A Northern Virginia lawmaker is hoping to help two factions hit especially hard by the recession — college graduates and small-business owners — by bringing them together.

Five months before the General Assembly convenes, Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, filed legislation that would create a tax credit for small businesses that hire recent graduates of a Virginia public college. For every new, full-time position created and filled with a Virginia graduate, the company would receive a $2,500 tax credit.