Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation is opening a California office, hoping to woo West Coast business to Southside Virginia.
The new office is in Santa Clara's Techmart Center. A listing from the commercial real estate company, Regus, says the building is adjacent to the Santa Clara Convention Center, which is "used extensively by the high-technology engineering, computer and microprocessor companies of Silicon Valley."
David Hudgins, chairman of MBC's economic development committee, said in a release: "Our regional industry clusters paired with advanced manufacturing make southern Virginia a perfect choice for west coast companies looking for expansion and production sites on the East Coast."
Tech businesses are a priority, but MBC will also be recruiting for Southern Virginia's target markets, including aerospace, motorsports, agribusiness, data centers, advanced manufacturing, natural and renewable energy production, food and natural products manufacturing, distribution and logistics, bio-technology, nuclear energy research and wireless communications.
Mid-Atlantic Broadband is hiring for an economic development manager for the West Coast office. That person will work with MBC and four regional economic development groups: the Virginia Growth Alliance, Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, Region 2000 and Virginia Gateway Region. He or she will be a matchmaker between southern Virginia and businesses from San Diego to Seattle — and beyond.
Tad Deriso, MBC's president and chief executive officer, says the position has been advertised in Virginia and in California, but that Virginia candidates have not expressed an interest in relocating, which would be necessary.
"People that were out in California doing similar kind of work already had their network established," he said. "We thought that would be a very good strategy."
The position, he said, "is really more of a lead generator, not a closer. It's more of a marketing person who will be looking for companies who want to expand."
The economic development manager will arrange quarterly, even monthly, trips for local and regional economic developers to meet with west coast contacts.
Deriso notes that the new initiative is not being paid for with grant money, but from MBC's operating budget, and will be a long-term arrangement.
"You really have to have a presence and a commitment," he said.
He added, "We are really excited about this initiative and what it means to Southern Virginia. We're excited about our future and we're investing in that."
