Southwest Virginia needs new industries to diversify its economy. In his time representing Virginia’s 9th district, Morgan Griffith has prioritized economic development. One flourishing and exciting new industry is the use of commercial drones. Last year, Google got the green light to test its ability to deliver food, in this case, Chipotle. Unfortunately, Google could only operate in a limited space, due to flight regulations that have not been updated for drone usage. Many countries such as Canada, Germany and Japan have regulations that have allowed for companies to incorporate drones into their business.
Virginia, behind a bipartisan team of Congressman Morgan Griffith, Congressman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), led the application process to allow some Virginia localities to experiment with drone usage in order to update and expand flight regulations. Two of these localities are right here in Southwest Virginia, Montgomery County and Wise County. This new and budding industry is something we should attract and encourage because of its many uses. Commercial drones pose the capability to deliver food to areas outside restaurants delivery radiuses, deliver medicine to those who face difficulty reaching a doctor, provide security surveillance and much more.
The possibilities for drone usage are endless, and with the work of Congressman Griffith teaming up with the Senator from across the aisle; it pushes Virginia, especially rural Virginia, towards a new step in economic development and diversifying the economy of Southwest Virginia. Morgan Griffith is recognizing our needs and pushing for the
