Browsing by Author "Tate, Scott"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 27
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    Advanced Manufacturing and IT in the New River Valley: Impacts of COVID-19 and Supply Chain Shocks
    Ferris, William N.; Travis, Elli; Tate, Scott; Boswell, Katie (Virginia Tech, 2022-08)
    In 2020, Onward NRV partnered with the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) to determine how Advanced Manufacturing and IT firms in the region were affected by COVID-19 and how these firms felt about their prognosis regarding the next year. To accomplish this, CECE developed surveys designed to generate insight into how businesses were faring. There were 21 manufacturing survey responses and 24 information technology survey responses. CECE also conducted interviews with representatives from two Advanced Manufacturing and two IT firms to generate additional insight. At that time, close to two-thirds of Advanced Manufacturing and IT firms expected to retain their employees. Sixty-two percent of manufacturers had unfilled production worker and engineer positions, and thirty-eight percent of tech companies needed software engineers, account executives, and production schedulers. Businesses in both sectors generally maintained positive outlooks for the following year. The most significant concern among companies at the end of 2020 was the health and safety of employees. In 2022, two years after the initial survey, CECE followed up with Advanced Manufacturing and IT firms to see how these businesses were faring. Follow-up survey responses suggest that regional Advanced Manufacturing and IT companies have performed strongly since the onset of the pandemic. Relative to pre-pandemic levels, most firms—83% of technology firms and 75% of manufacturing firms — report maintaining or increasing the number of employees at their firm; payrolls have held steady or increased for approximately 90% of firms in both sectors, and firms report similar or increased revenues. Manufacturing and technology firms correspondingly report positive outlooks. Onward NRV and CECE also conducted semi-structured interviews with firms from each sector to shed additional light on business prognoses and experiences doing business in the New River Valley. Findings from interviews paralleled those expressed in surveys.
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    Assessing Opportunities for Agriculture and Agritourism at Montpelier
    Mayer, Adam; Burke, Patrick; Ononpa, Nick; Lyon-Hill, Sarah; Travis, Elli; Daugherty, Dick; Tate, Scott (Virginia Tech. Office of Economic Development, 2015)
    Orange County, with a planning grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID), administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), engaged the Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development (VTOED) to explore sustainable agriculture and agritourism opportunities for land parcels owned by the Montpelier Foundation. As partners, Orange County and the Montpelier Foundation wished to assess opportunities for utilizing certain parcels of Montpelier’s 2,650 acres of land to support and add value to the county’s agriculture industry. The project inventoried and assessed development opportunities that would be a fit for Montpelier’s mission and the rural character of its Orange County surroundings, while offering potential to generate jobs, spur enterprise development, increase visitation, and enhance income in Orange County and the surrounding region. VTOED established a project working group, interviewed dozens of key informants and collected and analyzed agriculture and tourism data. Hundreds of opportunities were generated and pre-assessed.
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    Assessing the Economic Impacts of a Small Satellites (SmallSat) Virginia Initiative
    Lyon-Hill, Sarah; Tate, Scott; Camacho, Luis (2015)
    CECE evaluated a proposal by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium for the Small Satellites Virginia Initiative program and found the program could bring up to $16.2 million to the state.
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    Barriers and Drivers to Accessing and Using Workforce and Technical Assistance Resources for Small and Medium Manufacturers (SMMs) in Rural Regions
    Lyon-Hill, Sarah; Cowell, Margaret M.; Tate, Scott; Alwang, Albert (2018-12-14)
    Workforce shortages and market shifts have left many small and medium manufacturers (SMMs) struggling to maintain their operations. Still some SMMs tend not to utilize the workforce development and technical assistance resources available to them. This is particularly true of those in more rural regions where manufacturing is even more essential to the sustained vitality of these economies. This study explores the factors preventing these firms from pursuing and accessing these services. The authors used surveys and interviews to engage manufacturers with fewer than 500 employees in rural Southwestern Virginia and identify factors limiting their participation in these services. Findings indicate constant and consistent outreach to SMMs, regular engagement in social and economic networks, and a diverse array of services tailored to rural SMMs’ needs to play key roles in developing productive partnerships between SMMs and resource providers.
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    Before You Get Started as a Food Entrepreneur
    Bacon, Karleigh; Tate, Scott (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-04-19)
    Discusses several facets of starting a food business, including market planning, self-motivation, and money issues.
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    Community Engagement
    Walker, Martha A.; Tate, Scott (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2014-09-10)
    Throughout the community engagement process, communication, diplomacy, respect, patience, and flexibility are essential. The core team must keep the participants informed through discussion agendas, written summaries of previous discussions, goals/assignments for the next discussion, and progress reports providing accountability for delivering what was promised.
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    Community Engagement
    Walker, Martha A.; Tate, Scott (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2020)
    Community engagement work requires an understanding of the identified community and local issues, a listening environment, and continuous communication. It includes multiple opportunities for collecting citizen input through interaction and dialogue and identification of local solutions. Most importantly, public involvement must be focused with a defined purpose, clear expectations, an intentional planning process, and anticipated impacts. In summary, there should always be a well-designed plan for inviting citizens to be part of a conversation.
