Scott Tate named senior specialist in Office of Economic Development
Scott Tate, formerly with Virginia Cooperative Extension, has been named senior economic development specialist in Virginia Tech's Office of Economic Development.
In his new role as senior economic development specialist, Tate will provide a conduit to the resources of Virginia Tech, including connecting businesses with faculty research that can help them remain competitive and create jobs.
Tate earned his Ph.D. degree in 2012 from Virginia Tech's ASPECT interdisciplinary program encompassing social sciences, humanities, and the arts. As an Extension specialist, he was embedded in Virginia Tech's Institute for Policy and Governance, housed in the School of Public and International Affairs.
Tate's expertise is in regional development, entrepreneurship, and the arts. Since 2005 he has worked with communities across the commonwealth. In this brief YouTube excerpt, he discusses some of his observations from working with arts and cultural groups in Southwest Virginia:
With Institute for Policy and Governance Director Max O. Stephenson Jr. of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Tate is editing and contributing to a forthcoming book "Arts and Community Change: Exploring Cultural Development Policies, Practices and Dilemmas" to be published by the academic publisher Routledge.
During his time with Extension, Tate directed regional economic development planning efforts, assisted startup businesses, and consulted for nonprofit organizations. He developed a Question and Answer Guide for Starting and Growing Your Small Business, a publication that is now in its second edition and available in ePub format. He is also an adjunct instructor in Urban Affairs and Planning.
Tate's background also includes research in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he examined the arts as a catalyst for change.
Tate says of place-based development, "While every community faces challenges, places are also idea-rich and possess a wealth of assets. What excites me about my new role is the opportunity to discuss ideas, develop projects, and provide expertise to help regions and communities thrive."
Tate replaces Jennifer Shand, who left Virginia Tech to head the Center for Business and Economic Research at Marshall University.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
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