Reports, Center for Economic and Community Engagement

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https://hdl.handle.net/10919/94553

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Regional Economic Development with EDA University Centers
University Economic Development Administration; Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (EDA University Center Program, 2024)
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center (UC) program seeks to help strengthen regional economies by leveraging higher education assets to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, and skilled talent. For more than 18 months, the University Economic Development Administration (UEDA) and the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) studied how EDA-designated UCs organize, operate, and implement their economic development programs. With EDA support, UEDA sought both to expand its reach to the UCs and support EDA’s goals by facilitating the transfer of knowledge and sharing best practices among the EDA UCs. From this work, UEDA identified common elements across the EDA UCs and offered new ideas to increase the impact EDA UCs have on the communities they serve.
Patrick County Economic Summit: Final Report Summary
Travis, Elli (Virginia Tech, 2024-03-21)
The Patrick County Economic Summit was held on February 28, 2024, hosted by the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce and Reynolds Homestead. The Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) was contracted to provide facilitation and surveying services to gain a better understanding of local business needs and challenges. This event hosted businesses with 25 or more employees.
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.
B-Force Accelerator Outcome Evaluation
Travis, Elli; Jones, Anna Nagorniuk; Tuttle, Mallory (Virginia Tech, 2024-05)
The Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) was hired in Spring 2023 to work with Black BRAND, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Black-owned businesses in Hampton Roads. CECE collaborated with Black BRAND to help build their evaluation capacity and assess the impacts of the B-Force Accelerator program, a 12-week program designed to scale startups and enhance minority business owners' access to capital.
Strengthening The Recovery Ecosystem: A Needs Assessment For YWCA Northeast Tennessee And Southwest Virginia
Posthumus, Ashley; Tate, Scott; Nagle, Laura (Virginia Tech, 2023-05)
YWCA NETN and SWVA was awarded a 2022 INSPIRE Initiative grant by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to fund a community needs assessment, which was conducted by Virginia Tech. This report outlines key findings from the process of identifying wraparound services, gaps, and networking capacity to strengthen the recovery ecosystem in the YWCA service area, and to inform the vision for a planned community wellness and resource center in Glade Spring, VA, to increase family resiliency.
The Southwest Regional Recreation Authority Strategic Plan: Vision 2030
Virginia Center for Economic and Community Engagement; ConsultEcon, Inc.; Aspire Marketing; Marion, Jeff (Virginia Tech, 2024-06-13)
In July 2023, the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority (SRRA) partnered with Friends of Southwest Virginia to initiate a Business and Strategic Planning process for Spearhead Trails, a project that was funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission. After overseeing a competitive bid process, a committee consisting of representatives from Friends, the SRRA board, SRRA executive staff, and the Virginia Tourism Corporation selected the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) in December 2023 to serve as a consultant. The goal of the project was to enhance SRRA's capacity in serving the people and economy of Southwest Virginia (SWVA) through a strategic plan and implementation guide for SRRA and the Spearhead Trails System. CECE collaborated with Aspire Marketing, ConsultEcon, and Dr. Jeffrey Marion, a Recreation Ecologist and adjunct professor at Virginia Tech in the Department of Forestry, to accomplish this task.
Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Childcare Needs Assessment
Posthumus, Ashley; Lyon-Hill, Sarah; Andrews, Dylan (Virginia Tech, 2024-06-13)
In Fall 2023, the Partnership for Regional Prosperity, supported by the Danville Regional Foundation, commissioned the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) to develop a needs assessment of the Danville-Pittsylvania region’s childcare options. CECE used the following mixed-method approach to evaluate current childcare needs, supply, and respective gaps.
Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement 2022-2023 Annual Report
(Virginia Tech, 2023)
During the 2023 fiscal year, CECE enhanced Virginia Tech’s impact across the state, working with community, industry, agency, and university partners to pursue unique opportunities for growing the economy. The center advanced the university’s diversity and inclusion goals through partnerships with educational and business groups around the state and further connected faculty and students with industry for a range of experiential learning internships and other industry partnerships, shaping Virginia’s current and future workforce.
