As we should expect, the month of March has been a productive one for the Virginia Economic Developers Association. Our Public Policy committee remains engaged with the General Assembly and Governor Northam's administration as the budget process continues. The VEDA Communications Committee (Steve Harrison, Virginia Beach Economic Development, Chair) is working with Virginia Business magazine to highlight VEDA's involvement in economic development policy and to introduce the magazine's editors to more of our VEDA members and their organizations. Our Spring Conference (Christine Bell, VEDP and Conaway Haskins, Virginia Tech, Co-Chairs) and Professional Development (Von Gilbreath, Chesapeake Economic Development, Chair) committees are wrapping up plans for what will be a great conference centered on how the economic development profession is evolving. Please plan to attend the conference, if you have not already registered.
The VEDA Membership Committee (Amanda Glover, Augusta County Economic Development, Chair) is forging ahead with regional meetings across the Commonwealth, having recently met with economic developers in the Northern Neck and Fredericksburg regions. Amanda Glover, Liz Povar (The Riverlink Group), and Jim Noel (York County Economic Development) were all involved with this meeting. These committees represent about a fourth of VEDA's committees that are actively engaged in our program of work. As I have stated many times, VEDA has lots of talented members who are leading our Association and there is always a place for additional VEDA members who may want to get involved. Just say the word!
See you in Richmond, April 11 through 13!
-Ken McFadyen, VEDA President
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VEDA's Spring Conference coming to Richmond in less than two weeks!!
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VEDA's annual Spring Conference is right around the corner---coming to the Westin Richmond April 11-13. The committee has a put together a program that is rich in content and will focus on Redefining OUR Evolving Profession. Registration is filling up, so don't miss out on attending---online registration will close on Friday, April 6th.
Check out the VEDA website for details on preconference activities, a complete agenda, speaker bios, registration lists, and much more!
We look forward to seeing you in Richmond in April.
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Promote your organization and support VEDA at the same time! VEDA partners with Virginia Business magazine.
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 VEDA is pleased to announce a new partnership with Virginia Business magazine. VEDA is helping to promote the magazine's 26th Annual Economic Development Site Selector Report. This special report will appear in the August issue of Virginia Business. VEDA members are encouraged to be a part of this special report by advertising and participating in other promotional opportunities that may arise.
VEDA will receive a two-page spread in the Site Selector Report, as well as additional print and online advertisements throughout 2018.
Be sure to check your subscription status with Virginia
Business to make sure you don't miss one of our ads this year.
The deadline to be included in the Site Selector Report (August) is June 29. For further details contact Hunter Bendall at hbendall@va-business.com or 804-225-0078.
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VEDA Cornerstone Member Spotlight
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Learn more about VEDA's Cornerstone Members and consider joining their ranks!
Amanda C. Jarratt, President and CEO, Franklin Southampton County Economic Development Inc.
Q:
Would you rather travel by plane, train, or automobile? Why?
A:
I would rather travel by plane because normally it means I am going somewhere fabulous.
Q:
Where do you most want to travel, but have never seen? Why?
A:
I would love to travel throughout Italy. My brother and sister-in-law lived there for three years and I was never able to visit. The art and culture in that country is inspiring. I can't imagine what it would be like to see it in person.
Q:
What VEDA activity shouldn't be missed? Why?
A:
VEDA Day should never be missed. It is an excellent opportunity to not only network with other members of VEDA, but companies that have invested in the Commonwealth and our members of the General Assembly. There is no better way to influence policy in the Commonwealth than to be engaged and involved with our legislators. VEDA does an excellent job in being the Voice of Economic Development
Amanda C. Jarratt took the helm as President and CEO of Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc. in March of 2012. Amanda is a graduate of The College of William & Mary where she received her B.A. in government and Virginia Commonwealth University where she received her Master of Urban and Regional Planning. She has certifications from the University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill's Public Executive Leadership Academy along with the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center LEAD Program. In 2013 Amanda was named one of Hampton Roads' Top 40 Under 40.
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Bret Schardein, Powhatan County's Community Development Director is leading the county's economic development activities through a new organization alignment. As Assistant County Administrator, Schardein will focus on supporting the expansion and success of existing businesses, recruiting new businesses, encouraging capital investment in the community and growing jobs.
Cassidy Rasnick has joined the Northam administration as Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade for Rural Economic Development. She was previously at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, where she managed the economic development efforts of agriculture and forestry.
Augusta County Economic Development and Tourism has released a complete redesign of the Augusta County Tourism website (
www.visitaugustacounty.com). Focused on Augusta County's largest tourism assets, the new site highlights outdoor recreation, scenic drives and motorcycle tours, farms, craft beer, and antiques as well as Augusta County's strong wine, food, and attraction offerings.
