Virginia Startup Blog written by Kareem Ayers

University of Virginia - Tayloe Murphy Resilience Awards Competition

March 4, 2010

The University of Virginia’s Tayloe Murphy Center at the Darden School

announces the Tayloe Murphy Resilience Awards Competition

Call for Entries

Successful entrepreneurs in:
- manufacturing;
- retail;
- service
- wholesale.

Qualifying applicants must demonstrate:
- 5 years of sustained growth across a number of metrics;
- Evidence of economic uplift in their local community;
- That they are operating in the most economically challenged communities within the Commonwealth of Virginia (go to: www.resilienceawards.info to see if your community is eligible).

Winning firms will receive scholarship funding to a select Darden Executive Education Program along with networking opportunities and recognition.

Go to: www.resilienceawards.info to see if your community is eligible.

The competition opens April 1st and the application deadline is June 30th, 2010.

Finalists will be notified in July and will be required to submit relevant tax forms.

Awards Celebration Dinner to be held September 1, 2010, in the historic Dome Room of the University of Virginia’s Rotunda – sharing ideas, stories and humor highly encouraged.

Questions? Contact Tayloe Murphy Center’s Associate Director, Marc Johnson: 434.982.4527, or send an email to tayloemurphyawards@darden.virginia.edu.

Businesses may apply each year, but may only win the scholarship funding once.

Why not make this your year?

Good Luck,

Tayloe Murphy Center FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: www.resilienceawards.info

Virginia Technology Alliance - VTA

January 31, 2010

Ten regional technology councils formed the Virginia Technology Alliance (VTA) in 1998. The VTA mission is straight forward: Champion the Success of Virginia’s Technology Sector.

The VTA will employ several strategies to accomplish its mission.

Coordinate and enhance the efforts of the regional technology councils in promoting Virginia’s technology economy.

Advocate for issues important to the growth and development of innovative technologies and technology-based organizations in the Commonwealth.

Educate state and local policy makers by providing a representative and objective source of information and counsel on technology issues.

Communicate the economic importance of technology to Virginia’s education, civic and business leaders.

Charlottesville Business Innovation Council
Key Contacts

www.cvillebic.org
Arin Sime

Fredericksburg Technology Council
Key Contacts

www.fredtech.us
Eric Watkins

Hampton Roads Technology Council
Key Contacts

www.hrtc.org
Timothy Early

NewVa Corridor Technology Council
Key Contacts

www.thetechnologycouncil.com
Cory Donovan

Northern Virginia Technology Council
Key Contacts

www.nvtc.org
Josh Levi

Region 2000 Technology Council
Key Contacts

www.region2000.org
Jonathan Whitt

RichTech
Key Contacts

www.richtech.com
William (Chip)  Farmer

Shenandoah Valley Technology Council
Key Contacts

www.svtc-va.org
Kevin Walsh

Southern Piedmont Technology Council
Key Contacts

www.sptc-va.org
Charles Gause

Southwestern Virginia Technology Council
Key Contacts

www.swvtc.org
Donald Purdie

Center for Innovative Technology - CIT

January 9, 2010

Since 1984, CIT has been a leader in the efforts to create a globally competitive innovation economy in Virginia.  CIT has worked with public and private stakeholders to boost entrepreneurial endeavors, support research and create seed-stage funding for start-ups and intellectual property – the essential ingredients for the creation of the next generation of technology companies.

Regional Technology Councils
In the 1990s, CIT helped create regional technology councils to leverage the innovation message and agenda.  Today, there are 10 regional councils across the Commonwealth.  Together they formed the Virginia Technology Alliance in 1996 in order to share best practices, profit from the experience of fellow councils and to coordinate certain efforts.  These regional councils:
1.    Advocate for issues important to the growth and development of innovative technologies and technology-based organizations in the Commonwealth;
2.    Educate state and local policy makers by providing a representative and objective source of information and counsel on technology issues; and
3.    Communicate the economic importance of technology to Virginia’s education, civic and business leaders.

CIT Programs
From its original mission to enhance the research and technology transfer activities of Virginia universities, CIT has moved its focus toward the new technologies, entrepreneurs and technology companies that make innovation happen.

In 2005, CIT celebrated 20 years of creating technology-based companies and strategies for the Commonwealth of Virginia. From its original mission to enhance the research and technology transfer activities of Virginia universities, CIT has moved its focus toward the new technologies, entrepreneurs and technology companies that make innovation happen.

For 2006, CIT’s operating structure consists of service lines that enable it to respond quickly and efficiently to new opportunities with government and private sector clients. The service lines – CIT Entrepreneur, CIT R&D, CIT Broadband and CIT Connect – establish a clear identity that allows us to meet our goals and close innovation gaps.