Gov. Tim Kaine's budget cuts continue to hit hard for many Virginians, and numerous state agencies across the Valley are seeing the direct effects of those cuts.

Executive Director of the Frontier Culture Museum, John Avoli, is in a tough spot. Kaine's budget cuts have hit the museum, forcing it to layoff 15 employees.

Avoli says, "We are a labor intensive organization as a state agency. It's a living history museum. When you don't have people on the farms like you would at one time, it makes the experience a little bit different."

Avoli says the atmosphere at the museum wasn't the same Thursday.

He says, "When you tell someone they don't have a job anymore, it's not a pleasant thing to do. I can't imagine anyone enjoying something like that."

However, he says the museum will bounce back.

Avoli adds, "We're in tough times and when we are in tough times, we aren't going to tuck our tail. We are going to produce a product here and we're going to be functional. And just come out and enjoy us."

Despite taking a 15-percent budget cut from the state, which equals about $271,000, Avoli says they're looking to the future.

He says, "We're making plans, contingency plans to reorganize. And still provide outstanding customer service as well as experience for the visitor."

The cuts won't have an effect on some new exhibits and programs the museum is in the process of building.

Avoli says, "The effects on the West African exhibit is null at this time, because the money raised to build the exhibit comes from the private sector. There isn't state money involved in that."

Another project that is not funded by the state, the Awasa Project, will also not be affected by the cuts.