Vision: Making a Difference in the Future
The Overview
Vision | Making
a Difference in the Future
The Vision
Economy | Education
| Health & Safety | Quality of Life & Environment | Infrastructure
Governance | Leadership
During the New Century
visioning process, more than 1,000 volunteers worked to set the stage for a new era for
Western Virginia. The process was designed to give the people of the New Century Region
the opportunity to decide for themselves what their future should be. As a result of their
work, six broad issues surfaced that will likely determine the region's future in the next
20 years.
 Regional Identity.
In order to position this region for more jobs and investment, we need to develop a
unifying identity. It will identify the New Century Region to the world and convey our
pride and enthusiasm for our region as a place to live and work as we seek to secure a
positive future
Higher Education & Research Will Be The Engines
That Drive Our Economy. The majority of new jobs in the United States will
be spawned from research originating in universities. Since the colleges and universities
in the region include internationally recognized research centers and educate more than 20
percent of Virginia's students, our region will be poised for new, high-paying jobs that
result from research and technology application as our universities and colleges change to
prepare for the 21st century.
Regional Cooperation. The New
Century Region is going to grow. The question is how we manage growth. We must avoid
duplication and recognize that our limited resources require us to address issues on a
regional basis. Appropriate resources can then be focused on the creation of jobs and
economic opportunities.
Regional Voice. To exercise our
influence with state and federal governments, we must speak with one voice. It must be a
clear, unified message to compete successfully with the larger regions in Virginia, the
Southeast and the entire country. Road map for new jobs. Concentrate on our strengths as a
region and target new and existing industries for economic development opportunities.
Working with the Economy strategies, we should pursue the types of jobs which match our
plan for growth with the recognition that higher-paying jobs are a key for the success of
the region.
Technology & Communication.
How we live and work is changing right before our eyes. We have the opportunity to
capitalize on the expertise and experience already in place in our region in wireless and
fiber optics, intelligent transportation and the electronic village. Acting quickly, we
can be a leader in technology and development in the United States and the world.
It's an unprecedented
effort in western Virginia: People planning their own future. Over 1,000 of them thought
"Out of the box" to decide what we could be in a global economy.
Through the leadership
of the region's chambers of commerce, regional economic development organizations,
Virginia Tech, Radford University and the Roanoke Valley Business Council, The New Century
Council was formed. Its mission: Empower the citizens to develop a vision for a
preferred future of the New Century Region.
The result is an
answer to the most important questions:
"Who
are we?"
"Where do we want to go?"
"How are we going to get there?"
The 33 committees
produced a mammoth amount of work. They devoted countless hours to the task of finding a
better way for all of us. Their boundless energy and innovative thinking have produced a
document that will guide us for the next 20 years.
Our committees
developed approximately 150 strategies. We now have a vision, a picture of where we'd like
to be in 20 years. It is an effort to shape the future. This is not a strategic plan;
rather, it is a direction to guide us toward our preferred future.
One thing is clear: We
should build our economy on education and technology.
What
next?
The next step is
recognizing the value of these strategies to the region's future. Then the real work
begins. They must become reality. Success depends on the people and organizations which
accept these challenges to move us toward our preferred future.
We must have your help
to make it happen.
These visions and strategies that have been developed can be
broken down into the following categories:
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