VA HB1138

Amends the Virginia Jobs Investment Program to require companies receiving economic development assistance to pay at least the prevailing average wage for the locality, replacing the previous requirement of 1.2 times the federal or state minimum wage

Defines "economically distressed locality" as areas with unemployment or poverty rates above the statewide average, allowing companies in these areas to qualify while paying 85% of the prevailing average wage

Requires all positions eligible for program assistance to include fringe benefits for employees, adding this as a new eligibility criterion

Modifies Virginia Investment Performance Grant criteria by changing the connector for economically distressed locality qualification from "and" to "or," making it easier for localities to qualify based on either high unemployment or high poverty rates

Maintains the Governor's authority to approve grants for projects paying below 85% of prevailing wages in severely distressed areas, with written justification required to legislative appropriations committees