RD292 - Report on the Feasibility of a Satellite Site of the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing in the Shenandoah Valley - November 1, 2010


Executive Summary:
The 2010 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, in budget language adopted for the FY2010-2012 Biennium, directed the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) to report on the feasibility of establishing a satellite site of the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. The specific language from the budget document is provided below:

"N. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership shall establish a working group with representatives from the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing, the University of Virginia, James Madison University, Blue Ridge Community College, the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, the Virginia Association of Manufacturers, and other affected parties to develop a plan for a satellite site of the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing to support the economic development needs of the Shenandoah Valley region of the Commonwealth. The Partnership shall report to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees on the feasibility of such a satellite site and provide any recommendations regarding its establishment by November 15, 2010."

Explanation:
(This amendment directs the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to investigate the feasibility of developing a satellite site of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing in the Shenandoah Valley and to report to the General Assembly by November 15, 2010.)

As directed by the General Assembly, VEDP convened a working group of stakeholders to undertake the study, and in so doing, to consider the needs of the manufacturing base in the Shenandoah Valley and other relevant economic development needs of the region. VEDP wishes to gratefully acknowledge the active engagement and participation by the following stakeholders in connection with the preparation of the study and its recommendations:

Dr. Robert Baldygo, Blue Ridge Community College
Dennis Burnett, Augusta County Economic Development
Joseph Croce, Virginia Manufacturers Association
Dr. John Downey, Blue Ridge Community College
Allen Finch, Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Gregory Hitchin, City of Waynesboro Economic Development
Dr. Barry Johnson, University of Virginia
Sharon Johnson, Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board Inc.
Dr. Ronald Kander, James Madison University
Dr. Donald Leo, Virginia Tech
Pace Lochte, University of Virginia
Robert McClintock, Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Debbie Melvin, Virginia Department of Business Assistance
Lester Smith, Blue Ridge Community College
Robin Sullenberger, Shenandoah Valley Partnership
Brian Warner, Crosspointe Operations, Rolls-Royce North America 2

Following several organizational teleconferences with selected members to plan for conducting the study, an initial broad-based meeting was convened on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave on August 12, 2010. This session was designed to acquaint all members with the legislative background and objectives of the study, receive an update on the mission, goals, and status of the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing, to gain a better understanding of key factors impacting the Shenandoah Valley’s economy, and to capture ideas and recommendations addressing the feasibility of a satellite center of CCAM and other needs that could help contribute to a stronger manufacturing and economic base in this region. For purposes of this study, the area of analysis was largely confined to the communities represented by the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, the regional economic development organization for this portion of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Some sections of this report have additional adjoining jurisdictional data where it was deemed to support the work of the stakeholders.