December Quarterly Investor Meeting: Developing Partnerships in the NRV

Date:  December 22, 2016

New River Valley Economic Development Alliance

New River Valley, VA – This past Wednesday, the Alliance hosted its investor organizations, Board of Directors, and local allies at its 2016 December Quarterly Investor Luncheon.  With over sixty in attendance, the event was one of the Alliance’s larger quarterly meetings, and allowed for prime networking, an organizational update, and a keynote address by President Brian Hemphill of Radford University, an Alliance Board member.

Charlie Jewell, Executive Director and Radford University alumnus, kicked off the event by updating the room on fiscal year 2016-17 prospect activity, strategic plan implementation, and marketing initiatives.  Some of the major shifts in organizational activity midway through the fiscal year included building stronger ties between the Alliance, local economic developers, and investors by forming a LEDO group that meets monthly to discuss projects, focusing on marketing events to target site selectors, and strategizing a more inclusive and defined investor relations program.

With an eye to the future, Charlie discussed two of the biggest projects the Alliance will begin in 2017—1) developing a targeted industry strategy that supports the growth and competitiveness of vital sectors in the NRV and 2) a full-scale organizational and regional rebranding initiative.  The Alliance teamed with the Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development in 2016 to develop a targeted industry study.  This study will provide recommendations on which specific industry sectors the organization should focus it efforts on supporting.

Building on this targeted industry study, the Alliance is also launching a comprehensive organizational and New River Valley branding initiative in January 2017.  Thanks to the Appalachian Electric Power Economic Development Growth Enhancement (EDGE) program, the Alliance was awarded $15,000 to support this rebranding project.  In December, Eddy Communications was chosen to lead this rebranding initiative, and the Alliance looks forward to unveiling its new organizational and regional brand, as well as a new website, in 2017.

Finally, President Hemphill of Radford University presented a keynote address that stressed the importance of partnerships in economic development.  Both he and the University, he noted, have a “common desire to encourage more young people to establish roots, develop careers and raise their families in this region.”

Radford University, through its involvement with bringing AMTRAK passenger rail service to the New River Valley (NRV Rail 2020), its nonprofit partnerships throughout the region, and its dedication to developing undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs that enable students to graduate and thrive in the New River Valley, is a leader in economic development in the region.

To learn more about President Hemphill’s keynote address, please visit Radford University’s news release, President Hemphill Talks Economic Development and Community Partnerships.

If you are interested in learning more about joining the Alliance as an investor, please contact Tabitha Hodge, Investor Relations and Operations Manager.

About Us:

Virginia’s New River Valley is a vibrant community that’s home to two state universities, Virginia Tech and Radford University, and a diverse industry base ranging from large international corporations to small technology startups. The region is designated the Blacksburg-Christiansburg Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area and encompasses the counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski and the city of Radford.

The New River Valley Economic Development Alliance is a public/private, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to market the New River Valley, to foster job creation, facilitate new investment and to improve the quality of life in the region.