The young professional age group is not coming to the city

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by richmondpics

How does the City receive millions of dollars from the adjacent counties?

The city received money from the surrounding counties to fund the building of the Richmond Convention Center (and to keep it up each year), help fund the Braves baseball team and keep up the Diamond, Reopen the old train station, rebuild shockoe bottom and I am sure the list could go on. The city also sells water to Henrico, & Chesterfield county and all of the 3 surrounding counties have offered to help build the new 40 million dollar baseball stadium. I am unsure if Roanoke City gets help from its surrounding counties or not to fund such things.

[richmondpics]

I don't intend to hijack this thread, but the GREATER Richmond Convention Center serves the entire region, and is owned by the Greater Richmond Convention Center Authority which is comprised of representatives from Richmond, Hanover, Henrico, and Chesterfield as well as the Retail Merchants Association.

The Richmond Braves were owned by the Atlanta Braves... The Diamond is managed/maintained by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority: "

The Richmond Metropolitan Authority (RMA) entered into a Moral Obligation Agreement with the City of Richmond, Chesterfield County and Henrico County on Aug. 8, 1984 to construct, finance and own a baseball stadium to replace the old Parker Field facility. The Stadium Operating Committee was established as an advisory panel to the RMA Board of Directors to oversee the construction, operation and maintenance of the new stadium, later named The Diamond. The Committee was also assigned responsibility for making recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the most cost-effective and best use of the stadium and its activities.

The Committee is comprised of up to 10 voting members who serve indefinite terms until replaced by the RMA Board of Directors, and includes the General Manager of the RMA, two representatives from each of the participating local jurisdictions, and three representatives from the private sector. Three additional individuals currently serve on the Committee as non-voting members." (link
With regards to a new stadium, there is currently a $60 million dollar baseball stadium proposal in Shockoe Bottom as part of a larger development. At this point, the city may be required to back the bonds necessary for funding construction, but the counties have not agreed to offer anything to make it happen. Are you talking about the ooold proposal to rebuild on the site of the Diamond? If so, see above regarding RMA.

With regards to water supply, this is completely a regional approach to ensuring adequate and safe water supply to the region: "Henrico and Richmond signed a water agreement through the year 2040. Richmond agreed to support the construction of a new treatment plant in Henrico County to help meet the region's future water needs. Henrico's water treatment plant was placed into service in 2004; however, Henrico will continue to purchase treated water from Richmond at a reduced volume through July 1, 2040. Water treated by Richmond that is no longer needed by Henrico as a result of its new plant, will be available to serve future growth in Chesterfield and Hanover. As a part of the contract, Henrico and Richmond, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, developed a "James River Management Plan." This plan will meet water supply needs and protect the river by identifying river flow levels that trigger conservation measures.

The Henrico Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility began operations in November 1989 and treats sewage from most of Henrico and parts of Goochland and Hanover. This facility is an element of the Water Quality Management Plan for the Richmond metropolitan area, adopted by the State Water Control Board on August 26, 1974. Under a wastewater agreement, Richmond receives and treats wastewater from Henrico and each jurisdiction treats the wastewater of the other's residents along their boundary lines.

Water and sewer agreements exist between Richmond and Chesterfield, Richmond and Hanover, Henrico and Hanover, and Henrico and Goochland. Chesterfield is also a member of the Appomattox River Water Authority. Staffs meet regularly to discuss regional water and sewer planning. In addition, Henrico provides Goochland with water and sewer service." (bottom of page

The restoration of Main Street Station was funding largely by Federal and State transportation grants/funds. The goal is to create a major multimodal transportation center which would serve the entire region. I'm not aware of any funding coming from the surrounding counties.

Rebuilding Shockoe Bottom and improving drainage in the area after Gaston was not funded, at all, by the surrounding counties.

There's a difference between just handing money over to the city and contributing as a region to regional projects (usually controlled by regional authorities) which benefit the region.

[Teebyrd86]

I take that huge thread and say you win! (without reading it all) : ) But yes this is kind if hyjacking the main thread line but I also take some fault in that.

[richmondpics]

Certainly don't feel obligated to read it all... I'm just not a big fan of misinformation.

Relating back to this thread, how effective is Roanoke in competing for and attracting the "Creative Class" ?

[540_804]

Originally Posted by richmondpics

Relating back to this thread, how effective is Roanoke in competing for and attracting the "Creative Class" ?

I'm not sure. The opening of the art museum probably has helped and has definitely gained Roanoke some much need national (and international) attention in the 'art scene'. The art events that are held downtown and the other cultural activities certainly help.

There's unfortunately not a lot of employment opportunities for "the creative class" in the area...(relatively speaking of course). There are design firms, architects, artists, advertising agencies in the area. A quick google search shows no less than 10 ad-agencies within a one-mile radius of the corner of Franklin and Jefferson St.

However, a lot of recent grads (naturally) overlook Roanoke for larger markets like Richmond, DC, and even Greensboro. For instance, I click on one of the google results from when I searched "Roanoke ad agency" and the home page says they are moving to Richmond ( 224 Design Studio - Branding. Advertising. Design. Richmond Virginia)

All things considered though, Roanoke does have a pretty active creative class.

[mccamp]

The creative class is so much more than "creative types" like artists, designers, etc. They are innovators. More and more entrepreneurs are moving to the region to launch their tech companies. (Thanks, in part, to the resources at Virginia Tech.) With the med school opening, more innovators (think biotech and advanced medical technologies) will also establish themselves in the area.

The city is taking the necessary steps. This stuff doesn't happen overnight. And the recession isn't helping.

Young folks (right out of college) are important to the area. But not nearly as important as the entrepreneurial class (usually over 30, with some experience under their belts and solid direction). These folks are the ones who launch companies, buy real estate and put down roots.

Twenty-somethings, for the most part, will spread their wings, then find a place to settle down. Roanoke, and the surrounding counties, want the settling to happen here.