Lawmakers aim to invest in and uplift local communities [Video]

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Using federal funds to empower people to secure high-paying jobs, and at the same time, uplifting local communities was the subject of a local stakeholders’ roundtable on Monday.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Virginia, 3rd District) spoke to the heads of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council and Neighborhood — an economic empowerment organization dedicated to bridging the gap between low-income communities and meaningful regional employment. 

The lawmakers were told that every one-dollar spent on such initiatives results in five-dollars returning to communities such as South Norfolk.

“We knew that this was a good program and that’s why Senator Warner and I and Congressman Scott went to bat for funding for them so [they] can train more people,” said Kaine.

“The return on investment is always huge when you make …