A new think tank headed by former Virginia Commonwealth University President Eugene P. Trani offered today to help business and government leaders shape a long-term vision for the Richmond region.
Trani met with the Capital Regional Collaborative about the role that his new organization, Richmond’s Future, could play in discussions about the region’s future. The meeting took place at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, whose publisher, Thomas A. Silvestri, is chair of the Greater Richmond Chamber and a member of the Richmond’s Future board of directors.
Richmond’s Future would act primarily as a source of research and data for the collaborative, which is a joint venture of the Chamber and the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission. Trani said his organization would use a 20- to 30-year planning horizon for its efforts. “We’re really the futurists,” he said.
Trani is being aided by a familiar ally, former VCU political science professor Robert D. Holsworth, who is chairman of the Research Council of Richmond’s Future. Holsworth and two other council members, former Chesterfield County Administrator Lane Ramsey and former state school superintendent William Bosher, also are principals in DecideSmart, a new public service consulting firm.
Jack Berry, executive director of Venture Richmond and vice chairman of the research council, said the organization’s role is not setting priorities or making policy for the region.
“We just want to provide some research that will inform those decisions,” Berry said.

Advertisement