March 2021 Newsletter
CEO Update
Friends of the Gateway Region, Spring is in the air — I can feel it — and with that, forward-moving progress has continued in our Region throughout March. As the Virginia dogwoods and tulips are beginning season’s bloom, so are some revolutionary economic developments surrounding the emerging pharmaceutical cluster in Petersburg.


Just last week, VGR entered into a partnership with EDai, a startup company providing services using objective data and analytics for businesses, location consultants and economic developers. We’re collaborating with EDai to promote the Gateway Region as the East Coast’s best-suited location for pharmaceutical manufacturing.


I am also pleased to learn of the local economic development positions that were filled in two localities in the Gateway Region — I sincerely congratulate both Yoti Jabri, who has been hired as the County of Surry’s Director of Economic Development, as well as Stacey English for being hired as the new Economic Development Specialist for the County of Prince George.

 
If you have any questions or input about VGR’s economic development efforts, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at: kboswell@gatewayregion.com or (804) 732-8971.


Members of the Business Council: be on the lookout for your invitation to our first Business Council event in 2021, which will be held at Sheperd Stadium on Wednesday, April 21 from 5:00–6:30 p.m.!  
Young Startup Partners with Oldest Regional Economic Development Organization in the Commonwealth
VGR and EDai, a Richmond-based data and analytics startup Minority Business Enterprise, have partnered to forge ahead momentum of economic competitiveness by analyzing objective data and then evaluating the strengths within that data which promote the Gateway Region as the East Coast’s best-suited location for pharmaceutical manufacturing. 
Sean Brazier, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of EDai
Sean leverages his analytical and strategic skills and experiences to help clients across sectors grow. After leading the development of the 900-page semi-finalist RFI response for Virginia' winning Amazon’s HQ2 project in 2018, Sean was inspired to find a way for companies and communities of all sizes to have access to the same analytics and insights (and more) as Amazon. EDai is the manifestation of this vision, integrating his experiences as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, lead strategist at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, economic development scholar and nonprofit leader who has helped scale two organizations focused on building strong, equitable talent pipelines (K12 and adult workforce development).
The Counties of Surry and Prince George See Familiar Faces in Economic Development Departments
Yoti Jabri, Surry County Director of Economic Development, Stated: “First off, I want to thank Prince George County and Prince George County leadership for being a great mentor to me — I give them a lot of gratitude for where I am now. I took this position not only to advance myself, but to help Surry County — I believe it’ll be a challenging role as it’s a newly created position, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Stacey English, Prince George County Economic Development Specialist, Stated: “I’m excited to be the new Economic Development Specialist and glad to be a part of the Prince George County team! I’m looking forward to engaging in Prince George’s pro-business climate of attracting first class industry and small business to the county.”
Quick Updates Concerning the Region 
  • $10M in General Assembly funding for infrastructure in Petersburg was approved to assist Phlow and AMPAC, as well as position the city for additional future pharmaceutical manufacturing projects.

  • Virginia Talent Accelerator Program (VTAP) — To help all of the partners on the VEDP/Civica/CCWA project team assimilate the various talent and technological resources available in Civica’s new Virginia location, the team recently toured the labs at VCU’s Medicines for All Institute. The Institute’s founder, Dr. Frank Gupton, hosted the tour, which included the Manufacturing Director and VP of Human Resources for Civica’s Petersburg plant as well as Elizabeth Creamer, VP of the Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA), Mike Grundmann, Brian Dail and Kristina Johnson (VTAP’s GMP Instructional Designer and newest team member). 
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Please follow VGR on LinkedIn (@Virginia’s Gateway Region Economic Development Organization), Facebook (@VAGatewayRegion) and Twitter (@VAGatewayRegion) to keep up with all the latest VGR happenings! 
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The important work of Virginia’s Gateway Region would not be possible without the support of our dedicated investors. 

Thank you Bank of America. Are you interested in becoming a partner? Contact Amy Everett at: aeverett@gatewayregion.com
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