William O'quinn on economic diversification
From O'Quinn - Reminding Richmond that SWVA's Economy is Vital to Virginia's Economy · · israeloquinn
“Southwest Virginia seems to work the hardest to diversify its economy. Our delegation, local governments, and economic developers have taken this on head-on to try to make things better for the people that we represent.”
On , William O'quinn, Senior Vice President of Special Projects at PYXUS INTERNATIONAL INC, spoke about economic diversification during O'Quinn - Reminding Richmond that SWVA's Economy is Vital to Virginia's Economy on israeloquinn.
About William O'quinn
In a September 2020 floor speech, William O'Quinn, then a delegate and now Senior Vice President of Special Projects at Atn, argued that Southwest Virginia's economy is vital to the state and criticized what he described as a disregard for the region. He stated that the area has "been absolutely hammered since the Great Recession" and faces challenges including schools in need of repair, unpaved roads, and a lack of broadband. O'Quinn expressed skepticism about promised green energy jobs, saying the region would accept them "if and when they materialize," but questioned asking workers to give up "$90,000 blue collar job[s] for a $15 hour job." O'Quinn noted that Southwest Virginia has worked to diversify its economy and that the region's exports account for over half of Virginia's total export volume, supporting a $350 million port expansion. He warned that certain policies could put localities on the "verge of bankruptcy," citing one locality that could lose $8 million from a $50 million budget, affecting schools. He urged lawmakers to visit the region and consider the impact of their decisions, stating that "Virginia only works correctly and justly if every region is lifted up."