Economic Development Studio @ Virginia Tech

The Economic Development Studio @ Virginia Tech is a resource for communities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. We conduct research on economic development issues, inform policymakers and residents, and provide suggestions for economic development strategy and action. The Studio is a collaborative effort between Virginia Tech’s Urban Affairs and Planning Program and Virginia Tech’s Office of Economic Development. Faculty leading the studio effort are Dr. Heike Mayer and Dr. John Provo.

Past Projects

2008: Bringing Open Innovation to Economic Development in Virginia

This project involved 7 students in Alexandria and 5 students in Blacksburg. The students applied the open innovation model to Virginia Tech's distributed research facilities in Arlington and in Danville. The teams assessed the potential of these institutions to link with industry and other research organizations and developed recommendations for economic development practitoners.

The reports can be downloaded here:

Arlington case study: Advancing Openness: Application of the Open Innovation Model and the Central Role of University-Industry Linkages

Danville case study: Bringing Open Innovation to Economic Development in Southside Virginia

2007: Alleghany Highlands Wood Products Labor Market Issues

During Fall 2007 students in the Economic Development Studio conducted research and analysis on labor market issues in the Alleghany Highlands. The study was commissioned for the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission which was interested in exploring both needs of current industries and developing labor-based strategies for adding-value to those industry functions in the future. The six students enrolled in this class were all based in Blacksburg.

The final report can be downloaded here: Economic Development Final Report

2006: Farmshoring in Virginia

This project involved 15 students in Alexandria and in Blacksburg. The class examined farmshoring/domestic outsourcing opportunities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Students made recommendations to state and local policymakers how they can take advantage of the emerging farmshoring/domestic outsourcing phenomenon. The project was funded by by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and various local communities.

The students received the 2007 Student Project Award of the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association.

To read the summary report and the technical reports, click here.

2004: Doing Business in Roanoke: An Analysis of Downtown Sectors

During Fall 2004, students in the Economic Development Studio conducted an industry cluster analysis of downtown Roanoke. The study was commissioned by Downtown Roanoke Inc. (DRI), a business improvement district organization. The seven students enrolled in this class were all based in Blacksburg.

Doing Business in Roanoke: An Analysis of Downtown Sectors (PDF, Powerpoint)