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    Controlled Environment Agriculture Strategy and Roadmap in GO Virginia Region 3
    Ferris, William N.; Tate, Scott; Travis, Elli; Ulaky, Allison (Virginia Tech, 2023)
    On behalf of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, and with support from an Enhanced Capacity Building award from GO Virginia Region 3, the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) conducted a study to assess the economic growth potential for the controlled environmental agriculture (CEA) industry in Region 3, and the state of Virginia. CEA, as a sector, is poised for additional growth. CEA refers to the utilization of technology and automation to enhance the indoor growing conditions for crops, fish, and related products. The industry is projected to grow 10.32% annually, reaching $239.8 billion by 2027.
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    Direct Sales: Certifying Market Scales
    Walker, Martha A.; Tate, Scott (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2020)
    Wherever the produce is sold, it must be sold by weight, count, head/bunch, or dry measure. If the produce is sold by weight, the produce will be weighed on scales that have been certified by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Weights and Measures. This publication describes the standards and laws regarding these scales in Virginia
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    Feasibility Analysis and Action Plan for a Regional Robotics Innovation Hub
    Tate, Scott; Daugherty, Dick; Tuttle, Mallory; Lyon-Hill, Sarah (Virginia Tech, 2023)
    In response to a request for services from the city of Newport News and the Hampton Roads Alliance, CECE, including their professional partner Richard (Dick) Daugherty, President of DAUGERS LLC, conducted a feasibility and opportunity analysis and associated action plan for a Regional Robotics Innovation Hub.
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    Feasibility Assessment of Western Grayson Music and Craft Center
    Posthumus, Ashley; Tate, Scott; Schwartz, Jason (Virginia Tech, 2023-06)
    In spring of 2023, Grayson County hired the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) to perform a feasibility study and proforma business plan for a transformative tourism project in Whitetop and the greater Mount Rogers area: The Western Grayson Music and Craft Museum and Information Center. For this project, CECE conducted meetings with County, local officials, and primary stakeholders to discuss and refine the project approach. The team performed a demand and supply analysis to identify local, regional, and national market drivers for visitors and users of a facility. The team also conducted community visits and input sessions to learn more about the local community engagement and capacity. To supplement this research, CECE identified and examined comparable facilities and programs to assess possible operating models and facility features. The results from all of these sources were compiled and contributed to a SWOT Analysis, as well as recommendations for facility development.
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    Feasibility Study Of A Transportation And Logistics Hub In Southwest Virginia
    Tate, Scott; Alwang, Albert; Barber, Neil; Jackson, Zachary (Virginia Tech, 2018-11-28)
    In 2018, the Southwest Virginia Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence engaged the Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development (OED) to conduct a feasibility study related to the need and opportunities associated with a transportation and logistics hub in the Southwest Virginia coalfields region. The report provides an overview of the region’s transportation and logistics sector, examines transportation and logistics needs associated with southwest Virginia industry, and considers associated opportunities, barriers, possible costs, benefits, and other factors associated with a logistics hub.
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    Insurance Coverage for Food Entrepreneurs
    Bacon, Karleigh; Tate, Scott (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-04-19)
    Discusses importance of liability insurance for a food business.
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    Marketing Considerations for Small Food Processors
    Bacon, Karleigh; Tate, Scott (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-04-22)
    Discusses market planning in the food industry, including research on competition, existing markets, consumer feedback, market locations, and promotion and advertising strategies.
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    Preparing a Food Processing Business Plan
    Bacon, Karleigh; Tate, Scott (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-04-22)
    Discusses the development of a business plan for a food processing venture, including goals and objectives, market research and analysis, a management plan, a financial plan and more.
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    Question and Answer Guide for Starting and Growing Your Small Business
    Tate, Scott; Tyler-Mackey, Crystal (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2013-11-05)
    This guide answers questions about starting and growing your small business including entrepreneurship, the business plan, legal structure and regulations, financing your business, business opportunities and types of business, and finally agencies and resources.
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    Regional Economic Recovery and Resilience Toolkit
    Ashqar, Huthaifa; Chon, Chris; Gilmer, Lydia; McMillan, Alexis; Nagorniuk, Anna; Walbridge, Tia; O'Connor, Ryan; Woodson, Cat; Lyon-Hill, Sarah; Provo, John; Tate, Scott; Jackson, Zach; Posthumous, Ashley (Virginia Tech, 2022-03)
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    Registering and Licensing Your Food Business
    Bacon, Karleigh; Tate, Scott (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-04-22)
    Discusses registration and licenses for businesses, including these legal types: sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and limited liability company.
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    Same Ecosystem, Different Entrepreneurs: An assessment model for measuring diverse entrepreneurial ecosystems
    Lyon-Hill, Sarah; Tate, Scott; Cowell, Margaret M.; Gupta, Khushboo; Keneshlo, Yaser (Virginia Tech. Office of Economic Development, 2017)
    This paper explores how to measure entrepreneurial ecosystems with an urban-rural mix by using Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s four indicators framework and while accounting for the needs of different types of entrepreneurs from main street to high growth firms.