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.
Pathways to the American Dream: An evaluation of unique advancements in staffing, communication, and partnerships
Travis, Elli (2022-01)
The Center for Economic and Community Engagement evaluated the Pathways to the American Dream program, a program created by the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Board to enhance communication and expand partnerships that increase regional job opportunities.
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.
West Piedmont Agritourism & Agribusiness Regional Economic Impact Study and Marketing Strategy
Posthumus, Ashley; Ferris, William N.; Friedman, Kit (2023-05-31)
In Fall 2022, the West Piedmont Planning District Commission hired a team of community and economic development consultants from The Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement, Arnett Muldrow & Associates and Ramble Type Digital to assist with the development of an Agritourism, Agribusiness and Agricultural Products Regional Economic Impact Study and an Agribusiness Marketing Plan.
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.
Star Theatre Feasibility Study
Ferris, William N.; Friedman, Kit; Schwartz, Jason; Seo, Hye-Jeong; Ulaky, Allison (Virginia Tech, 2023-02-28)
Graduate assistants with the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) worked with the Town of Stuart, Virginia to conduct a feasibility study regarding purchase and operation of the Historic Star Theatre. First opened in 1947, the Star Theatre screened films and hosted live entertainment, drawing in locals and out-of-town visitors to the historic venue. With the theater newly renovated, the purchase of the historic facility could provide the town with a cultural anchor that would serve as a community-oriented center for concerts, movies, town gatherings, and other events, while simultaneously supporting Stuart’s historic downtown redevelopment effort.
Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority Target Industry Strategic Analysis Report
Posthumus, Ashley; Ulaky, Allison; Tate, Scott (Virginia Tech, 2022-08-02)
The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority partnered with the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement to conduct a target industry strategic analysis. CECE sought to offer VCEDA a data-driven approach to validating the relevance of its existing industry targets and organize and prioritize VCEDA’s efforts to promote job growth and investment within its geographic footprint.
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.
New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Region 2022 Q3 Quarterly Workforce Report: Reentry Citizens
(Virginia Tech, 2022)
CECE examines regional labor supply and labor demand data to inform the public of the evolving workforce landscape for “returning citizens” who have been released from incarceration in the New River/Mount Rogers region.
Alleghany Highlands: Regional Lodging Needs Assessment 2022
Nagorniuk, Anna; Posthumus, Ashley; Seo, Hye-Jeong (Virginia Tech, 2022-09)
The Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement, in partnership with the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce, conducted a regional lodging needs assessment to analyze current trends, challenges, opportunities, and demand opportunities for additional lodging in the region. VT CECE collected quantitative data on industry trends, visitor characteristics, travel trends, and more to better understand trends impacting the region’s lodging industry. VT CECE also gathered input from over 20 regional stakeholders to assess current conditions, needs, and opportunities for lodging in the region.
New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Region 2022 Q3 Quarterly Workforce Report: Young Adult Populations
(Virginia Tech, 2022-11)
CECE examines regional labor supply and labor demand data to inform the public of the evolving workforce landscape for young adults in the New River/Mount Rogers region.
Orange County works to grow economy based on OED assessment’s findings and recommendations
(Virginia Tech, 2016-05)
Folklore says that President James Madison loved craft beer so much, he once tried to appoint a Secretary of Beer to his cabinet. Hundreds of years later and on recommendation of Virginia Tech’s Office of Economic Development (OED), the Orange County Board of Supervisors is certainly doing Madison’s beer appreciation justice by looking to establish a brewery at Montpelier, Madison’s Virginia home. Last year, OED began researching agriculture and tourism-related economic opportunities for Montpelier through a grant sponsored by the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID) This year, the OED presented their findings and provided best-practice recommendations to Orange County and The Montpelier Foundation.

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