The New River Valley Economic Development Alliance will mark its 20th anniversary at the end of February. That milestone says a lot about the durability of the concept and the willingness of various partners—public and private—to work together to further the region’s economic prospect.

There is an unspoken premise that economic leaders must share when working together—often not merely focusing on shorter-term, local gain—but recognizing jobs, tourists, or developers are rarely interested or concerned about town, county, or city boundaries. The premise is “a high tide raises all boats.”

In the midst of a significant economic downturn, it may be difficult to envision that “our best times are ahead,” but those of us who work in the Alliance not only believe it but we are working to insure those times happen as the economy recovers. The NRV has many of the necessary conditions for success already in place: the universities, the transportation network, training opportunities, and the quality of life Mecca that surrounds us. 

There are, however, further investments that need to be made. Several important sections of the region do not have affordable broadband connections; the regional industrial park near Dublin still faces infrastructure challenges to make the promising facility more marketable; and many citizens, caught in the transition from old economy to new, find themselves perplexed by changes and vulnerable to dependency.

 The Alliance’s “prospect team,” consisting of local economic developers from the various municipalities and counties plus a number of those who provide supporting services (utilities, engineering firms, and contractors) meets monthly to discuss joint marketing efforts through the NRV Economic Development Alliance, the progress of ongoing initiatives, and a roundtable of what’s happening in each area of the Valley. Aric Bopp, the Executive Director of the Alliance, reports on prospects, contacts, and serves as the regional liaison with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. When a prospect comes to the region, it is Bopp and his staff who usually manage those visits.

The Alliance provides the place where public and private efforts come together and flourish so that we can attract more investment into the New River Valley, create employment opportunities, and raise the standard of living for all citizens. It takes investors for the Alliance to succeed, and, fortunately, there are those of have stepped up and made important contributions that will help secure the future.

Building additional “alliances” (small “a”), however, is another important feature in building the New River Valley’s success. Heritage tourism with initiatives such as the “Wilderness Road,” “Round the Mountain,” and the “Crooked Road” is creating opportunities for regional cooperation. The programs centering on “Entrepreneurism Express” have provided training and created networks among those in small business. The Corporate Research Center continues its role in building bridges between business and academe.

Work continues on “Project NEEMO” to further the region’s opportunities to attract and sustain those advanced manufacturing businesses working in areas such as nanotechnology, energy, the environment, and medical advancement.

John B. White is the Town of Pulaski’s Economic Developer and is chair of the NRV Alliance’s “Prospect Team.”