Virginia is open for business, in case you didn’t know. The Virginia Department of Transportation just spent $17,000 getting that message out by installing the small signs that read “Virginia: Open for Business” beneath the 17 larger welcome signs around the state. This one is the sign near Richmond International Airport.
Gov. McDonnell spokeswoman Taylor Thornley told the Washington Post’s Anita Kumar, “These signs are a small, but creative, way of continuing to get that positive message out and helping to bring new employers and new jobs to every corner of the Commonwealth.”
You can read more on Kumar’s blog here.
So what do you think, is it worth it?
At this time a NBC12 poll is showing 89% think it’s a waste of money. I happen to agree.
How many potholes can be repaired with $17,000?
West VA did this a few years back and then removed them all a couple of years later because residents hated them and missed the wild and wonderful signs. There are petitions and a facebook page against it! (See below) Can we learn nothing from our neighbors? I mean, who reads this and then says hmm, I should bring my business here? This is America, the whole damn country is open for business. Stop wasting our money!!
http://www.westvirginiarecord.com/arguments/189989-take-down-the-stupid-open-for-business-signs
http://adweek.blogs.com/adfreak/2006/08/west_virginia_i.html
http://econdevleader.blogspot.com/2007/09/west-virginia-open-for-business.html
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2215311771