Post by Dean Barber

Visiting Virginia's Shenandoah Valley last week really floored me, just like it did more than 50 years ago when I explored it as a boy in search of history. In this post, I tell you about much of what I saw and experienced in the Valley, before and after giving a presentation at the annual meeting of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, a regional economic development organization representing seven counties and five cities. As far as I can tell, purposeful economic development is being practiced here. These communities will not just take anything, but look for companies that will add to the quality of life that exists here. It's a smart move. There is also a realization that talent matters in a big way if economic development success is to be realized. And to that end, the Valley has its work cut out for it. (As does most of the country.)