West Virginia Executive Fall 2020 | Page 113

High Technology Foundation Receives USDA Rural Business Development Grant Award
The High Technology Foundation recently received a U . S . Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) Rural Business Development Grant Award to help enhance its strategies for recruiting federal operations to the I-79 Technology Park in the ongoing effort to diversify West Virginia ’ s economy .
The grant will enable the foundation to contract with experts who will conduct a thorough analysis of the I-79 Technology Park as a location for federal operations , allowing the organization to more precisely leverage its strengths and address weaknesses in a process known as reverse site selection . The analysis will be used to establish a resource and recruitment roadmap that will build upon competitive strengths and identify approaches for overcoming gaps and weaknesses . This information will allow the High Technology Foundation to identify resources and refine the approach needed for following its recruitment strategy .
“ I am very grateful to the USDA for providing this grant support to our efforts ,” says Jim Estep , president and CEO of the High Technology Foundation . “ Never has there been a time in the state ’ s history that we were more in need of aggressive economic diversification efforts to stabilize and expand the state ’ s economic basis . The USDA has repeatedly demonstrated that it is an important resource for economic diversification and other important areas , such as broadband . I ’ d like to thank Kris Warner , state director of USDA rural development in West Virginia , for doing an amazing job of positioning the USDA to be a critical resource to the people of West Virginia .”
AGD + Collective Designs Rocket Engine Communications
NASA ' s Space Launch System Core Stage Green Run test series .
Most days , you can find a team at AGD + Collective working expressively on rocket engines . Creating dynamic imagery to promote the engines is just one aspect of the work AGD + does for Aerojet Rocketdyne ( AR ), a leading American manufacturer of rocket engines and major player in both defense and space exploration .
For the past five years , AGD +— a Charleston-based marketing communications firm — has worked closely with AR leadership on a wide variety of brand communications efforts , from bringing the AR brand to life in the company ’ s corporate headquarters in El Segundo , CA , to developing robust , productspecific multimedia campaigns and creating detailed illustrations .
Now , AGD + is supporting AR ’ s communications efforts as it provides the rocket propulsion for NASA ’ s Space Launch System ( SLS ), which is the most powerful rocket ever built by NASA .
NASA ’ s SLS — America ’ s next-generation heavy-lift rocket , which is powered by AR — is taking humanity back to the moon and beyond . AR ’ s propulsion plays a critical role in SLS ’ s ability to successfully launch the heaviest , largest and most valuable payloads into deep space .
“ Aerojet Rocketdyne is an excellent client , and the work is just so fascinating ,” says Steve Gray , creative strategist / principle at AGD +. “ It ’ s challenging , and that ’ s why we enjoy it so much . We like to push the limits , broaden our perspective and put everything we ’ ve got behind a company like Aerojet Rocketdyne that literally helps defend our troops overseas and supports the country ’ s efforts in space exploration . As NASA ’ s Space Launch System prepares for future moon , Mars and deep space exploration , it ’ s wonderful to play even a small part in such an amazing effort benefiting humanity .”
Capito Announces Broadband Buildout in Barbour , Doddridge and Randolph Counties
In October , U . S . Senator Shelley Moore Capito , a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee , joined U . S . Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Jim Hubbard and USDA West Virginia State Director Kris Warner to announce a $ 7.6 million broadband investment . Since the launch of the Capito Connect initiative in 2015 , the USDA has awarded more than $ 45 million in grants to extend broadband service and improve telemedicine in West Virginia . This is the fourth ReConnect grant Capito has announced for West Virginia in the last year .
The grant , which is being given through the USDA ’ s ReConnect program , was awarded to Citynet and will support the buildout of broadband infrastructure to provide gigabit-level service over a 205-mile fiber network to residents in Barbour , Doddridge and Randolph counties . As a result , the project will benefit approximately 6,054 people , 58 farms , 41 businesses , three fire stations , two schools and two post offices .
“ Whether it ’ s broadband or highways , infrastructure is vital to the well-being of West Virginians and the communities in which they live ,” says Capito . “ I helped create the ReConnect program within the appropriations process because I saw the need to close the digital divide in rural America . I ’ ve continued to support ReConnect enthusiastically because the USDA uniquely understands the difficulties associated with implementing broadband in rural areas and is better equipped to tackle those issues head on . This is a major step forward in our efforts to better connect West Virginia , thanks in part to my Capito Connect Plan . It also demonstrates how the collaboration of local , state and federal partners can lead to results that help West Virginia homes and businesses in need . Access and affordability of rural broadband has always been a priority of mine , and I ’ m grateful to see Secretary Perdue and the Trump administration prioritize this issue .”
NextGen Federal Systems Awarded Air Force Contract to Predict Space Weather
NextGen Federal Systems has been awarded a contract by Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate to predict
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