In This Issue
VGR Welcomes New Project Manager- Forbes Rates Virginia Best State for Business, Again!
- Regional Partners Join Together to Help Those in Need
- Historic Downtown Petersburg in the Making
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July 16, 2007
Dear Reader,
It is heating up in more ways than one here in Virginia's Gateway Region. We've hired a new full-time Project Manager, our office has moved to a new location, and we've received a surge of interest in the Region. This issue touches on all of that and more. As always, we are grateful for your support and look forward to working with you to build a stronger economic future for Virginia's Gateway Region.
VGR Welcomes New Project Manager
We have a new face here at Virginia's Gateway Region, Project Manager, Emily Gupton. As Project Manager, Emily coordinates each aspect of a project from initial requests for information to site visits and project completion. Before joining VGR, Emily Gupton served as the Program Manager for the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program with the Department of Housing and Community Development. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and her master's degree from the University of Virginia.
Click here to see Emily and the rest of the team.
Forbes Rates Virginia Best State for Business, Again!
Forbes.com has rated Virginia as the best state for business for the second year in a row. The ranking looks at six factors: labor, business costs, economic climate, growth prospects, regulatory environment and quality of life.the University of Virginia.
Click here to read the complete article.
Regional Partners Join Together to Help Those in Need
Located just down the street from VGR’s new office is a building that houses the Colonial Heights Food Pantry. The organization provides food services to the elderly, physically and mentally challenged, as well as families in crisis. The Food Pantry began in March of 2006, through the efforts of a dozen individuals who joined together and organized a donation center. Currently, no other non-profit organization in Colonial Heights provides the food services that the Food Pantry offers to the residents of Colonial Heights and a small part of Chesterfield County.
Initially the organizers rented 1,000 square feet but after only four months of operation the demand was such that the organization had outgrown the space. This prompted an expansion of an additional 1,000 square feet to store canned food and other non-perishable items to aid families and individuals in their time of need.
Colonial Heights Food Pantry Inc. is run completely by volunteers, seventy in all, offering food donation services seven days a week. Donations are also received by Food Lion and Ukrops on a daily basis. Many of the major contributors and supporters of Virginia’s Gateway Region also donate generously to the Food Pantry. Fund raising through the Central Virginia Food Bank and various yard sales have also proven to be a great source of revenue for the program.
“It is interesting how the idea got off-the-ground through word of mouth with individuals literally walking through the door, saying, I’d like to help and volunteer my time,” said local businessman Dale Bradshaw, one of the originators of the Food Pantry.
An abundance of in-kind contributions have also been made by local businesses including a brand new air conditioner, sign painting, building insulation and free legal services, he said.
The Colonial Heights Food Pantry represents the coming together of the local community to help fellow citizens. In addition to Food Lion and Ukrops, donations of canned goods and grocery items are also accepted through the Colonial Heights Postal Carriers and other individuals. Please consider if you or your organization might be able to help this local initiative either through the donation of canned goods or other non-perishable items or by volunteering your time at the Food Pantry. The Colonial Heights Food Pantry is located at 409 East Ellerslie Avenue, Colonial Heights, VA 23834.
Fast Facts: Did you know?
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Construction at Fort Lee has officially begun, marked by the official ground-breaking which took place June 25th. Building begins with the Sustainment Center of Excellence (SCoe), a $49-million project that will provide specialist logistics training and will house the Combined Arms Support Command. Currently Fort Lee contributes about $860 million to the local economy annually. This contribution is expected to grow to about $1.2 billion annually. Overall construction at Fort Lee as a result of BRAC will result in approximately 6.5 million square feet of facilities.
Historic Downtown Petersburg in the Making
Historic downtown Petersburg is the region's newest development focus, with over a half a billion dollars having been invested to date. The demand for housing and entertainment in the vicinity of Fort Lee is steadily increasing as a result of the anticipated expansion of Fort Lee. In the past year the downtown has seen renovated lofts, expanded facilities and new stores and restaurants. With this development has come new jobs and opportunities, a trend we expect to continue in the coming years.
