

Economic Development Discussions with Stephen Moret at the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperit
When it comes to economic development in Virginia, there is a lot to celebrate, Stephen Moret, CEO and President of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), said at the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity. And the good news is that it does include rural Virginia, too. VEDP’s transformational goals for the Commonwealth, Moret said, call for robust state growth where every region in Virginia wins, including rural Virginia. Those goals are on their way to bei


Breakout Sessions at the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity
During the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity, attendees benefitted from breaking out into small groups to dig in on specific topics relevant to the communities they serve. Among the breakout sessions were the following: Rural Virginia Initiative. Led by John Provo, Director, Office of Economic Development, Outreach and International Affairs at Virginia Tech, this session helped educate attendees on the Rural Virginia Initiative and get their valuable feedback for fut


Effective Broadband Partnerships Discussions at the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity
To continue building a strong economy in Virginia, the Commonwealth must have universal broadband. That was, by far, the message that echoed the strongest during the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity when it came to developing effective broadband partnerships across the state. Need proof? Localities in Virginia, specifically rural Virginia, with new access to broadband are seeing a spike in business licenses. Courtney Dozier, Chief Broadband Advisor and Chief Deputy,


Natural Resources and Workforce Solutions at the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity
Workforce and natural resources. Those key topics and ways to grow rural Virginia were among the discussion at the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity thanks to Joshua Saks, Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources, and Dr. Brian O. Hemphill, Radford President. Some highlights from their presentations include: Natural Resources. Clean air. Fresh mountain water. Hunting. Biking. Birding. Caving. Fishing. These are some of the things people love about rural Virginia. These


Field Trip to the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena During the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperit
During the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity, attendees took a trip to the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Teaching Arena to get an up-close and person look at the innovative work being done there. The facility includes a 125-by-250-foot ring with a prescription earthen floor, classroom space, office space, bleacher seating for 450, animal holding pens, and a kitchen/concession area. In this space at Virginia Tech, they are bringing innovation and technology to agriculture.


Agricultural Partnership Discussions at the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity
Virginia is where commercial agriculture and forestry started in the nation. Today it creates 450,000 jobs across the Commonwealth and during the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity, a panel, moderated by The Honorable Bettina Ring, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, dug in to discuss the impact of agriculture and innovations in that sector and its impact on rural Virginia. ABOUT THE 2019 GOVERNOR’S SUMMIT ON RURAL PROSPERITY Hosted by the Virginia Rural C


Entrepreneurs at the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity
What does rural Virginia have going for it when it comes to growing business in the Commonwealth? According to the powerful panel featuring entrepreneurs at the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity, chief among the selling points for rural Virginia is that businesses WANT to be located in small communities because people want to LIVE in small, rural communities and benefit from the quality of life rural Virginia offers. Thank you all for sharing your experience, advice


Governor Ralph Northam at the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity
Governor Ralph Northam said it best during his keynote remarks at the 2019 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity. "As a native of rural Virginia, I will never stop fighting to bring more opportunity to our rural regions, so people can get a good job and build a good life without leaving home." The 6th annual Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity, held Sept. 23-24, 2019 at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center, was the largest to date. Attendees came from 59 d