Maybe it's the tryptophan-assisted food coma that I've been in all weekend; maybe it's being off four days in a row; maybe it's being able to spend quality time with family and friends; but friends, life is good! I hope that you all were able to relax and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday as well.
I'm not great at New Year's resolutions, but I did commit to keeping a gratitude journal this year. Every day (well, most days), I jot down something for which I'm grateful. It's not hard. I'm grateful for so much: family, friends, good health, the beautiful place where I get to live, a sense of humor, work with a purpose that I believe in, colleagues that I truly enjoy, and of course, VEDA! I'm even grateful for the rough patches, which make me appreciate the smooth roads even more, and for the mistakes which teach me valuable lessons. As we head into the hustle and bustle of the holidays and the home stretch of this year, I hope that you will look back on 2017 and be able to think of plenty of things for which you are grateful.
Don't miss the VEDA Membership Luncheon and Annual Meeting in Staunton on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Curry Roberts and Michelle Poe have put together a great agenda, and we are honored to have both Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore and Governor Terry McAuliffe joining us. I look forward to seeing you there!
Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life. -- Robert Louis Stevenson
-Debbie Melvin, VEDA President
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| Check out this great agenda for the Winter Membership Luncheon & Annual Meeting |
Online Registration Closes on Thursday, November 30th
There's still time to register for the
VEDA Winter Membership Luncheon & Annual Meeting on
Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in Staunton, Virginia.
Check out the final agenda:
8:30-9:30 am:
Registration and Networking
9:30-10:45 am:
Panel Discussion:
Insights into Engaging a Changing General Assembly
Moderated by:
The Honorable Matthew James, Virginia House of Delegates
Panel:
- Elizabeth G. Hooper, MPA, Director of State Relations, Virginia Tech
- Jodi Roth, Government Affairs, Virginia Retail Federation
- Ryan L. Dunn, Executive Vice President of Corporate and Government Affairs, Executive Director of Virginia Chamber PAC, Virginia Chamber of Commerce
10:45-11:00 am
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Break
11:00-11:30 am:
Special Recognition
The Honorable Todd Haymore
, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Commonwealth of Virginia
Introducing
The Honorable Terry McAuliffe
, Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
11:30-12:15 pm:
VEDA Annual Meeting of the Membership
12:15-1:45 pm:
Lunch/Award Presentation/Keynote Address
Keynote Address: The Honorable Todd Haymore, Secretary of Commerce & Trade, Commonwealth of Virginia
1:45 pm: Adjournment and Announcements
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SAVE THE DATE
FOR
VEDA'S LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION
Monday, January 15, 2018
5:30-7:30 pm
Other VEDA Events in 2018
VEDA Spring Conference
April 12-13, 2018
Richmond, Virginia
VEDA Summer Membership Meeting
June 5, 2018
Danville, Virginia
VEDA Fall Conference
September 12-14, 2018
Roanoke, Virginia
VEDA Winter Membership Luncheon
and Annual Meeting
December 5, 2018
Charlottesville, Virginia
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| VCU Study: The Economic Impact of Heritage Tourism in Virginia |
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What is Heritage Tourism and Why is It Important?
"Heritage Tourism is traveling to experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present." (National Trust for Historic Preservation)
In the past few decades, heritage has become an important aspect of tourism development strategies to attract visitors who seek a unique and rewarding experience. Heritage tourism, especially in Virginia, is a major contributor to the economy, generating jobs and tax revenues.
Heritage Tourism in Virginia - Visitation
Virginia offers a wide array of attractions - beaches, mountains, historic places and local cultures. The state is steeped in history, with striking physical reminders of its Native American, Colonial, Revolutionary and Civil War periods. Virginia's unique geography and history have made it one of the top ten most-visited states for Heritage Tourism. Every year, on average, 50 million person-trips are taken to Virginia tourist sites. Approximately 85% of those visits can be classified as heritage tourism activities. Of these, 84% include one or more nights spent in Virginia, while only 16% are day-trips. The vast majority of these trips are from domestic visitors.
