Culpeper Times
Piedmont Horizons
Lead Virginia - South Side
Jim Charapich
May 23, 2013
The 2013 Class of
LEAD VIRGINIA toured Southern Virginia in May. The area
known as “South Side” is being rebranded. The area was once a rich
economic powerhouse in Virginia when the Tobacco and Textile Industries were in
full swing. In fact Danville was known as having the most millionaires per
capita in the USA at one time. South Side Virginia was rich in jobs and
prosperity, however, there was an underlying vulnerability.
In the last decade the
area has lost approximately 40,000 jobs. Between the social / legal shifts in
tobacco issues and the export of textile jobs to low wage foreign countries,
the area was left with overwhelming challenges. In the wake of the economic
blows, weak underpinnings of the economy became more clear.
One of the challenges
to surface was the culture of lower learning. Considering much of the workforce
held jobs in factories and fields, the educational level required was not more
than high school. Many families encouraged their children to quit high school
for the alluring wage of the factories. In fact, most employers did not support
the pursuit of higher education. The result was a workforce unprepared to adapt
in shifting to the need for high skilled labor in the factories of today.
Given the challenges
of jobs and workforce education, it would appear the South Side would be known
for high unemployment and a rural environment with unfavorable economic
prospects. Why would LEAD VIRGINIA invest two and a half days touring this
area. The Honorable Senator Ruff, Virginia Senate - 15th District put it well
in our opening session - paraphrased - The South Side that was, is being
transformed, and South Side is a new and emerging economy in Virginia. We are
now referred to it as the new “Southern Virginia.”
As we toured the area,
the preconceived notions of South Side were truly transformed into an envy and
admiration for the strides made in the last decade. The economy in Southern
Virginia is poised to “Leap Frog” out of the past into the lead as a
sustainable economic powerhouse. How could this happen? As Laurie Moran of the
Danville Chamber of Commerce put it, “We want a sustainable economy, and we are
going to build it.” The leadership of the area is well coordinated and
passionate. What have they done to display such success?
FIrst, we visited the
renovated Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center whose roots go back to the
land grants of the early colonists in Virginia. While there, we learned of the
challenges of the Tobacco Industry and the emerging opportunities in
agriculture in the region. We were also treated to a concert by Wayne Henderson
and Jeff Little, who played the rich music born of the Southern Virginia
Appalachias. Look them up, there is nothing quite like it.
The next day, we
visited the Prizery in South Boston. An Arts and Cultural Center built in a
remodeled warehouse bringing world class shows to inspire the region. The
facility hosts a variety of educational partnerships with local schools to
allow students of all ages to see and experience the arts first hand.
We then traveled to
the Riverstone Technology Park , located in Halifax County, the park is part of a long term plan to
diversify the economy. It is a 165 acre park focused on IT, biotechnology,
telecommunications, and technical manufacturing. The presentation included
comments from the Industrial Development Authority Executive Director, Matt
Leonard. Most impressive were the comments by Tad Deriso, President & CEO,
Mid Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation, known as MBC. MBC was set up as
a Non-Profit organization funded to bring high speed internet to Southern
Virginia. Ironically, the dark fiber out of Loudoun County, fed through
Culpeper, supplies the primary backbone for the new broadband lines. The
prolific network diagram resembles the wiring of a brain across Southern
Virginia.
We were then offered a tour of the Virginia
International Raceway. Having lived in Virginia all of my life, this was new to
me. Where have I been? This is the playground for the rich and famous in the
world of racing. The day that we were there was Porsche day. The course winds
through the hills of Alton, VA on the border of North Carolina. We toured
the only car manufacturer in Virginia at the raceway. They build the Ariel Atom
which is able to achieve 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. On my bucket list is a
$525 Ariel Atom driving experience at the VIR.
We went on to Danville to hear presentations
by leaders in the community on Workforce, Economic Development, and Health
Care. We met at the The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, focusing on
finding marketable innovation, preparing tomorrow’s workforce, and helping
entrepreneurs, growers and educators become better-connected and more
effective. We had two presentations on innovation, one on biology and one on
energy. Both very impressive. I noted one farm from Culpeper was involved in
some of the research. We finished the day with a reception at the home of the
Averett University President for dinner and networking.
The revelation of
the new Southern Virginia continued with an early trip to the Southern Virginia
Higher Education Center. Having been completely impressed, so far, I was
thinking that this would be similar to some of the other locations on the trip.
However, stadium seating, state of the art equipment, and one of the most
impressive educational facilities for workforce training left me asking, HOW? I
want this for Culpeper. We were privileged to meet with the Executive Director
to learn about the facility and the community leadership that put it together.
Needless to say, my
view of Southern Virginia is transformed. As I spoke to the director of a
foundation supporting projects in Southern Virginia, I asked why he does what
he does so passionately. His answer, because “I love what is possible.” The
leadership in Southern Virginia is an example of “What is Possible.”. A lesson
in leadership for the Commonwealth.
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