This document outlines efforts to promote technology-based economic development in Virginia's Region 2000. It identified initial obstacles like lack of broadband access and real estate. Goals were set to study broadband expansion, create a technology park guide, and identify industry clusters. Accomplishments included expanding broadband access, creating technology incentive zones and a new technology park, and facilitating partnerships between businesses and universities. Next steps involve developing a regional entrepreneurship and small business strategy to build the pipeline of new businesses and connect them to resources.

1. TECH-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
…IN VIRGINIA’S REGION 2000
WHAT, WHY, AND HOW
Existing Business Retention and Expansion Forum
April 17, 2012
D Day Memorial Visitors Center, Bedford, VA

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