Volume 4, Issue 10; October, 2010
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Lynchburg MSA moves up for third straight year in "best city" rankings
The region also ranks third in the nation for high tech GDP growth over a five-year period.
 The Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) moved up 25 positions over last year in The Milken Institute / Greenstreet Real Estate Partners Best Performing Cities Index. The MSA includes the four-county Region 2000 geographic area, surrounding the City of Lynchburg.
Lynchburg ranked 35th of the 200 largest metros in the nation in this study, based on how well the region creates and sustains jobs, among other economic growth factors. In 2009, the MSA ranked 60th, and in 2008, 71st. It was ranked the second highest in the Virginia.The components of the study include job growth, wage and salary increases, and technology growth.
Read the full release here.
To view the full Milken Institute report, please visit: www.milkeninstitute.org.
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Region 2000 recognized for excellence in economic development from IEDC
Jonathan Whitt, center, accepts the award from IEDC officials.  | Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership received an Honorable Mention for Excellence
in Economic Development at an awards ceremony on September 28 during the
International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference in Columbus,
Ohio. The award is for Regionalism and Cross-Border Collaboration and
was accepted by the Technology Council's Jonathan Whitt, CEcD, who was in
attendance.
"We recognize Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership for
providing successful strategies to promote new paradigms in economic development
in this period of global recovery," said William Best, IEDC chair. "Our awards
honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive
change in communities. The Virginia's Region 2000 Partnership is showing that
they are at the forefront of the economic development profession and are using
innovative and effective practices that can be replicated in other
communities."
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Future Focus EXPO 2010 draws record crowds
 More than 2,500 middle and high school students packed the indoor track at Liberty University for the Region 2000 Technology Council's Fifth Annual Future Focus EXPO on Tuesday, October 12. Congratulations to the following first place teams that participated in the tech challenges: AREVA Green Energy Challenge - Staunton River Middle School; Babcock & Wilcox Energy Challenge - Denne Homeshcool Group; Centra Healthcare Challenge - Dunbar Middle School; LU School of Aviation Aeronautics Challenge - James River Day School; WileylWilson/CAER Engineering Challenge - James River Day School. Thank you to all the volunteers that made this year's event such a big success! http://www.futurefocusexpo.com/
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Bicycle plans move forward in Region 2000
 The Central Virginia Metropolitan Planning Organization approved a long-range plan on October 21 that may open up more opportunities for bicyclists to safely travel in the region. Kelly Hitchcock of the Local Government Council said the bike plan outlines a vision to develop alternative transportation connections to key community destinations in the region, and summarizes bicycle accomodations that help meet the needs of citizens. Read the News and Advance article here. Review the Bike Plan documents here. |
Region 2000 Annual Partnership Dinner held on Oct. 19Oliver Kuttner and Edison2 team honored for XPrize Competition win at eventVirginia's Region 2000 Annual Partnership Dinner was held on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at The Holiday Inn, Lynchburg. Fred Armstrong of Wiley|Wilson served as host for the event, highlighting the work of each organization within the Partnership and the goals achieved this past year.  | | Mayor Joan Foster signs a proclamation for Oliver Kuttner (pictured far left), while City Council members Ceasar Johnson and Turner Perrow look on. |
City of Lynchburg's Mayor Joan Foster and Region 2000's Bryan David each honored Oliver Kuttner as winner of the XPrize Auto Competition this past summer. Keynote speaker was Dr. Roger Stough, VP for Research and Economic Development at James Madison University. He gave examples of innovative regions in the world and cited Region 2000 as having the vision and strategy to facilitate change and shifting the market toward a tech-based economy over time.
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Tax Planning seminar offered for local businesses
Nov. 9, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Held at Business Development Centre, 147 Mill Ridge Rd., Lynchburg
 The Region 2000 SBDC and the Lynchburg Retail Merchant's Association, Inc. will cosponsor a Tax Planning Strategies workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. to help owners of new and existing small businesses learn the basics of tax planning.
Attend this seminar to help prepare your 2010 business tax returns and learn tax planning tips to help reduce your tax burden in 2010 and 2011. Also learn about recent changes in small business tax law. The seminar will be conducted by CPAs from Coley, Eubank & Company, P.C. Cost is $10. Advanced registration is required. Please call (434) 582-6170 to register. |
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CAER welcomes new staff member
 The Center for Advanced Engineering and Research (CAER) welcomed its newest staff member, Heather Baum earlier this month. She will assist the CAER in various capacities as Administrative Coordinator.
Heather's background encompasses a strong emphasis on customer service through eight years of recruiting for various private and public colleges and universities.
Heather can be contacted at hbaum@caer.us or 434-847-1447.
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 YP Voices - Oct. 27
The Young Professionals of Central Virginia (YPCV) will host its monthly YP Voices lunch on Wed., Oct. 27 at noon at Terrace on the James (8th floor, Bank of the James building downtown Lynchburg.) Join in on a roundtable discussion about online media.
Halloween Party for kids at Miriam's House - Oct. 30
Join the team in throwing a Halloween bash for the children of Miriam's House on Saturday, Oct. 30 2-3 p.m., 409 Magnolia St., Lynchburg. Please email thedrick@academyfinearts.com to sign up.
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Climate Change and Water Resources Workshop to be held Nov. 15
 The Region 2000 Local Government Council is cosponsoring a workshop examining the effects of climate change on water resources. The Cabell Brand
Center for Global Poverty and Resource Sustainability Studies is hosting the one-day workshop entitled "The Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources and
Water Infrastructures: Mitigation and Adaptation at the Local Level."
The workshop will take place on November
15, 2010 at the Frontier Museum Lecture Hall, Staunton, Virginia. Instructors include experts from the U.S. EPA, Planning District Commissions
and Virginia Tech.
Workshop agenda and registration information is posted on
the Cabell Brand Center Events Page. For further information contact Dr. Tamim Younos, tyounos@cabellbrandcenter.org
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CAER to hold Professional Engineer Exam Prep Class
 The CAER will hold a Professional Engineer Exam Prep Class in mechanical engineering starting in December. The class is for engineers who plan to take the Mechanical PE Exam.
The class meets at CVCC from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning December 7, 2010 until the April, 2011 exam. Cost is $1,500.
Register with Nick Soukhanov at (434)832-7831 or nis@caer.us.
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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 to tblido@region2000.org.
Traci Blido
Program Mgr./Communication Officer
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www.region2000.org
Follow us on Twitter @VARegion2000 or join Virginia's Region 2000 on LinkedIn or Facebook!
Contact us by phone at (434) 845-2000. |
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