Virginia’s Heartland Alliance Resource Library

Insights, Tools, and Updates

Access the ideas, data, and stories powering regional economic development across Southern and Central Virginia. The Virginia’s Heartland Alliance Resource Library brings together thought leadership, regional insights, and practical tools to support businesses, partners, and communities working toward a stronger, more connected future.

Longwood University students places in 6th in Autonomous Naval Drone Competition

Utilizing the same technology he competed with in the VentureWelll NOAA Ocean Tech Accelerator program, Ben Gettier recruited an team of Longwood University students from computer science, business, and engineering to put together Longwood University’s first ever entry in to the Naval Promoting Electric Propulsion Challenge. VentureWell awarded Gettier and...

Regional Housing Study

In July 2025, the Commonwealth Regional Council (CRC), was awarded $140,000.00 in grant funds from Virginia Housing to hire a consultant to conduct a Regional Housing study that will encompass the CRC’s regional footprint. This footprint includes the Counties of: Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway, and Prince Edward. This...

Dominion Energy – Cumberland Energy Center

As demand for electricity continues to grow, communities need power that is affordable, reliable, and creates lasting local benefits. Dominion has announced it plans to pursue constructing a new power generation facility that will consist of two 2-on-1 combined cycle units that would use natural gas to generate approximately 3,000...

First Responder’s Award – Nottoway

The Heartland is full of caring and dedicated citizens, tirelessly working to make life better for those who call this home. Each year, all of the emergency services calls from across Virginia are reviewed and the absolute best examples of first responders cooperating with multiple agencies get selected for recognition....

Bathemetryx and Promoting Electric Propulsion Naval Engineering Challenge

Over the past year and a half an interdisciplinary team of students has been working on creating low-cost uncrewed surface vessel (USV) technology for aquatic data collection and STEM education. The founder, senior environmental science major Ben Gettier, was invited to the VentureWell NOAA Ocean Tech Accelerator program in which...

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