Sequestration 2013: Projects on Hold, Expansion Delayed in Fredericksburg
Businesses report fewer clients, delay plans as sequestration looms.
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The director of the Fredericksburg Department of Economic Development and Tourism says sequestration has already impacted the area's economy.
"One prospective manufacturing tenant for the city has put their project on hold because of the uncertainty about sequestration," Karen Hedelt told Patch. She also knows of one existing city business considering expansion that is now waiting. "They want to feel a little more security on the sequestration issue [before proceeding]," she said.
The March 1 sequester deadline means across-the-board cuts are set to occur if a budget agreement is not met by Congress. Speaking in Newport News on Tuesday, President Obama said the cuts would mean for Virginia:
- Tens of thousands of lost jobs;
- 18,000 fewer Virginians will get the skills and training they need to find jobs;
- 2,000 Virginia college students will lose financial aid;
- Early education programs will be eliminated for 1,000 children.
Fredericksburg's proximity to federal programs and contractors, particularly those in and around Marine Corps Base Quantico, make any threat of significant cuts particularly worrisome for economic development officials and business owners.
“The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber is deeply concerned about the impact sequestration will have not only on our valued members, but on the entire economy of the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Chamber President Susan Spears said. “We hope that our elected officials in Washington will come to an agreement on balancing our nation’s budget while at the same time preserving all critical elements of the Department of Defense and its industry partners that keep our nation safe.”
A local restaurateur said business has slowed significantly in February, and he blames that on sequestration fears.
"In ways large and small, sequestration is affecting and will affect our city," Hedelt said.
For more on sequestration, see:
Congress to Fredericksburg and Virginia: 'Drop Dead'?
Longer Airport Security Lines, Fewer Flights with Sequestration
Thanks to Sequestration, You're About to Lose Your Job: Who's to Blame?
McDonnell: Sequester Could Force Virginia Into Recession
Defense Contractors 'We've Been Sequestered Already'
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City of Fredericksburg Department of Economic Development and Tourism
706 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA -
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RAR
7:14 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Why don't u attribute your sources? Who is he?
Tony Sheffield
8:40 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
This whole sequestration scare is a very large pile of dung. Then toss this article on top of that. The truth is that there are no cuts. Only spending increases. The federal govt will cost the taxpayer more this year than the last. Insulting nonsense.
rob sheffield
8:48 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
you know...the government is like somebody who is getting ready file chapter 11 and still can't put the credit card away !!!! sometimes you do have to spend less !!!! and quit giving away to millions to worthless programs and foreign countries....
1Ronald
4:34 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Anyone know how much the 100 armed troop deployment to Niger last week is costing us? Why are we in Niger when we are bankrupt and Congress complains about spending? And if we get involved (already meddling) in a full scale war in Niger that's another trillion we don't have. This is what happens when the people have to choose between 2 warmongers running for President. THIRD PARTY we need you badly. Start now and be ready for 2016. At least when the dollar zeros out to nothing the paid mercenaries will be stuck in Afghanistan with no $ to bring them home and no $ for more bullets. What a way to end!
1Ronald
5:08 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Prosecute Them!! The false sense that something is being done via sequestration ONLY makes Americans at home suffer at the hands of inept political leaders. It obscures the reality that repeated foreign invasions and foreign occupation are hastening America's financial ruin. We could bring the message home by reading and putting into action famed prosecutor and #1 New York Times best selling author, Vincent Bugliosi's book, "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder" based on the US bombing of Baghdad, March 21, 2003. Unprovoked invasion and illegal occupation of a sovereign nation. Further, Bugliosi has been recognized as a highly acclaimed prosecutor by both Alan Dershowitz and F. Lee Bailey, as well as Gerry Spence and was successful in the prosecution of those responsible for the highly publicized trial of Roman Polanski's pregnant wife's murder. All it takes is one (1) successful case to make Washington's other political warmongers to feel the heat and begin sweating big time wondering who's next. Sending them to prison one by one or as a group is the only thing that will stop the warmongers from destroying America. And don't get me started on Foreign Aid with money we don't have. And how our grand childrens' grand children will be dealing with the debt or what is left of us.