RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Terry McAuliffe is creating a new workforce development initiative with a focus on helping military veterans find jobs.

McAuliffe signed an executive order Wednesday creating the new initiative, which will be led by Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones.

The governor plans to ask 10,000 businesses to sign commitments for hiring veterans.

McAuliffe said the state also lacks enough technically proficient frontline workers and directed state agencies to come up with a plan to boost the number of skilled workers by 50,000 in the next three years.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.