It looks like COVID-19 regulations are going to be significantly reduced on May 28, just in time for the holiday weekend. This is welcome news. Prolonged sacrifice affects everyone differently. Over the coming weeks and months, it will be essential to analyze the personal, business, and governmental benefits and costs of policies and actions intended to beat the pandemic. A dispassionate evaluation is critical to ending this pandemic and ensuring that we are ready for the next threat.

One of the first things that the VMA is preparing is a petition to the Safety & Health Codes Board to vacate the permanent COVID-19 regulation (16VAC25-220). The VMA argued that a fixed and permanent regulation would not keep pace with CDC guidance and it did not contemplate a COVID-19 vaccination. Both predictions have come true, and Governor Northam and the Virginia Department of Labor & Industry are creating confusing guidance and FAQ documents to thread the needle. Regardless, this is a good problem - Virginia is nearing "herd immunity" levels in record time.

Virginia has weathered this storm and now we have to get everyone back to work. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics announced in March 2021 that a record 8.1 million jobs have gone unfilled nationally. This can be felt in every one of our members' facilities with recent reports of production declines due to a lack of workers. We have to turn our attention to this new challenge or risk a slow economic recovery, price increases, and inflation.

So, how do we convey a motivational message about ending the pandemic and rejoining the workforce in this political environment? Persistence, compelling story-telling, and opportunity. We have to tell our story over and over and over... Pairing this repetition with recorded stories from your employees about their commitment to manufacturing everything from food to PPE to vaccines is vital. Additionally, we have to raise our voices about the life-changing opportunities that a manufacturing career can provide someone. In other words, it is time to take a victory lap and celebrate the fact that manufacturers brought the country out of this pandemic by manufacturing PPE to protect us, hospital equipment to treat us, food and beverages to nourish us, and a vaccine to save us!

As we prepare the Manufacturing Makes Virginia campaign, please begin to collect your authentic stories to include in our video library. Our goal is to make sure that every candidate for office understands the importance of manufacturing in the Commonwealth, and to motivate 1,000 manufacturing employees, retirees, and supporters to political action this fall. The race is just beginning!

The VMA requested legislation exempting qualifying business-related PPE purchases from sales tax. The temporary exemption is available for purchases made beginning March 11, 2021. The exemption will end the day after the last of Governor Northam's COVID-19 executive orders expire. Examples of qualifying products include, but are not limited to:

For a full list of qualifying products, see the Guidelines for Retail Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Personal Protective Equipment. The Certificate of Exemption (Form ST-13T) is available here.

View our B&A for more information.

Don't Miss Out: VMA Metal Connections

The VMA is excited to offer a group metal purchasing program exclusively to members through our newest strategic partner, Sparks Material Sourcing. The program is designed to help members aggregate their primary metals purchases to leverage economies of scale and improve pricing, terms of service, warehousing arrangements, and more. Our goal is to have $25 million in orders under contract this year.

To participate, download the spreadsheets on our VMA Metal Connections page to document your needs. Each file has two tabs – one for round bar/tube, and one for rectangular bar/plate. All information is absolutely confidential. Once completed, forward the spreadsheets to [email protected].

To find other suppliers for your business, don't forget to check out VMAConnections.

Trade Builds Virginia strives to educate and engage our local leaders to highlight the importance of global trade and its impact on our local communities. This is now more important than ever as we emerge from the pandemic and get on the path to prosperity. To learn more about the program, please visit www.tradebuildsvirginia.com.

We hope you will join us for this timely dialogue and welcome you to share the following registration link with others in the community: Trade Builds Virginia - Richmond Roundtable.

VMA members are in the business of creating. Citron Hygiene is in the business of “Building Healthy Spaces” and providing confidence. We are excited to introduce VMA members to hygienic solutions for their facilities and discuss trends we are seeing in the marketplace.

All VMA Members are encouraged to participate in committees of interest. For more information on VMA's Committees, or to attend an upcoming committee meeting, contact Kimberly Noonan.

Part of VMA's strategic plan is to expand supply chain opportunities among Virginia manufacturers and suppliers, including small, woman-owned, veteran-owned, and minority-owned businesses. Join us for a virtual supply chain match-up event, facilitated by David A. Miles, Ph.D., on August 10 and 11 from 11:00am – 1:00pm.

All online registrations must be submitted by 12pm on August 5, 2021, and the $50 registration fee must be received prior to the event. Check out our event page for more information.

Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Heritage-Crystal Clean, and our Signature Sponsors, Blueprint Financial Group, Paymerang, and Virginia Israel Advisory Board, for their support.

VMA's Premiere Conferences - SAVE THE DATE!

The Industrial Safety Readiness Training (ISRT) program provides the core concepts of safety awareness for industrial workplace training, and an individualized learning plan that addresses the most common hazardous situations faced in the industrial environment. The ISRT goal is to contribute to a reduction in workforce injuries and a higher degree of liability control.

WiM National recently announced the opening of nominations for the 2021 class of Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame inductees! The Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame pays tribute to those who are dedicated to supporting, promoting, and inspiring women in the manufacturing industry. They are currently seeking nominations for outstanding women leaders.

The Virginia Industry Foundation is an exclusive reseller of Microsoft 365 software products. Through this arrangement, VMA members can purchase Microsoft 365 products for their business or personal use at a significantly reduced cost. It’s easy to find the software that is right for you. Go to the VIF website and view pricing and details. Contact Kate Kapottos to request more information on any of the Microsoft programs.

With questions about these, or other available VMA Business Services, contact VMA Member Services Coordinator Kate Kapottos for more information.

As an extension of VMAConnections: a Service Provider Sourcing Center, the VMA features up to three Associate Members who support and supply services to Virginia manufacturers. Give these great Associates a click or two or three!

To see your company spotlighted here or to share resources, contact Kaitlyn Crow.

The aggregated results of all surveys will be used to inform and guide policymakers and will be made available to survey participants and the broader public. It is essential for policymakers to understand how businesses, small and large, are impacted by COVID-19 and we hope you will take a moment to participate in this short survey.

This survey will close on May 21st to begin analyzing data.

Resources & Events - World Trade Month

The 8th annual SelectUSA Investment Summit promotes the United States as the world’s premier investment destination and connects qualified foreign firms with U.S. economic development organizations (EDOs) to facilitate business investment and job creation.

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