Project Group: Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development

Launching a Coastal Resilience and Adaptation Economy

The Coastal Resilience and Adaptation Economy initiative takes a two-pronged approach to laying the foundation of an innovation ecosystem that will create a new, long-term, high-paying economic industry cluster.

The approach: 1) Builds resilience entrepreneurship through RISE’s proven business plan competition and accelerator services, including a product performance validation in Region 6’s network of real-world R&D test sites (i.e. Resilience Innovation Center) as an expansion of the Hampton Roads resilience living laboratory; and 2) Forms a multi-stakeholder, business-focused Region 5-6 Consortium to engage the broader business community in education about the risks and economic impacts of sea level rise, and builds capacity for the adoption of resilient practices. Aligning with both Region’s Growth & Diversification Plans, this initiative builds critical pathways and avenues for collaboration between the two regions and rural and urban economies. Further, as this sector grows, all other sectors are buoyed by the increased regional resilience to flooding, storms, and other stressors impacting coastal Virginia.

The project team includes Virginia Sea Grant (VASG, 7- university coalition, Region 6, Lead); RISE (non-profit, Region 5); Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority (PAA, local government, Region 6); and Old Dominion University (ODU, Region 5), GO Virginia funds will be used to support contract for services with selected RISE competition winners, stipends for graduate students, development of the consortium, and planning and assessment of the public access sites for demonstration projects.

• Statewide Project Theme: Entrepreneurial Activities/Workforce Development
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Aquaculture / Seafood / Commercial Fishing / Marine Industries
• GO Virginia Request: $2,937,163
• Match: $3,696,411
• Source of Match: MPCBPAA, VT, ODU, VASG, Localities
• Project Type: Statewide Competitive
• Localities: Region 5 and Region 6
• How does this project create higher-paying jobs? This project creates higher-paying jobs by exploring new ways to combat sea-level rise and create an industry around this business.

Establishing a RIoT Accelerator Program in the Rappahannock Regional Entrepreneur Ecosystem

This project will utilize GO Virginia funds to expand entrepreneurial support programs in the Rappahannock Region (Rapp Region). These programs include the proven RIoT Accelerator Program (RAP) and additional community-focused programming across the Rapp-Region, housed in the technology-based Virginia Smart Community Testbed in Stafford. The Testbed is an initiative spearheaded by the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) and Stafford to foster and create new Smart Technologies and attract the entrepreneurs that develop them in Virginia. In partnership with CIT, GO Virginia will seed fund a Technology Specialist for the Testbed. The Specialist will coordinate entrepreneurial opportunities in the Testbed and seed funds to foster pilot project for entrepreneurs. Together with the local RIoT VA-RAP Lead, they will play an integral part in the project. The VA-RAP Lead works with entrepreneurs around their entire business, including revenue, hiring and capital growth while the Tech Specialist advises on the technology-side and integrating entrepreneurs into pilot projects or with other tech companies connected to the Testbed. Go Virginia funds will be used to pay for a portion of salaries, equipment, outreach, and workshops.

• Statewide Project Theme: Entrepreneurial Activities
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Information/Data Centers and Professional/Scientific/Technical Services
• GO Virginia Request: $215,000
• Match: $204,500
• Source of Match: Stafford County (cash & in-kind); City of Fred (in-kind); King George County (cash & in-kind); RIOT; CIT
• Project Type: Implementation
• Localities: City of Fredericksburg, Caroline, King George, Stafford, Spotsylvania
• How does this project create higher paying jobs? This project creates higher paying jobs by providing training to companies to grow their businesses in high growth sectors.

Virginia Sea Grant Resiliency Ecosystem Development

This project initiates a study to complete planning activities toward building a new industry cluster in Virginia, a water management economy that integrates workforce development, research and development, innovation, and commercialization.

• Statewide Project Theme: Entrepreneurial Activities
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• GO Virginia Request: $49,996
• Match: $49,996
• Source of Match: Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission and Middle Peninsula Alliance
• Project Type: Enhanced Capacity Building
• Localities: Essex County, Gloucester County, King and Queen County, Middlesex County, Mathews County, King William County, Town of Tappahannock, Town of Urbanna, and Town of West Point.
• How does this project create higher paying jobs? This project creates higher paying jobs by understanding the potential economy of water-based activities that could create entrepreneurial innovations.

Commercial Kitchen at Hull Springs

This project proposes a feasibility study for a commercial kitchen located at Longwood Hull Springs in Westmoreland County. Should the results of the study indicate that a commercial kitchen establishment would be feasible in the Northern Neck, the idea is to co-locate the facility in the dining hall at Longwood Hull Springs for food preparation for resident students and faculty members.

• Statewide Project Theme: Entrepreneurial Activities
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Manufacturing
• GO Virginia Request: $50,000
• Match: $50,000
• Source of Match: US Department of Agriculture-Rural Development
• Project Type: Enhanced Capacity Building
• Localities: Westmoreland County and Northumberland County
• How does this project create higher paying jobs? This project creates higher paying jobs by providing understanding the ecosystem in which food manufacturers can operate a commercial kitchen.

Fredericksburg Region Cyber & Smart Tech Entrepreneurial Development Program

This project initiates a to assess the market demand for a Cyber and Smart Tech Entrepreneur program and the capacity of Stafford County’s Economic Development Authority and Economic Development and Tourism Department to deliver such a program. GO Virginia funds will be utilized for the hiring of a consultant, R!OT, to understand the current ecosystem and plan ways to move it forward.

• Statewide Project Theme: Entrepreneurial Activities
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• GO Virginia Request: $97,500
• Match: $75,000
• Source of Match: Stafford County EDA, Stafford County Economic Development and Tourism, City of Fredericksburg, and King George County, OST, Inc. R!OT, Cyber Bytes Foundation, UMW Stafford, Germanna Community College, UMW Economic Development Department, and CIT
• Project Type: Enhanced Capacity Building
• Localities: Stafford County, City of Fredericksburg, King George County
• How does this project create higher paying jobs? This project creates higher paying jobs by providing understanding the ecosystem in which cyber entrepreneurs can build and grow in.