Virginia residents make up the largest single group of domestic visitors (29%), followed by residents of North Carolina (10%), Pennsylvania (8%) and Maryland (7%).
Virginia experiences significant international tourism as well, receiving about 387,000 visitors in 2012. The vast majority of these visitors come from Western Europe (45%), 17% come from Asia, and 7% to 8% each come from South America, the Middle East, Central America, and Central Europe.
Heritage Tourism in Virginia - Spending
Heritage tourism is an important driver of Virginia's economy. Tourists buy goods and services, such as food, lodging, gasoline and gifts. On average, Virginia tourists who stay overnight spend $458 per household per trip, while day-trip tourists spend approximately $340. International travelers spend approximately $1,134 per person, per trip.
Overall, heritage tourists spend almost $7.7 billion each year in Virginia.
The Economic Impact of Heritage Tourism
The $7.7 billion spent by heritage tourists, plus more than $430 million spent by heritage tourism sites for operational expenditures (a conservative estimate), ripple throughout the economy, generating a total economic impact of $6.5 billion, and an additional $1.3 billion in taxes. [1] Thus, the total impact of heritage tourism spending comes to:
- $6.5 billion of additional economic activity, including more than $3.3 billion in employee paychecks for all affected industries (not just tourism).
- More than $640 million in State and local taxes, and more than $700 million in Federal taxes.
- More than 105,000 jobs are supported by the direct and indirect impacts of heritage tourism spending in Virginia.
Major industries affected by heritage tourism are Food Services (more than $1.4 billion in economic activity and more than 25,000 jobs supported), Transportation (over $1 billion and almost 22,000 jobs), and Trade - both wholesale and retail (almost $700 million in economic activity and over 33,000 supported jobs).
Heritage Tourism at the Community Level - Case Studies
Three case studies were conducted in Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, and the Eastern Shore. These in-depth vignettes explain how heritage tourism is organized in Virginia, how it achieves the significant benefits presented above, and what it means to the communities that organize and promote it. Each of the three regions specializes in a different aspect of heritage tourism. In Northern Virginia, it is primarily the built environment and the periods of American history represented in it - Colonial, Revolutionary, Civil War, and 20th Century. Historic preservation efforts began in 1932 here, so the region has a dense network of preservation-related organizations that collaborate on initiatives and work closely with local government and others.
In Southwest Virginia, heritage tourism is primarily centered upon the culture of country music, now marketed through the Crooked Road, and skilled crafts, now marketed through the Round the Mountain initiative and at Heartwood: Southwest Virginia's Artisan Gateway. Although country music and skilled crafts began to evolve in this region two centuries ago, tourism and marketing efforts have significantly increased recently, as the region, with the assistance of Virginia's Department of Housing and Community Development and other state agencies, has sought to use heritage tourism as a tool to revitalize the region's economy. These initiatives are intentionally region-wide in scope.
On the Eastern Shore, it is primarily the natural beauty of the Shore and the Chesapeake Bay that draws tourists. With the help of strategic planning assistance from the Virginia Tourism Corporation that has mapped out an artisan trail, and state investments in welcome and interpretive centers, heritage tourism advocates and entrepreneurs are developing and marketing the Shore's other assets - its rich history, for example - to encourage visitors to stay longer, explore the Shore's many charming towns, and still enjoy the slower pace of the life there.
Conclusion
- Virginia is richly endowed with natural beauty, cultural heritage and historic places. As this report demonstrates, Virginia has not squandered these unique assets; it has nurtured them. It is now building a successful heritage tourist economy with these assets, bringing appreciation and wealth to Virginia. By opening itself to heritage tourists and sharing its communities' stories with them, Virginia shows itself at its best and can strengthen the state, regional, and local economies.
Click HERE to view other VCU Studies through the Wilder School's Center for Urban and Regional Analysis.
Fabrizio Fasulo, PhD, Director, Center for Urban and Regional Analysis, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University
[1]
This is net of leakage of spending outside Virginia as goods and services suppliers make purchases from non-Virginia sources.
