Innovation and Accountability 2020

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INNOVATION & ACCOUNTABILITY 2020

A JOBS PLAN FOR WEST VIRGINIA

Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant

March 2011



Natalie E. Tennant

CONTENTS

.............................................................................................................Executive Summary 3

..............................................................................................A Jobs Plan for West Virginia 4

...............................................................................................................West Virginia 2011 5

..................................................................................................................Innovation 2020 6

......................................................................................................................Accountability 7

....................................................................................................................................Jobs 8

....................................................................................................................Small Business 9

.....................................................................................................Research & Technology

10...............................................................................................................................Energy 11

...................................................................................................................Manufacturing 12

.....................................................................................................................Infrastructure 13

......................................................................................................................Meet Natalie 14



Natalie E. Tennant

I’ve been asked, “Why run now? Why

not wait?” Quite simply, this is a critical

time in our State’s history – we need to

recommit to innovation and

accountability to keep West Virginia

working on behalf of taxpayers.

Innovation and Accountability will be the

hallmark of a Tennant administration. I

grew up learning the value of a dollar

and I know how hard West Virginians

work to earn a living. That’s why, as

Secretary of State, I dedicated myself to

making government more accountable

and never wasting taxpayer dollars.

Other politicians may think it’s okay to

spend taxpayer dollars as if they were

their own, but as Governor, I will bring

an end to these abuses. I’ll cut out

perks for state lawmakers and make

government more accessible to West

Virginians. By making government more

accountable, we can focus on creatingjobs and lowering taxes.

Innovation and Accountability mean good

jobs for West Virginians, now and in the

future. West Virginia needs a long-term

strategic vision where manufacturing,

energy, research, and development

work together to grow our economy and

attract investment. It also means

ensuring our small businesses – the

backbone of West Virginia’s economy –

have the capital, the tools and theworkers they need to thrive.

Innovation and Accountability mean a

responsible energy policy that makes

effective use of our extensive coal and

natural gas resources. As coal continues

to power the nation, we will promote

increased research and development to

burn coal cleaner and lead the way on

alternative energy. Responsible

development of the Marcellus Shale and

its vast natural gas reserves will provide

much needed investment in education,

research, and technology to bring new

industries to West Virginia.

Innovation and Accountability mean an

education system that provides the best

learning environment for our students. It

means providing our teachers with

resources, tools and training to prepare

our students to succeed in the 21st

Century economy. It also means

accountability not just from our

students, but from our teachers,

administrators, parents, businesses and

communities. As governor, I will ensure

our educators are spending less time on

paperwork and outside the classroom

issues, and more time focusing onteaching our kids.


health care system that meets the

needs of our communities. By

expanding community clinics and

electronic health information systems,

health care will not only be more

affordable, but more accessible to all

West Virginians. We will tackle the

plague of prescription drug abuse,

address obesity by promoting healthyeating habits among our children and

families, and protect our seniors by

ensuring long-term care means long-

term quality of life.


booming tourism industry for the Wild

and Wonderful state. West Virginia’s

natural beauty is unsurpassed and we

need to make sure we continue to

develop in a responsible manner with

additional facilities and attractions for

visitors. By increasing our marketing

efforts and helping our towns and

counties be tourist-ready and tourist-

friendly, millions more will discover the

abundant treasures our state holds.

Innovation and Accountability mean West

Virginia will be the place our children

choose to start and build their careers,

raise their families and create their own

destinies. Our students will leave our

schools and universities ready to

compete with workers and

entrepreneurs any place on the globe.

Our businesses and industries will grow

and diversify, setting the pace for our

nation’s economy in the 21st Century.

The bottom line is that we must leave

behind the politics of usual, taking bold

action to create a new vision for our State.

Our current leadership failed to address

two major issues during the legislative

session – regulation of Marcellus Shale

development and long-term debt for

state retiree benefits. West Virginia is

missing too many opportunities to move

forward. We all have an obligation to

work together to create new jobs, help

our small businesses, and keep ourmanufacturers working. Politics as usua

has failed us. It’s time for Innovation and

Accountability, and putting West

Virginians’ interests first.

Executive Summary



Natalie E. Tennant

Innovation & Accountability 2020

Innovation 2020 Commission & FundCapture a portion of severance tax revenue from Marcellus Shale to develop and fund a long-term economicdiversification and infrastructure plan for West Virginia through the year 2020.

