The Northern Virginia Technology Council has outlined its legislative agenda for 2014 asking Virginia policymakers to focus on expanding the state’s technology development initiatives.The council submitted letters containing its legislative priorities to the Virginia General Assembly, the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and senior state officials on Jan. 6, the NVTC said Monday.
NVTC is asking officials to raise funding for Virginia’s research and development tax credit, the Center for Innovative Technology GAP funds, cybersecurity, data analytics initiatives, as well as to sustain funding for Virginia’s Angel Investment Tax Credit and Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund.
The policies are also intended to aid companies through a centralized location for finding business forms, help startup businesses identify and address challenges and protect entrepreneurs from patent violations.
Virginia’s legislators are asked to increase the number of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) certifications and degrees across the state in order to open technology job opportunities.
The legislative agenda pushes for continued investment in Virginia’s Top Jobs initiative, STEM focus in grades K-12, workforce equality and support for Virginia’s workforce initiatives.