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REGISTER FOR VEDA MEMBERSHIP MEETING ON DECEMBER 6TH
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| Nominate a community for a Community Economic Development Award |
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We all know that economic development is not a solo practice. We team with government, the private sector, and countless others to make our communities competitive. Several years ago, the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) instituted a new awards program that recognized outstanding communities for their efforts in advancing the economic viability of their communities through economic and community development programs.
The CEDA program recognizes the best practices and exceptional contributions of communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia for the following efforts:
Business Retention and Expansion;
Business Recruitment;
Community Development; and
Community Involvement
CLICK HERE for Nominating and Selection Criteria for Virginia's 2018 CEDA Program. The winners will be announced and recognized in Richmond at VEDA's Spring Conference on Friday, April 13, 2018.
So that we may continue to learn from each other, VEDA's Board of Directors and the CEDA Selection Committee urge you to
identify an eligible success story in your community and nominate it for consideration TODAY!
ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018
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| VEDA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED |
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Economic developers realize the importance of professional development. Education venues, where knowledge, professional experience, and best practices are shared between economic development practitioners, provide invaluable learning opportunities. VEDA offers a variety of scholarships to help our members with their professional development efforts. For 2018 VEDA has more than $7,500 for EDI and BASIC/IEDC scholarships, the Virginia Institute for Economic Development, and the Smiley Waller Memorial Scholarships.
Basic Economic Development Course/IEDC Economic Development Training Courses -
In keeping with its basic mission to enhance the professionalism of its members, VEDA will offer up five scholarships (amount to be determined in the budget process) to attend any one of 22 accredited Basic Economic Development Courses offered throughout the United States or any one of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Economic Development Training Courses.
Economic Development Institute -
VEDA makes available a three-year scholarship to the Economic Development Institute (EDI). The EDI is a nationally renowned three-year program, which provides the professional with an advanced, broad level of education incorporating the skills and subjects required to carry out an economic development program. It provides training leading toward professional certification eligibility and a level of education in demand by potential employers of professional economic developers. EDI consists of 3 one-week sessions - each session offered once per year - that can be taken at multiple locations. Completion of a BEDC is required to enter the EDI.
Virginia Institute for Economic Development -
The Virginia Institute for Economic Development (VIED) provides training in the economic development process, and outlines how this process is used to benefit Virginia's cities, counties and towns in furthering economic growth. During this 2-day course, industry professionals will focus on the fundamentals of economic development and set the stage for what the fundamentals mean to economic developers in Virginia. Participants will get a picture of "who to call" and "how to get things done" as economic developers in Virginia. The VIED program is designed to serve the needs of new economic development professionals; economic development staff; and economic development professionals new to Virginia. Local government officials and volunteer community leaders can benefit as well.
Smiley H. Waller Memorial Scholarship -
The Smiley H. Waller Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of VEDA's first Executive Director who served the organization for more than 15 years. The scholarship, funded by Smiley's family is designed to assist VEDA members who are on track to earn an economic development professional certification. Funds from this scholarship are awarded at the discretion of the VEDA Scholarship Committee, based on the number of applications received and apply to any generally accredited economic development program.
Dates, times, and locations of all economic development courses may be found on the
VEDA website
in the Calendar section.
THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THESE
2018 SCHOLARSHIPS IS JANUARY 26, 2018.
Guidelines for applying can be found at
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Sandy J. Ratliff, Community Impact Advisor, Virginia Community Capital was appointed to serve on the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission.
VEDA member and Program Committee Chair, Gregory Hitchin, CEcD, Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the City of Waynesboro was elected to serve a two-year term on the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Board of Directors.
The City of Waynesboro
received two Silver Excellence in Economic Development Awards in the population less than 25,000 category from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The City was recognized for two projects focused on developing small business: Grow Waynesboro (Special Purpose Website) and Grow Waynesboro 2016 Brochure (Special Purpose Print Brochure).
If you've made a change, received an award or recognition, hired new staff, completed a new project; or generally have good news to share, please send it to the VEDA office at [email protected] to share your news with your fellow VEDA members.
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