Transparency InitiativeCreate a Sunshine Portal where any West Virginian can go online to see how every penny of their money isspent and track progress of Innovation 2020.

Government AccountabilityCut the perks for lawmakers, stop lavish spending on state vehicles, office furniture and supplies, put alllawmaker spending online through the Transparency Initiative, and restrict travel to exotic places under thepretense of conferences unless a return on investment can be shown to West Virginian taxpayers.

Invest in Jobs & Main StreetGet people back to work in long-term employment with a good wage, benefits and the respect our workershave earned, and provide much needed access to capital and mentoring for our small businesses to grow

and thrive.

21st Century EconomyMove our research out of the lab and into the marketplace to create jobs and investment while providingstructural support for our energy sector, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers.

A Jobs Plan for West Virginia



Natalie E. Tennant

West Virginia 2011As our nation begins to pull out of theGreat Recession, West Virginia standsat a crossroads. Will we continue to bebridled by politics as usual or will welook to the future with vision anddetermination, taking bold steps tofinally secure a better future for ourchildren and generations to come?

We face significant challenges. Thethousands of good-paying jobs lost inthe steel, chemical and manufacturing

industries over recent years have notbeen replaced. Lack of capital remainsan obstacle for our small businessesand budding entrepreneurs. Areas of our state still lack broadband coverage.Our education system is leaving toomany children behind, ill prepared forthe jobs of the future.

Yet, you will not find a candidate moreoptimistic about West Virginia’seconomic future than I am. We mustcontinue to push forward on our recent

accomplishments and we will have towork hard to move ahead in a rapidlychanging global economy. But we willnot simply compete; we will lead in the21st Century economy. I believe the Wildand Wonderful state will be world-class– in industry, in infrastructure, ininnovation.

We have so many reasons to beconfident about the future. The time tosecure the bright future ahead of us isnow.

• Spurred by the FBI Center, the WestVirginia High Technology Consortium,and West Virginia University, the northcentral part of our state is seeingpromising economic diversification.

• The Huntington and Charleston techparks are ready for occupancy -Kinetic Park and the South CharlestonTechnology Park. Marshall University’sRobert C. Byrd Biosciences Centerand the Joan Edwards Cancer Center

are positioning Huntington to be anational biosciences center.

• West Virginia University and MarshallUniversity are doing cutting-edgeresearch in energy, biometrics,advanced materials and thebiosciences. With the recentexpansion of the “Bucks for Brains”Research Trust Fund, both universitieswill continue to attract more researchdollars.

• The Polymer Alliance Zone of WestVirginia has one of the highestconcentrations of high technology,specialty and engineering polymerproduction in the world.

• Our nation’s automotive industrycontinues to recover with renewedconfidence in our economy. Anchoredby Toyota, our established automotiveindustry cluster, from Williamstown toCharleston and Huntington, willcontinue to grow.

• Construction continues on the long-awaited Corridor H, with an estimatedcompletion finally within sight, bringinga world of new opportunity to theeastern part of our state.

• In southern West Virginia, work hasbegun on the $400 million Boy Scoutsof America’s National Jamboree andhigh adventure center. This projecthas brought good paying jobs to WesVirginia as the Boy Scouts have

awarded more than $20 million incontracts, many of which go to WestVirginia companies for construction.

• In the eastern panhandle, retailinggiant Macy’s is locating a new $150million distribution center inMartinsburg, and with it 1,900 newjobs. Completion of the long-awaitedupgrade of Route 9 from Martinsburgto the Virginia state line is expected in2012.

• From the northern panhandlesouthward, development of theMarcellus Shale has begun, bringingwith it the promise of new jobs andrevenue for our state and ourcommunities.

• And, in every corner of West Virginia,every day, we have small businesspeople, researchers, workers,teachers, and business andcommunity leaders innovating andthriving.



Natalie E. Tennant

Innovation 2020

For too long, West Virginia has succumbedto politics as usual and gone without asustainable economic vision. Ratherthan simply reacting to economicbooms and busts, we must develop astrategic economic development planfor our state that addresses ourimmediate challenges while harnessingthe technological advancements of thefuture. We can take control of oureconomic future, but not without

innovation and accountability.West Virginia takes advantage of anumber of loans, grants, bonds, taxcredits, and other incentives toencourage businesses to start here,grow here, or move here. Yet we are

competing not just against every state inthe union, but also global competitors.They too are constantly experimentingwith many of these same tools. I willmake sure that our investment climate issecond to none.

