June 11- Press Release from Virginia Economic Bridge about th enew web site: www.ReturnToRoots.org
It’s time to come home !!!
Return to Roots Southern Virginia program launches
RADFORD, Va., June 11, 2009 - Return to Roots Southern Virginia (RTR SoVA) is scheduled to launch on Friday, June 12 at multiple locations across Southern Virginia including the counties of Franklin, Halifax and Patrick, and the cities of Danville and Martinsville.
The RTR SoVA website (www.RTRSoVA.org) is designed to promote the economic development of the region and strives to help businesses succeed within Southern Virginia. Results will be achieved through a vital information portal for careers and economic development opportunities that will formally begin reaching thousands of potential employees this Friday.
RTR SoVA came together during a meeting on the recruitment of talent held on March 26, 2008 at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research in Danville, Va. Goals of the meeting were to discuss what was being done, what was being considered, and how collaborating would strengthen the efforts to recruit the human capital required for companies and communities to be successful in today’s global economy.
Detailed discussions focused on the recruitment of talent for businesses and for Southern Virginia. Tom Bishop, Executive Director of the Patrick Chamber of Commerce, made the following statement regarding talent recruitment. “As an increasing number of people show tendencies of having multiple careers during their lifetime, there is a parallel trend in the need for these people to find attractive career options. Return to Roots provides the indispensable opportunity of recruiting these highly trained individuals back to Patrick County for employment in a wide range of careers available in vital job fields.�
RTR SoVA is made possible through the collaboration of The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, The Center for Rural Virginia, Danville-Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce (CoC), Franklin County CoC, Halifax County CoC, Martinsville-Henry County CoC, Patrick County CoC, and West Piedmont Workforce Investment Network.
The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission provided necessary 2008 Special Projects grants to fund outreach to former residents and existing companies, encouraging each to post their resumes and job openings.
Managed by Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc, the Return to Roots program separates itself from other programs by specifically focusing on the region where jobs are located, and not just on the jobs themselves. Someone looking to return to Southern Virginia may not know how much things have changed and need someone to aggregate the available information for them. Return to Roots works to make sure that potential employees and residents are fully aware of the events occurring within Southern Virginia.
Once officially launched, the website will be live and available for use by potential job seekers, employers and entrepreneurs at www.RTRSoVA.org.
Return to Roots locates former and potential Southwest and Southern Virginia residents and brings them to their roots for career and business opportunities. The program operates primarily through the websites www.ReturnToRoots.org and www.RTRSoVA.org to inform them about employment and business opportunities available in Southwest and Southern Virginia.
The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission is a 31-member body created by the 1999 General Assembly to promote economic growth and development in tobacco-dependent communities, using proceeds of the national tobacco settlement. To date, the Commission has awarded 1,071 grants totaling more than $525.3 million across the tobacco region of the Commonwealth, and has made available nearly $268 million in indemnification payments to tobacco growers and quota holders. For information on the Commission's history, mission, funding programs and recent grant awards, visit our website at www.tic.virginia.gov or call toll free 877-807-1086.
Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that promotes the economic vitality and external competitiveness of the Commonwealth through business, industry and educational partnerships between Southwestern Virginia, Northern Virginia and other regions of the Commonwealth. Value driven, innovative and efficient, Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc. defines success and gives organizations and businesses the tools necessary to cultivate new possibilities at a price they can afford.
Contact:
Carl Mitchell, CEO & President,
(540) 731-6800
cmitchell@vebinc.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Shai Cullop, Program Manager
(540) 731-6804
scullop@vebinc.org
