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Can you believe summer is here and we are halfway through 2009? It has been a busy year for Virginia’s Gateway Region (VGR) and we are excited about what the rest of 2009 has in store for the organization and the localities we represent. Read on to learn more about VGR’s latest international marketing trip, our newest partners, Twitter “tweeting,” the most recent Endeavor Gateway series and an upcoming networking event….
REMINDER: VGR Family Fun Night
Please join us for the Business Council Family Fun networking event on Wednesday, July 22 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at VGR partner Swaders Sports Park in Prince George. Families are encouraged to join the fun by enjoying hot dogs, chips and soda and discounted rates on Swaders entertainment options. Please RSVP with the number of attendees to James Menees at jmenees@gatewayregion.com or by calling 804.732.8971. We look forward to seeing you there.
Investor Spotlight
The Investor Spotlight recognizes VGR’s new investors as well as those who have recently renewed their commitment to VGR and our economic development efforts. The following companies have either renewed their commitment or are first time VGR partners:
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Baskervill |
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Colonial Heights Chamber of Commerce |
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HCA Virginia Health System |
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Grubb & Ellis / Harrison & Bates |
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I-Deals LLC |
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 facilitate economic growth, which becomes more and more important as new companies locate in the Gateway Region and existing businesses continue to expand. VGR appreciates all the financial support local businesses provide. 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 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.
VGR Joins the World of Twitter
VGR has officially joined Twitter, a social networking, micro-blogging website with more than 1 million members. Twitter allows VGR to post brief, up-to-the-minute economic development related news and other regional current events. VGR’s Twitter feed is available on our homepage to allow quick access to these regional updates. Twitter has swept the nation with major news agencies, CEO’s and celebrities creating an account. According to Complete Data, the number of unique visitors to Twitter.com in April and May 2009 surpasses the number of visitors to the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times web portals. In addition, the ratings service HitWise ranks Twitter.com as America’s No. 38 website. Micro-blogging is a great tool for VGR to provide our partners with another resource to stay connected with the region.
We invite our investors and supporters to "follow" us on Twitter by visiting our page at www.twitter.com/vagatewayregion or on our homepage, www.gatewayregion.com. We look forward to seeing you there!
If you have news to share in our newsletter or Twitter please contact Lisa Liberati at lliberati@gatewayregion.com.
VGR Hosts Landmark International Event
The Paris Air Show at Le Bourget celebrated its 100-year anniversary this June and VGR was there to meet and network with representatives from seventeen international companies and make a presentation on the world-class business climate and quality of life here in the Gateway Region.
VGR teamed up with Rolls-Royce to host a networking reception providing attendees with the opportunity to learn more about Rolls-Royce, the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) and the Gateway Region as a whole.
"Attending the air show was a great opportunity for the Gateway Region to further our international marketing efforts. I am very pleased with the relationships we have forged and am optimistic about the partnerships for the future," said Renee Wyatt-Chapline, Executive Director of Virginia’s Gateway Region.
The Secrets Behind Hiring
Professionals from a variety of industries gained insight into best hiring practices and retention strategies in the latest installment of the Endeavor Gateway Series, held on Tuesday, June 2 at John Tyler Community College. Workplace expert and employment attorney Karen Michael outlined a guide for hiring success, including steps to an effective interview, keys to decision-making during the hiring process, strategies to retain the best employees and tips on how to get the most out of current employees. Avoiding costly hiring mistakes becomes even more essential during tough economic times and attendees found the interactive presentation to be both timely and instructive.
John Leitch, COO & CFO of Grubb & Ellis|Harrison & Bates said, "I have been to a lot of seminars through the years. This was one of the most informative and best presented."
Please stay tuned for information on the next Endeavor Gateway Series seminar, which will be held in the coming months. If there is a current topic or business issue that you would like to learn more about as part of the seminar series, please contact James Menees at jmenees@gatewayregion.com or 804.732.8971
Green Industries, a Golden Opportunity for VGR
Buzz words and stimulus monies aside, there is no doubt that green collar jobs and green/clean tech industries are on the rise and VGR is seeing its fair share. While the recent Federal and State initiatives have accelerated the growth and buzz around these industries, VGR already has many of its corporate citizens engaged in green tech/renewable energy activities. Such industries include but are not limited to: Alstom, Dominion, Osage Bio Energy, Mead Westvaco, Ingenco and many more. In addition, as part of our Endeavor Gateway Seminar Series we held a Green Building Seminar in conjunction with partner, McKinney and Company, with topics ranging from incorporating green cost saving strategies for existing industries to implementing LEED certified building practices.
As a follow up to that seminar, several attending companies went on to become LEED certified professionals. If you or your company engages in green building or green industry practices, we want to hear more about it so we can spread the word. Many times prospects we are working with seek detailed data on LEED certified companies, buildings, and other green practices and industry in the region. We are always looking to enhance the information we give to such clients in order to be as comprehensive as possible and make the strongest business case.
While many prospective green tech/clean tech companies include significant capital investment and job creation, as with any prospect, VGR and our partners are doing our due diligence to make sure these companies are the real deal, not just fly by night companies looking for a federal handout in the form of stimulus money. What we are seeing are some significant technologies and strong companies that will have large rolls in changing the landscape of many markets. It is truly an exciting time and VGR continues to aggressively market to this sector and related industries. We are currently in the process of developing a specific green web portal for this sector and in tandem, marketing collateral used to attract these industries and educate them on the assets we have in the region to make their business here profitable.
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