Key Initiatives

Strengthening the relationship between UVA and the surrounding Charlottesville/Albemarle community is one of President Ryan's top priorities as president. The President’s Council on UVA-Community Partnerships and the affiliated working groups are helping us engage with our community partners to make our community as strong and equitable as possible.

UVA has established a goal to support the development of 1,000 to 1,500 affordable housing units over a decade on land in Charlottesville and/or Albemarle County that is owned by UVA or the UVA Foundation.

Industry clusters are groups of firms that gain a competitive advantage by co-locating in a geographic region and sharing assets, networks, knowledge, workforce training, etc. The Office of Economic Development partners with allies to help support existing and emerging regional industry clusters such as biotechnology. A large portion of the University's research funding is related to biotechnology, making us a natural player in accelerating and sustaining industry growth. 

North Fork is a 562-acre park that provides state-of-the-art facilities to develop the creation and enhancement of research and business collaboration between the University and the public and private sectors — all for the economic and social benefit of Virginia and beyond.  With a newly updated mixed-use master plan and the ability to build another 3 million square feet of buildings, opportunities abound.

North Fork is one of only a few developments in the Commonwealth featuring a Tier 4 “shovel ready” site as defined by the Virginia Business Ready Site program. This site (100+ acres) and additional spaces at North Fork are highly desirable for companies. The Office of Economic Development aims to support North Fork’s efforts to fill those unique spaces, attracting more industry to the area and creating more opportunities for alignment with ongoing faculty research.

As an applied research center, CCAM brings together academia, government, and industry to create the ideal environment for members to conduct meaningful, collaborative research. 

UVA assisted in securing meaningful collaborations, sponsorship across higher education and industry, physical space, and grant funding to build and support the Center.
 

Along with graduating tomorrow’s leaders, the University of Virginia serves workforce needs more broadly across the Commonwealth.

Economic Development works with industry partners to identify human capital needs and with education partners to create solutions for those specific needs. This process creates training initiatives that develop required, relevant skills for current and future economies, spanning all ages and levels of education. The University’s contribution to talent development becomes a powerful vehicle for addressing economic challenges throughout Virginia.