An important ingredient in that climate isa strong brand. We are competing withthe rest of the nation for economicinvestment. For better or worse, duringthe early stages of reviewing potentialsites for investment, executives oftenrely on perceptions to determinewhether or not they will even consider astate. A strong brand will help tear downstereotypes and misperceptions, andclearly define West Virginia as an

attractive location in which to invest andreside.

As Governor, I will create an advisory

council tasked with spearheading a long-

term economic diversification plan for West

Virginia through the year 2020. It will buildupon the work of Vision Shared,Imagine West Virginia and other groupsthat have put forth sound ideas forfuture economic growth.

The Innovation 2020 Commission will:

• Be comprised of leaders from our technology, finance, business, service, manufacturing and energysectors, labor leaders, and education and research institutions.

•

Order an immediate review of state business incentives compared to all 50 states. I want to know who weare losing good-paying jobs to and why. We can identify the latest, best, and most effective practicesacross the country. Then we’ll match them or top them.

• Review and evaluate the impact of current incentives. We must be accountable to the taxpayers andcompanies must deliver on what they promise.

• Develop a ten-year strategic economic plan for West Virginia. The Commission will evaluate our currentworkforce and industry strengths and determine strategic areas for growth over the next ten years. It willevaluate each sector of our economy – small businesses, manufacturing, energy, research, infrastructure,health care, and education – to create a comprehensive growth strategy for our state.

• Engage the public in each step of the strategic planning process. Evaluations, benchmarks and goals willbe clearly outlined and made available online for public input. I want taxpayers to know what kind of a

return they are getting on their investment.

• Develop a state branding campaign through public-private partnerships. We will highlight the desirability of West Virginia as a place to live and play and a place to do business. The campaign will feature the WestVirginia Transparency Initiative portal so as to allow businesses to access and utilize state incentives,economic development materials, and credit programs.



Natalie E. Tennant

AccountabilityTaxpayers have the right to know how their

money is being spent and assess thereturn on that investment. Taxpayers have

a right to know what is taking place in

state government and I invite everyone to

participate.

Yet just recently, West Virginia received a

failing grade from a non-partisan

watchdog organization for transparency

in government spending. West Virginians

currently have limited access to the

procurement process. And while the state

has been working on the EnterpriseResource Planning System for years, it

only just recently received funding from

the legislature and it will not be made

available to the public. As more and more

West Virginians review their own

checkbooks to manage their expenses,

the state should do the same and provide

accessible, online, public documentation

of its spending. West Virginians cannot

afford the foot dragging any longer. It is

time to see the commitment through.

As Secretary of State, I dedicated myself

to openness and accountability. As aresult of that commitment, the number of

online filings for businesses nearly

doubled to more than 16,000 in 2010.

The tools are readily available and the

costs are minimal, but the savings to the

taxpayer are significant.

Shedding light on how your government

spends taxpayer dollars, how contracts

are awarded, how public agencies spend

taxpayer money, and who benefits from

tax incentives and grants, is the surestway to a fiscally responsible government.

An online, plain language, searchable

database of government spending and

contracts will increase efficiency across

government offices, reduce paperwork,

end duplicate spending, and put a stop

to frivolous spending. By opening up the

checkbook to public scrutiny, elected

officials will be deterred from participating

in the shell game of lowering taxes while

increasing fees.

As we look for new opportunities for

growth, we must take responsibility forour existing obligations. While West

Virginia has worked to address long term

pension obligations and lower total

benefit costs, we must address rising

costs and fully fund our long-term

obligations. Failure to do so will hinder t

state’s ability to acquire business and

capital investment and hinder growth.

Transparency and accountability are not

just about good government. They are

also good for business. As the Innovatio2020 Commission spearheads a long-

term strategic plan for our state, the We

Virginia Transparency Initiative will allow t

public to monitor and evaluate its

progress. Allowing investors access to

investment returns, making incentives,

grants and contracts easily searchable,

and making data on loans, bonds and

state properties readily available, we wil

signal to businesses and investors alike

that West Virginia is the place to do

business.

To make government more accountable and accessible, the West Virginia Transparency Initiative will:

• Create a one-stop “Sunshine” Portal where any West Virginian can go online to see how every penny of their money isspent. By making government more accountable to the taxpayer, we can move our economy forward through innovatiojob creation and lower taxes.

