Jim Ukrop and Gene Trani recognized for their visionary leadership in helping create the I-64 Innovation Corridor

James "Jim" E. Ukrop and Dr. Eugene “Gene” P. Trani were recognized by the board of RVA757 Connects for their visionary leadership in inspiring the formation of the Richmond-Hampton Roads’ I-64 Innovation Corridor megaregion.

“If you think about their collective judgment here, Jim and Gene have a strong belief that communities are not defined by political jurisdictions or boundaries. Communities are defined by common interest, common purpose, and common commitment,” said Theodore L. Chandler Jr., the co-chair of the RVA757 Connects board.

During the June 28 virtual meeting, Chandler thanked Ukrop and Dr. Trani for their vision and commitment to the growing collaboration between the Richmond and Hampton Roads regions.

Ukrop is the former chairman and CEO of the Ukrop’s Super Markets grocery store chain in Richmond, and he was instrumental in starting and served as chairman of First Market Bank (which through mergers is now part of Atlantic Union Bank).

Dr. Trani served as president at Virginia Commonwealth University from 1990 to 2009.

RVA757 Connects is a nonprofit organization made up of business and higher education leaders from the Richmond (RVA) and Hampton Roads (757) regions whose mission is to promote the I-64 Innovation Corridor megaregion as a way to improve the economic success and quality of life in the two regions.

Ukrop, also co-founder of the Richmond-based venture capital firm NRV, informally discussed in 2008 how the connections between the two regions could be better utilized to benefit both the Richmond and Hampton Roads areas. He went on to inspire collaboration between Richmond’s and Hampton Roads’ regional leaders that led to the creation of RVA757 Connects and the I-64 Innovation Corridor.

“Mr. Ukrop continues to set the gold standard for servant leadership in driving the success of RVA757 Connects and the I-64 Innovation Corridor,” the resolution said. “In recognition of Mr. Ukrop’s passionate support for the thousands of businesses, organizations, and the three million people who make up the I-64 Innovation Corridor community, this statement of appreciation be inscribed and conveyed to Mr. Ukrop.”

After retiring from VCU in 2009, Dr. Trani created Richmond’s Future, an independent regional think tank that studied the region’s future. One of the strategic recommendations from that planning initiative called for greater collaboration and coordination between the Richmond and Hampton Roads regions to create an I-64 education corridor that could drive talent development, research, and innovation on a national scale.

“Following the release of Richmond’s Future’s final report, Dr. Trani continued to encourage Richmond’s and Hampton Roads’ education, public sector, and private sector leaders to connect and collaborate to create a nationally competitive megaregion,” his resolution said. “The Board of Directors expresses its deep appreciation for Dr. Trani’s visionary inspiration for the I-64 Innovation Corridor.”

During the board meeting, Ukrop and Dr. Trani spoke briefly about their honor.

“It’s easy to have an idea and a concept, but the real credit goes to those who take the idea and turn it into reality,” Ukrop said. He gave credit to Chandler, a co-founder and managing director of NRV, and Thomas R. Frantz, also co-chair of the RVA757 Connects’ board who is a partner at the Williams Mullen law firm in Norfolk, for leading the organization and hiring John W. Martin as its first president and CEO.

Dr. Trani said he was excited about what RVA757 Connects is doing.

“I have said for a long time that we have enough pancake houses on the I-64 corridor,” Dr. Trani said. “We need to get serious businesses on the I-64 corridor and certainly this initiative is a major step in that direction. I'm pleased with the progress that RVA757 Connects has made and look forward to hearing more about it in the future.”

Frantz said Ukrop and Dr. Trani were two of the key leaders who led the evolution of Richmond and surrounding area into a business, education, and government center.

“As we entered the new millennium, they realized that individually our cities, counties, and even regions could not compete effectively in what they foresaw as a future hyper-connected world,” Frantz said. “They began to use their bully pulpits to call for more collaboration among our cities, counties, and regions, focusing on innovation and enhanced connectivity to and from each other and the globe. They each saw the need to become a megaregion to compete more effectively with larger regions and megaregions, and they paved the way to where we are today.”

Martin said creating the I-64 Innovation Corridor as one of the 12 thriving megaregions across America is a tribute to the remarkable vision of Ukrop and Dr.Trani. Today, America’s 12 megaregions represent over 70% of the U.S. population, jobs, and GDP.

“Two decades ago, the commonly held belief was that cities competed against one another," Martin said. "Dr. Trani and Jim Ukrop advanced a different perspective. They said nearby cities should not compete but rather collaborate for their mutual benefit.”

To see the full resolutions, click here and look under the board’s June 28 meeting folder.