Volume 5, Issue 11; November, 2011
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Future Focus Foundation Introduces New Director and Visual Identity
Elizabeth Narehood has been named Managing Director of the Future Focus Foundaton, the educational foundation of the Region 2000 Technology Council.
"I am thrilled to be a part of the Technology Council and the Region 2000 Partnership," said Narehood. "STEM education is critical to the development of society and the future success of our youth. We must be preparing our youth to compete in a global marketplace and to keep U.S. industries as leaders on the world stage."
Narehood served as an Extension Agent with the Campbell County 4-H Virginia Cooperative Extension Office for seven years. She was responsible for managing all 4-H outreach programs for the County, including camps, clubs and in-school activities. She also served as a Unit Coordinator with the Extension Office for four years and was responsible for office administration, budgets, staff supervision and liaising between the district office and local government.
The Future Focus Foundation recently unveiled a new visual identity as well.
"All in all we are seeking to inspire the spark of science and technology innovation in students and guide them towards becoming 'rising stars' in their own right," says the Tech Council's Marketing Technologist and logo creator Jason Fowler. "I tried to portray this visually in an abstract way. With the hiring of Elizabeth as the new Managing Director, this new visual identity for the Foundation is a fresh face to a fresh start. And this fresh start springs out of critical self-evaluation and a renewed clarification of purpose as an organization." |
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Bryan David Named to VEDA Board of Directors
 Economic Development Council Executive Director Bryan David has been named to the Board of Directors for the Virginia Economic Development Association. The organization's tagline is "Working to Ensure Virginia's Prosperity," and it strives to do this through professional development, the creation of professional development standards, information exchange, and other programs to ensure Virginia's competitive edge in economic development.
David's term is through the year 2014. More information on VEDA can be found at www.GoVEDA.org.
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Lynchburg's Campbell Avenue Access Management Corridor Study
 The Region 2000 Local Government Council is assisting the City of Lynchburg in the execution of the Campbell Avenue Access Management Corridor Study. The purpose of the study is to provide a comprehensive review of the corridor to ensure its long term viability as a transportation asset to the Campbell Avenue community and the City as a whole. Policy recommendations for the City's Comprehensive Plan are expected as a result of the effort as well as possible recommendations for the Capital Improvement Program and development regulations.
The Campbell Avenue Access Management Corridor Study is part of the broader Campbell Avenue and Odd Fellows Road Corridors Land Use and Master Plan Study. This City of Lynchburg effort will help ensure the City's community development policies and regulations are up-to-date, especially given the anticipated construction of the Odd Fellows Road Interchange at U.S. Route 460.
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Local Government Council Prepares Grant Applications
Last year, the Local Government Council earned $14 in grants and project revenue for each dollar it received in dues from local governments in the region. This Region 2000 partner organization has been working toward similar success in 2011.
Recently, LGC staff prepared a VDOT Enhancement Grant for the Town of Brookneal to continue streetscape and stormwater improvements. Amherst County also submitted a LGC-prepared Enhancement Grant for improvements to the relocated train station. The Commonwealth Transportation Board will announce successful projects in May 2012.
The LGC also assisted the Central Virginia Radio Communications Board in preparing a $1 million grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to the Firefighters Grant program. If awarded, the money would be used to update mobile and portable radios to Project 25 (or P25) interoperability standards. P25 is a collection of standards for digital radio communications in North America. It allows federal, state and local public safety organizations to communicate effectively during emergencies.
Finally, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development authorized the LGC to proceed with the development of a planning grant to build a sewer line in unserved portions of the Town of Pamplin.
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YPCV Assists with Holiday Food Collection
 One of the three main goals of the Young Professionals of Central Virginia is to offer opportunities for members to live a more fulfilling life in the community - through social, educational, and service-based events.
This month and next, YPCV is working with the Wingate by Wyndham to collect cans for their annual canned food drive. Beneficiaries include the Miller Home for Girls, the Liberty Godparent Home, the Salvation Army and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Other participating businesses include Sam's Club, Kroger, Walmart, Days Inn, WSET and Spirit FM. Drop off areas are at the Wingate by Wyndham or the Days Inn at River Ridge Mall. For more information call (434) 845-1700 or 847-8657.
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CAER Executive Director Bob Baily Partners with Virginia Tech at Wireless Innovation Conference
 Bob Bailey made a session presentation with Virginia Tech at the SDR 11 Wireless Innovation Conference today in Washington, DC. The presentation was entitled "A Heterogeneous Cognitive Radio Testbed: An Industry-University Collaboration."
One of the key research focus areas for the Center for Advanced Engineering & Research is cognitive radio, due to the presence of a significant wireless communications industry cluster in the region. The CAER is developing a heterogeneous cognitive network testbed for both basic and applied research at its facility. The testbed is heterogeneous in at least three ways: it provides indoor and outdoor coverage; it deploys multiple cognitive radio hardware and software platforms; and it includes both static and mobile nodes. This effort is led by the CAER in collaboration with Virginia Tech, while leveraging ties to other private sector partners, universities and laboratories. Cognitive radio research initially focused on dynamic spectrum access, in particular the efficient use of TV white spaces through opportunistic transmission. As the field evolves, it is important to explore a broader array of applications enabled by the development of cognitive radios and networks. The proposed testbed is designed to enable research by academic and industrial partners on these emerging topics, from the introduction of cognitive radios in future generations of cellular networks, to their use in wireless distributed computing. |
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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 cmosley@region2000.org.
Catherine Mosley
Economic Development Council Communications Officer/Program Manager
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