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Who Set the Boundaries?

September 13-14, 2010 at the Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center, Glen Allen, VA started with a history lesson. Leaders from throughout VA and beyond listened as Council Chairman, Ward Stevens, laid a historical foundation for the meeting by asking, "Who" set the boundaries?

The event moved on to establish stronger partnerships among the attendees and to encourage communities to work together for the good of the entire Commonwealth.

This group of leaders considered:

livable communities

how to improve regional collaboration through shared investment and a mutual vision

A quote from the Opening Keynote Speaker, Charles “Chuck” Fluharty, Founding Director of RUPRI sums it up!

"Without investment, there is no collaboration".

Core areas of content planning were Economic Development/Job Creation, Education/ Workforce, and Regional Policies & Services. Sessions will set the direction for partnership implementation in each of the tracks. Consecutive sessions offers Rural Summit participants the opportunity to focus closely on the area that interests them the most; yet, the advantage of hearing what each speaker has to say.

Question about the future of Rural Virginia arose - such as:

Who do we want to be?

Where is our focus? Is it on the future?

Have we analyzed who we are?
Do we understand the importance of enhancing rural policy delivery?

Rural Assistance Center promotes 2010 Virginia Rural Summit

Summary of the 2010 Summit and PowerPoint Presentations for Speakers who used them
An Outstanding Group of Speakers came to Glen Allen, VA to address:

Economic Development/Job Creation

Education/Workforce Development

Regional Policies/Services

Leaders from across the Commonwealth traveled to Glen Allen’s Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center for the annual conference, September 13-14, 2010. The Rural Summit targeted leaders, public and private who are looking for solutions that offer greater opportunities to rural people and rural places. People willing to invest in Rural Virginia and ready to help shape the future! These people identified barriers and explored solutions to promote a sustainable rural economy, and to secure a brighter future for all Virginians. Wyndham Virginia Crossings

US Senator Mark Warner apprised Rural Summit attendees about the national scene. Senator Warner was introduced by Dr. Jan Willcox, Vice Dean, Virginia Campus, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. Read the Press Release-Richmond Times Dispatch

High Point for Va Rural Center - 2010 Rural Virginia Prosperity Commission Update was released!
Read the report ... View the PowerPoint - Rural Prosperity Commission Data 2010

The study finds - in total the Gap of Rural Economies are widening relative to the statewide average and to Suburban Virginia. Granted progress has been made in limited policy positions and indicators since 2000, the key economic drivers of population growth, job growth, entrepreneurial presence in PBS/FIRE growth, income levels, education levels still lag behind the state average and citizens and local governments at an increasing rate depend on transfer payments for maintaining a reasonable level of income and state funding of general services, A majority of Virginia’s rural regions have yet to find areas of economic strength upon which to build. Delegate R. Steven “Steve” Landes, Virginia House of Delegates and Vice Chair of the Center for Rural Virginia gave the historical account bringing the original study forward, and Dr. Christine Chmura, President and Chief Economist, Chmura Economics and Analytics, who did the 2010 update spoke on the results (i.e., evaluated localities, districts and regions, by population, employment, economic sectors, income, fiscal conditions and education. Learn about Chmura Economics and analytics

Read the Press Release - Richmond Times Dispatch . . . By Peter Bacque | TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

Over the past ten years, rural Population declined and lagged behind the Rest of the State, Migration – out migration continued to increase, employment – lagged behind, jobs growth – lagged behind, economic base – lagged behind as transfer payments increased, Professional and Financial Services – lagged behind, Education (drop out, graduation, 25 yrs and up without High School, college diplomas) – lagged behind as state funding to provide education, services increased. Made progress in decreasing number without High School Diplomas by obtaining GED, personal Income – lagged behind, transfer payments – continued to increase, poverty – improved, local Government fiscal health – declined. Read the report www.cfrv.org. Delegate Steve Landes

Thomas O. Loehr, Executive Vice President, Crosspointe, Rolls-Royce North America, Inc. , the new Rolls-Royce – advanced manufacturing facility currently under development in Prince George County, laid out the companies plan to approaching education to attract youth to advanced Manufacturing in the decade to come. He spoke about the structure being developed with VT, UVA, Community College and Private sector (Rolls-Royce), to build this foundation for Rolls-Royce. Education outreach is a major part of the project, and will be coordinated at the new Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) that will be built on the Rolls-Royce land at Crosspointe Center. Summit attendees learned that such an educational pathway will have a dramatic impact on rural education and workforce training. Visit Rolls-Royce website . . .

Rural Center/VACo Partnership – Jim Campbell and his staff at the Virginia Association of Counties provided assistance with registration, staff participation in the program and follow through with the summit. Thanks to Jim, Carol Cameron, Ted McCormick and Phillip Bradshaw!

