Return to Roots

 Return to Roots Southern Virginia (RTR SoVA) was launched on Friday, June 12, at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research and multiple locations across Southern Virginia.
Return to Roots locates former and potential Southwest and Southern Virginia residents and brings them to their roots for career and business opportunities. The program operates primarily through the websites www.ReturnToRoots.org and www.RTRSoVA.org to inform them about employment and business opportunities available in Southwest and Southern Virginia.
Return to Roots is an initiative which started in Southwest Virginia and is expanding into Southern Virginia.  At the centerpiece of the initiative is the RTR SoVA website (www.RTRSoVA.org) which is designed to promote the economic development of the region and to help businesses succeed within Southern Virginia. Results will be achieved through a vital information portal for careers and economic development opportunities that formally began reaching thousands of potential employees this past month.
Managed by Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc, the Return to Roots program separates itself from other programs by specifically focusing on the region where jobs are located, and not just on the jobs themselves. Someone looking to return to Southern Virginia may not know how much things have changed.  Return to Roots aggregates the available information for them, and works to make sure that potential employees and residents are fully aware of the events occurring within Southern Virginia.
The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission provided necessary 2008 Special Projects grants to fund outreach to former residents and existing companies, encouraging each to post their resumes and job openings.  The website is available for use by potential job seekers, employers and entrepreneurs.
RTR SoVA evolved from a meeting on the recruitment of talent which was convened by the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce on March 26, 2008, at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research. Goals of the meeting were to discuss what was being done, what was being considered, and how collaborating would strengthen the efforts to recruit the human capital required for companies and communities to be successful in today’s global economy.
Detailed discussions focused on the recruitment of talent for businesses and for Southern Virginia.
Laurie S. Moran, CCE, President of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, had this to say regarding talent in Southern Virginia: “The Chamber is committed to attracting and retaining a talented, educated, and ambitious workforce for our community. We believe Return to Roots enhances our efforts to energize this region by creating a talent pool that creates exceptional business growth.”
RTR SoVA is made possible through the collaboration of The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, The Center for Rural Virginia, West Piedmont Workforce Investment Network, and the Chambers of Commerce in Danville Pittsylvania County, Franklin County, Halifax County, Martinsville-Henry County, Patrick County.