In This Issue

  • Record Breaking Turnout for Annual Business Meeting

  • Richmond International Airport Aims for Growth

  • Developers Seize Opportunity to Tour Region

  • Annual Report Now Online

    VGR Honors One of Their Own

     Correction

Why VGR?

Click here to build a customized report about the Gateway Region.

Click here to visit the events calendar.

Click here to learn more about VGR's accolades.

Click here to visit the site selection center.

Click here to view VGR's video testimonials.

February 8, 2008

Dear Reader:

Virginia's Gateway Region Economic Development Organization has been making great strides since our fall e-newsletter. We hope you enjoy reading the highlights from the last three months and we encourage your feedback as we strive to help the Gateway Region grow.

Record Breaking Turnout for Annual Business Meeting
With the ballroom at the Country Club of Petersburg packed with more than 120 guests, Virginia’s Gateway Region held their Annual Business Meeting sponsored by SunTrust. The Honorable Patrick Gottschalk, Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia as well as William T. Powers, Executive Vice President / CFO, for Rolls-Royce North America were the featured speakers for the evening. The Rolls-Royce announcement in November was the biggest investment in the Gateway Region this past year. The plant is scheduled to be up and fully operational in Prince George County by the end of 2009.
Other speakers of the evening included: The Honorable Henry Parker, Prince George County Chairman of the Board of Supervisors; Charles Townes, Sr., President of Virginia’s Gateway Region’s Board of Directors; Renee Wyatt-Chapline, Executive Director of Virginia’s Gateway Region; and Bud Yerly, President of Virginia’s Gateway Region’s Business Council.
The event showcased the recently published VGR Annual Report - click here to download the 2007 report.
The report serves as a snapshot of an overwhelmingly successful 2007. The year’s activities certainly brought a lot of attention to the region. The report features such highlights as the Rolls-Royce announcement, Fort Lee and BRAC, VGR marketing activities and other high level events that the organization participated in to promote the region.
The annual event celebrated the facts and figures that demonstrate the recent growth in the region and the success of Virginia’s Gateway Region Economic Development Organization thus far. In 2007, the region celebrated 839 new jobs and $549 million in investment. In addition the event recognized the success of VGR in meeting over half of its five-year goals in only two years. With this success has come a four-fold increase in investors over the past two years. In 2005, VGR had only 29 private investors while now the organization boasts more than 140 private investors serving as VGR’s partners in progress.
The event was deemed a huge success with record breaking attendance and VGR looks forward to capitalizing on this momentum as it continues a successful economic development marketing campaign in 2008.


Richmond International Airport Aims for Growth
Richmond International Airport (RIC) is positioning itself to be the airport of choice for Richmond travelers. With its 10-year, $280 million capital improvement program well underway, RIC aims to encourage Richmond travelers to fly through RIC instead of through Norfolk and Dulles. Its recent strides include a new terminal addition and additional restaurants and retail stores to enhance airport amenities.
In addition, RIC continues to expand their selection of low-cost carriers which now includes AirTran, JetBlue, and Skybus. By adding low-cost airlines it encourages competitive fares making RIC that much more attractive for Richmond travelers.

Developers Seize Opportunity to Tour Gateway Region
Virginia’s Gateway Region took to the streets in December for the first Gateway Region Opportunities Tour. Developers and economic development professionals did not leave an empty seat on the tour bus that made stops around the region highlighting various development opportunities as well as the expansion underway at Fort Lee. The half-day event included both a walking and driving tour highlighting key projects in the region interspersed by presentations from each locality. The tour sparked significant interest in the region both from current regional developers and those new to the region alike. Local economic development officials, in turn, had the opportunity to network with these professionals and market their respective properties. The tour concluded with a reception at Wabi Sabi in Old Towne Petersburg. The overwhelming turnout and subsequent positive feedback left no doubt that the tour was a huge success with a second tour planned for 2008 to spotlight additional opportunities in the region.

 

 

Annual Report Now Online
Check out our 2007 Annual Report now available online under Media Center / Publications or by clicking here.

Correction

  • In reference to the article entitled “Regional Partners Join Together to Help Those in Need,” we suggested that the Colonial Heights Food Pantry was the only organization of its kind. However, several other local church-based organizations provide a similar service.

     

     

VGR Honors One of Their Own

This past January Virginia’s Gateway Region lost one its long-time active partners and board members, Mr. Jay Morriss. Mr. Morriss most recently served as VGR’s Board Secretary. A special presentation was made to his family at the Annual Business Meeting of Investors on January 31st, 2008 honoring Mr. Morriss and his long-standing support for Virginia’s Gateway Region and its communities. Mr. Morriss’ presence will be greatly missed in the VGR board room.