July 10, 2009
Pree Release/ Blogger
Intelligent Community Forum

Bringing the Kids Back Home

This week, we opened nominations for our 2010 Intelligent Community Awards, and also released our latest white paper.  It's called The Education "Last Mile" – Closing the Gap From School to Work.  It might just as well have been called Keeping the Kids at Home.  The white paper explains the theme of our 2010 awards, devoted to what we call the educational last mile, and offers success stories from communities around the world.  Intelligent Communities not only strive to produce adults ready to work at all levels of a knowledge-based economy, from the loading dock to the research lab, but they also work to create a "pipeline" that guides people into local careers.  Because when the kids have to move away in search of opportunity, the community is the loser.

Unless they come home again.  In March of this year, I visited Bristol, Virginia, one of our 2009 Top Seven Intelligent Communities.  There I heard about a program called Return to Roots (RTR), managed by a nonprofit (www.returntoroots.org) or (www.rtrswva.org) using money from the Virginia Tobacco Commission.  RTR reaches out to people who grew up in the area and connects them to regional companies with job openings.  Why should those people consider returning to their roots in the hill country of southwestern Virginia?  A decent career, sure, but just as important are an attractive lifestyle, a sense of community and "a place you can call home."

Read More...

March 31, 2009
Press Release

Return to Roots announced as a
Top 50 Innovation in Government by Harvard University

Earlier today, the Return to Roots program, a Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission funded project managed by Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc., was announced as one of the top 50 finalists for Innovations in American Government Awards judged by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Continued ...

March 31, 2009
Press Release

HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL’S ASH INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES TOP 50 INNOVATIONS IN GOVERNMENT

Programs Compete for 2009 Innovations in American Government Awards

Cambridge, Mass., – March 31, 2009 – The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University today announced the 2009 Top 50 Government Innovations competing for the Innovations in American Government Awards. Representing the work of city, county, state, federal, and tribal government agencies, the Top 50 were selected from over 600 applicants. Six Innovations in American Government Award winners will be announced in September.

The Top 50 programs underwent rigorous rounds of evaluation by policy experts and practitioners from across the country. The Top 50 programs include 21 cities and towns, seven counties, one school district, 11 states, eight federal agencies, one tribal government, and one regional authority.

Continued ...

December 19, 2008
Press Release
Blue Ridge PBS JobQuest

Join Blue Ridge PBS in a community service partnership addressing the employment challenges facing our citizens. JobQuest—a monthly one-hour program broadcast live from the Blue Ridge PBS studio–will make job seekers aware of job openings in our region.

The program will showcase The Roanoke Times’ online employment bank –jobs.roanoke.com — to provide viewers with a trusted source with the largest number of listings in the region. Employment experts and local leaders will be on hand to share their insights on the local job market. Human resource experts from the area will also be in the studio to take viewer calls and offer tips on the hiring process. JobQuest will be a high-definition production of Blue Ridge PBS.

Will Anderson, Vice President of Production & Operations for Blue Ridge PBS and multiple Emmy-Award winner, will serve as executive in charge of production for the series. Partners in this endeavor include The Roanoke Times – roanoke.com, WDBJ7, Virginia Western & New River Community Colleges, Roanoke’s Economic Development Office, The Roanoke Regional Office of the Virginia Employment Commission, The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce and Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc.

Continued ...

October 19, 2008
The New York Times
Working for the Working-Class Vote

...OBAMA ACHIEVED his main objective in Lebanon: he showed up where no modern Democratic nominee had before, taking on social issues and planting himself squarely in the mainstream, and he hit on the list of issues that Warner and others urged him to mention. When I caught up with Congressman Boucher not long after the event, he told me it had been “terribly important.” Boucher had recently commissioned a poll in his district, which he gave to the Obama campaign, and while he wouldn’t tell me any of the specifics, he did volunteer that McCain was “significantly ahead.” Still, the poll showed an unusually high number of undecided voters — perhaps not surprising given that in the Republican primary McCain lost badly to Mike Huckabee in the southwestern counties. “People are not enthusiastic about McCain,” he told me. “They want to get to know Barack Obama better. They’re waiting to be persuaded.

Continued ...

