Henry Luke- Newsletter  #21-COMMUNITY VISIONING RESULTS 

April 2001

SPOKANE, WA-Spokane is continuing to advance into the “New Century”

§         Spokane’s job growth rate in 2000 was 2.6% compared to the national job growth of 1.6%.

§         Approximately $1.3 billion in capital construction is underway.

§         Technology investment continues:

-     Agilent Technologies is expanding to nearly 350,000 square feet and 1,200 employees

-     Linesoft Corporation, provider of software for power-line planning and design is adding employees weekly at its Spokane headquarters.

-     The Telect Founders are planning a 300-acre new technology park.  Telect has expanded its manufacturing space and added 700 jobs to reach 1950.

-     Software Spectrum expects to add 300 employees, thus giving it a total workforce of 900

-      BioGenetic Venues, Inc. plans to design build and equip a laboratory for cardio-vascular disease research.

-      Biomedix, Inc. will build a 60,000 square foot biotechnology production facility.

§         Approximately $217 million of construction is underway for Education facilities.

§         Approximately $178 million of construction is underway in HealthCare projects.

§         There is a $22 million expansion to the Convention Center and $12 million improvement to the Interstate Fairgrounds. http://www.spokane.org/chamber/newcentury.html

 

HARRISBURG, PA-On April 2, 2001, Harrisburg announced plans to create the “Harrisburg Polytechnic Institute”.  The university will explore offering programs in information technology, biotechnology, transportation, warehousing and distribution, hospitals and health and human services.  Negotiations are underway on two potential downtown sites for the start-up location.

            The Harrisburg Polytechnic Development Corporation will raise the $75 million needed to begin the University and operate the university.  A high-tech campus and relocated facilities such as a conference center, business incubators and a tech-prep program for high school students is envisioned.  David Schankweiler will serve as chairman of the Development Corporation.  David served for four years as Chairman of ENVISION Capital Region and said, “the need to create a college in Harrisburg to address workforce development was recognized by ENVISION Capital Region.” http://www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org/

 

RICHMOND, VA-The successful Virginia Biotechnology Research Park in downtown Richmond will create a satellite campus for the Biotechnology Park in Chesterfield County.  The park’s capacity will be 2 million square feet of combined office, laboratory and manufacturing space and results from a cooperative agreement with Chesterfield County.  Robert Skunda, President of Richmond Biotechnology Research Park and county officials believe the expanded site options will help attract large-scale biotechnology pharmaceutical and life sciences companies.  The Satellite Park has been a long-term Vision Strategy of Dr. Trani, President of Virginia Commonwealth University.  The existing park in downtown Richmond has six buildings with over 300,000 square feet of research, laboratory and office space. This represents a total investment of over $75 million and employment of 850 people.  Visit their web site at www.vabiotech.com

 

DALTON, GA-The Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership continues to pursue Action Steps that were developed at the March 2000 Healthcare Summit (see March 2000 newsletter). They are defining a “My Choice Community Health Plan” that will be the cornerstone of a market-based health delivery system. 

They are also developing the Northwest Georgia Free Medical Clinic.  Private funding and volunteers will be used to provide acute medical, dental and pharmaceutical care at no cost to medically indigent citizens in Whitfield and Murray Counties.  This should result in less cost-shifting by providers.  The entire plan is made possible by today's technology.  For information, contact Nancy Kennedy 706/272-9013

 

SCHUYLKILL, PA-Pennsylvania created 718 acres in Schuylkill County as Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zones (KOEZ) on March 27, 2001.  In the first round of KOZ’s, Schuylkill-Carbon had 2,550 acres and at the end of the first year led all of Pennsylvania’s KOZ’s in capital investment and job creation.  The state markets the zones, and provides $200,000 for local marketing.  The local taxing authorities provide tax incentives and infrastructure. http://pottsville.koz.com/servlet/randhsite_ProcServ/DBPAGE=cge&GID=00038000000961353781155409

 

RICHMOND, VA-Jim Dunn, President of the Greater Richmond Chamber was selected as Richmonder of the year 2001.  The presentation article begins with the 1991 Richmond Vision called “Focus on our Future”.  A co-chair, Frank Bradley said, “we put together a document that has given us a road map for the last ten years”.  Jim Dunn is described as the draftsman of the plan and the navigator through a thicket of economic, social and political change.  The Vision was updated in September 2000 to visualize Richmond’s coming decade.    Click here for the article describing Dunn’s leadership. http://www1.richmond.com/output.cfm?ID=1164923

 

MEMPHIS, TN-Two National Basketball Associations have applied to relocate their teams to Memphis.  The NBA will decide whether the Charlotte Hornets or Vancouver Grizzlies can begin negotiations for a move to Memphis. http://www.memphischamber.com/2005/index.html

 

CABARRUS, NC-The Envision Cabarrus Stakeholders Summit for public input will be May 10^th.  Leading up to the Summit, the media is printing Benchmarks that compare Cabarrus County to 49 other similar metro counties.  Follow the series at http://www.envisioncabarrus.org/Benchmark.html

 

MOBILE, AL-The latest Envision Mobile-Baldwin newsletter is on their web site.  Se the details of the May 2001 vote on school construction. http://www.mobcham.org/envision.html

 

MINOT, ND-The latest Visioning newsletter on the web site http://visioning.minotchamber.org/     describes a new web page with a listing of Minot area volunteer opportunities. http://www.minotchamber.org/cgi-bin/volunteer.pl

 

WILKES, NC-Wilkes 2020 will have their annual Town Meeting to celebrate and review, revise and refocus on May10, 2001. http://www.wilkesnc.org/vision/

 

UNION, NC-Charlene Broome is the new Executive Director of Union County Vision 2020. http://www.unionvision2020.com/

 

JACKSONVILLE, FL-Henry Luke has facilitated the development of a Strategic Plan for the Jacksonville Fair Association.

 

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Henry Luke