Connecting the Commonwealth

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Number 1 or Number 7,500…

What number will you be in helping us realize our goal of $150,000 of matching funds this year?

7,500 seems likely a large number but “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

Will you be one of the 7,500 needed to assist and support us with a tax deductible contribution of $20 or more to Virginia Economic Bridge’s Annual $20 for 20 Campaign?

Will you help us help other Virginians?

Our annual $20 for 20 campaign seeks $20 contributions in acknowledgement of the 20plus years of service to the Commonwealth and to provide the foundation for the next 20 plus years. Because of current matching grant awards, your $20 contribution can be matched and will allow us to provide $40 worth of services to assist people in need.

In 2011, VEB accomplished a lot! Here are just a few examples:

Job Creation Proposal: Legislation introduced in the 2011 General Assembly that creates a tax incentive policy that can facilitate the creation of 1000 to 2000 jobs and generate $2.18 million in new state revenues (HB 2400). It has been revised and submitted to Governor McDonnell for inclusion in his legislative package AND has patrons to introduce it in 2012 if it is not included…

Virginia’s Linked Workforce Leadership Lectures and Seminar Series, with a full database of complimentary information, for short term and long term development of strategic business alliances across the Commonwealth has been developed and awaits implementation…

SWVA’s Domestic Sourcing Initiative, with a full database of complimentary information, for facilitating the 21 SWVA counties and cities to become competitively known as America’s Domestic Sourcing Region has been developed and awaits implementation…

Virginia’s Teleworkforce Connections and Training Center, a nationally recognized model and solution to facilitating business, community, economic, entrepreneurial and workforce development for rural Main Street Communities…

VEB’s IT-PRIME (Information Technology - Professional Related Intern/Mentor Experience), an internship program both specifically designed to introduce today’s high school students to tomorrow’s rural based IT job opportunities…

Virginia Technology Student Association Partnership, a Memorandum of Understanding was created and signed to allow VEB to serve as Virginia TSA’s Foundation Partner, creating a Corporate Advisory Committee to provide programming and workforce development opportunities to Virginia TSA members as well as a State Future Workforce Development Fund and six Regional Future Workforce Development Funds.

Tax Research to help six Central Appalachian Regional Network’s (CARN) states: Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia for current severance tax programs and policies is 50% completed and includes: The resources that are being taxed and the rates of the taxes. Total amount of taxes collected. How the taxes are collected and distributed. How the funds are being spent. Recent changes in severance tax policies. Identification of innovative and smart policies around severance taxes in the CARN region and nationally.

Research in Broadband Deployment in CARN states to determine the following conditions within each state: The level of broadband access based on federal government FCC data and both the number of broadband providers and the subscription level, or the take-up rate. Analyze CARN states to determine the level of broadband between rural and non-rural counties. Identify state entities that are responsible for administering broadband development in each state and identify possible suggestions for improving a state’s commitment to broadband development Scan federal funding opportunities provided by either BTOP or NTIA funding available to each of the CARN states. This scan would provide a summary analysis of broadband deployment in each state and provide a map of broadband investments at both the state and federal level available to each state.  

Tackled Substance Abuse in SWVA:  three significant substance abuse related policies were introduced, one passed and the two others resulting in a series of transformational educational forums held across SWVA region that are now being requested statewide…

Blueprint for Blueprint for Substance Abuse and Misuse Prevention, Treatment and Control was published, distributed and nationally recognized, has lead to two additional pieces of substance abuse policy and will be featured in a chapter the upcoming book CLINICS, COMMUNITIES, CULTURES: On-the-ground case studies in Central Appalachian Public Health…

All of this, in less than a year’s time and two staffers, just imagine… what can be accomplished in 2012, if you assisted…

Proactively, your 2011 support will provide funding for 2012 to:

• Continue to assist rising high school juniors and seniors participate in the Virginia Technology Student Association and VEB’s IT-PRIME (Information Technology - Professional Related Intern/Mentor Experience) internship program which has the goal of promoting interest in knowledge based careers and increasing the IT skills of our future workforce.

• Increase the level of direct support we provide to a sister not for profit, One Care of Southwest Virginia, Inc. that over the past year engaged in the creation and publication of the “Blueprint for Substance Abuse and Misuse Prevention, Treatment and Control for Southwest Virginia.”  One Care’s vision is that this blueprint be designed to systematically approach and significantly reduce substance abuse and misuse in the region and the associated legal, social and economic costs. The Blueprint, endorsed by all national and state representatives serving the region, sets out specific actions to address the stark realities that Southwest Virginia faces: a mounting death rate from the unintentional, fatal overdose of prescription drugs; an escalating number of children in foster care due to substance abuse; and, an increasing level of drug-related crime.

• Continue to expand the level of training and services thru Virginia’s Teleworkforce Connections and Training Center (VATC2) for the development of Home Based Agents and Entrepreneurial Enterprises by Teleworkers ultimately increasing the formation and expansion of small businesses by providing entrepreneurial training, financing and technical assistance services and delivering effective micro-enterprise development services to new and emerging businesses in rural Virginia.

• Match an existing Return to Roots grant that will allow for promoting communities, job and business opportunities in 45 counties and cities in Southwest and Southern Virginia to individuals in all 50 states and 107 countries and territories worldwide

• Match corporate funding for the establishment of the Virginia Economic Bridge Development Foundation

While we may work to support communities and businesses, most of all we are working to help people, BUT we cannot build these and other opportunities without your help!

Will you help us reach our goal with a modest tax deductible contribution of $20 or more?

Today, I ask that you please consider making a contribution to Virginia Economic Bridge so that we may continue to build a stronger Virginia!  To help, please send your tax deductible contribution to: Virginia Economic Bridge P.O. Box 3768 Radford, VA 24143 or simply donate online at www.VEB20for20.org or contact Kimber Simmons at (540) 731-6802 to provide your contribution information.

For more information on how Virginia Economic Bridge, a 501(c)(3), works to build a stronger Virginia, please visit us at www.VirginiaEconomicBridge.org.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 448 - PDF

Bill HJ 932 - Commending the Virginia Economic Bridge on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. - PDF