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The Hampton Roads Alliance is upping its intelligence to help economic development professionals share data to attract jobs and emerging industries to the region.
The alliance tapped Port & Starboard, a Virginia Beach-based boutique technology consulting company, to develop a Salesforce software-powered platform that enables localities to share information about business opportunities, track business retention and expansion projects and work together to bring business growth to Hampton Roads.
Port & Starboard, based in the ViBe District since its founding in 2016, is led by managing partners, Lisa DeNoia and Jeff Werby. Its unique digital platform is licensed to a key alliance partner, the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, and an increasing number of local economic development stakeholders.
“We’re passionate about technology and the business community,” DeNoia said. “The alliance is such a fantastic resource from an economic development perspective, and I feel very passionate about continuing to give them whatever technology tools they need to execute their strategies and vision.”
Hampton Roads Alliance President and CEO Doug Smith said the partnership was a first step in establishing a database and is a powerful tool that could help attract and retain businesses in the region.
“By leveraging the strengths of each locality and our business community, we are better equipped to cohesively provide the necessary support and resources to businesses looking to locate or expand in Hampton Roads,” Smith said.
The goal is to proactively target industry, promote the region’s collective assets and develop a next-generation regional marketing strategy, Smith said.
“By creating a more targeted and coordinated approach to economic development, we can provide businesses with a more streamlined and efficient process for locating and expanding in the region,” Smith said.
So far, economic development departments from Isle of Wight County, Suffolk, and Franklin Southampton Economic Development have joined the initiative, DeNoia said.
“Those cities can now collaborate with each other and understand what’s going on regionally,” DeNoia said.
DeNoia said it has encouraged organic communication between the organizations, allowing them to spend less time on data entry and to focus on economic development initiatives and projects.
Smith encourages all cities and counties within the region to join so the platform’s full benefits can be realized.
“By working together, we can create a more unified and coordinated approach to economic development that will make it easier for businesses to locate and grow in Hampton Roads,” he said.
Smith said the alliance is already seeing the region come together and collaborate on economic development projects more than ever before. He also noted that the regional economic development organization is on track to lead the state in the number of projects announced in 2023.
The alliance is also working on enhancing the region’s workforce development programs, strengthening investments in real estate and site development and boosting resilience by diversifying the local energy portfolio.
Inside Business
“By taking a comprehensive and coordinated approach to economic development, we are confident that we can build a more prosperous future for Hampton Roads,” Smith said.
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com