I love September. The leaves are turning, the air is crisp, everything tastes like pumpkin spice (really, Oreos?), and fall sports are in full swing. Watching my son on the soccer field reminds me of my days playing sports in high school and how much I enjoyed being part of a team. That's still the case, as economic development is clearly, as the adage goes, a team sport. Everyone gives, and is expected by their teammates to give, 100% each and every day. When we've given everything we have and reach the point of exhaustion at the end of the day, before we know it, it's time to wake up and do it all over again. And we do, because we love it so much. We count on our teammates, and they become our friends. We trust our coaches and follow the strategy. We help each other out and realize that some days we will lead, and others we will follow. We apply all of our training and dedication, muster up our patience, and work together to take our game to a higher level. Most of all, we celebrate our victories and learn from our losses.
The incredible teamwork within VEDA and our partner organizations continues to amaze me. For example, Patrick Barker, Michelle Chapleau, and the Fall Conference Committee have put together an incredible agenda around the theme of Gaining a Competitive Advantage through Collaboration. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from a panel of global site selection consultants on how Virginia's communities can gain more of a competitive advantage. And be sure to participate in the great pre-conference professional development and networking opportunities, including golf, an oceanfront bike ride, a hard hat tour of the historic Cavalier Hotel, and a workshop on sharping your negotiation tactics. I hope to see you all there!
Now I'm off to find some pumpkin spice Oreos...
-Debbie Melvin, VEDA President
"Champions keep playing until they get it right."
-Billie Jean King
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| One week left to register online for VEDA's 2017 Fall Conference! Deadline is Friday, October 6th. |
Join VEDA members and guests for the 2017 Fall Conference to "live the life" that is Virginia Beach, October 11-13, 2017. The Fall Conference will expand upon VEDA's framework for 2017
, Partnering for Progress value proposition by highlighting the importance of
Gaining a Competitive Advantage through Collaboration AND celebrate the 35
th Anniversary of VEDA.
Check out these links:
Wednesday Optional Events: Golf Tournament, Bike Ride; Hard Hat Tours of the Historic Cavalier Hotel; Professional Development Workshop; New Member Meet and Greet; and Young Professionals Dinner
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VEDA's Cardinal Council met in August to deliberate on the nominations for the 2017 Cardinal Award. Shown in the photo (far left and clockwise): Bud Denton, Greg Wingfield, Matthew James, Keith Taylor, Hugh Keogh, Will Davis, Mark Kilduff, Kent Hill, Brian Shull, and Gary McLaren.
The 2017 Cardinal Award will be presented at the VEDA Fall Conference on October 13th.
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| DHCD Community Development Roadshow 2017 |
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Community Development Division will be traveling throughout the state to provide information about the various community development and capacity building programs available through the agency.
Stakeholders will be introduced to DHCD programs, be provided with examples of how communities have used these grant funds and be prepared for the upcoming grant cycle this winter.
DHCD representatives will be available to introduce you to the programs, as well as talk individually about potential projects.
Dates and Locations
- October 26, 2017: Bolling Wilson Hotel, Banquet Hall, Wytheville (1-4 pm)
- October 30, 2017: Main Street Center, Gloucester (1-4 pm)
- November 2, 2017: Historic Train Station, Farmville (1-4 pm)
- November 6, 2017: John Barton Payne Building, Warrenton (1-4 pm)
This event is free, but pre-registration is requested. Register Today!
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Mid-Atlantic PACE Alliance-Annual Conference announced
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The Mid-Atlantic PACE Alliance will hold its first annual conference, Winning with PACE: Game Plans for Financing Energy Improvements, on November 13th.
The day-long program will provide information on Commercial PACE for lenders, economic development professionals, contractors, and local government representatives.
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2017 marks VEDA's 35th year
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VEDA will celebrate its 35th anniversary during the Fall Conference in October. The VEDA office is looking for photographs, documents, anecdotes, etc that represent VEDA's history.
If you have items or ideas for celebrating VEDA's 35th year, please email them to [email protected].
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Virginia unemployment stats
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Be sure to check out Virginia's change in the unemployment rate from January 2014 to July 2017.
CLICK HERE to see a complete listing of localities and their associated unemployment rates.
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