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Virginia Manufacturer's Association

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VOLUME 8 | Edition 8 | August 2018
Letter from the President & CEO

Dear Members:

One of the foundational priorities of the VMA is to maintain regulatory balance in the Commonwealth.  Since nearly $5 billion of industry regulations originate at the Federal level, the VMA occasionally participates in federal agency rulemaking activities.  In fact, t he VMA just filed comments on a US EPA Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on increasing consistency and transparency in considering benefits and costs in the rulemaking process. 
 
Our core arguments are summarized below:
 
VMA applauds EPA's efforts to review and revise its practices to ensure quality regulatory analysis, including benefit-cost analysis, properly informs regulatory decision-making. Of the issues raised for comment, VMA suggests that EPA should revise and improve its use of retrospective analysis; reinvent its approach to consideration of "co-benefits", renaming and reconsidering them as "ancillary impacts"; and, create a much stronger incentive for Agency offices and employees to closely adhere to existing (and future) regulatory analysis guidelines by making such analysis judicially reviewable under the normal arbitrary and capricious standard - specifically through an enforceable regulation.
 
It is our opinion that this ANPRM has been overlooked by most business organizations.  It is a major opportunity for the business community to correct the perceived and/or actual abuses of regulation derived from inflated or inaccurate benefit-cost analysis.  Our organization prides itself on a steadfast commitment to market-based principles, data-driven public policy, global competitiveness, and government transparency and accountability.   If you are interested in this work, please contact Kimberly Noonan , VMA Member Services Director, to join the Environmental Health & Safety Committee.  

We look forward to working with you to maintain Virginia's regulatory balance and improve our global manufacturing competitiveness.

Best Wishes,  
Brett  
Brett A. Vassey
President & CEO


STEP Ahead Awards Recognize Women in Manufacturing




To combat the gender gap in manufacturing, The Manufacturing Institute launched the STEP Ahead initiative in 2012 to showcase the impact of women in science, technology, engineering and production (STEP) careers. The STEP Ahead Awards highlight the achievements of real women in manufacturing who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their companies and communities.

Click here to learn more about the STEP Ahead Awards Program and nominate leading women in manufacturing for the 2019 STEP Ahead Awards. Nominations can be submitted from August 1, 2018 through October 5, 2018.



1st Annual VMA STEP Ahead Awards Recognition Luncheon
Join the VMA at the 2018 Competitiveness Forum   on November 14 at the beautiful Kingsmill Resort where we will recognize STEP Ahead Award nominees from Virginia during a special lunch program.  


VMA Office Depot & OfficeMax Discount Program

When you're part of the VMA's exclusive Office Supply Savings program from Office Depot and OfficeMax, your employees and their family can enjoy special pricing on all things back to school.
  • 20%- 55% off classroom essentials for all grades, teacher supplies, snacks and more
  • 10% off top performing laptops, desktop computers, flash drives, monitors, mice and keyboards
Plus, up to 10% off everything else in the store and online, every time you shop.*


*Some exclusions apply

VMA Safety Awards & Chairman's Safety Awards - Applications Due August 10

The VMA Safety Awards are presented each year at the Virginia Environmental Health & Safety (VEHS) Conference to manufacturing contractors who exemplify workforce safety. Winners of these awards are contractors who participate in the Manufacturing Skills Institute's (MSI) Industrial Safety Readiness Training (ISRT) Certificate program.  Gold, Silver and Bronze level winners meet the following ISRT Certificate training criterion:
  • Gold Level - 75% of qualified workforce trained
  • Silver Level - 50% of qualified workforce trained
  • Bronze Level - 25% of qualified workforce trained
Companies are evaluated annually by MSI and VMA professional staff and recognized at an awards ceremony at the VEHS Conference.  Participants are also listed in an exclusive cloud-based Contractor's Directory that is marketed to business and industry for contractor selection purposes.

Beginning this year, Gold Level winners of the VMA Safety Awards are eligible to compete for the VMA Chairman's Safety Award.  These manufacturing contractors exemplify the highest level of safety commitment and performance.  

Winners will be announced and recognized on September 26 at the VEHS Conference in Richmond.  There will be a cocktail reception immediately following the awards ceremony.

  
Want to Get More Involved with the VMA?




 
The Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA) is only as strong as its members.  Member committees drive the work of the VMA on critical manufacturing issues as well as create the foundation of our "grass roots" advocacy. Committees are central to the government affairs function of the VMA, but they also drive our professional development, networking, regulatory and outreach services. Involvement in VMA committees is the best avenue to directly affect change, get involved and stay informed.

All Full and Associate Members are encouraged to participate in a committees of interest. A description of each committee as well as a list of upcoming meeting dates/locations is available on our website at http://www.vamanufacturers.com/vma-committees/.  

Upcoming Meetings:
  • VA Chemistry Council - 9/13
  • Safety Subcommittee - 9/26
  • Water Subcommittee - 9/26
  • Environment, Health, Safety & Security Committee - 10/24
  • Workforce Solutions Committee - 10/25
  • Air Subcommittee - 10/30
  • Government Affairs Council - 12/11

For more information about any of the following committees, please contact Kimberly Noonan, Director of Member Services, at knoonan@vamanufacturers.com or 804-528-4482. 


Mark Your Calendar - August VMA Webinars

 
Tuesday, August 21
11:30AM-12:15PM

  Business Transition Planning

For those thinking about potential next steps with their business--whether it's a transition from one generation to the next or an outright sale to a third party--please join us along  with UBS Financial Services for a brief educational webinar to discuss the nuances and best practices of business transition planning.
Register here for the August 21 webinar. 
_____________________________________

Tuesday, August 28
11:30AM-12:15PM

Pamela Bates of Securitas Global Risk Solutions will discuss financial strategies your company can use to grow sales and reduce risk.
  • What is trade credit insurance?
  • How companies use trade credit insurance to:
    • Grow sales by extending more favorable terms of sales and larger credit limits
    • Finance international trade
    • Transfer credit risk and protect against domestic and international buyer non-payment
The session will be content-rich and give you great insights on a solution with many benefits.

Register here  for the August 28 webinar. 


Smarter. Stronger. SteelDay.

SW Funk Industrial Contractors has teamed up with the American Institute of Steel C onstruction (AISC) to host their 6th Annual SteelDay event.  

Friday, September 28
10:30 AM - 4 PM

SW Funk Industrial
1710 W Hundred Rd
Chester, Virginia 23836

SteelDay is an annual national event dedicated to providing the the community with accessibility to the latest happenings in the structural steel industry.  SteelDay events allow members of the community an opportunity to tour facilities and job sites, attend educational seminars, network, and see how the structural steel industry is contributing to build America.