On July 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $300,000 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Recovery Assistance grant to Virginia Tech’s Office of Economic Development (OED). The grant money will be used for activities that will help regions respond to the detrimental economic effects of the coronavirus…
Vibrant Virginia Community Conversation focuses on innovation amid COVID-19
by •
In a Vibrant Virginia Virtual Community Conversation focusing on economic resilience and responses to COVID-19, panelists discussed reopening in their localities, innovation in their fields, and plans for the future. The event, moderated by Dr. Margaret Cowell, associate professor of Urban Affairs and Planning at Virginia Tech, included panelists Charlotte Baker, assistant professor of Population…
Vibrant Virginia Virtual Forum: Broadband access, higher education partnerships key in economic recovery
by •
Among the keys to lifting Virginia’s economy from the coronavirus pandemic: increased broadband access across the commonwealth and higher education partnerships with communities, nonprofits, and other universities and colleges. Those were some of the points emphasized by panelists during the first Vibrant Virginia Virtual Summit. Organized by the Office of Economic Development, the forum examined…
Less Demand For Beef Puts VA Cattle Farmers At Stake
by •
I was intrigued by a piece written by two Virginia Tech faculty members in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics regarding the domestic food supply chain’s resiliency amid the outbreak of COVID-19. This article reminded me of the impressive consolidation, mechanization, and integration of the Nation’s agriculture sector. Large producers of virtually every crop…
Commonalities Among the Top 30 Virginia Counties with the Highest Unemployment Claims
by •
The number of unemployment insurance claims in Virginia has soared at a record pace amid COVID-19. Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) reported a total of 565,979 initial unemployment claims in the most recent six weeks, ending April 25th.[1] According to the VEC, initial claims peaked during the April 4th filing week, although additional claims continue to…
MITRE Program to Fund Four Virginia Tech Research Projects
by •
MITRE works across government and in partnership with industry to tackle challenges to the safety, stability, and well-being of our nation. Headquartered in McLean, VA and Bedford, MA, MITRE manages seven federally funded research and development centers. MITRE strives to augment internal staff capabilities with academia’s creative ideas and resources to deliver innovative solutions to…