ROANOKE, VA- Over the last nine months, The Roanoke Times has reported that the Carilion Health System, Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia created the Carilion Biomedical Institute. The Institute is designed to turn research conducted at the two universities into health-care solutions and economic opportunities for the region.

Tom Robertson, President of Carilion Health System said that he first recognized the potential of an industry-university partnership during the New Century Visioning process in 1993. The Institute has projected funding by 2006 of $76 million with $20 million from the Carilion Health System.

The Institute will be the first tenant in a 75-acre Biomedical Business Park in downtown Roanoke that could eventually employ 2,500 people. The Roanoke City Council says the area is blighted and that the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority would buy and clear all the land in the park. The Authority will resell parcels to businesses for development.

HARRISBURG, PA-The Harrisburg Regional Chamber led an intercity visit to Louisville, KY on May 11-12. The second annual intercity visit to Louisville was a direct result of the chamber’s adoption of a strategy contained in the ENVISION document.

An out-growth from last year’s intercity visit to Richmond, VA included the restructuring of the former Susquehanna Alliance into a more streamlined organization known today as the Harrisburg Regional Chamber. In a significant move, a senior executive will be hired to drive the day-to-day activities of the ENVISION process.

LAKELAND, FL-The City of Lakeland has produced the first quarterly report on the 18 strategies that the city adopted. They developed Strategy Benchmarks and Action Steps and are now reporting progress on the Action Steps on a quarterly basis.

The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce adopted the strategy of "increasing mentors for young people". They set an Internal Strategy Benchmark of recruiting 500 new mentors for seven existing mentor organizations. They begin the campaign with a "Youth Mentoring Brochure", underwritten by Rooms to Go.

SCHUYLKILL, PA- On August 2, Denise Schlegel, Executive Director, Schuylkill County’s VISION will be presenting the Schuylkill VISION process at Waynesboro College in Western Pennsylvania. The meeting is to discuss solutions to communities within the Appalachian region. The Schuylkill County’s VISION Process is perceived as a "Best Practice" in Pennsylvania.

On September 21, Tim Twardzik, VISION Economic Development Foundation Co-chair and Denise will describe the Schuylkill County’s VISION Healthy Community Strategic Alliance. They will speak at the Pennsylvania Healthy Community Summit 2000.

Schuylkill County’s VISION Healthy Community Strategic Alliance has been selected as a State Health Improvement Partner (SHIP). This designation brings technical support and partnership with the Department of Health. There are 28 projects state-wide who are SHIP Partners

SAGAINAW, MI-We began a Vision driven Strategic Planning Process in Saginaw County in June. An initial Steering Committee led by the Chamber Chairman, Greg Lubben and President, Jim Bockelman has already raised a major part of the funds required for the 5.5 years of Visioning Development and Implementation. Liana Bachand began on July 3 as the full-time Staff Director for Saginaw County Vision 2020. This is our 49^th geographic area and 18^th state/county.

NATIONAL GOVERNOR’S ASSOCIATION-The NGA has an excellent resource in its "Center for Best Practices" www.nga.org/   . There are many hyperlinks and reports including a new report "Using Research and Development to Grow State Economies".

JACKSONVILLE, FL-The Jacksonville City Council approved the Mayors "Better Jacksonville Plan" by a 19-0 vote. The citizens of Duval County will vote on the $2.2 billion infrastructure construction funding program on September 5.

HAMPTON ROAD, VA-CriticalMass is a network event for young high-tech entrepreneurs and professionals. It was first organized in Washington, DC and is branching into Hampton Roads.

RAPID CITY, ND- Mike Howard is the new Director of the 8-County Black Hills Region Visioning Process that began in 1997.

MINOT, ND-Henry Luke has updated the Key Benchmarks for the Vision process and will be in Minot for the Annual Town Hall meeting on September 13, 2000.