• Task government offices, including legislators, executive offices and public corporations, with making contracts,procurement processes and budgets available online in a searchable, exportable format.

• Make all grants and economic development initiatives, including tax credits and cuts, available in a searchable databaseAdditional information will be available to assist business owners, manufacturers and others to become eligible and appfor such programs.

• Make the Innovation 2020 Commission’s strategic planning process available for public review. To ensure taxpayer dollaare being spent wisely and to encourage public input, goals and priorities will be clearly defined and regular audits will bconducted. All documents related to the Commission’s recommendations and evaluations will be made available througthe Sunshine Portal for public evaluation.

• Require timely financial reporting of pension and health benefit liabilities. Strong financial reporting requirements havebeen shown to increase annual investment return by 2.1 percent over other funds.

• Cut out the perks for legislators and officials, stop lavish spending on office furniture and supplies, put all of their spendionline for taxpayers to review, and restrict travel to exotic places under the pretense of conferences unless a return oninvestment can be shown to West Virginian taxpayers.



Natalie E. Tennant

JobsIn January 2011, West Virginia’s

unemployment rate rose to 10.3%. The

occasion marked the first time since the

recession began in 2007 that our state

unemployment rate hit double digits,

surpassing the national average. While

West Virginia weathered the storm

better than many states during the

recession, we continue to lose good-

paying manufacturing jobs and remain

heavily dependent on traditional

industries that are subject to global

economic factors well beyond ourcontrol.

We must take bold action to bring jobs

to our state. And with that bold action,

we must ensure we are providing the

right tools at the state level, especially to

grow our high tech industry and assist

small businesses. Without strong

leadership from the Governor’s office,

West Virginia will continue to lose good

paying jobs and we will continue to

watch our children and grandchildren

leave the state, taking with them

incredible talent and the potential to

create jobs at home.

My number one priority is getting people

back to work in long term employment

with a good wage, benefits and the

respect our workers have earned.

Before we begin discussion of

developing the jobs of tomorrow, we

must ensure our workers are prepared

for the jobs of today.

To get us back to work, West Virginia Workforce Development will:

• Keep the jobs we have by partnering with our businesses, manufacturers and laborers to create alternatives to layoffsincluding offsetting wage concessions through unemployment benefits.

• Keep those currently employed ready to work by offering tax incentives and expand existing awards to businessesthat provide on-the-job workforce training to employed and unemployed workers alike.

• Prepare those looking for work for new jobs by allowing those workers seeking on-the-job training to remain eligiblefor unemployment benefits.

•

Working with our vocational and technical schools, laborers and the construction industry, direct additional funds totrain construction workers and displaced workers in energy efficiency building techniques and standards.

• Harness the Internet to create a one-stop shop for job seekers and businesses by aggregating job search sites tohelp businesses find qualified candidates and job seekers find openings that fit their skills and interest.

• Expand new hire credits to employers who offer competitive salaries, benefits and hire West Virginia workers.



Natalie E. Tennant

Small BusinessThe vast majority of jobs in West Virginiaare created by small businesses.Indeed, 97 percent of West Virginiacompanies are classified as smallbusinesses. We must do more to ensureour small businesses have access tocapital to grow and thrive. As Governor,I will rejuvenate, revitalize and reinvest inMain Street.

When I first came to the Secretary of State’s office, I heard from our smallbusiness owners that they were

spending far too much time onpaperwork and not enough time on theirbusiness. We promoted and streamlinedaccess to online filings. In 2010 alonethe number of online filings nearlydoubled to more than 16,000. Byworking with multiple state agencies, wewere able to reduce the amount of timebusiness owners had to spend on thephone with various agencies, andincrease the time they can spend withtheir customers.

The West Virginia Small BusinessDevelopment Center recently received a$325,000 grant to hire businesscoaches, expand job training andconduct technology training. Theseefforts are a great start, but more needsto be done to make our smallbusinesses competitive and thrive.

To keep our small businesses growing, Invest in Main Street will:

• Establish the Small Business Investment Program in conjunction with the Small Business Development Center andthe West Virginia Commerce Department to establish loan guarantees, streamline services for increased access tocapital, business incentives and hiring grants, establish a micro-lending fund for businesses with 10 or feweremployees, and connect colleges and businesses to promote workforce training.

• Direct additional state assistance to helping businesses secure SBA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)grants.

