GIS Strategic Planning Opportunities

Following the Strategic Initiatives of the GIS Strategic Plan 2010-2015 and the guidance of the VGIN Advisory Board, VGIN is establishing two Strategic Planning workgroups.


Geospatial Clearinghouse

From the Strategic Plan: “Oversee the development of a Commonwealth-wide geospatial clearinghouse that connects all levels of government and other VGIN Stakeholders”.

Summary: The Virginia Geospatial Clearinghouse (VGC) will be a geospatial information gateway that provides access, either directly or through links, to geospatial data holdings in Virginia. Stakeholders include all levels of government, academia, non-profits and the private sector.


Date for Kick-off Meeting: August 18, 2-4 PM

Location: Chester (VITA Offices) Webinar will be provided

Meeting agenda and details will follow.


GIS Education

From the Strategic Plan: “Facilitate Geospatial Educational Opportunities”

Summary: The geospatial community in Virginia has identified a need for heightened coordination efforts in communicating the value and need for GIS, coordination of GIS as an educational curriculum, and the coordination of specialized GIS training for practitioners.

Date for Kick-off Meeting: September 21, 2-4 PM

Location: Chester (VITA Offices) Webinar will be provided

Meeting agenda and details will follow.


We are seeking motivated representatives from all Virginia GIS stakeholder groups who will proactively participate. If you are interested in participating, please send an email to vbmp@vita.virginia.gov indicating which workgroup you want to participate in.

GIS Strategic Plan Official

The VGIN Advisory Board unanimously approved the VGIN 2010-2015 GIS Strategic Plan at their quarterly meeting on January 6, 2010. Draft Advisory Board minutes and other materials from the meeting can be accessed here.

The Advisory Board action marks the end of a year long effort by VGIN to establish a stakeholder driven strategic plan. Now that the plan is "official" we enter the next phase, which is to formulate plans that address the strategic initiatives identified in the plan. "My thanks go out to all those that contributed to the process. Stay tuned for opportunities in 2010 to participate in work groups (Initiative Action Teams) to address the strategic initiatives" - Dan Widner, VGIN Coordinator.

GIS Town Hall Meeting - Roanoke Thursday

Please join the 31 people registered for the third GIS town hall meeting in Roanoke on October 1st. Walks-in are welcomed. The meeting will be held from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, Claude Moore Education Auditorium (108 N Jefferson St, Roanoke, VA). To date 147 people have responded to the online survey. The Town Hall Meeting schedule can be found here. Take the online survey if you haven't already. VGIN wants your input!

Over Sixty Stakeholders Attend Richmond GIS Town Hall Meeting

Over Sixty Stakeholders Attend Richmond GIS Town Hall Meeting

GIS Stakeholders from all sectors of government, academia and the private sector attended the second of 5 Town Hall Meetings for GIS Strategic Planning in Virginia. The meeting was held Friday afternoon at the VITA facility in Chester. Lively dialog and constructive discussions were the rule of the day.

The next Town Hall meeting will be held in Roanoke on October 1 from 12 to 4 PM at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, Claude Moore Education Auditorium, 108 N Jefferson St, Roanoke, VA 24016. Click here for directions.

30 Stakeholders Attend First GIS Strategic Plan Town Hall

The first of four town hall meetings hosted by VGIN to garner input on a Five-Year GIS Strategic Plan was held this Wednesday in Culpeper. And according to participants' post-evaluations it was “… an effective use of time". Most felt they could speak freely and many good ideas were offered by those in attendance. With these initial meetings we hope to achieve the following outcomes:  

• A Clear Understanding of the Current State of GIS in the Commonwealth
• A Vision for the GIS Community
• Understanding How VGIN Can Help Us Get There
• An Understanding of Next Steps in the Development of VGIN’s Strategic Plan

The Town Hall Meeting schedule can be found here. And please take the online survey if you haven't already.

GIS Strategic Planning - Town Hall Meetings

VGIN was established by the General Assembly in 1997. After 12 years, now is a good time to take a look at how far GIS has come in Virginia, and more importantly, where do we want to it go into the future. So VGIN, with the help of the Touchstone Consulting Group, is starting a stakeholder driven planning effort to develop a Five Year GIS Strategic Plan for Virginia. Already a number of interviews have been conducted with key stakeholders and an online survey has been sent out. The next step is a series of Town Hall meetings. At these meetings we will share the results to date and develop a shared consensus on our future direction  The Town Hall Meeting schedule can be found here. And please take the online survey if you haven't already.