Friends of the Gateway Region, summer is beginning to wrap up and autumn is right around the corner. We have lots of exciting updates to share.
In August, VGR launched the marketing effort for our Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Campaign to promote the Gateway Region as a leading global pharma cluster for producing the essential medicines which are so vital to our nation’s healthcare security. We are finalizing the strategic roadmap, which will ultimately target the cluster’s advancement. This revolutionary operation will ensure Americans have access to these priority medications that sustain the health of America’s population. The capital investment and jobs created furthers VGR’s mission to foster economic prosperity through business growth, powerful partnerships and delivering innovative resources to our communities.
Congratulations to Surry County for receiving a $50,000 grant from the Virginia Food Access Investment Fund through the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It’s been a long desire for Surry County to have a grocery store and this grant supports the economic development department in obtaining that goal by advancing Surry’s project with Surry Marketplace, LLC. Surry County’s success fulfills part of VGR’s strategic plan for advancing signature retail in our region.
As always, I'm interested in hearing from you. Should you have any questions, please contact me at: (804) 732-8971 or kboswell@gatewayregion.com.
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Campaign: Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
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Great work by Jeff Blair of Design Visions in creating our new campaign logo, which highlights how VGR is transforming advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing in the Gateway Region! |
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To Learn More About VGR’s Campaign, Check Out:
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VGR Campaign Video — Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
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Announcement: Surry County Food Security Grant
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Credit: The Sussex-Surry Dispatch
Gov. Ralph S. Northam announces that Surry County has been awarded a $50,000 food security grant, which will help the locality fund the establishment of a grocery store.
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#1. New Restaurant Opens in Dinwiddie County
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Credit: Morgan Ingram, Director of Economic Development, County of Dinwiddie
Paradise Haven Owner Christine Liles, along with officials from Dinwiddie County and the Dinwiddie County Chamber of Commerce, prepare for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in celebration of the restaurant’s Grand Opening.
Paradise Haven, an island grill and ice cream shop which opened its doors in August is inspired by the music of country singer/songwriter Kenney Chesney. Congratulations to Owner Christine Liles, the Dinwiddie County Economic Development Department and the Dinwiddie County Chamber of Commerce for the addition of a new restaurant in your locality.
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#2. FOLAR Receives $1M Grant for Park/Trail Development
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#3. Virginia Diner Construction Breaks Ground in Wakefield
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Virginia Diner broke ground for its expansion in the Town of Wakefield in Sussex County, which will invest more than $4.5 million and create 16 new jobs to nearly double the production of its iconic Virginia peanuts.
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Waverly Awarded Lowe’s ‘100 Hometowns’ Grant
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'Red Vest Day' Held in the Town of Waverly for Lowe's '100 Hometowns' Initiative
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Angela McPhaul, Mayor of the Town of Waverly, speaks to citizens of the small town in Sussex County ,in Southeastern Virginia ,on "Red Vest Day".
VGR attended “Red Vest Day” in Waverly to initiate an awesome project to renovate the Sussex County Young Men’s Athletic Club (SCYMAC) park in town. Waverly was selected to receive grant funds through the Lowe's "100 Hometowns" initiative. Lowe's was also there for the kickoff and Waverly was the first town out of the 100 across the country to hold the event.
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Logistics Development Forum
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VGR Vice President of Business Development Mario Camardella participated at the yearly Logistics Development Forum in August in Colorado, along with representatives from The Port of Virginia and Virginia Economic Development Partnership — both of which were sponsors of the forum, plus other Virginia localities. Since logistics was the key topic at the event, most of the presentations were focused on current conditions and future trends in transportation, distribution and warehousing, as well as alarming inflation of commercial real estate values.
Mr. Camardella met with eight prominent consultants, promoting Virginia’s Gateway Region as a vigorous logistics network, advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing hub as well as sharing the specifications of four available buildings.
“One part of the forum that I thought was very useful was hearing several consultants speak about how we should respond to RFIs — it gave everyone who attended the event a better understanding for how consultants work a project” — Mario Camardella, VGR VP of BD.
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VGR Operations & Board of Directors Meetings — August 2021
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On Aug. 5, the VGR Board of Directors met at Keystone Grill in Colonial Heights for its bi-monthly meeting; board members heard from Virginia Economic Development Partnership Executive Vice President Jason El Koubi, who spoke about VEDP’s focus on positioning Virginia for a healthy economic recovery from the pandemic and an update on the transformational goals that the state economic development authority has set.
Afterwards, the VGR Team and our member localities had a great time during our August Operations Meeting at Tramonto Ristorante in Petersburg, where we had a special surprise from some U.S. Army Fort Lee soldiers.
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Show us Love on Social Media
Please follow VGR on LinkedIn (@Virginia’s Gateway Region Economic Development Organization), Facebook (@VAGatewayRegion) & 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.
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At Ernst & Young, their purpose is Building a better working world. The insights and quality services they provide help build trust and confidence in capital markets and economies the world over. In a world that’s changing faster than ever, their purpose acts as their “North Star” — guiding their more than 300,000 people — providing the context and meaning for the work they do every day. They help digital pioneers fight data piracy; guide governments through cash-flow crises; unlock new medical treatments with data analytics; and pursue high quality audits to build trust in financial markets and business. In other words, working with entrepreneurs, companies and entire countries to solve their most pressing challenges. In doing so, they play a critical role in building a better working world for their people, for their clients and for their communities — including Virginia’s Gateway Region!
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