• Work with the West Virginia Department of Commerce to expand mentoring programs for new and existingbusinesses to harness the power of the Internet and other business tools for marketing and efficiencies. The programwill also offer additional assistance to businesses to take advantage of the West Virginia Small Business health

insurance plan.• Create a Small Business New Hire Credit to businesses with fewer than 50 employees who hire full-time West Virginia

employees for at least 1 year at $18,000 per year.

• Establish the Home-Based business grant administered through the West Virginia Small Business DevelopmentCenter to help residents start home-based web businesses.



Natalie E. Tennant

Research & TechnologyWest Virginia has enormous capacity fordiversification in energy, engineering,manufacturing and sciences – fromcoal, to chemicals, to biometrics, tobiotech, to advanced materials, toaerospace. But we must be prepared tomove ideas and innovations out of thelabs and into the marketplace. Toprepare our state for the 21st Centuryeconomy, we must take advantage of the research and development at WestVirginia University and MarshallUniversity, as well as our other

institutions of higher learning.Commercialization must be a priority.Working with our research centers –

such as those at WVU and MarshallUniversity – we will develop and fund aFast Track to Market designation. If aresearcher in West Virginia reaches apoint where his or her product ortechnique is 1-2 years from beingmarket-ready, I want us to help themidentify a corporate partner here in thestate, give them the money toaccelerate their work, and – wherepossible – help them cultivate newbusinesses. You don’t get a goodharvest unless you plant the seed.

West Virginia must hone its strengths.We must continue to lead the nation inclean energy research with the work

being done at West Virginia Universityand the National Energy TechnologyLaboratory in Morgantown. We willcontinue investment in biometrics andpromote the work at the FBI Center andWVU’s Center for IdentificationTechnology Research. The biosciencesare also ripe for expansion. We cansupport two important assets in thisgrowing field, WVU and MarshallUniversity, along with the Joan C.Edwards Cancer Center, the Robert C.Byrd Health Sciences Center, the

Blanchette Rockefeller NeurosciencesInstitute and Mylan Pharmaceuticals.

To get our research out of the labs and creating jobs, Fast Track to Market will:

• Establish the Fast Track to Market designation, increase state investment in the West Virginia Research Trust Fundand increase funding for commercialization assistance by Innova West Virginia and the SBDC.

• Promote public-private partnerships for our budding entrepreneurs to receive special assistance in starting-up byhelping to reduce overhead costs, streamline paperwork, provide access to capital, and provide training on businesstools and Internet marketing.

•

Offer incentives for students at our community and technical colleges and colleges and universities to study science,technology and math so our graduates are prepared to fill jobs in these new industries as well as start their own techventures.

• Make additional venture capital available to our innovators through public-private partnerships and expand venturecapital certifications. With only seven firms certified currently to provide venture capital in West Virginia we need moreto ensure investment in research and development translates in to job-creating industries. In many cases the amountof money can be relatively small, but the rewards can be huge.



Natalie E. Tennant

EnergyCoal is central to the West Virginiaeconomy; indeed the U.S. economy,representing nearly 50% of the nation’selectricity needs. But for West Virginia tocompete in the 21st Century economy,we must invest in the coal industry of the future, not the past. By leveragingtoday’s industry, West Virginia willbecome the national test bed forcutting-edge clean coal technologies,whether coal gasification or carbonstorage and sequestration.

In January, West Virginia University

signed an agreement to lead a five-year,$150 million project with China and theU. S. Department of Energy to developand test new technologies for carboncapture and sequestration. This placesour State squarely in the national andinternational spotlight in efforts to usecoal cleanly. If there is a new technologythat makes West Virginia coal cleaner,more efficient, and more affordable, itwill be pioneered here first.

Responsible development of theMarcellus Shale will allow West Virginiato create thousands of new jobs andprovide increased revenue for ourcommunities and local and stategovernments. We must, however, makesure we protect our other great naturalresource – water – as well as our roadsand communities. To ensure companiesare hiring West Virginia workers for WestVirginia work, we must havepartnerships and programs in place toproperly train our workers for the jobs

Marcellus development will provide. Wealso must be wise in how we takeadvantage of the increased tax andpermit revenue that will come into ourState’s coffers. We must set asidemoney to invest in our children’s futureand to empower our communities todetermine their own futures.

