Virginia Tech Center for Economic & Community Engagement

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Virginia Tech Center for Economic & Community Engagement

Helping businesses and communities find their paths to prosperity. Formerly the Office of Economic Development

10/01/2026

The Center for Economic and Community Engagement is partnering with the Middlesex County Economic Development Authority to uncover opportunities for strengthening the blue catfish industry in Virginia’s Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.

CECE team members Ashley Crouse, Sarah Lyon-Hill, and Mallory Tuttle recently facilitated two regional workshops that brought together watermen, local government representatives, seafood businesses, industry organizations, and other partners.

Participants reviewed project findings, prioritized emerging opportunities, and identified potential actions to expand the harvest, processing, distribution, and market demand for invasive blue catfish.

09/29/2026

Make a gift of $15 or more to the Center for Economic and Community Engagement to get a pair of this year’s Hokie socks.

Your support opens doors for students to gain hands-on experience helping communities grow.

Donate here: give.vt.edu/getsocks

Select an Area: Outreach and International Affairs
Select a Fund: Center for Economic and Community Engagement

Learn more about giving to CECE: https://cece.vt.edu/about/give.html

09/28/2026

How can better storytelling support economic development?

CECE's recent advisory board meeting explored that question through a panel on public engagement featuring Emily Gibson, Chris Lloyd, and David Manley. A new blog post (🔗 in comments) includes highlights from the discussion and a link to our annual magazine, where you'll be able to read the stories on how CECE's work is creating positive change in its collaborations with communities.

09/15/2026

Follow your passion and begin working with young children! Apply for a four-week program that includes 80 hours of professional development in early childhood.

The program begins September 23 and will run through October 21, 2026, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. noon at the New River Community College Christiansburg site.

Apply here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=CsH_XxZ0AE2l2rzoii7GbRigJesIL_5DowCFdSVlidNUOUgxTUtCUUVDUEFROENZNFgyQlVNUzJORy4u&route=shorturl

09/14/2026

Congratulations to Susan Short, senior associate vice president for outreach and international affairs, on your induction into the Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship!

This lifetime distinction recognizes scholars and leaders who have made significant contributions to community-engaged work and who commit to bringing that expertise to complex social, civic, and economic challenges.

Read more about Susan in the comments below.

09/10/2026

Members of Virginia's AM2 Tech Hub gathered at Patrick & Henry Community College last week for an all-hands meeting focused on next steps for the consortium: identifying better ways of bringing value-added services to manufacturers and supporting their growth in the region.

Thank you to Patrick & Henry Community College for hosting us and taking us on a tour of the Manufacturing & Engineering Technology Complex, as well as Eastman, Nathan Trotter & Company, and Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation for sharing how manufacturing is growing in your region.

We look forward to what’s next as we continue to establish Virginia’s New River Valley, Southern Virginia, Roanoke-Alleghany, and Greater Lynchburg regions as a global destination and home for industry additive manufacturing and advanced materials solutions.

View the photo gallery: Link in comments!

09/01/2026

The Center for Economic and Community Engagement will conduct a study, led by Elli Travis, for Dickenson County and the Town of Clintwood to assess the viability of a community kitchen.

Officials hope combining the research will reveal how a commercial kitchen could boost local food businesses, allow farmers to process surplus crops for off-season sales, support caterers, and assist with local emergency or hot food delivery programs.

Read more: link in comments!

08/27/2026

Through an Appalachian Regional Commission READY grant, the Center for Economic and Community Engagement is partnering with the Workforce Development Foundation to strengthen the network of workforce and community partners serving the New River/Mount Rogers region, particularly those supporting job seekers who are facing barriers to employment.

Last week, CECE’s Ashley Crouse and Elli Travis brought together people in workforce, education, social services, and economic development for an interactive workshop to explore how organizations connect, share information, make referrals, and coordinate services.

The workshop identified strengths and gaps in the network and opportunities to improve access to services.

08/25/2026

Four CECE graduate assistants in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program gained real-world experience taking the lead on a consequential project that gave Virginia Cooperative Extension new ways to communicate their value.

Read more: Link in comments!

08/17/2026

Meet a Vibrant Virginia Council Member: Lisa McNair.

Lisa McNair has worked at Virginia Tech since 2005 and serves as the deputy executive director for the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology - ICAT as well as a professor in the Department of Engineering Education.

Learn more about Lisa: Link to Q&A in comments!

Address

1900 Kraft Drive
Blacksburg, VA
24060

Telephone

+15402315278

Website

https://cece.vt.edu/

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