Volume 3, Issue 12; December, 2009
 Happy Holidays! |
How are we growing?
Region's population figures continue to climb
The
U.S. Census Bureau has updated its population estimates for 2008 and the
numbers for Region 2000 are higher than the previous year's estimates. The 2008 population sum of the combined
localities within the Region 2000 geographic area is at 245,809. Read more here. http://www.census.gov/
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Important information about employer tax rates for 2010
 Did you know that for calendar year 2010, every taxpaying employer will be assessed a fund building charge of .2% to be included in the final tax rate assignment, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. This charge is added whenever the solvency level of the trust fund from which unemployment benefits are paid falls below 50% as mandated by Section 60.2-533 of the Virginia Unemployment Compensation Act. Please click here for more details
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Construction crews make way for CAER research and education center
 Just a couple of weeks after officials from Region 2000 and the Center for Advanced Engineering and Research (CAER) made their first mark in the dirt at a groundbreaking ceremony, C.L. Lewis construction crews have paved the way for the foundation to be poured for the $7.6 million research and education facility in the New London Technology Park.
The cost for the 25,000 sq. ft., two-story research center is funded through an economic development grant from the Virginia Tobacco Commission and will provide a central point for
engineers, scientists, and educators to perform applied research,
product development, commercialization, and professional training. The
goal is that this work will not only benefit companies, but will also
create new jobs in high wage,
high growth industries.
See a short virtual tour (animation video) of the planned facility here.
View the Nov. 6, 2009 groundbreaking ceremony (video) here. | |
Region 2000 officials promote regionalism across Commonwealth
The Region 2000 Economic
Development Council has been vocal about the benefits of regionalism, economic development partnerships and most recently, social networking in the Commonwealth during December.
On Dec. 2, EDC staff members Bryan David (pictured), Traci Blido and Kathy White, along with Region 2000 economic developers John Spencer of Appomattox County, Brandon Turner and Brian Gleason of Campbell County, Diana Cocke of Bedford County, and Jack Hobbs of Amherst, met with dozens of Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) employees in Richmond to provide a holiday lunch and update them on business and technology developments in the region. The VEDP is often the first stop for new business and relocation inquiries in the state. Region 2000 leans on the state partnership for a majority of its referrals.
 On Dec. 3, Traci Blido (pictured) spoke to more than 180 members of the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA) in Richmond about the growing use of social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, for economic development.
On Dec. 17, Bryan spoke to members of the Carolinas Gateway Partnership in Rocky Mount, North Carolina about best practices in economic development, and during late November, he was a featured speaker at an annual conference for members of the Virginia Association of Counties in Hot Springs.
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Region 2000 industry strengths are highlighted in state innovation report
 Virginia's Region 2000 is one of 10 regions in the state to be
highlighted in a report released this month from The Center for
Innovative Technology (CIT). The report looks at technology strengths
and weaknesses in each region to enable government leaders to better
steer a successful course toward global leadership in advanced
technology growth.
Read the full story here.
Download the full CIT report here.
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Jonathan Whitt appointed to Governor-elect's technology work group
 Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership is pleased to announce that Jonathan Whitt has been appointed to Governor-elect Bob McDonnell's Technology Transition work group, specifically focusing on issues around Broadband for the Commonwealth.
The full list of advisers can be viewed here.
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Get your 2010 YPCV Discount Card now and save!
 The YPCV offers a Discount Card that provides premier discounts and advantages throughout the region. Use the card at select businesses and receive discounts on food,
memberships, merchandise, and more. The 2010 card is $40. See full details here.
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Local Government Council welcomes new employee
 Phillipp Gabathuler, planner and GIS coordinator, joined the Region 2000 Local Government Council in December. Among his duties, he performs professional planning and technical work involving the design,
development, implementation and maintenance of the regional GIS service
center for Region 2000 jurisdictions. He can be reached at 434-845-5678, ext. 214.
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Hurry! Registration still open for graduate engineering courses at CVCC
 The CAER is registering students for the Spring Semester for graduate engineering courses through the Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program at CVCC. Courses begin in January and run through May.
Download the course schedule (pdf) here or contact Nick Soukhanov at nis@caer.us.
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Region 2000 SBDC to hold 2-hour Start Smart seminar for new business owners; Six week self-employment training course also offered The Region 2000 Small Business Development Center will hold a two-hour Start Smart seminar on Thursday, Jan. 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 147 Mill Ridge Road, Lynchburg for those considering starting a
business. Attendees receive information regarding business record keeping,
marketing, market research, financing, taxes, insurance, legal
aspects and regulations. The cost is $10. A
more in depth, six-week Self Employment Training Program will be
offered at the Business Development Center from Jan. 27 - March 3,
2010. For more information, click here.A more in depth, six-week Self Employment Training Program will be offered at the Business Development Center from Jan. 27 - March 3, 2010. The course is held on most Wednesdays from 7 - 9 p.m. for $75 (manual incl.) and those who participate will complete their business plan as part of the training. For more information, call 434-582-6100 or click here. |
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Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond once again shows Lynchburg region with positive employment growth when compared to other metros
 In
its December 2009 Snapshot report, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
again found that the Lynchburg MSA was the only major MSA in Virginia to show
positive employment growth in October, the most recent tracked month.
See how we stack up against other major Virginia MSAs that the bank tracks. Download the full report (pdf) here.
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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 or story ideas to tblido@region2000.org.
Traci Blido
Program Mgr./Communications Officer |
To contact Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership, please call (434) 845-2000. |
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