 Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership
Phone: 434-845-2000
Join our Mailing List! |
Happy Holidays from all of us!
|
 Warm greetings at this wonderful time of the year. Thank you for your support and participation in making our region a great place to live and work.
Region feeling the effects of the downturn
In our line of work, we're often asked how the local economy is in contrast with the national economic picture. We truly believe that we are in much better shape than other regions in our Commonwealth and nation. We are fortunate to have a thriving university presence, coupled with a number of solid, growing industries and a strong workforce. Still, our region experiences the effects of this downturn. Our local unemployment rate has crept up to 4.3% (Oct. 08) and we recognize that several local businesses are now making tough choices to downsize, reduce services or possibly even close.
Rest assured, we remain focused on our mission that serves the long term, economic health and vitality of this region through business support, workforce development, regional collaboration, and applied research.
We welcome your comments and questions as we strive to serve this great region in the best manner possible during these tough times.
Happy Holidays!
The staff of Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership
|
Civil war battlefield preservation grants announced
|
STATE GRANTS WILL HELP PROTECT 15 BATTLEFIELDS INCLUDING APPOMATTOX
(The following is taken from a Virginia Department of Historic Resources news release:)
 In what is fast becoming an eleventh-hour battle to preserve some of this nation's most threatened hallowed ground in Virginia - from Chancellorsville and Cold Harbor to Cedar Creek and Appomattox - the Commonwealth is providing much needed ammunition to frontline organizations defending the state's Civil War battlefields.
Drawing from a $5.2 million arsenal in the form of the Civil War Historic Site Preservation Fund, established by the General Assembly in 2006, the Department of Historic Resources is awarding 21 matching grants to save 1,571 acres of land associated with 15 significant battles.
Two battlefields in Appomattox will benefit from these grants:
Appomattox Station is a 46-acre tract where in the final days of the war in 1865, Union troops captured supply trains for Lee's army and scattered Confederate defenders.
Appomattox Courthouse Battlefield includes two tracts totaling nearly 12 acres, adjacent to each other and contiguous with nearly 1,774-plus acres already preserved by the National Park Service and the CWPT in the core battlefield at Appomattox. In this final engagement of the war, on April 8, 1865 Gen. Robert E. Lee bivouacked near the village of Appomattox Courthouse, while nearby Union troops converged. The last Confederate offensive on April 9 initially gained ground, but the arrival of Union infantry stopped the advance and Lee found himself surrounded on three sides.
The Local Government Council managed the initial study of the Appomattox battlefields for this process. "The aquisition of property for the Appomattox Station will benefit the region by providing an additional tourism destination that complements the existing civil war site," says Gary Christie, Executive Director, Local Government Council.
If you have any questions, please contact Scott Smith at 434-845-3491 or at: ssmith@region2000.org.
|
A regional approach to broadband
|
 At the request of Gov. Kaine's Administration, Bryan David, Executive Director of the Region 2000 Economic Development Council, compiled a comprehensive regional report this week on the topic of broadband. He worked closely with each locality to provide the information for the inventory. The Kaine Administration is assembling a list of potential broadband projects in the state that may benefit from federal funding if it were to become available through the pending economic stimulus package. This supports Bryan's vision to build out broadband infrastructure in the rural areas of Region 2000 to help grow tech-based economic development.
For more information, please contact Bryan directly at: bdavid@region2000.org. |
YPCV more visible and active with new executive director
|
 The Young Professionals of Central Virginia is becoming more visible and active thanks to its new executive director Abe Loper (pictured) and a re-energized YPCV council. The organization held three major events during December, including "The Affair of the Season" held in downtown Lynchburg, a "Caffeinate Your Campaign" presentation that taught young marketing professionals how to capitalize on hot new trends in technology, and a Holiday Block Party on 5th Street to benefit local charities and encourage downtown holiday shopping.
The News and Advance ran a great story about the YPCV this month. Read it here.
The vision of the YPCV is to build a thriving community of young
professionals that are engaged with the region, focused on building
mutually beneficial relationships and contributing to the economic
growth of Virginia's Region 2000. YPCV offers opportunities to Connect (network), Grow (personal and professional development), and Live (volunteer) in Region 2000.
|
CVCC opens satellite center in Amherst
|
 Amherst
County recently celebrated the grand opening of its new satellite center of Central Virginia
Community College, located in the
Mountainview Plaza at 200 Richmond Highway. It is the fifth satellite campus for the region. In addition to the school's main
branch in Lynchburg, other CVCC centers are in Altavista,
Appomattox, Bedford, Brookneal, and now Amherst.
The Center offers a broad spectrum of
day and evening programs in credit and non-credit modes and
specialized training in workforce development for business and
industry. Classes will begin Jan.12.
Read more here.
|
Career Center provides valuable services during economic downturn
|
 The Region 2000 Career Center (One-Stop) is the service delivery site
for the Region 2000 Workforce Investment Board. The Center
provides a place where local residents can go to find jobs and training they need to be competitive in the labor market. It serves more than 2,000 residents annually and helps hundreds of employers with services such as applicant screening and referrals, specialized on-the-job training, WorkKeys assessments, and proficiency testing.
The Career Center is located at
2323 Memorial Avenue, Suite 25, Lynchburg (lower level at the Plaza.) For more information, please visit the WIB site here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Next Wired Wed luncheon is Jan. 28
|
 The Technology Council's Wired Wednesday luncheon will be held on Wed., January 28 at noon (location TBA). Attorney R. Craig Wood will speak on "Legal Issues surrounding E-Mail and Social Networking." The cost is $10 for Tech Council Members and $15 for non-members. RSVP to rsvp@region2000.org.
|
|
|
Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership serves 10 localities and is made up of the Economic Development Council, Technology Council, Center for Advanced Engineering and Research, Local Government Council, The Workforce Investment Board, and the Young Professionals of Central Virginia. We welcome your comments or story ideas.
Traci Blido, Program Mgr./Communications Officer
Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership | | |
|
