VCEDA representatives recently attended the SelectUSA Investment Summit in National Harbor, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C. Representing VCEDA at the meeting were, from left, John Kilgore, Scott County Economic Development Authority executive director; Susan Copeland, VCEDA marketing coordinator; and Cathy St. Clair, VCEDA marketing ambassador.
Lebanon, VA (June 25, 2018) – Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority officials recently returned from the SelectUSA Investment Summit in National Harbor, Md., having met with business representatives from Australia, the U. K., Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Hungary, Slovenia, Belgium and more while at the three-day event.
The annual summit is a high-profile event dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment in the United States, bringing together companies, economic development organizations and others working to facilitate business investment in the United States.
While at the summit, VCEDA representatives participated in conference workshop sessions and had a booth to promote the seven-county, one city coalfield region which VCEDA represents. At the booth, they met with a number of companies and business representatives interested in learning more about Virginia’s e-Region which includes the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell Tazewell, Lee, Scott, Wise and the City of Norton.
Speakers at this year’s summit included U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross; U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin; U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry; and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
A number of workshop sessions were also held during the event which focused on a variety of topics from workforce development; turning potential investors into investments; utilizing data; and startup ecosystems; to investment opportunities in rural America; understanding regional industry clusters; site selection strategies; advanced manufacturing; tax reform; and more.
During one of the plenary sessions, Southwest Virginia was recognized by CGI President Dave Henderson, who spoke about CGI initiatives and the successful location of their business in Lebanon, Va. Henderson spoke in part about the partnership CGI enjoyed in the region with state and local governments and local commissions.
Members of the VCEDA team in attendance at the summit event included Susan Copeland, VCEDA marketing coordinator; Cathy St. Clair, VCEDA marketing ambassador; and John Kilgore, Scott County Economic Development Authority executive director.
About Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Virginia’s e-Region: The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 to enhance and diversify the region’s economy and help create jobs, markets Virginia’s e-Region and its focus on electronic information technology, energy, education and emerging technologies. VCEDA is a unique economic development organization that manages funds for economic development projects from a percentage of the coal and natural gas severance taxes paid by coal and natural gas companies that operate in the region. Located in southwestern Virginia, the region includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton. www.vceda.us or www.e-Region.org.