Who We Are
The I-64 Innovation Corridor megaregion — from the Richmond region to Hampton Roads — is an emerging Global Internet Hub by combining the digital assets of both the regions. Accelerating the buildout of the digital infrastructure in the I-64 Innovation Corridor will ensure that the high-paying jobs of the future and the industries of tomorrow will be here.
The Global Internet Hub initiative is one of the top priorities of RVA757 Connects, a nonprofit advocacy group advancing the economic property for everyone living in the Richmond region (RVA) and Hampton Roads (757).
The initiative calls for accelerating the status of the I-64 Innovation Corridor as a Global Internet Hub. Having a world-class digital interconnection point will, in turn, drive the future economic prosperity of both regions.
To this end, RVA757 Connects created in mid-2022 the Global Internet Hub Steering Committee, a diverse group of leaders representing 10 different industry categories. The Committee was charged with the task of developing a strategic vision and comprehensive action framework that will accelerate the I-64 Innovation Corridor’s digital infrastructure growth.
The Committee developed a full Strategic Plan, which included the creation of a Global Internet Hub Industry Council to implement the plan.
Global Internet Hub Industry Council:
The Global Internet Hub Industry Council was created in the fall of 2023 to build upon the momentum of the Steering Committee’s planning process and to be responsible for implementing recommendations from the Strategic Plan.
The planning process that culminated in the Global Internet Hub Strategic Plan demonstrated to Steering Committee members the value and related benefits of a well-coordinated effort. Appropriately, the Steering Committee recommended the establishment of a formal and ongoing Council to support and advance the nine other strategies required to build out a Global Internet Hub for the I-64 Innovation Corridor megaregion.
RVA757 Connects will serve as the initial home and incubator of the Global Internet Hub Industry Council, which will start as a committee of the larger organization. The Council’s charge will be the management and coordination of plan implementation as well as seeking funding for its work (including corporate and nonprofit funding, sponsorships, grants, and budget allocations) and convening meetings. When appropriate, the Council can be spun off into a standalone nonprofit.
The executive committee of the Global Internet Hub Industry Council was created in the fall of 2023. The executive committee members can be found here.
The Steering Committee:
The Steering Committee’s work was completed in 2023 when it made final recommendations for a Global Internet Hub Strategic Plan.
The Steering Committee included more than 60 leaders from the Commonwealth of Virginia, including various employers, utility infrastructure organizations, planning agencies, chambers, economic development agencies (state, regional, city, and county), workforce development agencies, educational Institutions, international digital infrastructure firms, broadband infrastructure, cyber and supporting digital infrastructure companies, and the four branches military.
The creation of the Steering Committee was the first major step in building a unified ecosystem in the megaregion.
A complete list of the Steering Committee members can be found here.
The Initial Work Group:
To jump start the Global Internet Hub planning efforts, RVA757 Connects convened a small Work Group in 2021 to map out the optimal planning process.
The Work Group’s members included leaders from DecideSmart, Dominion Energy, Dragonfli Group, Greater Richmond Partnership, Hampton Roads Alliance, Henrico Economic Development, InterGlobix, Old Dominion University, RVA757 Connects, and Virginia Beach Economic Development.