VCU news

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center for Urban and Regional Analysis has been awarded a $140,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase to support the development of strategies for increasing exports in the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area. VCU will work in collaboration with the Greater Richmond Partnership, the region’s economic development organization, during the course of the project. 

Details of the grant will be announced as part of an export briefing conducted by Marek Gootman, director of strategic partnerships and global initiatives at the Brookings Institution. Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones and representatives from JPMorgan Chase, VCU and the Greater Richmond Partnership will also address the group of invited regional economic development leaders and private sector stakeholders. VCU and the Greater Richmond Partnership will host the briefing. 

Reporters are invited to cover the export briefing and grant announcement on Wednesday, April 8, from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. at the Commonwealth Club, 401 W. Franklin St., Richmond. 

The Center for Urban and Regional Analysis, housed in the L. Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, was established by the Virginia General Assembly in 1992 to serve government, business and nonprofit organizations at the town, city and regional levels. 

Launched in 1994, the Greater Richmond Partnership is a public-private organization that serves as the regional economic development group for the city of Richmond and counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico.