Linda Green of IALR Wins Women in Leadership Award
Linda Green, Vice President of Economic Development at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), joins 36 other executives as one of the winners of this year’s Virginia Business Women in Leadership Awards.
Green has served in her current role as well as the Executive Director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance (SVRA) since 2016. As Virginia Business states, since that time, she has “worked in collaboration with economic developers to recruit 28 new companies to Southern Virginia and assist the expansion of 31 existing companies.” Virginia Business goes on to share that “Green says these efforts have created more than 5,300 jobs and spurred about $1.5 billion in capital investment across the region.”
“We are extremely fortunate to benefit from the keen economic development expertise of one of the state’s leading professionals in this area,” said Telly Tucker, President, IALR. “Linda’s love for Southern Virginia and her tireless efforts to contribute toward the growth and transformation of the region are evident and well respected by local, regional and state stakeholders across multiple industries and span both the public and private sectors.”
Prior to her role at IALR and SVRA, Green worked as District Director for U.S. Congressman Robert Hurt and as Director for Federal Funding and Entrepreneurship for the Center for Innovative Technology, where she also served terms as Director of Manufacturing and Regional Technology Transfer. She also served as the President and CEO of the Dan River Business Development Center and worked as a Quality Engineer for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. A Certified Quality Engineer, Linda holds a Master of Business Administration from Duke University and is a graduate of Averett University and Danville Community College.
“I am thrilled to be recognized for this esteemed award and appreciate Virginia Business’ commitment to honor and support the leading role that women play in the many businesses and industries across our Commonwealth,” said Green. “I also acknowledge the importance of working with a collaborative team of professionals who welcome and support female employees and cohorts — helping one another succeed is a blessing.”
Virginia Business editors selected awardees from more than 320 nominations submitted by readers. According to the media outlet, “editorial staff considered factors such as overall professional accomplishments, civic engagement, mentoring and breaking glass ceilings.”
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, manufacturing advancement, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville.
IALR Shares Partnerships, Progress and Transformation in Annual Report
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has published its 2021-2022 annual report, which highlights innovative and collaborative partnerships across departments that are transforming the economy of Southern Virginia.
“Significant economic growth has resulted due to robust partnerships across the region. IALR stands ready to serve as Virginia’s go-to partner for education and workforce development, business and economic growth, and a globally competitive business ecosystem.” – IALR President Telly Tucker.
One of the pivotal moments of the report period is the creation and adoption of the new IALR Strategic Plan, which will guide IALR’s work and efforts for the next five years. With input from key stakeholders, the plan establishes strategic goals to outline how IALR can best capitalize on its unique strengths to impact the region.
Just some of the new initiatives and programs launched, announced or expanded during FY 21 and FY 22:
- Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM)
- Center for Manufacturing Advancement
- GO TEC Training Lab at IALR and expansion into other regions of Virginia
- GO Virginia Region 3 Bridge to Recovery
- Megabytes updated menu and ordering process
- Next generation of Work (NOW) teamships
- ODU Manufacturing Engineering Technology Major, with IALR as a Satellite Campus
- Registered Apprenticeships
- Quest Certification of Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill
- REACH Partnership and REACH AmeriCorps
- Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center
- Wonder Community of Lifelong Learning
The Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC™) framework is spreading into schools across the Commonwealth. The GO TEC program is just one component of the newly developed and proven EmPOWER system – an employer-driven model to systematically connect students to careers through career awareness, exposure, and engagement and experience. Future and current members of the workforce, as well as businesses, find joint benefits in problem-solving teamships, apprenticeships, externships and internships, mock interview days and more.
While striving to promote a diversified economy by serving a variety of industries, much of IALR’s impact in 2021-2022 was in the manufacturing sector. Expanding the existing middle-school-through-college workforce development pipelines, the new Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program is a rapid adult-learner model that prepares talent for jobs in the defense industrial base. ATDM launched in 2020 and is already proving successful and showing what modern public-private partnerships should look like. In addition, IALR partnered with the Commonwealth of Virginia and Danville Regional Foundation to construct the Center for Manufacturing Advancement, a new destination for manufacturers ready to optimize and scale and home to the U.S. Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence.
Through the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center, a joint project with Virginia Tech, IALR has established itself as a global leader in the CEA industry. The presence of the innovative research and state-of-the-art equipment are already making an impact on Southern Virginia. Thanks to best-in-class resources, including lab spaces and staff, the Applied Research team provided 30 companies with applied research and testing services like analytical chemistry, polymer testing and more.