July 27, 2008
Associated Press
Professionals find jobs back in rural hometowns

By SUE LINDSEY

LEBANON, Va. (AP) — Software engineer Keith Brown was conducting a meeting by teleconference at home when he had to call an abrupt halt. Dido, one of the family's two dogs, had just brought in a dead opossum.
Welcome to the professional life in this slice of rural southwest Virginia.

Like many before him, the 42-year-old Brown left this region of rolling hills and verdant valleys after high school because he saw no future outside farming and mining.

Continued ...

June 25, 2008
Press Release - Smyth County
Artisan Trails in Smyth County

Artisan Trails are happening in Smyth County ! 

'Round the Mountain is excited to be working with the Smyth County Tourism Association, the Downtown Marion Revitalization Association, the Town of Saltville and The Art Place in Chilhowie on the creation of an artisan trail in Smyth County.

Continued ...

March 28, 2008
Official Press Release
Return To Roots welcomes partner who finds meaning in coming home

RADFORD, Va., March 28, 2008- It might have been the long way home, but Robert Weeks’ journey brought him back to Floyd, and he’s forever grateful. After attending Bridgewater College he left the region to find a job in his field of graphic design. After twelve years of living in Northern Virginia, upstate New York and elsewhere, the Floyd native returned to his roots. Why?

“I made a conscious decision to be a part of my community.”

Continued ...

Return to Roots is conducting Focus Groups at Radford University and Virginia Tech!

In February and March, Return to Roots is asking Juniors, Seniors, and Grad students at Radford University and Virginia Tech what they are seeking in jobs and life style beyond college.

Special Thanks to the following businesses for their contributions and donations of prizes and in-kind contributions:
Career Services at Radford University
Career Services at Virginia Tech
El Charro Mexican Restaurant, Radford
Radford University Athletic Department
Vintage Cellar, Radford
Encore! Artful Gifts and Home Décor, Radford
Annie Kay’s & Imaginations, Radford
Back Porch Sundries, Radford
Christian Travel Agency, Radford
Fazolis, Christiansburg
Coldstone, Christiansburg
Bristol Rhythm & Roots
Uptown Nails, Radford
Bohemian Trading Company, Radford
Radford Florist, Radford
Gillie's Restaurant, Blacksburg
Bollo's Coffee Cafe ,Blacksburg
Souvlaki's Subs and More, Blacksburg
Mish Mish Art Supplies, Blacksburg
Xanadu Home Decor, Blacksburg
Vintage Cellar, Blacksburg
Cinco de Mayo Mexican Restaurant, Christiansburg
Capone’s Fine Jewelry, Blacksburg
Hooptie Ride, Blacksburg
The Chocolate Spike, Christiansburg and Blacksburg
Kroger, Radford

If you’re a business that would like to make a donation or contribution, please contact Return to Roots at ReturnToRoots@vebinc.org

December 11, 2007
Official Press Release
Return to Roots Brings Another Native Home

RADFORD, Va., December 11, 2007- Return to Roots (www.ReturnToRoots.org) has helped another Southwest Virginia native to come home.

Amy Vencill grew up in Belfast, Virginia and graduated in 2002 from high school in Lebanon, the County seat of Russell County, an area rich in natural and historical significance (www.swvaonline.org/pdf/Russell.pdf.). She attended Southwest Virginia Community College for two years, and went to Radford University where she graduated in December, 2006 with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, and a minor in Marketing. Continued ...

September 13, 2007
News from Congressman Rick Boucher
BOUCHER ANNOUNCES FEDERAL GRANT FOR RETURN TO ROOTS

$50,000 Grant Will Enhance Outreach Effort to Individuals and Families with Southwest Virginia Ties

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Rick Boucher announced today that, at his urging, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through its Rural Development Agency, is awarding a federal grant in the amount of $50,000 to increase the reach and resources offered by Return to Roots.  Return to Roots is an innovative program managed by the Virginia Economic Bridge, which provides individuals who have Southwest Virginia ties and an interest in returning to the region, with information regarding career opportunities in the region, as well as other resources they might require when relocating. Continued ...

September 12, 2007
Official Press Release
MEDIA ADVISORY: Governor Timothy M. Kaine available for media interviews Friday

RADFORD, Va., Sept. 12, 2007 – Governor Timothy M. Kaine will be available for media interviews at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14 during the Return to Roots Gala.

