Halifax IDA Press Release - January 2015
The Halifax County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) looks back on 2014 as a year of continued improvement and advancement. The IDA looks forward to 2015 as a year with much promise. "We took our new way of operating - Brighter, Bolder, Business – and infused it throughout our organization and operations," says Matt Leonard, the IDA's Executive Director. "It is important to the success of our mission that we operate as much like a 21st century business as possible. We do this through what I refer to as our A.M.M.O. We continuously evaluate and improve our Assets, Message, Mission and Organization." The IDA has completed an organizational restructuring, comprehensive Strategic Plan, and refined its targeted Marketing Plan. "Success starts with effective planning. We've done that, and begun implementing those plans. Success requires a new proactive and collaborative approach."
The IDA rebranded its best assets for attracting new industries. "We aligned our asset logos and names, and gave them an instant sense of place in a very competitive worldwide marketplace," says Kristy Johnson, IDA Manager of Marketing & Business Development. "This provides real recognition for our prospects when it comes to both location and opportunities. They know quickly where we are, and what we can do for them." The IDA chose to use the Southern Virginia trademark on as many assets as possible. As examples, Riverstone Technology Park became Southern Virginia Technology Park (SVTP), Riverstone Energy Center became Southern Virginia Product Advancement Center (SVPAC), and Green View became Southern Virginia Advanced Manufacturing Center (SVAMC).
"We find the community particularly excited about SVAMC," Leonard says. "Many remember it when it was Daystrom Furniture and are happy to see it being readied for the future." SVAMC includes three buildings on 34 acres, the largest of which is over 330,000 square feet. "We're integrating our assets' focuses toward success. SVAMC, SVTP and SVPAC have deliberate links."
On October 29th, the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) hosted 400 sixth grade students from Halifax County Middle School for the "You Are the Engineer of Your Career" Workshop. Students were introduced to engineering careers through participation in eight engineering focused activities including 3D printing, reverse engineering, and extracting DNA from strawberries (click here to read descriptions of all workshop activities). Staff members from NASA-Langley were onsite and led several student activities."We wanted to give students a day to come and have a hands-on, interactive learning experience focused on science, technology, engineering, and math, and having NASA folks here interacting with students was an opportunity we couldn't pass up," said Amy Cole, SVHEC Director of Student Services & Partner Relations.
Continuing a trend that began in 2008, students in the Product/Industrial Design & Development programs at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) earned honors in a national woodworking competition.
When the team at VIRginia International Raceway wanted a custom trophy produced for the Oak Tree Grand Prix/Tudor United Sportscar Championship weekend, they came to the staff at the Southern VA Higher Education Center's R&D Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Energy Efficiency (R&D CAMEE). Over the past few years, the R&D CAMEE team has developed a reputation for producing beautifully designed, signature trophies for prestigious competitions (see Pinnacle Award; Design Emphasis Award). The R&D team was honored with the request to design and produce a trophy for one of the largest races at the nation's premier road course.With the VIR trophy, R&D CAMEE embraced the theme "A personal victory deserves a custom trophy." Their goal was to design a piece that would not only invoke pride for the winner but also instantly take him back to the track where it all began. There were several ideas discussed, but ultimately the R&D team decided "what's more symbolic of VIR than the track itself?"
