We were recently selected to design the logo and website for a new regional economic development group in Virginia, the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance.  Last Friday, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling was in town to kick off the alliance and to introduce the group's new Executive Director, Leigh Cockram; the new logo was unveiled to the public at the event.

Photo from the News & Record; read their article here.

Southern Virginia Regional Alliance was formed to promote economic development and job creation in a 4 county, 2 city region which  is comprised of the counties of Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry, and Patrick, as well as the cities of Danville and Martinsville.  SVRA was funded by the Virginia General Assembly, the Tobacco Commission, and contributions by the localities.

Bolling spearheaded the formation of the alliance and noted at the event, “I am confident that the position of this region is as good as any in the state and better than most to take advantage of an economic resurgence when it happens.”  He also praised Riverstone Technology Park, saying "when I'm up in Northern Virginia talking to companies about Southern Virginia, I always use this facility as an example.  I tell them you won't find a finer facility any place you go."  Riverstone was also funded by the Tobacco Commission and is the home to Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative (MBC) and the Riverstone Energy Centre.

Leigh Cockram, the new Executive Director of SVRA, is a regional native and hails from Henry County; as Bolling said, she is "smart, articulate, and passionate about promoting Southern Virginia because this is her home."  Ms. Cockram stressed the importance of regionalism in working with site location consultants.  She also noted the number of international companies in the region, saying "They chose Southern Virginia, and we need to start telling that story.  These are not Halifax County jobs, Danville jobs, or Patrick County jobs.  They are Southern Virginia jobs.  That is the world in which we live and we need to start celebrating Southern Virginia as a region."

Glerin is currently developing SVRA's new website, which will be launched in September.