81 Reasons to Connect

81 Reasons to Connect – Regional Strategies for Success

Presentation Overview
How are we doing as a Region?
Richard Florida’s Creative Class concepts
81 Reasons to Connect Vision
Territorial/Regional Assets - Strengths & Opportunities
Questions and Discussion

Question: How are we doing as a Metro-Region?

Why do some Regions become truly GREAT? Seattle, WA (Technology Corridor) Raleigh, NC (RTP) San Jose, CA (Silicon Valley) Boston, MA (Route 128 Corridor)

Models for WINNING in the new economy Creative Class professionals are the dynamo behind successful economic growth in today’s knowledge-based economy. Regions that can attract & retain these highly skilled workers will succeed. Regions that cannot attract these professionals will continue to struggle. As noted by Richard Florida (2002), this Creative class of workers place significant emphasis on their Quality of Life when choosing where to locate and work. It’s about PLACE .

Vision - Mission ‘81 Reasons to Connect’ seeks to identify and communicate the economic and social benefits of a combined Roanoke and New River Valley Metro-Region that will be recognized as a preferred destination for Creative Class professionals. We will be presenting the top Reasons to Connect at a Regional Summit scheduled for March of 2010 at Radford University We need your help in developing and communicating this critical vision!

Virginia’s 81 Corridor – Creative Class Assets Radford U VA Tech Roanoke College Hollins U

81 Corridor – Creative Class Research & Development Assets Center for Research & Technology VA Tech Corporate Research Center Riverside Centre for Research and Technology Smart Road

Creative Class Professional Employment Opportunities

81 Corridor – Outdoor Recreational assets

We need YOUR help to take our Region to the next level Roanoke MSA
Counties
Giles
Montgomery
Pulaski
Independent Cities
Radford
Pop: 158,328
Per Capita: $17,184
Counties
Botetourt
Craig
Franklin
Roanoke
Independent Cities
Roanoke
Salem
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA (New River Valley = NRV) Pop: 296,532 Per Capita: $20,390 Combined Metro Pop: 454,860 Per Capita: ? Phds per Capita: ? College Students: ?

What are the benefits of a unified Region? With 500,000 citizens (over 700,000 if we tap into Lynchburg MSA) Transform Roanoke Regional from a small hub serving Roanoke to being THE Major air transportation center West of Richmond and North of Greensboro Focus all key corporate travelers and higher Ed travels to fly through Roanoke Attract low cost carriers that will accelerate the growth/expansion of Roanoke Airport

Proven Models that work – from across the USA REENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA Vi sion 2025 – How Greenville, South Carolina Proposes to Use Creative Class Theory and Smart Growth to Develop Their Economy In tandem with smart growth is the priority of many regional economies to attract and retain the flow of human creative capital. Greenville is one city that has recently investigated this kind of growth strategy Population of 56,006 people, urbanized area population of 379,616 Situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains midway between Atlanta and Charlotte, the city’s downtown would have been a natural stop for travelers making the trip on I-85

LOCAL Models that work – what is holding us back?

What we can ALL do to make a difference
Promote & Support REGIONAL Organizations such as the NCTC
Support Funding for a Regional Marketing identity/branding piece
Join us in encouraging Economic Development Agency & Local Government officials to form joint commissions that align our Regional Identity:
Smart Way Bus & more mass transit options across the Region
Upgrades to the Roanoke Regional Airport
High-speed fiber ring between Roanoke & VA Tech
VA Tech/Carilion Research Initiatives
Joint Planning Commission initiatives
Joint Chambers of Commerce initiatives
Intermodal Transportation Center at Dixie Caverns
Become a Regional Ambassador!

81 Reasons to Connect

by Handshake Media, Incorporated on Nov 23, 2009

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81 Reasons to Connect — Presentation Transcript

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