This document outlines goals and accomplishments for supporting technology company growth in Virginia's Region 2000. It identified initial obstacles like lack of broadband access and real estate, and no industry clusters or intellectual property support. Goals included broadband studies, identifying technology clusters in advanced manufacturing, energy, and healthcare, and partnerships between universities and companies. Accomplishments were expanding broadband access, creating technology parks and incentive zones, facilitating intellectual property and grants, and establishing a center to support research and development needs. Next steps focus on a regional entrepreneurship and small business development strategy.

1. IMPORTANCE OF
ENTREPRENEURIAL NETWORKS
& COMPETITIVE MARKET INTELLIGENCE
IN VIRGINIA’S REGION 2000

2. BACKGROUND
Q. What do we want to see in Region 2000 that
would support the growth of Technology
companies?
A. A place that looks a lot like the Corporate
Research Center at Virginia Tech.

3. WHAT THAT MEANT
A community that was conducive to the start-up
and growth of technology-based/wealth-creating
companies.
The right environment had to exist within the
community to achieve successful results.

4. IDENTIFIED OBSTACLES
 Little or no broadband access to most of the region.
 Lack of attractive real estate.
 Industry clusters not identified.
 No real understanding of Intellectual Property issues
or Government Grant Programs.
 No easy way for new or existing firms to work with
Universities on Research and Development needs.

5. IDENTIFIED OBSTACLES
 No formal network for like-minded individuals.
 Cultural void within local government - disconnect
between traditional economic development and what
we wanted to accomplish.

6. GOALS
 Region 2000 Broadband Internet Study.
 Technology Park Implementation Guide.
 Identify top Technology-Based Industry Clusters.
 Create partnerships and events to address IP
issues and understanding of Government Grant
Programs.
 Launch initiative to connect existing companies
with Universities to address their R&D needs.

7. GOALS
 Create networking/education opportunities through
the Technology Council to build community.
 Create a partnership between Local Government
Council and Economic Development Council to
formulate a regional growth strategy with
Technology-Based Economic Development at its
core.

8. ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 Wider broadband availability with all industrial/business
parks connected through Mid-Atlantic Broadband
Co-operative.
 Creation of Technology Incentive Zones in multiple
localities and creation of region’s first Technology park.
 Our leading Technology-Clusters are:
 Advanced Manufacturing
 Energy
 Healthcare
 Wireless Communications

9. ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 Facilitation of IP issues and Government
Grant opportunities have led to new
patents/contracts for firms and several
successful SBIR/STTR Grant Awards.
 The Center for Advanced Engineering was created to
facilitate the R&D needs of local firms within our
industry clusters. Today the CAER is a physical space
of 30,000+ sq. ft. with a $17 million investment and is
fully occupied.

10. ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 We hold more than a dozen networking and
educational events a year for the Technology
community and partner with other organizations on
many more.
 Our partnership between Local Government and
Economic Development has grown to include six
organizations and is known as the Region 2000
Partnership.

11. NEXT STEPS
 A Regional Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Development Strategy
 Building the Pipeline.
 Connecting the Resources.
 Advocating for Entrepreneurs.

12. Jonathan Whitt, CEcD
434–847–1447 ext. 313
jwhitt@techcouncil.us
www.TechCouncil.us
www.Region2000.org