $18.69 to $18.94 per share.

The common stock of Benchmark Bankshares, Inc. trades on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol BMBN. Any stockbroker can assist with purchases of the company's stock, as well as with sales of holdings.

Benchmark Community Bank, founded in 1971, is head­quartered in Kenbridge, VA. It is the company's sole subsidiary which oper­ates seventeen banking offices through­out central Southside Vir­ginia and northern North Carolina. Additional information is available at the company’s website, www.BCBonline.com.