HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — Gov. Ralph Northam (D-Va.) brought two major announcements with him Monday afternoon to Hampton Roads – one that includes funding for small business, the other involving legislation that blocks federal leases for offshore drilling.

Northam announced a new state grant program on Monday that will take $70 million in federal CARES Act to help small businesses and nonprofits in Virginia. The program is designed to help the smallest of state businesses, which make up 97 percent of all firms and are the hardest-hit from the economic downturn from the pandemic.

Rebuild! VA will provide businesses with 25 employees or less with funding up to $10,000 for rent, utilities, personal protective equipment and other needs due to the coronavirus pandemic. The governor announced the program in the Phoebus area of Hampton.

“That could include purchasing PPE or hand sanitizers for employees, or pivoting to a new business model to better serve their customers,” Northam said during the announcement in the Phoebus business district.

The program is targeting what the calls the backbone of Virginia’s economy, its smallest businesses with 25 or fewer employees.

Half of the $70 million will go to low-income and economically disadvantaged communities. Northam sees this initiative as a way to get those locations back on their feet.

“When we talk about inequities, it’s not just about business opportunities,” Northam said. “It’s access to healthcare, education, and the voting booth.”

The portal for the program will open on August 10, giving all businesses time to apply, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

“As our secretary of commerce said we were in a strong position before COVID-19, and we will come out of this together,” Northam said.

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Less than an hour later, Northam used the relocated offices of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission on Fort Monroe as the backdrop for signing five bills into law that protect waters from offshore drilling and other environmental measures.

Northam says the legislation effectively blocks any attempts by federal authorities to grant leases for drilling off Virginia’s coasts.

“This means the federal government cannot open the waters off Virginia’s shores to oil and gas drilling. It protects our marine life, coastal fishing and tourism industries.”

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation applauded the new laws that will protect waters throughout the commonwealth.

“(This legislation) has furthered Virginia’s long-term commitment to restoring all of our waterways from mountain streams to the bay and beyond,” said Virginia Executive Director Peggy Sanner.

The legislation also provides for the development of living shorelines as a buffer against waters that continue to encroach as the result of climate change.

“Nature-based infrastructure such as tidal wetlands is our first line of defense against rising waters and recurrent flooding in Coastal Virginia,” Northam said.

Northam also used the opportunity to talk about a different kind of offshore energy: wind.

This is just the beginning of our potential to be really world leaders in renewable energy,” Northam said in reference to Dominion Energy’s pilot program of two offshore wind turbines. It is slated to expand to 180.

Del. Martha Mugler (D-Hampton) says climate change is currently our biggest existential threat.

Separately, Northam told 10 On Your Side he’s watching Hampton Roads’ recent surge in new COVID-19 cases and could tighten coronavirus restrictions for the region soon. He’s expected to share an update on Tuesday afternoon during a press briefing.

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