Countries can’t lead in a global economy without highly trained workers. That’s why states are hustling to get more students signed on for courses in science, engineering, technology and mathematics. In Virginia, six new academies — in the cities of Suffolk and Newport News and Arlington and Halifax, Russell and Stafford counties — will provide this instruction at the high-school and post-secondary levels. They are being developed through a partnership among public schools, colleges and universities, employers, businesses and the state.

Partnership is the key word here. States can’t do it alone. Many face budget shortfalls caused by drops in tax revenue as a result of the housing slump. Funding for what will be known in Virginia as the Governor’s Career and Technical Academies comes from a $500,000 grant from the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices. It receives support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Intel Corp. 

Virginia was one of six states to get a grant. The money will be matched with support from federal Workforce Investment Act funds. Meanwhile, in high-tech California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to attract 20,000 new engineers over the next decade by taking a similar approach. He supports the use of $1 million in federal workforce funds to develop apprentice programs between community colleges and private industry.

Virginia Business will report on Virginia’s workforce development program in its March issue. For stories on the country’s growing shortage of engineers and what Virginia is doing about it, go here.

On your mark, get set, go! The 2008 General Assembly opened today with a new majority in the Senate. For the first time in more than a decade, the Democrats are in control. What that means for business will unfold over the next 60-day session. But the Dems need to do some handholding with the Republican-dominated House if they want to move forward on issues.

Those significant to the business community include everything from a budget shortfall of $618 million to bills that would affect transportation, illegal immigration and health insurance reform. 

In terms of composition, the official count for this year’s House of Delegates is 53 Republicans, 44 Democrats and two independents. One unfilled seat will be decided in an election next month. The Democrats have a narrow lead in the Senate, with 21 seats compared to 19 Republican seats. Then there’s Democratic Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, intent on making his mark midway through his term.

We hope you will visit our new General Assembly blog regularly. And if you want to weigh in on an issue with a legislator, the Capitol is offering a toll free constituent viewpoint hotline at 1-800-889-0229.

Starting tomorrow, the line will be answered by operators from Jan. 9 thorough March 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. They will record the caller’s message and forward the information to the appropriate legislator. While operators can’t transfer calls, they can provide constituents with legislators’ phone number. Who says customer service is dead?

State senators head to the Capitol today under Democratic leadership for the first time in 12 years. Does that mean a new era for business in the Senate chamber?

Probably not.

Senate-veteran Dick Saslaw, now Senate majority leader and also chairman of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, has long been known as a business-friendly Democrat. In addition, Senate Democrats and moderate Republicans, who previously controlled the Senate, have voted similarly on many business issues.

When Virginia Business sat down with four state political observers for a political roundtable in November, the overwhelming consensus was that Democratic leadership would not change much in legislative outcome on business issues. The Finance Committee, another committee controlling legislation important to business, will also not change drastically under Democratic control. “We’re talking about business-friendly Democrats who are not going to dramatically move the Senate in a different direction than it was during the [former Senate Finance Chairman John] Chichester years,” said Dr. Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington.

Still, there’s a lot at stake for business this year. Outcomes of legislation on immigration reform, work-force resources, health insurance, transportation and how to make up for a budget shortfall could be important to preserving Virginia’s business-friendly reputation.

In the House of Delegates, Republican Del. Terry G. Kilgore of Scott County takes over chairmanship of the House Commerce and Labor Committee from Del. Harvey B. Morgan, R-Gloucester. The Richmond Times-Dispatch calls Kilgore an ally of public utilities, telephone companies and payday lenders.

Welcome to Virginia Business magazine’s new Business Blog – the blog to read in Virginia for business commentary, insight and analysis. Check back for updates from the General Assembly and notes on business as it happens.