Shenandoah Valley Disability Employment Awareness Events

Business Leadership for Virginia's Future

NEWS RELEASE

For release: December 2, 2010                                                                                                                                                                                     Media contact: Cyndi Miracle, 804-237-1466
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         c.miracle@vachamber.com

VIRGINIA CHAMBER RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING VIRGINIA ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AT 2010 ECONOMIC SUMMIT

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce honored Virginia’s leading economic development organizations with the presentation of the Virginia Torchbearer Awards on December 2. The Awards were presented at the Virginia Economic Summit, an event held at the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg and attended by more than 450 people.

To highlight the crucial role that Virginia’s economic development organizations play in our state’s prosperity and unparalleled attractiveness as a business location, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce sought nominations for the prestigious Virginia Torchbearer Awards. The purpose was to identify the economic development organizations, local governments and educational institutions that have made a creative and significant contribution to Virginia’s economy in terms of facilitating new business attraction, business retention and expansion, the creation of new jobs, foreign investment and revitalization projects.

Following a statewide nomination process, resulting in a strong field of contenders, twelve winners were selected by a blue-ribbon panel of judges - ten congressional district winners, one statewide program winner and the Project of the Year.

The Torchbearer winners were:

First Congressional District - Economic Development Authority of the City of Newport News for the Canon Virginia Expansion Project;

Second Congressional District - Peninsula Council for Workforce Development;

Third Congressional District - Hampton University for the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute;

Fourth Congressional District - Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) in Prince George County;

Fifth Congressional District - Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville;

Sixth Congressional District - Shenandoah Valley Partnership and Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board for the Shenandoah Valley Energy Partnership;

Seventh Congressional District - Greater Richmond Partnership with City of Richmond, Counties of Hanover, Henrico, and Chesterfield for BusinessFirst Greater Richmond;

Eighth Congressional District - Arlington Economic Development for the Village at Shirlington;

Ninth Congressional District - Joint IDA of Wythe County, Wytheville and Rural Retreat for Progress Park;

Tenth Congressional District -Town of Leesburg, George Mason University and Loudoun County for the Mason Enterprise Center Leesburg;

Statewide Program - Virginia Department of Business Assistance, and

Project of the Year –Fairfax County Economic Development Authority for the Northrop Grumman Corporate Headquarters Relocation.

“We are very excited and proud to present the Torchbearer Awards because they showcase the accomplishments and outstanding contributions that best exemplified the excellence that has made the Commonwealth a top state in the nation for business,” said Barry DuVal, president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber.  “As we celebrate their accomplishments, we also look at how to maintain the vibrant pro-business environment that helps create quality jobs and build prosperity for all Virginians.”

The Virginia Economic Summit, held earlier in the day, featured an unprecedented discussion of key issues that impact Virginia’s economic competitiveness.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                      

SHENANDOAH VALLEY ENERGY PARTNERSHIP RECEIVES VIRGINIA TORCHBEARER AWARD

Shenandoah Valley Partnership and Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board, Inc recognized for innovative efforts to spur economic regional growth.

Harrisonburg, VA – December 17, 2010 – The Shenandoah Valley Partnership and Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board, Inc. were presented the Virginia Torchbearer Award for the Sixth Congressional District on December 2, 2010. The purpose of the award is to honor organizations whose innovative ideas, products or services have propelled Virginia’s progress and prosperity in the 21st century. In 2010, the Torchbearer Awards recognized Virginia’s leading economic development organizations and highlighted their crucial role in the state’s economic success. The awards showcase the accomplishments and outstanding contributions that best exemplify the excellence that has made the Commonwealth the number one state in the nation for business. Finalists were recognized and awardees announced at the Virginia Economic Summit held at the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg and attended by more than 450 people.

The Shenandoah Valley Energy Partnership (SVEP) initiative was awarded based on community impact through workforce preparation and regional collaboration. The initiative addresses green skill development for dislocated, unemployed and incumbent workers in an emerging industry.  The implementation region serves 20 localities, and program initiatives include renewable energy, weatherization, industrial energy efficiency, green and sustainable construction, and registered apprenticeships.

Primary program initiatives include a Wind Turbine Technician Technology certificate program, a Sustainability and Green Building Career Studies Certificate program, training and credentialing for industrial, residential and commercial energy efficiency assessment, Green Industrial Technician training and credentialing, apprenticeships for construction and manufacturing green increased demand occupations, and solar credentialing programs.

Conservatively, this initiative will serve 1,010 participants and work with over 7,000 employers, community members, K-12 students, teachers, counselors, career coaches, administrators, and parents through a virtual Green Awareness and Sustainability Center. This effort is supported with $7,519,406 in partner and regional leveraged resources and $4,951,991 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Labor.

CONTACT: Sharon Johnson

Director, Regional Workforce Development

Director, Shenandoah Valley Energy Partnership

Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board, Inc.

(540) 649-4322

sjohnson@valleyworkforce.com