Blueprint for Opportunity

• Anthony Andrews, Twenty23
• Rosana Chaidez, N.B. Handy
• Katie Conner, Virginia Tourism Corporation
• Ben Copeland, Lynchburg City Schools
• Kenny Craig, Liberty University
• Michael Elliott, Centra Health
• Jeff Fedorko, Riverside Runners
• Wes Fugate, Randolph College
• Rex Geveden, BWX Technologies, Inc.
• Jamie Glass, Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance
• Kenneth Hancock, U.S. Pipe
• Todd Irby, Innovative Wireless Technologies
• Elizabeth Narehood, Central Virginia Community College
• Pat Price, Churches for Urban Ministry
• Mort Sajadian, Amazement Square
• Sally Selden, University of Lynchburg
• Mike Shadler, Pacific Life
• Dustin Slightham, 434 Marketing
• Jeff Thompson, C.B. Fleet, A Prestige Brands Company

A blueprint for opportunity is devised by and for the community it serves. While data analysis is important to determining trends, assets and challenges, 来自当地企业和员工的输入为这一分析提供了急需的背景. 通过为社区成员提供一个平台来分享他们的专业知识和新想法, 我们希望在公众中产生对经济机会的普遍理解, private, and governmental partners. 召集当地利益相关者的过程反映了我们在行业参与者之间建立有意义的关系的更广泛使命, service providers and anchor institutions. 我们与以下团体的对话代表了促进社区参与的长期努力的开始.

To arrive at a firm understanding of the City’s many assets and challenges, 我们在林奇堡市举办了一系列圆桌讨论会，讨论了一系列详细的主题. Over the course of the interview process, we gave equal voice to public stakeholders, private partners and community service providers. To fortify our efforts, we enlisted Steven Pedigo, 全国公认的经济发展战略顾问，曾为50多个城市提供咨询和合作, universities, developers, nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies to build more creative, innovative and inclusive communities. Our efforts also tapped into the expertise of the following key players:

• Steering Committee. The steering committee consisted of Economic Development Authority (EDA) members, local businesses, major employers, universities and entrepreneurs. 该小组每月召开一次会议，确定项目的总体方向，并就基准提供建议, research conclusions, cluster strengths, target industries, strategy, vision and implementation. As champions of the City’s economic development strategy, 这些成员将与经济发展和旅游办公室以及其他城市部门一起带头执行该计划.

• City Council and the Economic Development Authority. 与林奇堡市议会的对话有助于确定影响当今经济发展努力的因素. 委员会还考虑了林奇堡市作为一个独立城市所面临的独特挑战，并帮助确定了各种基准. Moving forward, 这些领导人将继续为我们的经济发展战略提供投入，并帮助确定支持该计划所需的资源. As elected and appointed community members, 它们是林奇堡经济发展和旅游办公室与公众之间的直接联系.

• Startup and Entrepreneurship. We met with local entrepreneurs, 小企业支持组织和当地企业的创始人考虑是什么让林奇堡市成为一个独特的创业环境. In addition to identifying certain action steps, 我们的谈话确定了最需要人才或资本的目标集群.

• Industry. 我们与林奇堡的主要雇主的谈话集中在影响跨行业发展的因素上. In addition to discussing the City’s advantages, including its skilled workforce and engaged business community, 我们解决了各种挑战，如缺乏交通或机场连接, insufficient talent pipelines and real estate constraints.

• Brain Gain. We met with workforce development professionals, K-12 educators, 当地雇主和创意班的成员讨论是什么让林奇堡成为一个吸引人的生活和工作的地方. Our conversation centered on methods of talent attraction and retention, 特别是在创造“回巢族”公民(那些回到他们曾经居住过的城市的人)方面。. Additionally, 我们专注于通过将当地企业与劳动力发展机会联系起来，改善林奇堡的技能管道.

• Tourism and Placemaking. Our tourism and placemaking session convened tourism officials, Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) representatives, restaurant owners, historical site operators, recreation companies and downtown promoters. Together, 他们讨论了如何利用林奇堡的“地方质量”资产来推动经济发展. 与会者还讨论了使林奇堡成为游客理想目的地的障碍.

• Neighborhoods and Urban Renewal. 我们关于社区和城市更新的谈话召集了当地的房地产专业人士, community developers and planners, and community advocates. 他们的讨论认识到林奇堡市是一个社区的集合，需要一个包容性繁荣的战略, which prioritizes the needs of all citizens.

LYH’s inclusive and prosperous future is built upon six values:

• Opportunity. We commit to economic opportunity for all residents and enterprises.
• Innovation. We invest in the ideas and enterprises that create tomorrow’s solutions.
• Collaboration. 我们在合作伙伴、企业和组织之间建立增值协作.
• Resiliency. We prepare for long-term economic health and sustainability.
• Inclusion. We promote a sense of belonging and connection for all residents.
• Public investment. 我们投资于地方质量和社区福利，以支持创造就业机会和
  attract investment.

The growth of existing businesses, anchors and destination assets are our number one economic development priority. 据估计，70%的工作岗位是通过当地企业的扩张创造的. 这些公司和组织已经在林奇堡市投资，是建立长期包容性的重要参与者
繁荣，确保LYH从COVID-19大流行的经济和社区影响中恢复过来.

We will achieve success by:

• 建立有效的关系和资源，以发展和扩大现有业务和目标资产
• 为小企业提供实现长期可持续性和弹性所需的支持
• Engaging anchor institutions to achieve shared goals

LYH has a unique natural and built environment to support business growth. However, 我们必须继续投资于场地开发，以吸引对城市的投资，并在大流行后的未来提供就业机会. 伦敦金融城还必须培育和利用其真实的社区和文化资产，以推动目的地的开发和吸引
visitors back to LYH.

We will achieve success by:

• Examining sites and infrastructure, including redevelopment opportunities, needed to drive business location
  decisions
• Providing tools to leverage investment by new and existing companies
• Driving revenue through destination development, meetings, and sports tourism

Economic development is only as powerful as the story it tells, 尤其是在各个社区都在为人才和投资而激烈竞争的时候. To be competitive in a post-pandemic future, LYH必须传达一个令人信服的赌博十大平台排行，展示城市强烈的文化意识, community and pride.

We will achieve success by:

• Implementing a city-wide brand and marketing campaign
• 通过为居民和游客策划体验，将吉隆坡推广为一个有吸引力的目的地
• 投资于场所质量，提升莱城作为生活和工作场所的形象