South Hill, VA ─ Virginia's Growth Alliance (VGA), the regional economic development organization serving Brunswick, Charlotte, Greensville, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg and Nottoway and the City of Emporia, has completed an extensive international search for its Executive Director. Jeff Reed, formally of Halifax County, VA has accepted the position and began work on October 1st.

Jeff brings extensive business development and recruitment experience to the VGA region. "His successes in major industry recruitment both nationally and internationally has proven that he has the expertise to help the region be successful" said Michael Fergusson, Board Chairman. Jeff grew up in a rural county and his family still lives on the family farm in rural West Virginia that has been in their family since 1841. He has worked in neighboring Halifax County and is very familiar with the VGA region. His economic development experience has always been in smaller, rural communities.

Jeff's previous jobs include project manager for the Industrial Development Authority of Halifax County where he successfully worked with a team that brought in 460 new jobs and saved over 800 in a 3-year period. Additionally, he was the driving force behind a successful branding initiative that included the development of a new website, logo, newsletter, tagline, and collateral materials for targeted market sectors as well increased outreach via social media. Jeff worked for five years as the Project Manager/Interim Director/Assistant Director for the Danville Office of Economic Development. While with Danville he helped to announce more than 6,700 new jobs and over $700,000,000 in new investment including Swedwood – IKEA's first US manufacturing facility, EBI, Target, Home Depot, Harley Davidson and Yorktowne, among many other manufacturing, retail and commercial projects. Jeff also is the President of his own private consultant firm. His firm was a primary and driving force behind www.mountainmade.com, a national pilot project with the Robert C Byrd National Technology Transfer Center that showcased the internet as a rural economic development tool.

Virginia's Growth Alliance is comprised of six counties and one city and is located within southeastern Virginia along the state border. It is comprised of Interstates 95 and 85 along with US Highways 360, 460 and 58 and has extensive rail service. To learn more about Virginia's Growth Alliance visit their website at www.vagrowth.com.