Northrop Grumman relocation is first McDonnell challenge
By JR Hoeft | Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 | PolicyGovernor Tim Kaine has said of Northrop Grumman relocating to the “Capitol Region”:
“This is great news for the region. Northrop Grumman is Virginia’s largest private employer and we look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the company.”
Congressman Rob Wittman has said that
“the upper part of Virginia’s First Congressional District contains many sensible locations that provide ideal proximity to your customers, the federal government, the Department of Defense and the intelligence agencies”.
But ultimately, it’s going to come down to what Govenor-elect Bob McDonnell said during the campaign (and of new Secretary of Commerce and Trade Robert Sledd):
“I wanted a corporate executive, I wanted a successful CEO, that had the credibility and the stature and the ability to travel around the country and around the world and look CEOs in the eye and say, `You need to come to Virginia because we’re a great place to do business.’”
So when is that first meeting between Sledd and Northrop Grumman President & CEO Wesley Bush? And what’s on the agenda?
According to both the McDonnell administration and Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling’s staff (our job czar), the administration is looking at Northrop Grumman “big time.”
And they better.
While the budget is important, landing Northrop Grumman in Northern Virginia is the administration’s first big test. Given that Northrop Grumman owns the Newport News Shipyard and is our commonwealth’s number one employer, this should be a no-brainer for the company to relocate its HQ here.
However, there are never any guarantees.
If McDonnell cannot deliver on Northrop Grumman, will “Bob’s for Jobs” be a mere slogan in the wake of a major failure? Let’s hope not.
Besides, Kaine is right: Why would Northorp Grumman leave their home in LA to relocate to Maryland or DC? Ick.
McDonnell will make certain though that the deal is closed: at least that was what was promised to us. No pressure, your soon-to-be Excellency. 
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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6 Responses to "Northrop Grumman relocation is first McDonnell challenge"
There’s an ideal location in Prince William County in the 1st CD for the HQ in a development that had been stalled until recently. In fact, the development has a site for a secure corporate campus, is right next to a brand new Jack Nicklaus golf course along the Potomac River, is only a few minutes off of I-95 and Route 1 and just a few miles north of Quantico.
“Excellency”? hmmm, quite an expectation
“His Excellency” is the proper term to address any governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia…including Kaine, Warner, etc.
You’re right, it is a high standard to live up to. Which is why Virginians need to choose wisely. In this case, I believe they did.
Ick? What, are you in 10th grade writing a column for the school newspaper? Good luck becoming a junior. Anyway, there are HUGE reasons for NGC to relocate to MD or DC! Business tax incentives can be offered to new businesses relocating despite the going state/district tax policies. Other incentives: HUGE Fed/DOD investment in national security, cyber security, aerospace, and defense exists around the Montgomery Co./Howard Co. area in MD. Not to mention, this area has one of the most skilled/educated work forces in the country. Cheaper relo is available around the National Harbor area in PG county. These locations are prime in that they don’t JUST position NGC HQ near the pentagon. NoVA is too top heavy with traffic already, is growing crime rate, and quality of living is diminishing.
[...] friend J.R. Hoeft over at Bearing Drift called the Northrop Grumman deal the McDonnell Administration’s “first big [...]
Good thing McDonnell is getting the credit since he did nothing but hurt Virginia’s chances with his antebellum first 100 days in office.
The first folks Northrop called was Mark Warner… that should tell you exactly who brought them to Virginia. McDonnell taking credit for it would be offensive if it wasn’t so desperate.
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