As a part of an economic development project in Eastern shore, we at the Office of Economic Development were interested in knowing more about “regional branding”, its definition, functions, pros and cons. Here, I try to share a gist of what we heard and learned during this process. Regional branding is a popular strategy to…
How does housing affect economic development?
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I had the opportunity to participate in a housing conditions survey in Radford this past weekend. Over the course of a Saturday, my partner and I surveyed over 800 houses, ranking their physical condition on a five-point scale (with 1 being the best condition and 5 being the worst). Our method was somewhat simple in…
Building a Brighter Tomorrow with Net-Zero Facilities
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Imagine coming home after a long day and it’s pitch black, so you flip the light switch, but nothing happens. You’re hungry, so you throw food in the oven, but it doesn’t turn on. You decide you want to go see a movie, so you head down to your car, turn the key in the…
Development Defined from the Bottom Up
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Development as a word and a concept is entangled in our everyday conversations, one rarely thinks about its meaning or origin. For those who work in economic development/community development/human development and similar careers, however, mull over the meaning and evolution of development concept, and can deeply change their perspective and hence their practice. Beliefs about…
Let’s be Nicer to Cyclists, They Do More Then Take Up Space
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My experience with cycling is changing. I spent four years racing at the highest collegiate level at Virginia Tech, however, a significant reduction in free-time and a long list of injuries has shifted my interest in the sport. Most of my riding during my racing days focused on training, now, I ride more recreationally. One…
Amazon HQ2 Headquarters approaching Arlington, VA
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Walking down my high school hallways on what I thought would be a regular day, I heard the word “Amazon” echoed from student to student like a broken record player. When Amazon announced it would build one of two headquarters in Northern Virginia, the news spread across Northern Virginia like the latest celebrity gossip. Many…
