Virginia is used to being a leader. The Commonwealth has contributed scores of statesmen and innovators who have served our nation well, all while respecting time-tested traditions and values.
“Virginia Leading the Way” is the motto of the Kaine Administration, adopted by the Governor because it embodies both Virginia's tradition of excellence – and its constant striving to surpass previous achievements.
Look to these pages for the latest accolades and accomplishments the Commonwealth has earned for its business acumen and its educational excellence, as well as for notable accomplishments in other areas. We will update this content quarterly, based on feedback and tips from across the state.
You can also see how Virginia is leading the way in the Governor's related news releases.
Virginia Leads: in Business | in Education | in Technology | other Notable Achievements
Our Latest Accolades
Virginia's growth in high-tech exports leads the nation
In September, 2008, Governor Kaine applauded Virginia's success in leading the nation in growth of high-tech exports. According to the American Electronics Association (AeA), the nation's largest high-technology trade association, Virginia experienced a $1.1 billion increase in high-tech goods exports since 2006 - the largest increase of any state. The growth led to an 11th-place national ranking for Virginia compared to the Commonwealth's 21st-place ranking in 2006.
Virginia rated best in nation for I.T. Management, Information Security
In September, 2008, Governor Kaine announced that Virginia had received top honors in the nation for information security and technology management from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). Both programs received first place honors from NASCIO at its 20th annual Recognition Awards program yesterday in Milwaukee.
Commonwealth receives third straight 'Best State for Business' ranking by Forbes.com
In July, 2008, Governor Kaine announced that Virginia continues to lead the nation as Forbes.com's "Best State for Business." It is the third consecutive year Virginia has been top ranked. The Commonwealth finished in the top 10 in four of the six categories examined in the review, which was published today.
Virginia Gets Top Grade in Performance
Virginia again received the top score in the Government Performance Project’s “Grading the States 2008” report, the nation’s only comprehensive, independent analysis of how well each state performs in serving the public. In the first such rating in three years, Virginia achieved an overall grade of A- for performance. Two other states – Utah and Washington - received an A- grade, and the national average was B-. Virginia also received an A- ranking in the most recent “Grading the States” assessment in 2005.
Virginia Leading the Way . . . in Business
- In May, 2008, Governor Timothy M. Kaine applauded the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Division of International Trade for superior export performance that earned it the coveted President’s “E Star” Award for Export Service.
Read the full news release for more details. - In July, 2007, CNBC, the leading financial news cable channel that reaches influential business and financial leaders around the world, designated Virginia as its “Top State for Business.”
Read the full news release for more details.
- In March 2007, Pollina Corporate Real Estate, Inc. ranked Virginia as "Most Business-Friendly State" a second time.
- The September 2006 issue of Inc. Magazine shows Virginia with 35 of the "Fastest Growing Companies" in the nation on the Inc. 500 List.
- In August 2006, Entrepreneur.com named Virginia the second best state for Entrepreneurs; Fairfax County also placed second in their entrepreneurial county rankings.
. . . in Education
In February, 2008, the College Board's fourth annual Advanced Placement Report to the Nation stated that Virginia now boasts the nation’s third-highest percentage of high school seniors earning a grade of 3 or better on Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. Virginia ranked fourth in the previous College Board report.
Read the full news release for more details.
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Education Week says Virginia children are the most likely in the nation to experience success as they move from childhood to adulthood. The journal, in its annual “Quality Counts” report on the progress of the nation’s public schools, says that the typical student in the commonwealth “enjoys higher achievement and is more likely to finish high school and continue on to college than in other states.”
- Examine the full Quality Counts 2007 report from Education Week.
- Download
the full report on Virginia (pdf, 455 k)
- In May 2006, Newsweek magazine listed 18 Virginia high schools as among the 150 best high schools in the nation.
- In its 2006 Best of the Nation report, U.S. News and World Report ranked the
following Virginia institutions:
- Top 50 Public Universities – University of Virginia (tied for 2nd); College of William and Mary (6th); Virginia Tech (tied for 34th).
- Best Liberal Arts Colleges – Washington & Lee (tied for 17th); University of Richmond (tied for 34th);
- Best Master's Universities, Southern Region – James Madison University (2nd); University of Mary Washington (6th);
- Top Master's Public Universities, Southern Region – James Madison University (1st); University of Mary Washington (2nd); Longwood University (11th).
- Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #1 in the disciplines of Fine Arts/Sculpture, and Nursing/Anesthesia.
. . . in Technology
- In June 2007, The Virginia Department of Aging was awarded a 2007 Intergovernmental Solutions Award by the American Council for Technology (ACT). The award recognizes outstanding progress made at all levels of government through the innovative use of technology as a tool for more efficient and effective business processes.
- In October 2006, Governor Kaine announced that Virginia will be the first state in the nation to participate in an historic project to index and digitize Freedmen’s Bureau records, allowing historians and descendents of emancipated slaves, freed Blacks, and Black Union soldiers to access historical data, much of which was never before available.
- Virginia was ranked second in the nation in its use of information technology to benefit citizens in the 2006 Digital States Survey, a prestigious biennial study by the non-profit Center for Digital Government in conjunction with Government Technology magazine.
Other Notable Achievements
- In July, 2008, Governor Kaine announced that Virginia has been ranked highest in the nation for job entry rates for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients for federal fiscal years 2005 and 2006, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
read more... - In February, 2008, Virginia ranked first among the 50 states and U.S. territories for the number of historic districts added to the National Register of Historic Places during federal fiscal year 2007. It is the third consecutive year in which Virginia has achieved top ranking for districts listed.
read more... - In September, 2007, the Virginia Housing Development Authority won two national awards recognizing outstanding achievement in affordable housing. VHDA won for its REACH NOVA and VHDA University programs.
read more... - In July, 2007, the Virginia Division of Child Support Enforcement was a winner of the 2007 Council of State Governments' (CSG) Innovations Award for its Cell Phone Initiative. With this cell phone records project, Virginia is the first state to initiate administrative subpoenas to cellular phone companies requesting addresses and phone numbers for delinquent non-custodial parents who owe child support.
- Virginia has been ranked Number 1 by the National Register of Historic Places for having the greatest number of historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is the second year in a row the Commonwealth has been so honored.
- In October 2006 the Virginia Housing Development Authority's "Find a Lender" program was recognized by the National Council of State Housing Agencies for outstanding achievement in affordable housing.
- Virginia's Division of Child Support Enforcement was recognized by the National Child Support Enforcement Association with their 2006 Outstanding Program Award for exemplifying the best in enforcement practices and services to its constituency.