Economic Development Studio Class
The Studio is a collaborative effort between Virginia Tech's Urban Affairs and Planning and the Center for Economic & Community Engagement. Scott Tate, with support from John Provo, Sarah Lyon-Hill, and Maggie Cowell, are the faculty leading the studio effort. Graduate students work under faculty supervision on behalf of real-life clients and deliver actionable research projects. The students design and shape the implementation of the project, which typically provides a final sheltered work experience before they embark on their careers.
The Economic Development Studio at Virginia Tech is a resource for communities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. We conduct research on economic development issues, inform and empower decision-making, and provide technically sound recommendations for economic development strategy and action.
Have an idea for the Studio? Email John Provo, Scott Tate, Sarah Lyon-Hill, or Maggie Cowell.
Studio Class Project Examples
2023
Virginia Remote Work Study
Studio participants analyzed drivers and challenges of remote work, categorized the types of remote workers attracted to different communities, and developed recommendations for different community types and the Virginia Main Street program.
View the final report on remote work in Virginia.
2022
Retail Market Analysis, Blacksburg, VA
Studio participants developed a retail market analysis in coordination with Blacksburg Partnership to inform retail market strategies to attract and improve businesses. To pinpoint challenges to the retail climate of Blacksburg, participants surveyed business owners, conducted a retail leakage analysis, reviewed past research and reports relating to the town, and conducted a series of 12 case studies on college towns similar to Blacksburg.
View the retail market analysis of Blacksburg, VA.
2021
Economic Recovery in Virginia
Studio participants worked with clients to create an economic recovery toolkit to help Virginia emerge from the pandemic. Participants completed writing assignments and reviewed literature to gain a better understanding of economic development in Virginia and how to develop appropriate responses to the crisis. The students held a focus group session with economic developers in Virginia to present mid-term findings they collected for their toolkit. Students refined their project based on the feedback they received from the focus group and then presented their final product to clients.
View the Regional Economic Recovery and Resilience Toolkit.
2019
Redeveloping the Vaughan Furniture Building in Galax, VA
Studio participants worked with City Manager of Galax Keith Barker and owners of Vaughan Furniture to develop revitalization ideas for the vacant Vaughan Furniture Building. Participants conducted a literature review, interviewed city residents including business owners and organizational leaders, collected surveys, and created a plan for the building which they later presented to local business owners, town officials, and members of the public.
View the Vaughan Furniture redevelopment proposal.
2017
Virginia Growth and Opportunity Fund: Ridge Valley Fellowship Program
Studio participants worked with GO Virginia Regions 1, 2, and 8 to develop a proposal for an inter-regional educational and workforce collaboration to retain highly-educated employees that possess the essential skills and fundamentals that employers in these regions demand.
2016
Target Industry Analysis for the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance
The Economic Development Studio at Virginia Tech identified four target industries for the region through data analysis, stakeholder interviews, stakeholder focus groups and researching industry trends and regional assets.
View the target industry analysis for the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance.
2015
Innovation Districts: Opportunities for Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads
The Economic Development Studio at Virginia Tech assessed the potential of innovation districts in the Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia areas.
View the final report on innovation districts.
2014
Upper James River Water Trail
In the fall of 2014, the Economic Development Studio at Virginia Tech created a framework for assessing the economic impact of the Upper James River Water Trail. Students researched the economic impact and potential of outdoor recreation within several communities across the United States, and developed strategies to maximize the economic benefits of the Upper James River Water Trail.
View the final report on the Upper James River Water Trail.
2012
Reshoring to Virginia
Students researched the economic impact and potential of returning manufacturing to several communities across Virginia and developed strategies for these communities to maximize the economic benefits of the reshoring phenomenon.
View the final presentation on reshoring to Virginia.
2011
Building Connectivity Through Recreation Trails
Students took a closer look at the New River Trail State Park and the Virginia Creeper Trail to develop a 'how to' guide for trails looking to document their economic impact. Through cases studies in Damascus and Galax, Virginia, the studio class explored strategies to maximize the impact the trails have on the two communities.
View the guide on recreation trails.
2010
Economic Development Strategies for Small Defense Communities
Studio participants explored new avenues for maximizing opportunities at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RAAP) located in Montgomery and Pulaski Counties and the Dahlgren Naval Weapons Station in King George County.
View the final report on maximizing opportunities at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.
View the executive summary on growth and rural preservation in King George County.
2009
Sustainable Business Opportunities for Floyd, Virginia
Students worked with grass-root community leaders in Floyd, a rural county off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the New River Valley. Building on the community's assets, interests, and real-world opportunities in the marketplace, the studio constructed a business case for local sustainable enterprises.
View the presentation for sustainable business opportunities for Floyd.
View the final report on sustainable business opportunities for Floyd.
2008
Bringing Open Innovation to Economic Development in Virginia
Students applied the open innovation model to Virginia Tech's distributed research facilities in Arlington and in Danville. The two reports assess the potential of these institutions to link with industry and other research organizations and developed recommendations for economic development practitioners.
View the final report on open innovation in Arlington.
View the final report on open innovation in Danville.
2007
Alleghany Highlands Wood Products Labor Market Issues
Students conducted research and analysis on labor market issues in the Alleghany Highlands. The study was commissioned for the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, which was interested in exploring both needs of current industries and developing labor-based strategies for adding value to those industry functions in the future.
View the final report on Alleghany Highlands.
2006
Farmshoring in Virginia: Strategies for Linking Urban and Rural Economies in Virginia
Students examined domestic outsourcing opportunities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The studio made recommendations to state and local policymakers how they can take advantage of the emerging farmshoring/domestic outsourcing phenomenon. The project was funded by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and various local communities. The students received the 2007 Student Project Award of the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association.
View the final report on farmshoring here.