But we shouldn’t stop at coal andnatural gas. West Virginia will be at theforefront in research, development, and

testing of new energy technologies.There is no reason that our state shouldbe content to provide energy for simplythe next 20 years. We should take thelead in continuing to power our nationafter the coal and natural gas start todiminish. To do so, we must work tocreate a truly alternative energy industry.

To address rising utility costs it is notenough to simply clean out the PublicService Commission, though appointingCommissioners who will work in thepublic interest is a crucial first step. By

increasing building efficiency for ourhomes, businesses and state buildings,we can reduce the amount of energy weuse and with it our utility bills.Weatherization programs and energyefficient building standards will helpstabilize utility rates and promote jobgrowth in a growing industry.

To make West Virginia strong for generations to come, the Innovation 2020 Fund will:• Capture a portion of increased severance tax revenue to be set aside for improving math and science education,

assisting local communities’ development efforts and small businesses, and research and development of newtechnologies.

• Build a comprehensive development program for the natural gas industry with a focus on working with industryleaders, union representatives and the education/training community to make sure we are aggressively trainingworkers for the natural gas industry.

• Order an assessment of our universities’ research in the areas of renewable energy including wind, solar, biofuel andbiomass.

• Give taxpayers access to revenues and investment to track progress of the Innovation 2020 Fund as part of the WestVirginia Transparency Initiative.

• Establish efficiency standards for all new construction of state buildings and promote weatherization and energyefficient building products through grants and tax incentives for homeowners and businesses.



Natalie E. Tennant

ManufacturingWhile we must take bold action to helpour small businesses and promote aculture of entrepreneurship, we mustwork equally hard to preserve ourmanufacturing jobs. Geographically, ourindustries reach virtually any majorcompany on the Eastern seaboardthrough overnight trucking. We havethree major east-west interstates andthree major north-south interstates. Wehave some of the lowest electricity ratesand natural gas costs in the nation.That’s why we see a company such as

Macy’s locating its distribution center inMartinsburg.

Shipping and distribution centers forlight assembly and product repairs arealso a growing trend in manufacturing.Such sites are more than massive

loading docks; they are high-tech nervecenters. As Governor, I will pursue theseopportunities to move West Virginia upthe value chain.

West Virginia already has a number of foreign investments that provide good-paying jobs for our citizens – fromWheeling-Nisshin in Follansbee toToyota in Buffalo. We must continue tolook beyond our borders for investmentin growing industries. We have aneconomic development office in Munichand one in Japan, but we know that

most of the world’s growth in thecoming decades is going to occur in theemerging markets - China, India, Brazil,and Africa. West Virginia should look toexpand our overseas presence tostrategic locations in these regions. We

should take a tactical look at ourexports and industries and see how welthey match up with the long-term needsof those countries.

Additionally, by bringing ourmanufacturers together with ourresearchers we can beginmanufacturing the products of thefuture. Increasingly energy related – newpower plant components, batteries, fuelcells, solar panels and wind turbines –manufacturing is going high-tech. Wemust actively work to attract these

manufacturers and the research anddevelopment that support them.

To promote and grow manufacturing in West Virginia, as Governor, I will:

• Personally host and attend an annual “Manufacturers’ Summit” during which I will listen to the concerns of manufacturers, researchers, union representatives, educators and trainers to develop with them a plan to addressthose concerns. The first summit will occur in conjunction with the Investment 2020 Commission. Subsequentsummits will be convened to evaluate the success of the long-term strategic plan per the needs of the manufacturing

industry and laborers.

• Immediately order an assessment of the resources at our community and technical colleges and our colleges anduniversities to ensure that state resources are being used to maximum benefit to help retain and save jobs.

• Propose incentives to attract clean energy manufacturing jobs and promote the Fast Track to Market designation.

• Order an assessment of our efforts and incentives to attract distribution centers, including loading container and trucktrailer facilities.

• Work with our state’s business leaders to determine the best markets internationally for West Virginia to target forexports and direct investment.

• As Chief Development Officer and Ambassador, I will go anywhere – at home or abroad – to bring new, good payingjobs to our state.



Natalie E. Tennant

InfrastructureNo business, large or small, cancompete in today’s economy withouthigh-speed broadband. Whether it’ssimply processing a customer’s creditcard, selling products over the Internet,running a telecommunications-basedbusiness - if an area lacks high-speedbroadband, it will stagnate. Just asimportant, school children simply cannotkeep up with learning if they do not haveaccess to a computer and high-speedInternet after school.

