As the region continues to thrive and grow, the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance has created a three-year development plan with five wins that will continue to make this region a great place to live, work, and play.
It’s all about creating an infrastructure and environment in this community where businesses can thrive so individuals can thrive,” says Christine Kennedy, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of the Alliance.
According to Kennedy, these goals are not random, but strategic after meeting with members of their Board of Directors, combing through data about the region, and meeting with regional business leaders.
“It’s all about objectives and tactics,” she said. “We’ve broken this down into manageable bites and have benchmarks each year and we have dashboards that we look at quarterly to make sure we’re moving the needle on these goals.”
Our Five Goals
Cultivate and Develop a Plan for the Central Virginia Training Center
With the state set to close the Amherst County center in 2020, Kennedy said they are working hard to telescope a vision and plan for the 342-acre property. Because of its location to not only near Downtown Lynchburg, but overlooking the James River, Kennedy said they hope to bring in businesses that can help use it to expand the “urban hub of Lynchburg.”
Establish the New EPIC Center
The EPIC (Empowering People Innovation and Commerce) Center is a new facility to be housed in the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance in Downtown Lynchburg. Its purpose is to provide entrepreneurial support to start-ups and existing businesses. It will be a co-working space with incubation support services that include legal, funding, and consultative services. Since research points to 80 percent of small businesses failing within the first three years, Kennedy said they hope to use the center to set entrepreneurs up for success.
Retain College Students After Graduation
With five major colleges and universities located in the area, Kennedy said they are working on several initiatives to familiarize students with potential job opportunities in the region that will help them call Lynchburg home.
Secure a Major Expansion or New Company in the Region
Job creation and capital investment have been at the core of the work for the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. Kennedy said finding a company that wants to expand to the area, creates more high wage jobs for the region and provides more revenue for localities which can be poured back into schools, parks, and fire and public safety.
Secure Additional Air Service
Kennedy said most businesses in the Lynchburg Region have voiced their need for more air service through the Lynchburg Regional Airport. Kennedy said they have set their sights on providing air service to Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., opening up new opportunities for the region and providing a gateway to an international hub.
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