Tech council ready to aid in Danville economic development

Local technology companies would like to assist local economic developers in attracting more tech companies to the Dan River Region.

About 40 attendees of the Southern Piedmont Technology Council’s “Tech Bunch for Lunch” on Tuesday heard a progress update from Danville Economic Development Director Jeremy Stratton and Pittsylvania County Economic Development Director Ken Bowman.

“What can we do in the community to help you guys help us?” asked panel discussion moderator and EIT South General Manager Michael Duncan.

Stratton suggested the technology council get more involved, like hosting receptions for prospective companies to talk about strategies or issues.

It helps for clients to see a local company’s operations and success, Bowman said. EIT has hosted such clients.

Most activity has been with technology-led businesses, like expansions for EIT and CBN Secure Technologies, Stratton said. Noblis and Cray partnered to bring a supercomputer and the Center for Applied High Performance Computing to Danville later this year.

The directors said they’re busy behind the scenes and aren’t waiting for the state or anyone else to attract companies to the area.

For instance, Stratton and city development partners are being more proactive in selling Danville’s broadband in hopes of bringing a data center. They are visiting with site consultants and attending trade shows.

The county is working with expanding companies that have weathered the storm and want to add more people, Bowman said. Now, the priority is getting industrial park sites ready for companies to move in, especially as the economy improves.

If the infrastructure isn’t ready, the companies just won’t come, the directors told attendees.

Companies seem to be holding back because of uncertainty about what others or the government is doing, Stratton said.

The issue of unionism getting a foothold in the community also concerns some potential clients, Stratton said, adding he tells them Virginia is a right-to-work state.

Swedwood Danville will hold an election later this month to determine if workers will unionize there.

Phillip Wright, EcomNets general manager in Danville, said the collaboration between the city and county is encouraging. EcomNets would also be willing to talk with prospective companies looking to move to the area, he said.

Getting the technology council more involved would be a good move, said Wright, a member.

“It helps prospective clients know there are resources and people in the region,” he said.

For more information about the council, email Rachel.Reynolds@ialr.org. The council will host an awards banquet and IT showcase Nov. 10.