Program promotes regional economic collaboration in distressed areas
In 2011, Virginia's Growth Alliance was one of the first five projects to receive funding through the Building Collaborative Communities program. This new program promotes regional economic collaboration in economically-distressed areas that stimulate job creation, economic development and provide a significant return on state investment.
"In its first year, Building Collaborative Communities jumpstarted several regional collaborative efforts across the Commonwealth," said Governor McDonnell. "The selected projects focus on and facilitate involvement from the private sector, community organizations and various other regional organizations that can make the collaboration a success."
Building Collaborative Communities, which includes a competitive application process, is a broad-based program that brings to bear resources from a number of state entities, including the Lieutenant Governor's Office, Senior Economic Advisor, Department of Business Assistance, Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Tobacco Commission, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Virginia Community College System and other agencies as appropriate.