Kaine will be available for media interviews from 6:30 to 6:45 at the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance offices, 510 Cumberland St, Bristol, Va.
Also that night, Kaine will take an 8:30 stage with the Biscuit Burners to play his harmonica during the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion.

Kaine originally launched the Return to Roots Web site, www.ReturnToRoots.org, one year ago on Sept. 18, 2006, in Lebanon, Va. He will be at the Gala to celebrate the first birthday of Return to Roots and its Web site. Continued ...

August 30, 2007
Official Press Release
Governor Timothy M. Kaine to attend Return to Roots Fund-raising Gala and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion

RADFORD, Va., AUG. 30, 2007 – Governor Timothy M. Kaine will attend the Return to Roots Fund-raising Gala on Friday, Sept. 14, and will play the harmonica on one of the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion stages that same night.

August 24, 2007
Official Press Release
Return to Roots and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion partner for fund-raising Gala Event

To celebrate the launch of www.ReturnToRoots.org and to unite two great organizations, a fund-raising Gala event will be held the same weekend as the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. Continued ...

July 17, 2007
Official Press Release
Return to Roots and Northrop Grumman Team for Company Recruitment

LEBANON, Va., July 17, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) – Return to Roots and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) have announced a cooperative partnership to enhance Northrop Grumman's recruitment efforts for its Lebanon, Va., facility. Continued ...

January 15, 2007
THE ROANOKE TIMES
Southwest Virginia says it's time to come home:
The region has a new problem: There are more skilled jobs than workers to fill them.

by Paul Dellinger

Southwest Virginians have spent decades wanting more skilled and technical jobs that could help keep young people from leaving the region.

Be careful what you wish for.

"For the first time in my history, we've got more skilled jobs than we can fill," said Ed Whitmore, Smyth County administrator and a longtime player in the region's economic development.

"We've been screaming for high-tech jobs out here for years. Now we've got them. We feel like the dog who's caught the car," he said.
http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/100162

December 03, 2006
BLUEFIELD DAILY TELEGRAPH
Campaign taking root in Virginia:

By CHARLES OWENS

TAZEWELL, Va. — A campaign aimed at luring 15,000 alumni back home to Southwest Virginia is slowly beginning to take root.

From Charlotte, N.C., to Cincinnati, Ohio, success stories are already being told of former alumni who are returning home to Southwest Virginia as part of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s “Return to Roots” campaign. The effort to lure highly skilled alumni back is deemed vital to such projects as the proposed 680-acre Bluestone Business and Technology Center in Bluefield, Va., as well as current employers such as CGI-AMS and Northrop Grumman in Lebanon. The two Russell County-based companies alone are expected to create more than 700 highly-skilled technology jobs for Southwest Virginia.

http://www.bdtonline.com/local/local_story_337214045.html

November 29, 2006
BRISTOL HERALD- COURIER

Region hopes to end 'brain drain': (EDITORIAL)
This is the simple message of Southwest Virginia's Return to Roots campaign, which targets 20-somethings and 30-somethings who left the region to go to college and never returned. Campaign boosters hope that new employment opportunities coupled with a lodging for home will lure them back.

The campaign is in its infancy - far too early to judge its success. Still anecdotal evidence suggests it is working. Continued ...

November 26, 2006
BLUEFIELD DAILY TELEGRAPH
Inspired homecoming:
Governor Kaine’s ‘Return to Roots’ campaign renews optimism in region for family with deep local ties

BLUEFIELD, Va. — A casual conversation over a campfire in North Carolina has led to a long-awaited homecoming for a Ohio family with deep roots in Southwest Virginia.
http://www.bdtonline.com/cnhi/bdtonline/homepage/
local_story_330195811.html?keyword=leadpicturestory

November 16, 2006
THE COALFIELD PROGRESS
Wanted: Former residents to fill jobs
For 30 years or more, economic development in far Southwest Virginia has focused on finding jobs for local residents whose industries had shrunk or disappeared, according to Lenowisco Planning District Executive Director Ron Flanary.
The goal was to recruit light- and medium-skill manufacturing plants to hire laid-off miners and folks whose sewing or furniture factory shut down.
But the coalfield region is in an economic and cultural transformation, Flanary says. Continued ...

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