The RTD ran an article in today’s paper, "Virginia rated top state for business". In said article, Chris Thurston, from RightMinds, was quoted as saying that VA should jump on this golden opportunity to capitalize on Forbes’ recent recognition of the Virginia job market and business environment.
He makes an excellent point that not only did we achieve a high award, but that it should be used to catapult the Virginia economy ahead. If we strike quickly with the marketing to let the key players know about our recognition, then we may draw other employers to the area.
Richmond sure needs it, especially if we are going to fill all of these new office spaces and provide consumers for all of the hundreds of new retailers that have opened the past several months.
Chris Thurston, president and chief executive of the RightMinds advertising agency in Richmond, said the recognition from Forbes offers "a humongous window of opportunity. You don’t get many opportunities like this when a credible source praises what you have to offer."
He suggests the state "earmark some money to shout it out nationally, targeted to specific markets that Virginia can benefit from." And strike while the news is still fresh.
"Make sure decision-makers hear about this over and over again. If they do, the message will stick."
I sure hope that some of the state and local government PR decision-makers listen to his wise words.
Richmond, and Virginia in general, is on a good upswing, and this can only help keep us on the right path. If we play it right, it may just make it even better.
(See also: RVA in Top 10 for Job Hunting from 8-11-06)
Agreed. Richmond also needs the population growth to continue to fill the massive residential housing developments that are still going in. While the massive walking community slated for the East End is not dependent on business growth (its target market is the soon-to-be-skyrocketing retired population), there are other developments going up all over the city, as well as massive makeovers of existing areas, some residential and some converting to residential. Furthermore, some measure of the retirement community will be either leaving this fair city for more laid-back pastures or moving to places like the East End development. As such, we need to fill the houses they leave vacant. Sustained business growth equals sustained population growth, which equates to a much softer landing for real estate investors and developers in Richmond than in many other places as the real estate boom winds down.
Continued growth in Richmond business means continued opportunity for investment and job opportunities here. It also means a continued softening of the Richmond market towards new things and new ideas as more “outsiders” become part of Richmond, and we grow to be a progressive and interesting city, and mini-melting pot of sorts.
I like growth. I like opportunity. Most of all, I like the newly emerging face of Richmond as a city teeming with life.
Do you know of a breakdown within the Commonwealth that ranks the localities and/or the MSAs with regards to business-friendli-ness?
I am curious primarily from my region- Charlottesville, but I am interested in how different localities are competing for what business.
–Jim
Jim: I don’t know how it breaks down, but let me look and see if I can find anything.
If anyone else has access to statistics like this, please feel free to post them!!
The problem I see is that besides the ex-Govenor most of the local officals are very short sighted here. At least we have a history of short sightedness that has strangled the future of business.
For example the new regime feels building Richmond into a convetion center will bring business here to have conferences. WHY come to a city that has not kepted itself viable in the tourism and business markets (at least with-in the downtown areas).
Questions to be asked…
1. What happened to the new Bus station downtown??
2. What happened (or is happening) to the Art building in the old Miller Rhodes building?
3. Why are we developing on Brown’s Island? While old vacant buildings sit negelected all over the place?
I agree with limberwulf, we need a viable city market place to bring the people back to the city. We need to steem the tide of people moving out to the dreaded West End.
Fafhrd:
1. I know that there was talk of moving the cluster of stops off of Broad Street, and there was a big hub-bub about that. Personally, I think it would be a great way to streamline the heavy traffic already building down there.
I also remember talk about moving the GRTC main station and redeveloping that into commercial space. I don’t know what happened to that plan.
2. Check out my post on the Hilton Hotel development at http://rvabusiness.typepad.com/rvabusiness/2006/05/new_hilton_hote.html
3. In most cases, you can’t force redevelopment. You have to leave it to the market and a lot of times to individual owners. Just because there is a vacant building being neglected doesn’t mean that the city should take it and assign it for renovation.
How does VA rate according to Forbes.com?
It was tight….who am I kidding, of course Virginia came out on top as the top-ranked state in the Forbes.com annual results. A key point to keep in mind is that this is the second annual The Best States For