Thanks for taking a minute to learn about the latest happenings in the Gateway Region including economic development news and trends. Continue reading to find out more about going green, who is turning 100, who Rene Fiesbers is and why he's in our newsletter. Happy Spring!
VSU Receives Grant to Launch Online Logistics Certificate Program
Opportunity Inc. awarded Virginia State University (VSU) a $63,860 grant to help fund a pilot online-course for the purposes of training the regional workforce in one of VGR's targeted industry sectors, Global Logistics. The planned course will provide continuing education for industry professionals and dislocated workers alike, concentrating on a basic foundation in logistics. Local corporate citizens engaged in logistics will be on-hand to help provide real-world knowledge and access to their employees. The participants include: Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware, Goya Foods, Boehringer Ingelheim Chemicals, Joint Logistics Managers, and Riverside Logistics.
With our strong transportation infrastructure, Global Logistics has always been a core industry for the Gateway Region. Programs such as VSU's online training help to enhance the skills of the workforce, thereby improving the quality of the labor pool for companies looking to locate in the region.
Key Officials Weigh in on Future of Economic Development
In February Jeff Anderson of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Renee Chapline of Virginia's Gateway Region and Gregory Wingfield of the Greater Richmond Partnership were invited by a reporter from the Richmond Times-Dispatch to participate in a Question and Answer article regarding economic development in Virginia. To read the article in its entirety please
click here.
Benefits of "Greening" Your Facility
Area Development Online recently reported on the benefits of building a green facility. Going green is not the latest trend but it's still a very young movement. Only 10-15% of overall new construction is considered green. Expect that number to increase rapidly however; the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has seen a 98.5% increase in membership in the last three years. It was the USGBC who created the term LEED that many are familiar with today. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environment Design. LEED certifications make the process of building green more standardized. There are currently four different levels of LEED certification a company can acquire, Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The number of points a project earns determines what level they will achieve. A company will earn points for satisfying specific green building criteria.
Some of the corporations that have opted to build green facilities are Toyota, Southern California Gas, Steelcase, Herman Miller, Johnson Controls, Interface, IBM, PNC Financial Services, and Ford Motor.
The Building Owners and Managers Association provided the follow list to assist in becoming more green:
- Adopt preventive maintenance practices;
- Calibrate thermostats frequently;
- Adjust dampers;
- Re-think cleaning procedures;
- Perform regular check-ups on equipment, and controls;
- Work with tenants to reduce consumption;
- Examine lighting, which can account for up to 30 percent of a building's energy usage;
- Explore equipment upgrades
For more information and to read the article in its entirety please click here.
VGR Research: New Quarterly Research Report
This past month, Virginia's Gateway Region launched the first in a series of quarterly research reports focused for the first quarter on the Green Industry Sector. The reports are intended to offer perspective companies a quick overview of the Gateway Region as it applies to their specific industry sector. We hope that these reports will help us reach out to companies across the country and around the globe in addition to providing valuable information for our partners; and to that end, we included a non-exhaustive list of our "Green" partners in this first report. We look forward to your feedback regarding this new initiative.
Click here to see the document.
Green Expansion Options in the Global Logistics Sector
Rene Fiesbers, an engineer from the Netherlands, is working to further the green trend in the shipping and logistics sector through the invention of a collapsible plastic shipping container. The container weighs 25% less than a standard steel container and can be folded down to a quarter of its size when empty. Other major benefits include: resistance to corrosion, easy to clean, ability to float and the production of only 25% of the carbon dioxide that is generated with manufacturing the steel container.
It's inevitable that ships, trains and trucks carry some empty containers due to patterns of trade so having the ability to collapse the containers would give them more room for full containers. If the containers were collapsed, loading and unloading would be quicker, cutting their time in port. Once on land, the containers would take up significantly less space allowing depots to operate more efficiently.
The Cargoshell, as Fiesbers has named it, is currently undergoing international standards tests. It may not be smooth sailing from there out however. Edgar Blanco, a logistics expert at MIT said "Everyone is vested in the current system. Introducing a disruptive technology requires a major player to take a huge risk in adopting it. So the question will always boil down to: who pays for the extra costs, and takes the initial risk?"
Research and development in the logistics sector such as the work done by Rene Fiesbers could directly impact the Gateway Region as we are considered a prime Global Logistics location served by both the Port of Virginia and the Port of Richmond. Current research in the logistics sector is being conducted by VGR partner, Virginia State University; the only university in the Commonwealth to offer an Industrial and Logistics Technology degree. We also boast another regional training resource in the Army Logistics University (ALU) opened by Fort Lee in 2009. ALU serves as a training facility for military and Department of Defense logistics leaders.
Happy 100th Birthday
One of VGR's investors, Grubb & Ellis, Harrison & Bates is celebrating their 100 year anniversary this year. Started as a two-man firm, Grubb & Ellis is Richmond's leading full service commercial real estate firm. They have distinguished themselves in the areas of sales, leasing, and management of commercial properties, as well as tenant, buyer, investment and development representation and consulting. The firm is independently owned and operated and affiliated with Grubb & Ellis, one of the nation's largest commercial real estate firms.
For more information on Grubb & Ellis, Harrison & Bates please visit their website: www.harrison-bates.com
Investor Spotlight
The following companies have again partnered with VGR or are first time partners to help support regional economic development:
 |
Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center |
 |
Apartment Connection |
We are truly thankful for our partners who enable us to serve our localities and champion our region to an international audience. Our services help new companies locate in the Gateway Region and existing businesses expand, while spurring economic growth throughout the area. VGR appreciates all the financial support local businesses provide, as our efforts would not be possible without them. Contributions made to VGR this year will be matched dollar-for-dollar by The Cameron Foundation. By making a pledge now, you increase its value to the organization by 100 percent.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a partner with VGR please contact our Executive Director, Renee Chapline at 804.732.8971.
Preview: VGR's Upcoming Marketing Events
Midwest Marketing Mission - March 28th - April 2nd
AZ, UT, and CO Marketing Mission - May 3rd - 7th
Wind Power Conference / Texas Marketing Mission - May 24th - May 27th
Southeast Marketing Mission - June 14th - June 17th
256 E. Ellerslie Ave, Suite D, Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834
All contents copyright 2009 Virginia's Gateway Region
Contact us toll-free: 800.386.8925