Work on the state’s Rural Jobs Council, an ad hoc committee established last year by then-Gov. Bob McDonnell, has pretty much stalled, according to council member and Rappahannock Community College president Elizabeth “Sissy” Crowther.

The council, which was created in the last year of McDonnell’s term as governor, had the tasks of identifying impediments to and opportunities for job creation in rural Virginia, recommend strategies to improve K-12 education and the workforce pipeline, produce a comprehensive and meaningful economic and infrastructure policy for rural Virginia, and make recommendations to improve the tax and regulatory environment in the commonwealth.

In April 2013, the group released its interim report, which included increasing access to and improving existing business development resources, fostering and incentivizing the entrepreneurial spirit in Virginia’s youth and providing localities with tools to better attract entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Crowther said the panel also recommended improving the work, industry and college readiness of middle and high school students.

Since the time the interim report was released and the council disbanded, and a new governor was elected, Crowther said not much has been mentioned publicly about implementing the ideas put forward. “There has been no concerted effort toward those special strategies,” she said. “However, there are still folks that were part of the endeavor carrying on its philosophy and discussion.”