South Hill, Virginia, Aug 24, 2017:

The Southern Virginia GO Region 3 Council announces that it has formally submitted the Region 3 Growth & Diversification Plan to the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development, meeting the deadline for submission of August 25, 2017.

As required by the GO Virginia State Board, the Region's Growth & Diversification Plan represents a comprehensive assessment of the Region's demographics, business climate, and workforce. During the 6-month process to develop the Plan, over 200 local, regional, and state leaders, citizens, and stakeholders were involved in a series of 13 roundtables. The Plan is intended to serve as an Investment Strategy, to determine:

1.) how the region will increase the number of higher paying jobs;

2.) how the region will enhance its economic competitiveness;

3.) how the region will diversify its economy that in turn supports the growth of the Commonwealth's overall economy.

Citizens and stakeholders interested in reviewing the Plan can do so by accessing the following online link: this link

In addition, Region 3 is holding two Partners' Information Sessions on Tuesday, August 29. Both sessions are open to the public; advance registration is required.

• 8 AM - 12 Noon, The Prizery, South Boston, Virginia
• 2 PM - 6 PM, Southside Virginia Community College Workforce Center, Keysville, Virginia

GO Virginia is the Commonwealth's emerging economic development initiative. The mission of GO Virginia is to encourage collaboration among business, education, and government in each region, on activities that will enhance private sector growth and opportunity, economic competitiveness, and alignment of workforce development programs with the needs of the employers in the regions. GO Virginia is managed within nine regions of Virginia. Southern Virginia GO Region 3 includes the Counties of Patrick, Henry, Pittsylvania, Halifax, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, Nottoway, Prince Edward, Lunenburg, Buckingham, Cumberland, Charlotte, Amelia and the Cities of Martinsville and Danville.

For release 12 noon EST August 24, 2017  Southern Virginia GO