Minutes 01/10/2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-~ 1. \ January 10,2006 WHEREAS, Governor Mark Warner has supported development of a new college by providing $600,000 in planning funds to the New College Planning Commission and by including $4,500,000 in his 2006- 2008 biennium budget for the proposed New College Institute, the public entity envisioned under the two- stage higher education framework agreed to by the New College Planning Commission, Governor Warner, Secretary of Education Peter Blake, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), and Virginia Tech; and WHEREAS, the City of Martinsville has supported development of a new college by committing to $1,000,000 in infrastructure development funding; and WHEREAS, the New College Institute model is based on regional cooperation and collaboration; and WHEREAS, the New College Institute two-stage framework allows for eventual development of the New College Institute into a free-standing public baccalaureate college or a baccalaureate-level branch campus; and WHEREAS, education and knowledge are the foundations of success in the twenty first century economy and are necessary for the success of Southside as a region; now, therefore BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, jointly with the Henry County Board of Supervisors, that Martinsville City Council enthusiastically endorses and supports efforts to establish the New College Institute in Martinsville/Henry County, and enthusiastically recommends to the Virginia General Assembly and Governor-Elect Tim Kaine that legislation be enacted to create the New College Institute as it has been envisioned under the two-stage framework and that the full sum of $4,500,000 proposed by Governor Warner for the New College Institute be included in the Commonwealth's 2006-2008 biennium budget; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, in accordance with the generous offer of a $50,000,000 challenge grant by the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont, that Martinsville City Council requests that the Harvest Foundation match the State appropriation of $4,500,000. After adoption, Council Member Clark made a plea for Henry County to also provide a financial incentive. Mayor Cobbe announced that The Harvest Foundation has also adopted a Resolution committing to the match of the State appropriation. Council considered adoption of a Resolution in support of Citizens Against Family Violence's application to the Commonwealth of Virginia for possible funding for additional shelter space. After Mayor Cobbe read the Resolution, Council Member Ferrill moved to adopt the following Resolution;