10 02-16 veb strategic planning meeting

VirginiaEconomic

Bridge

A Resourcefor the

CommonwealthStrategic Planning SessionLockheed MartinManassas, VA

February 17, 2010

Virginia Economic Bridge

…a non profit organization that promotes the economic vitality of

the Commonwealth through business, economic and workforce development

initiatives.


StaffCarl Mitchell, MS, CNPM, President & CEO

Program Manager - Linked Workforce Initiative & Return to Roots

Gurkan Col, Webmaster & Program Manager - VBPSheree LaCasse, Office Manager & Customer Support -

VBPKimber Simmons, Statistician & Program Manager –

Va CARD & SWVA OnlineNumerous Interns - NRCC, RU & VT


Mission & VisionOur MissionVirginia Economic Bridge, Inc., promotes the economic vitality and external

competitiveness of the Commonwealth through business, industry and educational partnerships between Southwestern Virginia, Northern Virginia and other regions of the Commonwealth.

Our VisionVirginia Economic Bridge, Inc,. will become the advocate of and provide leadership

for: • A Shared Vision for Economic Development in SWVA, NOVA and Other

Locations• A Productive Coalition among SWVA, NOVA and Other Local, State, and

Federal Officers and Business Leaders • A Marketing Campaign which Promotes Needs and Benefits in Bridge

Regions • An Improved Infrastructure for Technology, Transportation and Education

Since 1989, Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc., has been working towards strategic goals that continue to bring together Virginia’s business leaders to build a sense of “common wealth”. Our goal is to ensure that Virginia is prepared to meet the business, economic and workforce challenges of this century and beyond.


Internal VisionVEB, Inc. will continuously strive to be:

• Nonpartisan• Recognized in SWVA as a valuable and reliable resource

for business and economic development in SWVA.• A financially viable organization.• A valuable, reliable resource (well connected) in SWVA,

Northern VA, and Richmond, VA.• A professional organization with solid infrastructure.• Driven by outcomes and deadlines.• A Collaborative partner.


ValuesOur Values• Treat everyone with honesty, respect and kindness to build

trust.• Communicate in a constructive, open, candid and respectful

manner.• Establish an atmosphere fostering creativity and innovation.• Recognize teamwork through active participation in decision

making and follow up/follow through.• Deliver our quality products and services in an effective,

timely and mission/vision-driven manner.• Acknowledge that change is opportunity.• Appreciate and value each other’s talents and efforts through

mutual support and encouragement to go one step further.


What do we do well…?

Tackle the Big Issues!


What do we do well…?Strategic Research

• Qualitative and Quantitative ResearchProject Management

• Assessment• Project Planning• Development• Budgeting & Financial Management• Facilitation


What do we do well…?Information Technology

• Website Evaluations, Web Design, Shopping Cart Systems, Content Management Systems, Search Engine Optimization and Hosting

• Online Survey Development, Facilitation & Hosting

• Database Design, Development, Management & Documentation

• Computer Programming


What do we do well…?Marketing

• Networking• Social Media Applications• Media Relations• Electronic Communication• Publication Design• Graphic Design• Newsletter Design

VirginiaEconomic

Bridge

A Resourcefor the

Commonwealth

Virginia Economic Bridge Information integration

Utilizes staff’s expertise in research, data collection, interpretation and presentation

Provides vital information to elected, administrative and economic development officials

Program sustained by municipal support and contractual services


Provides “A Quick Look At…” & “A Snapshot of…” for Communities & Individuals

Data that details:

Population Education data Housing stats Household income

Employment data by sector, occupation, weekly wage School data Crime data


Sample contracted projects: Research Projects: VRHA, One Care US DOL Community Audits Economic and workforce analysis Cluster and sector analysis Community profiles Industrial and membership directories


Target Audience: Not for Profits, Associations Local Governments

Towns, Counties, Cities EDOs, IDAs

Regional Economic Development Organizations

Real Estate Agencies, Private Businesses


The Web Portal for Southwest Virginia


www.SWVAOnline.org

Markets “Virginia’s Great Southwest!” Virginia Tourism CGI as part of its recruiting Northrop Grumman for an economic summit

& town hall meeting… Congressman Boucher’s “Unleashing the

Celtic Tiger in SWVA”


Target Audience: Not for Profits, Associations Local & State Government

Towns, Counties, Cities EDOs, IDAs, Va Tourism Corporation


Real Estate Agencies, Private Businesses


www.VirginiaBusiness.org

http://www.virginiabusiness.org/

Virginia Economic BridgeMarketing Opportunities

Online database of over 24,000 Virginia based businesses

Marketing tool for goods and services. Tailored company profiles as businesses register

their data & upload photos of products and describe their services

Increased visibility Exposure to diverse markets

Other businesses log onto the Pipeline and search for a business that provides a specific product or service they’re looking for.

Cost effective promotion – Direct & Indirect



Business Opportunities and Development Post and Review more than 1,000

Request for Proposals (RFPs), Request for Information (RFIs) Invitation for Bid (IFBs) annually.

Research tools (SWOT analysis) Customized reports (SWaM, NAICs,

SIC, Locality)




Target Audience: Private Sector Businesses Local Government Procurement

Towns, Counties, Cities EDOs, IDAs


Not for Profits, Associations State Agencies – DMBE, VDBA

VirginiaEconomic

Bridge

A Resourcefor the

Commonwealth

http://www.virginiabusiness.org:81/financial/

http://www.virginiabusiness.org:81/financial/


Initial purpose: To develop strategic business alliances between companies in Southwest Virginia and Northern Virginia.

