Building bridges — our strategic priorities

When BRIDGE, the privately funded regional economic development organization that's raising funds for new air service at Tri-Cities Airport, first announced that initiative in December, we weren't yet a widely recognized name. Then again, we had only recently rebranded to BRIDGE a few weeks earlier, and only on our social media channels.Despite that, we had already been actively making progress — not only on air service expansion, but also on five other core areas of our newly completed strategic plan. At the December event at the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel where we introduced the air service initiative, we also presented our six strategic plan priorities to provide a clearer picture of who we are and what we aim to achieve.Our strategic plan — developed and refined throughout 2024 in collaboration with Younger Associates, a Jackson, Tennessee-based consulting firm, and with input from more than 120 business, government, economic development professionals, chambers of commerce and nonprofit leaders from across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia — focuses on the following priorities:— Market Research and Data. BRIDGE helps by funding data subscriptions and providing information — at no cost — to those communities and businesses that ask for our assistance. We also offer private foundation grant search services to support local development efforts. Research projects this year have included wage surveys, traffic counts, STEM education, co-working spaces, outdoor tourism, consumer spending and demographics.— Air Service Expansion. This initiative has drawn significant attention since we announced it in December. Federal regulations prevent airports like Tri-Cities Airport from offering airline-specific incentives directly, so many airports partner with third-party organizations for recruitment and support.TRI lacked such a partner until BRIDGE volunteered for that role in late 2024. Attracting new carriers can help lower ticket prices, provide more direct flights to major markets, and make our airport a stronger asset for tourism, business, and talent attraction and retention. Our region's airport is crucial to economic development and growth in our region.— Tourism. Tourism drives economic growth by bringing new dollars into the region, boosting businesses and tax revenues, and supporting the local job market. It also enhances national visibility and talent recruitment.BRIDGE supports our local and regional tourism organizations' efforts to attract tourists to our regions. Tourism organizations from Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia contributed to our strategic plan. We're also working with communities affected by natural disasters to find and apply for grant funding to support projects such as downtown revitalization and outdoor tourism.— Talent Attraction and Retention. In collaboration with regional young professional groups, the First Tennessee Development District, and United Way of Greater Kingsport, BRIDGE has been helping organize a talent attraction event to connect potential educators from Middle and West Tennessee with local school systems.Additionally, our development director, McKenzie Templeton, was recently selected co-chair of the STRONG ACC Achievable Futures Workgroup, which is focused on strengthening the pipeline from education to employment.BRIDGE is also actively engaged in partnerships and collective impact initiatives across the region. Recently, we were asked to join with STRONG ACC, Emory & Henry University, Powell Valley Bank, and a collaboration of business, real estate, education and community leaders to host a housing symposium following the Southwest Virginia Economic Forum on May 22 at the University of Virginia's College at Wise.— Site Development. BRIDGE supports communities in their efforts to develop industrial and commercial sites by providing additional resources free of charge. Resources include identification and evaluation of sites, as well as research and outreach to potential developers. Our goal is to meet each community where they are and provide support to help them reach their development goals because additional industrial and commercial sites will help attract companies to our region.— Real Estate Development. Complementing our site development work, this effort focuses on assisting private developers with commercial, residential, retail and recreational projects. Currently BRIDGE is assisting developers with more than 1,400 housing units, two private business parks and recruiting a foreign manufacturer. Growth in these sectors must continue to help retain talent and businesses and to attract additional talent and business.BRIDGE is honored to serve our region — Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The state line should not be seen as a barrier but as an asset.John Rose is director of BRIDGE Regional Economic Development.