This article about the rise of Boulder. Colorado to a technology, entrepreneurship and creative class hub is the best example of the passion this blog – Connecting People – has for the RNR (Roanoke and New River Valleys). This article clearly outlines steps our region must take into transforming it into the new economy.

We feel the three aspects our region must focus more on are: (1) understanding of the importance and use of technology in their personal and professional lives; (2) an aggressive and proactive entrepreneurship program, which will create more businesses; and (3) the realization of the mass labor shortage due to Boomer retirements and creating a workforce with billable skills in the regional economy.

The following editorial appeared in the CT earlier this year, but I thought it was applicable to this time of year when college students from across the region are beginning to go to on-campus job fairs. This unsolicited endorsement is pretty powerful.

Interesting US Census data on moving habits of Americans… Just over 10% of Americans move each year and only about 3% roughly would boost our region’s net population. That is why we must retain what we have.

Between 2006 and 2007, 38.7 million people moved in the United States: 25.2 million stayed in the same county, 7.4 million moved to a different county within the same state, 4.9 million moved to a different state and 1.2 million moved to the U.S. from abroad.

People who were ages 20 to 24 and 25 to 29 had the highest moving rates (27 percent and 26 percent) in 2007. The majority in both age groups moved within the same county (66 percent and 63 percent). Neither of the comparisons within these age groups was statistically different from the other.

Also, this stat of YPs is encouraging, that so many are moving, but two-thirds move within the same county. Again, the competition for YPs to move into your region each year is incredibly stiff.

We received a direct mail piece from the office of university relations, marketing and strategic communications from Virginia Tech asking alums to go to ThisIsTheFuture.com and submit their story and photo to the site to provide an inventory of what Hokies are doing to serve their communities. The idea is fantastic in creating that online brand identity that is so important especially with the younger demographic audience.

We also were involved in creating MyRoanokeStory.com that does something very similar – to showcase Roanokers unique stories and build that online identity.

These are examples of online activities we must embrace and promote in order to build our online brand in the region. Therefore, if you are a Hokie and/or a Roanoker, then please go to these sites and participate.

Duncan Adams of the Roanoke Times wrote a fantastic piece on the Executive Director of the NCTC in today’s edition (photo credit Duncan Adams and the Roanoke Times). The piece told Cory’s unique story and also promoted today’s Tech Expo at the Roanoke Civic Center from 3 – 6 pm. In only one year, Cory has taken the NCTC from its development stage (led by previous ED Gordie Ziegler) and expanded to a new level. This organization has tremendous forward thinking individuals who understand technology’s role in the new economy and are focused on regionalism as well between the Roanoke and New River Valleys (RNR). Thanks for recognizing Cory and the NCTC role in shaping the regional economy.