Participating regions now include other regions as well: Northern Va, Hampton Roads, Region 2000, Richmond, Southern VA and Southwest VA


Connects companies for industry-sector roundtable discussions

Creates strategic business relationships which can result in: Direct Procurement Subcontracting partnerships Mentor-protégé partnerships


Keys to success:Targeted businesses with federal certifications in specific industry sectorsOne-on-one roundtable format with government and industry decision makersPositioning companies to maximize opportunities in fast-growing marketsIdentifying opportunities for partnership


Companies we are looking for… Emerging industry sectors Well-qualified, technically sophisticated HUBZone, SBA 8(a), Minority, Service

Disable Veteran, Woman, and/or Veteran owned certified

Personnel with security clearances


Target Audience:

Private Sector Businesses Federal Agencies for Outreach Local IDA’s & Regional Economic

Development Organizations


Used for training and assessing individuals to become teleworkers

Used as mediator between companies looking to hire independent contractors

Will aggregate efforts of multiple sites and organizations to attract and retain individuals able to telework in the region

Site for regional resources, efforts and a functional site for posting telework jobs and teleworkers’ resumes

Linked TeleWorkforce Connections


Target Audience:

Individuals Private Sector Businesses Federal Agencies for Outreach Local IDA’s & Regional Economic

Development Organizations


Return to Roots

www.ReturntoRoots.org & www.RTRSoVA.orgThe information portals and networks for Career

Seekers, Employers and Communities inSouthwest & Southern Virginia

Virginia Economic BridgeFunded by a Special Projects grant from the Virginia

Tobacco Indemnification and Revitalization Commission.

Return to Roots website launched September 16, 2006 by Governor Kaine and the RTR Southern VA website launched June 12, 2009!

Reaches out to former SwVa and SoVA residents & others to inform them of jobs and business opportunities available in the regions. The website links potential employees to companies with jobs and employers to employees with skills and desire!

www.ReturntoRoots.org & www.RTRSoVA.org

Virginia Economic BridgeA Web Portal for Communities! Post your Resume, Find a Job!

Post your Job, Find an employeeAccess Business Resources

Seek Higher Education OpportunitiesView Community Attractions

Read News & Find InformationFind High School Reunions



Return to Roots


First success story: Keith and

Julia Brown returned from

Cincinnati in January 2007 to

work at CGI


www.ReturntoRoots.org

http://www.returntoroots.org/


www.ReturntoRoots.org

By the Numbers Total RTR-SWVA Contacts: 38,301 -

Alumni, Registrants, & Community Supporters

Registered Job Seekers: 3,195 from 47 states, Washington D.C., Australia, Canada, Belgium and the UK

Registered Employers: 644 Posted Jobs: 7 Job Seekers who have applied through

the RTR Site: 357 9 positions filled since Jan 2009 with an

estimated $446K in salaries Page Loads: 355,194 First-Time Visitors: 76,400 Current program covers 21 counties and

cities in SWVA! Return to Roots was named one of the

Top 50 Semi-Finalists in Harvard University’s Kennedy School’s 2009 Innovations in American Government Awards competition!

Outreach Strategic Partners: 37 SWVA Partners Focus Groups: ETSU & UVA-Wise Direct Mail

Approximately 5,000 Employers in October 2009

Phone Surveys Weekly to Employers & Monthly to Job

Seekers Electronic Outreach

Website, Blogs, Facebook, Twitter & MySpace

Intelligent Communities Forum Blog – http://www.intelligentcommunity.org/index.php?src=blog&srctype=detail&refno=110&category=Knowledge%20Workforce

Monthly Job Seeker and Employer E-Newsletters

College and Community Career & Job Fairs, Business Sales Growth Seminars & Entrepreneurship Express Workshops

Special Events Fourth Annual RTR Gala – September 17,

2010 2nd Annual RTR-SWVA Business

Showcase and Job Fair – Summer 2010January 27, 2010


Target Audience: Private Sector Local, State & Federal Government Local EDO’s, IDA’s & Regional Economic

Development Organizations Chambers of Commerce, Not for Profits

and Associations


A Snapshot of Support…

Financial Audit and Current Financials


A Snapshot of Opportunities…Individual and Company Requests for ServicesRegional and National FoundationsCommunity Specific ProgrammingCommunity based Bordering State ProgramsGrants and Grant Partnerships

USDA BFRDP -Logical grant applicant on behalf the partners

DHCD Micro enterprise lending for Southern VANot for profit ServicesLocal and State Procurement - eVA


A Model for Addressing the Challenges and Opportunities

Virginia Economic Bridge’s Consortium on Entrepreneurial Innovation


Strategic Partners

One Care of SWVA

Other Key PartnersPrivatePublic


Moving Forward - Planning for VEB’s Future

Action Items for the Future• Modify and expand the current mission• Reinvigorate the Board• Expand funding base• Maintain staff support and realign projects


THANK YOU! for listening…

Please feel free to contact me…

Carl E. Mitchell, MSPhone 540.731.6800

Email: [email protected]

10 02-16 veb strategic planning meeting

Education

real estate

virginia economic

private sector

local idas

private businesses

federal agencies

program manager

northern virginia