GO Virginia Region 2

New River Valley, Roanoke-Alleghany, and Lynchburg regions: Help us guide future investment in Region 2! We will be holding industry stakeholder sessions to incorporate industry leaders’ insight and experience into our 2025 Growth & Diversification Plan. Register for a work group: Manufacturing for Transportation, Energy, and Autonomy: https://lnkd.in/eYa3Gkn7 Advanced Materials: https://lnkd.in/e-nb_s4W Life Sciences & Biotechnology: https://lnkd.in/eRmwtGTS IT, Engineering Services, and Emerging Technologies: https://lnkd.in/eZkau4ad Please also share this invitation with industry leaders within your networks.

New River Valley, Roanoke-Alleghany, and Lynchburg regions: Help us guide future investment in Region 2! We will be holding industry stakeholder sessions to incorporate industry leaders’ insight and experience into our 2025 Growth & Diversification Plan. Register for a work group: Manufacturing for Transportation, Energy, and Autonomy: https://lnkd.in/eYa3Gkn7 Advanced Materials: https://lnkd.in/e-nb_s4W Life Sciences & Biotechnology: https://lnkd.in/eRmwtGTS IT, Engineering Services, and Emerging Technologies: https://lnkd.in/eZkau4ad Please also share this invitation with industry leaders within your networks.

GO Virginia Region 2 staff recently released the final report for the Talent Pathways Initiative. This report provides a deeper dive of two of Region 2’s largest and fastest-growing industry clusters: Life Sciences & Biotechnology and Transportation and Autonomous Manufacturing. “These key industries are ripe for sustained transformational growth, provided the region can meet its evolving talent development, retention, and attraction needs,” said Emmalee Wagner, who served as project coordinator for the Talent Pathways Initiative. The Talent Pathways Initiative partnered with existing coalitions with aligned long-term goals: the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers and the New River Valley and Danville’s Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Tech Hub (Virginia's AM2 Tech Hub). Read more: https://lnkd.in/egi-bnSU

How is GO Virginia Region 2 doing??The GO Virginia Region 2 Growth and Diversification Plans sets the framework for how our region spends $1.5 million in annual state funds. Since 2017, the program has funded 53 regional projects meant to attract more business investment and grow higher than average wage jobs in the following industry clusters: ?? Manufacturing for transportation, energy and automation? ?? Advanced materials production and application? ?? Life Sciences and Biotechnology? ?? IT, Engineering Services, and Emerging Technologies We need your help to understand the impact of this program thus far and how to prioritize funding in the coming years. ?? If you are part of one or more of these clusters, serve/support businesses in one or more of these clusters, or have directly or indirectly engaged with a GOVA project in Region 2, please take 5-10 minutes to complete this questionnaire: https://lnkd.in/efqR9viY Thank you for sharing your feedback. The survey closes at 11:59 PM Friday, March 7th!?

Virginia is making a major investment in its biotech industry through the multiregional GO Virginia initiative Project VITAL. John Provo, the executive director of the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement, said this investment will help smaller companies speed up the process of bringing new medical advancements. ?? Read more: https://lnkd.in/e4HQp-sg

GO Virginia Region 2 Council Member Douglas Agner is the vice president and general manager for Graham White Manufacturing, Wabtec Corporation in Salem, Virginia. He has a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University in mechanical engineering technology as well as certifications in lean manufacturing and Six Sigma. Agner began his career in manufacturing as an engineer and transitioned to leadership roles in operations and general management. Read more about Douglas Agner here: https://lnkd.in/ecA8a-8w

Spencer Marsh's GO Virginia Region 2 project, GMP CLEAN, is addressing the need for cleanroom space through planning activities that are surveying region-wide and statewide needs. Marsh has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in bioengineering and a Ph.D. in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine from Clemson University. After completing his Ph.D., he began doing post-doctorate work in Robert Gourdie’s lab at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC (FBRI). Marsh now serves as the chief scientific officer for The Tiny Cargo Company and is transitioning into a chief operating officer role at the company. Read more about Spencer Marsh and GMP CLEAN here: https://lnkd.in/eDrF4UwM

Virginia Tech will play a central role in an ambitious statewide initiative to accelerate biotechnology innovation and advance the commonwealth’s position as a life sciences leader. Led by Verge (Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance) in GO Virginia Region 2, the $14.3 million Project VITAL is a collaboration between Carilion Clinic, Virginia Tech Innovation and Partnerships (LAUNCH: The Center for New Ventures at Virginia Tech), Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. Other regional partners include Virginia Western Community College, Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council, and Blue Ridge Partnership Health Science Careers. https://lnkd.in/e8s3zhHz

?? Catch up on the latest news from GO Virginia Region 2! In our February newsletter, dive into insights from: ?? GOVA Grantee Spencer Marsh, chief scientific officer at the Tiny Cargo Company, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC ?? GOVA Council Member Douglas C. (Doug) Agner, vice president and general manager for Graham White Manufacturing, Wabtec Corporation Plus, learn more about Project VITAL and how GOVA Region 2 projects are making an impact! ??https://lnkd.in/ebEGG_ty

Project Vital bringing millions in funding to Roanoke-Blacksburg’s life sciences