Volume 5, Issue 5; May, 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, March 2011.) - Civilian Labor Force - 127,627 (Higher than previous month - 124,542)
- Employed - 118,831 (Higher than previous month - 113,800)
- Unemployment Rate - 6.9% (Lower than previous month - 8.63%)
 Real estate quarterly report -
According to the Virginia Association of Realtors (VAR) latest report, many regions in Virginia witnessed an increase in home sales when comparing the first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2010. The Hampton Roads / Chesapeake Bay area showed the best performance in the state, with a 13% increase in home sales over the past year. Greater Richmond and the Central Valley also performed well, with 8.6% and 6.5% increase over the past year. Northern Virginia showed the largest decline in home sales with a 7.9% decline over the past year, followed by Southwest Virginia with a 7.8% decline. Year over year home sales in the Roanoke/Lynchburg/Blacksburg Region (As VAR reports it) are up by .01% at 1,172 homes sold in the first quarter 2011. This equates to one home sale higher than last year's count during the same quarter. The downside is that Virginia experienced a decline in median sales price varying from 4.9% (Central Valley) to 20.4% (Southwest Virginia). The Roanoke/Lynchburg/Blacksburg Region's median home prices are down 6.6% from the same period last year. Source: Virginia Association of Realtors, Q1 Report 2011. |
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Technology winners announced at Tech Council Awards Night
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Innovator of the Year Isabelle Duston.
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Virginia's Region 2000 Technology Council hosted its 10th Annual Awards Night and Banquet on May 17 in downtown Lynchburg with a record crowd and an inspiring keynote by world-renowned entrepreneur Cameron Johnson. Four top winners were honored for their leadership and innovation.
Innovator of the Year - Isabelle Duston, founder and CEO at iLearn4Free Inc and CEO at Apps Of All Nations.
Educator of the Year - Douglas Wickham, Lynchburg City Schools.
Technology Company of the Year - B&W Nuclear Energy, Inc.
Entrepreneur of the Year - Allen Leath, President, L&R Precision Tooling, Inc.
Read the full press release here.
View photos from the event here.
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New economic study demonstrates resiliency of local economy
 Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership released a new regional economic study this week that addresses how the local economy has experienced and recovered from the "Great Recession," and provides an overall perspective on demographic and employment trends in Region 2000.
Data for the first four months of 2011 indicate that year-over-year employment in Region 2000 is increasing by 2.6 percent on average, as opposed to -0.5 percent in the Roanoke MSA, -0.2 percent in the Virginia Beach MSA, 1.4 percent in the Harrisonburg MSA, 0.1 percent in the Richmond MSA, and 1.0 percent statewide.
Read the full report here.
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EDC Board appoints three new members
The Region 2000 Economic Development Council Board of Directors appointed three new members at its April 28 meeting. Dr. John C. Capps, President, Central Virginia Community College; P.S. (Sandy) Baker, President, B&W's Nuclear Operations Group, Inc.; and Ralph Andrews, Vice President Strategic Initiatives, Genworth Financial. To view a list of all Board Members, click here.
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Tech Council to host Acceler8 Business Growth Forum on June 1
 The Region 2000 Technology Council will host Acceler8 Business Growth Forum on Wed., June 1, 2011 (1-3 p.m.) for existing and prospective business owners to discover the wide range of business resources available to grow their business or launch a new venture. Topics will include angel & gap financing, federal funding, business optimization, state assistance programs and planning for success. This event is free, but pre-registration is required. Review the agenda and register here.
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YPCV director takes on Interim WIB role
 Abe Loper, Executive Director of the Young Professionals of Central Virginia is doing "double duty" following the April retirement of Danny Inge, Workforce Investment Board (WIB) Director.
Abe was named Interim WIB Director on April 25, 2011 and will continue in both roles until a WIB Director is appointed. He can be contacted at 434-847-1447 or at aloper@ypcv.org. |
YPCV to participate in Relay for Life
 The Young Professionals of Central Virginia (YPCV) is making a difference by teaming up to participate in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life on June 3 at Heritage High School. Join the YPCV team or donate to the cause by visiting their team page here. |
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Regional headlines of interest:
B&W and USEC Inc. Complete Formation of American Centrifuge Manufacturing, LLC, The Street, May 3, 2011 B&W Expands Commercial Nuclear Capabilities with N-Stamp Certification at Ohio Manufacturing Facility, CNBC, May 12, 2011. Resilience Awards Competition Opens, Darden School of Business Blog, May 13, 2011. Bedford supervisors support ideas for regional library system, WSLS10, May 9, 2011. Area leaders identify top economic development 'wish list' projects, WSLS10, May 11, 2011. Grant application seeks to create safer routes to school, WSLS10, May 16, 2011. Region 2000 tech award winners announced, News & Advance, May 23, 2011. Area jobs returning quickly, News & Advance, May 26, 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
Economic Development Program Mgr./Communication Officer
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