In partnership with the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance (SVRA) and many other economic development organizations, IALR is proud to champion the area while working with local, regional and state partners. In FY 21 and 22, the Southern Virginia region saw $498 million in announced capital investment and 1,288 new jobs. IALR contributed to economic success by serving as a temporary home for growing businesses by providing critical testing services and lab space to innovative companies across industries. The Bridge to Recovery Program connected companies with suppliers and helped businesses become more resilient post-pandemic.
The Institute Conference Center hosted a variety of events geared toward the growth of industry sectors and Southern Virginia, including trainings and economic development activities. Numerous companies, including anchor and growing employers held successful job fairs, connecting community members with quality employment. An extensive renovation of the main building and a relaunch of Megabytes, IALR’s on-site café, have allowed the Institute Conference Center to provide even better service for the 20,800 guests who visited.
Southern Virginia Increases Virginia’s Inventory of Shovel-Ready Sites
The Southern Virginia Regional Alliance (SVRA) is pleased to join localities of Halifax, Patrick and Pittsylvania Counties and the City of Danville in announcing twenty-one sites that will move from Tier-Two to Tier-Four sites (signifying shovel-ready sites) in the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP) and eight sites that will move from Tier-Two to Tier-Five (shovel ready sites with graded pad sites). SVRA received $1,534,900 from GO Virginia Region 3 and $454,100 from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC) to further the preparation of sites in areas identified with specific assets for transportation such as rail and highway access, utilities inclusive of significant supply of natural gas, electricity and water supply along with a demonstrated available labor shed and workforce pipeline. Southern Virginia leads the Commonwealth in the number of prepared sites, one of the reasons for the success they are achieving in business attraction. The strategy by local elected officials, government and economic development staff to keep an inventory of ready sites that serve diverse industries, leads to sites that are ready to market for prospects who need to ensure that the risks of building on the sites have been assessed and minimized.
The SVRA service region has worked with the engineering firms of Dewberry and Reynolds and Clark to complete right-of-way; engineering and building for reliable, redundant and abundant sites across the region. The strategy for site development included meeting diverse needs and has resulted in six VBRSP Tier-4 industrial parks in the region that provide access to eight VBRSP Tier-5 graded sites that are ready for immediate construction. An additional 21 VBRSP Tier-4 sites have completed the engineering due-diligence and are ready for grading and building within 12-18 months.
Sites range in size from 3.4 to 67 acres with from 2.5-32 acres of developable pad sites that can readily accommodate buildings from 20,000 sq. ft. to 600,000 square feet in size. Some of the lots can be joined to accommodate larger pad sites for expansion capacity with up to double lot.
Industrial Park / Site Current Sites |
VBRSP Ranking |
Developable Pad on Site |
Potential Building Size |
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Airside Lot 2J (Airside Industrial Park – Danville) |
Tier 5 |
17-acre pad on 50.44-acre site |
300,000 sq. ft. |
Recent Park Wins – Essel Propak Expansions, Lite House Expansions, Butonni (Nestle), & 2 pending announcements |
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Cane Creek Centre – Danville/Pittsylvania RIFA |
Tier 4 |
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Recent Park Wins – Walraven, Morgan Olson, Aerofarms, Tyson |
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Cane Creek Lot 1B – Rail |
Tier 4 |
27-acre pad on 49.12-acre site |
370,000 sq. ft. |
Cane Creek Lot 6B |
Tier 4 |
21-acre pad on 24.78-acre site |
380,000 sq. ft. |
Cane Creek Lot 6C |
Tier 4 |
23-acre pad on 30.71-acre site |
310,000 sq. ft. |
Cane Creek Lot 8A |
Tier 5 |
8.5-acre pad on 22.7-acre site |
100,000 sq. ft. |
Cane Creek Lot 10 – Rail |
Tier 4 |
32-acre pad on 67-acre site |
450,000 sq. ft. |
Cane Creek Lot 11A – Rail |
Tier 4 |
14-acre pad on 20.6-acre site |
150,000 sq. ft. |
Cane Creek Lot 11B – Rail |
Tier 4 |
13-acre pad on 16.6-acre site |
150,000 sq. ft. |
Cane Creek Lot 12 A |
Tier 4 |
4.5-acre pad on 5.2-acre site |
54,000 sq. ft. |
Cane Creek Lot 12 B |
Tier 4 |
7-acre pad on 8.6-acre site |
72,000 sq. ft. |