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GO Virginia How-to-Apply Workshop
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The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will host a How-to-Apply Workshop for the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Fund Per Capita and Competitive Grants. Attendance is open to the public and free of charge.
The workshop will provide program design and the funding priorities for each region. The workshop will also provide a step-by-step overview of the application process, project requirements, and best practices. Following the How-to-Apply presentation, there will be an opportunity to discuss prospective projects and collaborations with regional support organizations and DHCD staff.
For questions regarding registration or the GO Virginia program, contact Elizabeth Rafferty at elizabeth.rafferty@dhcd.virginia.gov or 804-371-7011.
How-to-Apply Workshop
April 11, 2018
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
University of Richmond Robins School of Business
Queally Hall,
Ukrop Auditorium,
1 Gateway Road
Richmond, VA 23173
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Congress passes funding bill: ED programs funded at historic levels
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Earlier this month, President Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill into law. The policy team at IEDC, has shared highlights related to the funding of key economic development programs. The information below includes funding for specific programs and IEDC's call to action to ensure funding in FY 2019.
Highlights include:
-EDA - received roughly $302 million for fiscal 2018; about $26 million above fiscal 2017
-MEP - received $140 million; $10 million above fiscal 2017
-CDBG - received roughly $3.3 billion; $365 million about fiscal 2017
-TIGER - received $1.5 billion; $1 billion above fiscal 2017
-Rural Business-Cooperative Service - received roughly $77 million; about $12 million above fiscal 2017
-ETA apprenticeship opportunities - received $145 million; $50 million above fiscal 2017
-MBDA - received $39 million; $5 million over fiscal 2017
-ARC - received $155 million; $3 million over fiscal 2017
-Denali Commission - received $30 million; $15 million over fiscal 2017
-DRA - received $25 million; level with fiscal 2017
-Northern Border Regional Commission - received $15 million; $5 million over fiscal 2017
What does this mean?
Congress voted earlier this year to do away with discretionary spending caps for the next two years and increased budgetary authority for defense and non-defense spending by hundreds of billions of dollars. They have acted on this new authority. Congress has also ignored the White House's (first) proposal for eliminating or greatly reducing all of these (and more) programs. It is a good day for federal economic development programs.
But...?
The White House has proposed again to eliminate or drastically reduce all of these (and more) programs for fiscal 2019. And the debate over next year's appropriations has already begun. The voices of economic developers have been heard and will need to continue to be heard over the next few years. If you haven't yet signed the letter supporting next year's funding for EDA, consider doing.
Finally, when talking with your Members of Congress and their staff, be sure to thank them for supporting federal economic development in the fiscal 2018 omnibus! They need to know that we're paying attention and that we appreciate their support.
Please contact Matt Mullin, Senior Director, Public Policy & Strategic Engagement at mmullin@iedconline.org if you have any questions or comments.
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SAVE THE DATES
FOR
VEDA 2018 EVENTS
and see why economic developers are
Agents of Change
VEDA Spring Conference
April 11-13, 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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VEDA's Young Professionals Announce Networking Event
The VEDA Young Professionals are hosting A Panel Discussion with BBQ and Brews at Devil's Backbone Outpost Brewery in Lexington, Virginia. Don't miss out on this first YP event of 2018. And the best news is, you don't have to be a YP---all ages welcome!
May 8, 2018
5:30 - 7:30 pm
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DHCD's Main Street Program presents Downtown Intersections
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DHCD's Virginia Main Street Program presents Downtown Intersections in partnership with Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance. This program will be full of sessions spanning topics geared toward organization and promotions, as well as a Main Street 101 track. There will be real-life examples from communities who are innovating, and opportunities for hands-on training that you can take back and implement in your community. The keynote speaker for the event will be Dar Williams, a musician and author of
What I Found in a Thousand Towns.
The event will be July 16-18, 2018 at the Hotel Madison and Shenandoah Valley Conference Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
CLICK HERE to take advantage of the early bird rate now through May 11.
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Safety for economic development professionals
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Economic developers take on so many roles, chauffeur, travel guide, tour leader, and often spending considerable time with strangers. Working with visiting prospects at short notice is actually the goal of many local and regional economic development programs. Combined with what are often small staffs and long distance, safety protocols is a topic that warrants attention.
This realization was the impetus for Creative EDC to develop and publish a Safety Guide specifically for the economic development profession.
CLICK HERE for more information. VEDA will have copies of this brochure available at the 2018 Spring Conference. |
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IEDC's Excellence in Economic Development Awards
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IEDC's Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world's best economic development programs, partnerships and marketing materials, as well as the year's most influential leaders.
Submit applications by May 11, 2018.
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