Volume 5, Issue 4; April, 2011
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Monthly Scorecard
Here's a snapshot of the most recent economic data for Region 2000 (Source: Virginia Employment Commission report, Feb. 2011.) - Civilian Labor Force - 124,542 (Up slightly from previous month - 124,062)
- Employed - 113,800 (Down slightly from previous month - 114,427)
- Unemployment Rate - 8.63% (Up from previous month - 7.8%)
 Real estate quarterly report - Indicators in Virginia home sales appear to support slow recovery, with median home prices moving in a positive direction, according to the Trends in Virginia's Housing Markets Q4 report published by the Virginia Association of Realtors. While annual sales declined 10 percent from 2009 figures, fourth quarter figures showed an upward trend compared to the third quarter of 2010.
In the Roanoke/Lynchburg/Blacksburg Region, however, the recovery was a bit slower. Total sales dropped dramatically in 3Q 10, but ended the year with monthly increases in November and December. Annual sales (5,900 units) fell 14 percent below the 2009 figure. Median sales prices were steady in 3Q 10 at $165,000, but declined nine percent by December. However, the annual median sales price ($155,000) fell less than two percent from the 2009 median. The share of total sales of the region's "bread and butter" homes, those priced in the $100Ks or below, advanced beyond the share in 3Q 10. Source: Virginia Association of Realtors, Fourth Quarter Report 2010 |
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Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership lands Economic Development Award
 Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership received a 2011 Community Economic Development Award on Friday, April 8, 2011 from the Virginia Economic Development Association (VEDA) in recognition for its innovative approach to regional economic development. The award was presented at VEDA's Spring Conference in Charlottesville.
Read the full story here.
Pictured: Bryan David (left) and Traci Blido (right) accepts a Community Economic Development Award on behalf of the Partnership from Mike Lehmkuhler of VEDA. |
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B&W receives $5 million grant for small modular reactor testing facility
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B&W's IST facility under construction as it looked a few months ago.
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The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W) has received a $5 million grant from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission (TICRC) for its Integrated System Test (IST) facility in Bedford County. The facility is located at the Center for Advanced Engineering and Research (CAER), currently being constructed at the New London Business & Technology Center.
The grant supports further development of the B&W mPower™ reactor that represents a new generation of smaller, scalable nuclear power plants on track to be deployed by 2020.
Read the full release at B&W's website here.
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Tech Council announces several upcoming events
Next Wired Wednesday to be held April 27
Mobile Computing for Business and Education will be the topic at the next Wired Wednesday luncheon on April 27, 2011 from noon - 1:30 p.m. at the City of Lynchburg Information Technology Center, 3550 Young Place. Cost is $10 for Tech Council Members, $15 for non-members. Register at the Tech Council website here.
Region 2000 Junior FIRST LEGO Expo to be held April 30
The Region 2000 Junior FIRST LEGO Expo will be held April 30, 2011 from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Timberlake Christian School in Lynchburg. The event will feature 25 teams of 6-9 year old children to present their projects on the theme "Body Forward." Read more here.
10th Annual Awards Night to be held May 17
 Virginia's Region 2000 Technology Council will hold its premier networking event and awards banquet on Tuesday, May 17, 6-9 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, Main St., Lynchburg. Globally renowned entrepreneur Cameron Johnson (pictured) will speak on 'Entrepreneurial Values and Thinking Differently'. To register or submit a nomination, click here.
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Local Government Council assists six elementary schools in receiving Safe Routes to School grants
 Virginia's Region 2000 Local Government Council assisted Lynchburg City Schools this month in receiving $12,000 in grants to go toward hosting effective International Walk to School Day events at six local elementary schools this fall.
The $2,000 "mini-grants" are through the Prevention Connections Safe Routes to School Program that promotes physical activity and obesity prevention of schoolchildren through walk and/or bike events. The six schools that will receive the grants are Dearington, Linkhorne, Perrymont, R.S. Payne, T.C. Miller, and W.M. Bass elementary schools.
Read the full story here.
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Region 2000 Greenway Alliance to host Bike to Work Challenge
 The Region 200 Greenway Alliance, a newly formed, ad-hoc committee that champions the promotion and implementation of trails and on-road bicycle facilities in Lynchburg and the surrounding region, will host the first ever Region 2000 Bike Week as part of National Bike Week, May 16-20, 2011.
One of several events in the works is a Region 2000 Bike to Work Challenge, that encourages individuals to bike, or commute to work through a combination of biking, walking, or transit for one or more days during the week. Companies and individuals can register for the Challenge and read about other Bike Week events here.
Did you know?
According to the American Community Survey (5-year estimates):
- 0.5% of Americans bike to and from work. More men bike to work than women (0.7% vs. 0.3%).
- 10.5% of U.S. residents carpool to work. Men are more likely to carpool than women (11% vs. 10%).
- 5% of U.S. residents take public transportation to work. Women are more likely to take public transportation (5.4% vs. 4.6%).
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Region 2000 profiled in international journal
 Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership was profiled, along with several other economic development organizations from across the nation, in the latest edition of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) quarterly journal.
The feature, written by John Accordino, Ph.D., AICP, and Fabrizio Fasulo, Ph.D., is entitled From Lone Rangers to Collaborative Communities: Finding the Cutting Edge in Economic Development Practice and discusses organizations that are on the leading edge in current economic development practices. The author cites this region's innovative approach to combine all of its development-related functions to serve local jurisdictions throughout the region as "innovative" among other noteworthy points.
Read the article here (pdf).
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Amherst County to celebrate 250 years on April 30!
 Amherst County will kick off its year long celebration marking its 250 year birthday (1761-2011) on Saturday, April 30 at Amherst County High School, 11 a.m. to dark.
The public is invited to enjoy food and craft vendors, exhibits, live music, games for kids, birthday cake, fireworks and more! For more information or to become a sponsor, please visit www.countyofamherst.com or call 434-946-9371.
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YPCV hosts two exciting events this month!
 The Young Professionals of Central Virginia (YPCV) will hold its next 5:35 event on Thursday, April 21 at The Crown, 6120 Fort Ave.
On April 27, Senior Vice President for Centra Health David Adams will speak at a Breakfast for Champions event, 7-8:30 a.m. at The Wingate Inn, 3777 Candler's Mountain Rd. Breakfast buffet $8, Coffee bar $3.
Through its Connect, Live and Grow events, the YPCV helps young professionals grow personally and professionally. Learn more at ypcv.org.
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Regional headlines of interest:
Riverside Lynchburg builds on its history, New York Times (slideshow), April, 2011. Leadership Lynchburg now accepting nominations and applications for 40th class. Boxley recognized for outstanding safety record. (Boxley employees worked 359,628 hours in 2009 without a lost time accident, earning them the prestigious award.) Job tour brings McDonnell to Lynchburg, WSET TV, March 30, 2011. McDonnell signs economic development initiatives, Virginia Business, April 7, 2011. Altavista power plant could restart at wood burning facility, News & Advance, April 11, 2011. J. Crew's overseas endeavors brings jobs, investment to Lynchburg, News & Advance, April 11, 2011. J. Crew breaks ground on new distribution plant, WSET TV (video), April 11, 2011. Virginia Rated Fourth Best State for Making a Living, Virginia.gov, April 14, 2011. Post-recession, Virginia paying more per job in incentives, News & Advance, April 17, 2011. |
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 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, Workforce Investment Board, and Young Professionals of Central Virginia. Please send comments and suggestions to tblido@region2000.org.
Traci Blido
Program Mgr./Communication Officer
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