January... the season of packing away holiday items,
bipolar weather, and trying to keep New Year's resolutions! While I'm not a huge fan of resolutions, I am setting the goal of updating you monthly on the exciting activities and opportunities within VEDA.
The year is certainly off to a fast-paced and interesting start. With the beginning of the General Assembly Session on January 11 and the introduction of nearly 200 bills that have something to do with the field of economic development, there is much for VEDA to keep an eye on this month and next.
On January 16, we hosted a very successful Legislative Reception, which drew more than 100 attendees, including many legislators and staff. Governor McAuliffe joined us as well and complimented the audience on the work that we do to help Virginia's economy.
Amanda Jarratt and Carrie Chenery organized a fantastic VEDA Day at the General Assembly on the 17th. This was our tenth year of conducting VEDA Day, which offers an opportunity for us to speak with our legislators about the importance of economic development and to thank them for their support. Ten teams, representing regions across the Commonwealth, visited their respective legislators (69 in all!) and had great discussions about economic development and the programs and tools that are helpful in attracting new companies and helping our existing businesses expand. VEDA leadership, comprised of Connie Long, Ken McFadyen, Deborah Flippo and Mike Woods, met with leadership from both the House and Senate, and had productive discussions as well. VEDA added a Come & Go Breakfast in the General Assembly building this year, targeting legislative aides. We were pleasantly surprised by visits from well over 100 aides and legislators who stopped by to ask questions, offer support, and learn more about VEDA. Many thanks to all who participated in VEDA Day this year.
I hope you will take the time to read the weekly Policy Updates coming from our Public Policy Chair, Chris Lloyd, and our Legislative Liaison, Mike Woods. You can also access VEDA's Public Policy Platform and other important policy resources under the Public Policy tab on our website.
I want to thank Ken McFadyen, VEDA Vice President, for graciously agreeing to oversee the policy-related initiatives for VEDA this year. Since much of the legislature's attention is on VEDP, it seemed like the most effective way for VEDA to remain a strong resource to our legislators was to offer them the opportunity to interface with a local economic developer, rather than a member of the VEDP team. While I am honored to serve as president of VEDA this year, I want to do what is best for VEDA, what will prevent confusion, and what will allow for productive and effective conversation. Not only is Ken the consummate professional, he is excellent at communicating with legislators, and they value his insight as a local economic developer, a member of a regional group, and a user of state economic development programs and services. Please give Ken an extra "thank you" and pat on the back when you see him. He is doing an incredible job representing VEDA's policy platform at the General Assembly!
Finally, if you have already failed at your new year's resolution and are in search of a new goal, I would encourage you to sign up to help with a VEDA committee. In this newsletter, you will find a list of the committees and their chairs and vice chairs. Please consider sharing your talents to help make VEDA
an even stronger Voice of Economic Development in Virginia.
-Debbie Melvin, VEDA President
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." - President Theodore Roosevelt
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2017 IEDC Excellence in Economic Development Awards
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The 2017 Excellence in Economic Development Awards call for entries will be announced soon. Check out the
IEDC website to see previous years' winners and watch for the 2017 call for nominations.
At the 2016 IEDC Annual Conference in Cleveland, seven groups from Virginia won 13 awards, including four gold awards.
Pictured from left to right: Carrie Chenery, Shenandoah Valley Partnership; Buddy Rizer, Loudoun County; Michelle Chapleau, City of Virginia Beach; Courtney Cranor, City of Waynesboro; Amanda Jarratt, Franklin Southampton County Economic Development; Barry Matherly, Greater Richmond Partnership, Ihsane Mouak, City of Norfolk; Greg Hitchin, City of Waynesboro; and Jerry Stewart, City of Virginia Beach.
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Nominations for 2017 Community Economic Development Awards being accepted
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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
-Community Involvement
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Take advantage of two VEDA programs offering assistance and advice at no cost to members!
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VEDA has two programs put in place to assist individual members and communities in the Commonwealth at no or minimal cost to the user.
Cardinal Community Assistance Program
Generally communities understand the concept of economic development and have a realistic view of their fiscal health. In most cases this leads to the realization that development and growth are critical to their long-term survival. There are times, however, when communities can be overwhelmed by their circumstances and for economic development lack the expertise to fully assess their situation and opportunities. "Getting started" and "knowing where to go" is often the most difficult part of any task and it is particularly so for communities having many mandated responsibilities, but limited resources to accomplish them. To answer this need, VEDA offers the Cardinal Community Assistance Program (CCAP) to assist communities facing extraordinary economic needs or a disaster-related crisis, reviewing their options and initiating a development strategy.
