SJ 203 — Commending the Virginia Economic Developers Association.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 22104380D I SENATE JOOfferedJOINT MarchRESOLUTION 7,NO. 20223 N Commending the Virginia Economic Developers Association.

––––––––––203 TE Patrons––PillionCommending andthe Hackworth;Virginia Economic Developers Association.

Delegates:N Agreed to by the Senate, March 9, 2022 R Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 10, 2022 O WHEREAS, the Virginia Economic Developers Association, an organization dedicated to supporting L the economic health of the Commonwealth, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2022;

Campbell, J.L., Kilgore and O'QuinnL R –––––––––– O WHEREAS, the Virginia Economic Developers Association,Association an(VEDA) organizationwas dedicatedestablished toin supporting1982 theby economicCommonwealth; health of the Commonwealth, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2022;

andanda D individuals with a shared professional interest in facilitating economic development across theUthe Commonwealth;E WHEREAS, VEDA was created with the express purpose to increase the effectiveness of individuals D in the practice of economic development in Virginia;

and WHEREAS, VEDA wasbolsters createdeconomic withdevelopment in Virginia by encouraging cooperation, the expressexcWHEREAS, purposeVEDA members include local, regional, and state economic development professionals, as well as public and private partners such as local government staff, utility and transportation industry representatives, elected officials, and professionals working in marketing, engineering, construction, devWHEREAS, VEDA supports sound economic development policies, regional cooperation, and the J maintenance and expansion of efforts by state, regional, and local governments and other interested 3 organizations to increasefoster the effectivenessgrowth of individualsemployment inbusiness sectors that will increase job opportunities R and improve the practicequality of economiclife developmentfor inall Virginia;Virginians;

and Epolicy WHEREAS,and VEDAto bolstersbe economica developmentprimary insource Virginiaof bystrong encouragingand cooperation,effective theeducation exchange of information, and othernetworking professionalfor economicic development activities;professionals;

and DWHEREAS, asVEDA wellhas asgrown publicfrom andfewer privatethan partners100 suchmembers as local government staff, utility and transportation industry representatives, elected officials, and professionals working in marketing,1982 engineering,to construction,more development,than higher500 education,members realCommonwealth estate,for consulting,many finance,years andto more;come;

andnow, WHEREAS,therefore, VEDAbe supportsitf sound economic development policies,in regionalthe cooperation,RESOLVED andby the maintenanceSenate, andthe expansionHouse of effortsDelegates byconcurring, state,That regional,the andGeneral localAssembly governmentshereby andcommend other interested organizations to foster the growthVirginia ofEconomic employmentDevelopers businessAssociation sectorsfor thattheir willachievements increaseover jobthe opportunitieslast andWHEREAS,four VEDA'sdecades missionin ispromoting toprofessionalism be the voice in Virginia for shaping economic development publicacross policythe andCommonwealth; to be a primary source of strong and effective education and networking for economic3 development professionals;

andand, WHEREAS,be VEDAit haspresentation grownto fromDavid fewerManley, thanexecutive 100director membersof inthe 1982Joint toIndustrial moreDevelopment thanAuthority 500of membersWythe todayCounty and showspresident greatand promiseexecutive tocommittee continuechair beingof athe leaderVirginia Economic Developers Association, and Connie Long, executive director of economicthe developmentVirginia Economic Developers Association, as an expression create jobs in theharmony Commonwealthwith forcommunity manygoals yearsin the Commonwealth.orts to come;promote quality investment and

now, therefore, be it commend the Virginia Economic Developers Association for their achievements over the last four decades in promoting professionalism in economic development across the Commonwealth;

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare copies of this resolution for presentation to David Manley, executive director of the Joint Industrial Development Authority of Wythe County and president and executive committee chair of the Virginia Economic Developers Association, :

35 and Connie Long, executive director of the Virginia Economic Developers Association, as an expression 37 create jobs in harmony with community goals in the Commonwealth.orts to promote quality investment and 7