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Coleman Site – Rail – largest rail served site in state |
Tier 4 |
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Coleman Site Lot 1 |
Tier 4 |
13-acre pad on 30-acre site |
125,000 sq. ft. |
Coleman Site Lot 2 – Rail |
Tier 4 |
44-acre pad on 50-acre site |
700,000 sq. ft. |
Coleman Site Lot 3 – Rail |
Tier 4 |
25-acre pad on 78-acre site |
500,000 sq. ft. |
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Cyber Park |
Tier 4 |
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Recent Park Wins – Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (3), EIT/Zollner, Kyocera, Overfinch, BGF, FasTech, MEP |
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Cyber Park Lot 5 |
Tier 4 |
13-acre pad on 39.42-acre site |
200,000 sq. ft. |
Cyber Park Lot 7D |
Tier 5 |
20.5-acre pad on 62.86-acre site |
250,000 sq. ft. |
Cyber Park Lot 10C |
Tier 4 |
10-acre pad on 27.96-acre site |
100,000 sq. ft. |
Cyber Park Lot 12 B |
Tier 4 |
8-acre pad on 19.3-acre site |
100,000 sq. ft. |
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Day Site – Halifax County |
Tier 4 |
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Day Site Lot |
Tier 4 |
30-acre pad on 34 -acre site |
50,000 sq. ft. |
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Rich Creek Corporate Park – Patrick County |
Tier 5 |
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Recent Park Wins – Ten Oaks Expansion |
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Rich Creek Pad Site |
Tier 5 |
25-acre pad on70 -acre site |
100,000 sq. ft. |
Rich Creek site with Shell Building |
Tier 5 |
10-acre pad on 14-acre site |
20,000 sq. ft. |
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Ringgold East Industrial Park |
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Recent Park Wins – Axxor Expansion, Panaceutics |
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Ringgold East Site – Pittsylvania County – Rail |
Tier 5 |
28.3-acre pad on 51.04-acre site |
600,000 sq. ft. |
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Riverview Industrial Park |
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Recent Park Wins – JTI Expansion |
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Riverview Lot 5B – Riverview Industrial Park Danville |
Tier 4 |
6-acre pad on 11-acre site |
72,000 sq. ft. |
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Southern Virginia Technology Park |
Tier 4 |
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Recent Park Wins – IperionX |
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SVTP Lot A |
Tier 4 |
3-acre pad on 3.4-acre site |
31,250 sq. ft. |
SVTP Lot B |
Tier 5 |
11-acre pad on 14.7-acre site |
122,500 sq. ft. |
SVTP Lot C |
Tier 4 |
9-acre pad on 17-acre site |
97,500 sq. ft. |
SVTP Lot D |
Tier 4 |
6.5-acre pad on 29.4-acre site |
31,250 sq. ft. |
SVTP Lot E |
Tier 5 |
4.5-acre pad on 6.7-acre site |
48,000 sq. ft. |
SVTP Lot F |
Tier 5 |
9.5-acre pad on 12.6-acre site |
106,500 sq. ft. |
SVTP Lot G |
Tier 4 |
2.5-acre pad on 7.6-acre site |
20,000 sq. ft. |
IALR May 2022 Newsletter
SOVA Task Force Offers Workforce Solutions
The SOVA Task Force offered a Workforce Solutions weekly webinar series in May as an extension of the Bridge to Recovery Grant provided by GO Virginia Region 3. The series provided employers with resources and best practices regarding today’s workforce.
“Amid all the pressures facing our businesses in the wake of COVID, solutions for workforce-related issues are repeatedly sought,” said Linda Green, Executive Director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance (SVRA). “Therefore, we convened experts and resources to assist with these Human Resources needs.”
The Workforce Solutions webinar series addressed Childcare, Afterschool Care and Elder Care; Recruiting and Onboarding Employees; Trainings, Apprenticeships, Internships and Re-entry Programs; Higher Education, Skill Sets, Certifications and Recertifications; and Retention, Promotion and Advancement.
During one webinar, Steve Youll of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Talent Attraction Program shared how talent attraction has evolved with increased expectations by candidates. He said “72% of job seekers report sharing negative candidate experiences online” and “55% of candidates will avoid certain companies after reading negative online reviews.”
Moderators included workforce experts Dr. Julie Brown of IALR and Robbie Knight of Virginia Career Works-West Piedmont. The series was originated, organized and marketed by the SOVA COVID-19 Task Force, which is managed by the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance.
Recordings are available at svra.org under COVID-19 Economic Resources. In the future, similar programs will be provided in the eastern part of the GO Virginia Region 3 service area.