New efforts are underway in Virginia to reduce poverty. Gov. Tim Kaine announced Thursday the creation of a poverty reduction task force.

The announcement came at a summit on poverty and economic opportunity in Richmond.

The governor's office says nearly ten percent of all Virginians live below the federal poverty line.

The non-profit Commonwealth Institute released a report this week on what they call Virginia's lagging effort in the fight against poverty.

"It poses a good challenge to us to sort out why exactly that is and what types of things we can do to try to tackle poverty in our state," says Michael Cassidy, the institute's executive director.

The institute makes a number of recommendations including improving the food stamp program and raising the minimum wage. It also wants improved health insurance coverage for working parents in poverty.