Glen C. Sink, Executive Director, Va Rural Center opened the event, and Ward W. Stevens, FACHE, CMPE Chairman,
Council for Rural Virginia and Executive Director, OMNEE, Osteopathic Medical Network of Excellence in Education ~ An Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Initiative at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine moderated the meeting.
Dr. Oliver McBride, Crossroads Institute, who set the stage for the meeting, and
Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr., Senate of Virginia and Chairman of the Center joined them for Rural Virginia Board of Trustees since its inception in September 2005. Rural Center Power Point

Charles W. “Chuck” Fluharty, Research Professor, Associate Director for Rural Policy Programs in the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Founding Director of the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI), the only national policy institute in the U.S. solely dedicated to assessing the rural impacts of public policies opened the Summit with the National Perspective and challenge to attendees that how to define rural is not the deeper issue. The deeper issue: What are our policies and what goals have we set for our rural community. Further, the need to rethink funding as “Place Based” and to have a commitment to work together!

Ted W. Abernathy, Jr., CEcD, Executive Director Southern Growth Policy Board gave the Southern perspective speaking about visionary economic development policies and providing a forum for partnerships and dialog among a diverse cross-section of business, academic and government leaders to create the highest possible quality of life. Southern Growth Policies Board www.southern.com Ted's PowerPoint Challenges of the New Economy ~ A southern Perspective

Distinguished speakers included:
L. Kimball Payne, City Manager, Lynchburg, VA,
James A. Baldwin, Executive Director, Cumberland Plateau PDC,
Don "Robin" Sullenberger, Chief Executive Officer, Shenandoah Valley Partnership. Robin's PowerPoint . . . . . Virginia's Shenandoah Valley - The proximity. The prospects. The people.
Clark Casteel, Senior Program Officer, Danville Regional Foundation,
Barry W. Johnson, President, Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing . . . . Barry's PowerPoint . . . .Improving Competitiveness in a Global Economy
Dr. Lionel J. "Bo" Beaulieu, Director, Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC), Mississippi State University . . . Bo's PowerPoint
Dr. John Thomas, Director, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia. John Thomas Comments on Regional Effectiveness
Laurie S. Moran, Danville/Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce and Council board member moderated the mid-day activities.

Director's Comments: "One of the highlights of the Summit is the networking available to attendees. This year provided many opportunities for everyone," said Glen Sink, Executive Director. "Many attendees told me how revitalized and empowered they felt …. ready to return home with new ideas and new enthusiasm to make a difference in “their Rural Place”.

Annual Awards: Laurie S. Moran, of the Danville Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Council Board Director emceed the Annual Awards Luncheon. Each year, the Council honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to rural. The following awards were presented during the Awards Luncheon on Monday, September 13, and recipients included --The Council for Rural Virginia Award - Southwest Virginia Health Authority, --The Best Practices Award, Virginia Department of Business Assistance, VDBA, Entrepreneur Express and Friend of the Council Award, Martin Kent. Basil Gooden, Principal Deputy Director, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development served as Awards Committee Chair, and Gary S. Keener, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, and Mary C. Terry, Southwest Rural Community Assistance (retired) served on the committee.

Read the Press Release: Blue Ridge Business Journal - Best Practices Award

Success in the Synergy of Attendees - The success of the Virginia Rural Summit is not merely the result of careful planning; it is the synergy that happens between participants, partners and presenters. It’s how attendees leave the event with renewed energy and commitment to strengthening their local rural communities. The Rural Summit brings together expert presenters from within and without the Commonwealth to inform, inspire and celebrate rural! The Council’s mission is to improve the quality of life in the Commonwealth’s rural areas by bring these key stakeholders together to encourage collaboration. Contact, Thelma Burris, Virginia Rural Summit Coordinator, to learn more about the annual event. tburris@vcom.vt.edu

Attendees agreed to build the economy of Rural Virginia, we must think regionally with a focus on joint action and solutions rather than debating on process and responsibilities. The following Summary Statements were created in each of the three focus areas as the beginning point going forward.

Election of Council Board Directors - In addition to the Annual Summit, the Rural Center and Virginia Association of Counties hold an Annual Legislative Meeting each winter in Richmond during the General Assembly Session. This meeting serves as the Annual Election of Directors meeting for the Council for Rural Virginia Board of Directors. The meeting will take place the second week in February. If you are interested in serving on the Board, submit a current resume, full contact information and a letter of interest to Glen C. Sink, Executive Director, 600 East Main St., Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23219. For more information contact Glen at 804-371-7141 or glen.sink@cfrv.org.

www.cfrv.org

Thank you to the hotel staff at the
Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center

Thank you to VACo for your on-going support!

Thank you to the 2010 Summit Sponsors

Thank you to the 2010 Summit Exhibitors

Thank you to the Day Support Partners

Thank you to the Rural Collaborative Network

Thank you to Carol Cameron and Kimber Simmons

Very importantly, thank you to each attendee, speaker, facilitator, recorder,
any and everyone who took part in planning and presenting Virginia's 2010 Rural Summit

- - - questions email

Ward W. Stevens

Chairman, Council for Rural Virginia

Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr.

Chairman, Center for Rural Virginia

Glen C. Sink
Executive Director, Va Rural Center

Thelma Burris

Director/Southwest - Va Rural Center