Broadband is no longer a luxury; it is

critical to the economic well being of ourstate. A decade or so ago, we set agoal of wiring every school classroom tothe Internet. Today, West Virginia is inthe top of all states in percentage of

classrooms connected. We mustaddress the broadband gap with asimilar commitment to broadbanddeployment to our homes andbusinesses. In some communities in ourstate, only twenty-five percent of ourcitizens are connected, and we rank 47th in the country in percentage of population with access to broadband.Last year, West Virginia was awarded$126 million in a federal stimulus grantto expand high-speed Internet acrossthe state. West Virginia’s students,

workers and businesses cannot affordto wait. We must aggressively andefficiently invest those grant funds now.As Governor, I will make high-speedbroadband a priority.

For West Virginia to thrive, we mustupgrade and maintain our roadways,waterways and bridges. Many of ourroads, bridges and dams are nearing acrisis point. Thirty-nine percent of ourbridges are structurally deficient orfunctionally obsolete. Thirty of our 360dams are in need of rehabilitation andtoo many operate with no emergencyaction plan. Our drinking waterinfrastructure requires millions ininvestment over the next twenty years.To keep our families healthy, our

communities safe and our businessesmoving, we must finish projects that arelong overdue and begin investing in newroads and highways.

To move our businesses into the 21st Century economy, as Governor, I will:

• Bring all parties together to develop a plan that builds upon the work of the federal stimulus grant to further extendbroadband service, including public private-partnerships to reach under-served areas. The State must also develop anaccurate broadband map so we can work with telecommunications companies and federal programs to fill gaps incoverage.

• Push our telecommunication companies to constantly upgrade equipment and lines. I will empower our localdevelopment organizations, municipalities and counties to work with providers to develop long term strategic planning forbusiness expansion and industrial parks.

• Work with Senator Rockefeller, Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, to secure all possible federal assistance tobring broadband to all of our citizens and businesses.

• Commission an assessment of our state’s infrastructure needs to develop a long-term investment strategy to keep ourdrinking water safe and protect our communities



Natalie E. Tennant

Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Natalie Tennant grew up on a farm near Fairview

in Marion County, the youngest of seven children.

Both her parents are educators. She learned the value of a good education and the

importance of putting in a hard day’s work baling hay alongside her brothers and

sister.

After graduating from North Marion High School and leading the Huskies as their

Student Body President, Tennant went to West Virginia University, where she studied

broadcasting and broke barriers by becoming the first woman to officially serve as

the WVU Mountaineer. In 1991, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast

journalism, and in 2002 she obtained a master’s degree in corporate and

organizational communication also from WVU. For the next decade Tennantanchored the news in Clarksburg and Charleston, bringing attention to stories that

affected the people of West Virginia.

In 2008, Tennant successfully ran for Secretary of State. After winning a competitive

primary election, Tennant decisively won the general election and was sworn in as the

29th West Virginia Secretary of State.

During her tenure as Secretary of State, Tennant has dedicated herself to making

government accountable and never wasting taxpayer dollars. She cut outdated

programs, eliminated excessive spending, and made government more accessible to

West Virginians.

As a small business owner herself, Tennant knows the importance of ensuring thatbusiness in West Virginia thrives. The largest division Tennant oversees as Secretary

of State is business and licensing – and she has made efficiency, access, and cutting

red tape for small businesses hallmarks of her tenure as Secretary. The work she

does there is vital to the economy of West Virginia and literally keeps businesses

running. In 2010, as the result of Tennant’s commitment to making the Secretary of

State’s Office more business friendly, the number of online filings nearly doubled to

more than 16,000.

Tennant has also successfully fought for initiatives to make the voting process more

streamlined, secure, and accessible. In just two years as Secretary of State, Tennant

helped West Virginia become a worldwide leader in safe and secure online voting for

overseas and deployed military, ensuring that our men and women in uniform cancast their ballot when performing their duty for their country.

Meet Natalie

Elect Natalie Tennant

Mailing AddressPO Box 1603

Charleston, WV 25324

Headquarters

303 Washington St. WestCharleston, WV 25302

Phone

(304) 853-0333

Fax

(304) 400-4534

[email protected]

Webwww.NatalieTennant.com

Paid for by Elect Natalie Tennant, Brian Glasser, Treasurer

http://www.natalietennant.com/

mailto:[email protected]







Innovation and Accountability 2020

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