This program is offered at no cost by VEDA. The CCAP team may need to be reimbursed for travel expenses.
Click here for more information or to apply!
VEDA Mentor on Call Program
The VEDA Mentor on Call program is administered by the VEDA Cardinals, who review and approve Mentor applications. The Mentor Resource Group is comprised of VEDA members with long-term local, regional and state experience in community development, either directly or a combination of professional expertise in such fields as utilities, engineering and economic development consulting. The Mentor Resource group's purpose is to serve as a resource to new VEDA members or other members who have questions about economic development in general or questions about economic development in Virginia.
The VEDA Mentor on Call program is open to VEDA members only and is free of charge.
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Long-time economic developer,
Don Reilly passed away on January 7th at 92. Don was instrumental in instituting the workforce development program at the Virginia Community College System in the 1960's and managing it for three decades. He was a factor in Virginia's economic development successes in the 70's and 80's and a precursor to the emphasis on workforce development today.
Ann Blair Miller has joined the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), Division of Marketing and Development. Miller was formerly with the Roanoke Regional Partnership.
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VEDA Membership dues investment is due by March 1st - Don't let your membership lapse!
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| VEDA's membership renewal process for 2017 will be complete by March 1st. Anyone not having renewed their dues by that date will be suspended as a member. Members have been receiving emails since December as reminders to renew their dues investment. If you have questions or need assistance in renewing, contact Jeanne Ali at jeanne@associationbuilders.com. Thanks everyone! |
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Join a VEDA committee in 2017--GET INVOLVED!
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The VEDA
Professional Development Committee
focuses on issues and tasks related to furthering members' economic development professional training efforts. The committee oversees the
Scholarship
process, collecting scholarship applications and making recommendations for scholarship recipients. This committee is responsible for exploring opportunities for professional development training in conjunction with existing VEDA meetings. (
Von Gilbreath, Chair & Renee Chapline, Vice Chair)
The VEDA Community Economic Development Award Committee (CEDA) coordinates the selection process and ultimate presentation of the Community Economic Development Awards at the Spring Conference annually. (David Manley, Chair & Russell Seymour, Vice Chair)
The VEDA
Legislator of the Year Award Committee
coordinates the selection process and ultimate presentation of the Legislator of the Year Award annually. (Patrick Barker, Chair)
The VEDA Spring Conference (Jason Ness, Chair & Alan Yost, Vice Chair), Fall Conference (Patrick Barker, Chair & Michelle Chapleau, Vice Chair), and Membership Meeting (Curry Roberts, Chair & Michelle Poe, Vice Chair) Committees develop the content for their respective events. They take the conference theme, established by the event chairs and the Program Committee (Greg Hitchin, Chair & Chris Engel, Vice Chair), and determine the subjects of the sessions, invite speakers, etc. Each of the event committees is in need of more members!
The Golf Task Force explores the possibility of holding a stand-alone golf tournament (including fundraising, location, viability, etc.) in conjunction with the Spring & Fall Conferences. If a successful tournament is considered viable, this committee is responsible for the implementation of the tournament. (John Loftus, Chair & Paul Bryan, Vice Chair)
The VEDA Sponsorship Committee conducts the annual Sponsorship Opportunity Campaign and follows up on those solicitations. (David Denny, Chair & John Smolak, Vice Chair)
The VEDA
Communications Committee
focuses on VEDA's communications efforts. In 2017, this committee will likely focus on social media and the revamping of the VEDA website to match the new brand. (
Megan Lucas, Chair & George Anas, Vice Chair)
The VEDA Membership Committee encourages and promotes membership in VEDA and reviews and recommends applications for membership as provided in the bylaws.(Amanda Glover, Chair & Joe Hines, Vice Chair)
The VEDA Young Professionals Committee works with VEDA committees to include opportunities for 'young' professionals across VEDA's Program of Work. (
Steve Harrison, Chair & Craig Kotarski, Vice Chair)
The Mentorship Task Force will explore ideas for connecting seasoned economic developers with young professionals for networking and mentorship purposes. This committee is in need of mentors and those seeking mentors, rather than committee members. (
Jay A. Langston, Chair & Brian Shull, Vice Chair)
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