June 16 – Through a partnership to advance economic development in Southern Virginia, GO Virginia Region 3 and UVA’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service welcome Bryan David as program director for the 13-county region that includes the cities of Danville and Martinsville.
David will lead the operations of the GO Virginia Region 3 Council in collaboration with a robust network of partner organizations, engaged residents, and business leaders.
“I am eager to get to work realizing the Region 3 Council’s vision, building on rich opportunities for regional collaboration – all part of the “We’re Better Together” attitude that makes Region 3 well positioned to realize economic advancement,” said David. “ I look forward to engaging the region’s leadership to strengthen our targeted business sectors including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, data centers, and natural resources products.”
With 30 years of professional experience, David has held leadership positions for local governments throughout the commonwealth as well as Virginia’s Region 2000 Partnership – Economic Development Council in Lynchburg. He received a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Hampden-Sydney College. He is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation board of directors and vice chair of the Council for Rural Virginia.
The Region 3 Council emphasizes cross-region partnerships and programs to build greater opportunity and economic vitality in the region.
“We look to the new program director to build upon existing strategic directions, alliances, and partnerships to achieve our economic development vision for this region,” said Randy Lail, chairman of the Region 3 Council. “We have great people and area leaders helping to shoulder the load in our region. This fills our long-standing goal to have a full-time manager waking up every day thinking about how to move our region forward. I’m excited to welcome Bryan and UVA’s Cooper Center in this new partnership.”
David will maintain offices in South Boston and Martinsville. “I expect to build collaborative relationships both virtually and in-person when it’s the appropriate time,” he said. “This position requires maintaining and building on a rich network of community leaders and employers from across this region, so a hybrid approach to collaboration can readily overcome the challenges of geography.”
The University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center contributed to finding and securing a position for David.
“Consistent with the values of our strategic plan, emphasizing collaboration and commitment to communities, we appreciate the invitation from Charley Majors, Randy Lail, Karl Stauber, and the Region 3 Council to make this possible,” said Larry Terry II, executive director. “The Region 3 website says: ‘We’re Better Together’ – and we at the Cooper Center and Institute of Government pledge to work with the Region 3 Council and with Bryan to make it so.”
Organizations, institutions and individuals with ideas for grant applications are strongly encouraged to connect with Bryan David through the Region 3 website https://govirginia3.org/contact/.