Senate passes bills tied to governor's job-creation fund

Gov. Bob McDonnell's push for incentive dollars to recruit employers to Virginia gained ground after two bills passed the state Senate on Tuesday.

One measure, Powhatan County Republican Sen. John Watkins' SB 475, would provide additional criteria that can be used when grants or loans are made from the Governor's Opportunity Fund.

Another, SB 554, carried by Democratic Sen. Phillip Puckett of Russell County, specifies that the governor can make grants of up to $2 million from the fund for commercial projects in a central city or core urban area.

Passed unanimously, both bills are components of the job-creation package McDonnell recently outlined. Companion measures are working their way through the House of Delegates. McDonnell wants to double the state appropriation to the Governor's Opportunity Fund as part of his economic development plan.