When I recently gave a presentation on the “P3 Pipeline”–the hierarchy of “public-private partnerships” that quietly controls the Commonwealth–an audience member described it as “incestuous.” Perhaps nobody demonstrates P3 perversity better than Gary Larrowe—
–but he’s hardly alone.
John Hull is the CEO/President of the Roanoke Regional Partnership (RRP), but he is also the Executive Director of the Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facilities Authority (WVRIFA). In the latter capacity, he signed a “Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement” (concerning the Wood Haven property) on either February or March 6 of 2024 in favor of an unknown company.
In a copy of this NDA obtained by FOIA, the name of this company has been redacted. This redaction is justified, asserts Mr. Hull, because the company’s very name “is proprietary information, voluntarily provided by a private business pursuant to a promise of confidentiality from the Authority, used by the Authority for business, trade, and tourism development and retention, exempt from FOIA pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.2-3705.6(3).”
Is Mr. Hull practicing a kind of corporate voodoo? Does he believe that a company name possesses an occult power that would dissipate upon disclosure? Nah, he just doesn’t want us to know what he and his pals have been up to.
You may have noticed that in Hull’s FOIA response, he copied three associates of RVARC, along with a partner of the ever-present Spilman Thomas & Battle. Why RVARC you ask? Well WVRIFA and RVARC are integrated. They share an office at 313 Luck Avenue:
And Hull, in addition to his positions with RRP and WVRIFA, has been a member of RVARC’s “Roanoke Valley – Alleghany Regional CEDS Strategy Committee.”
Some of you will have noticed Roanoke City Mayor Joseph Cobb’s defense of WVRIFA, and his chastisement of Vice-Mayor Terry McGuire for his “incivility” in challenging WVRIFA’s policy of secrecy. Was this a principled and disinterested stand? Or is Cobb just looking out for an RVARC buddy? Mayor Cobb was, after all, the Chairman of the 2024-2025 RVARC CEDS Committee in which Hull participated.
And remember that the RVARC CEDS Committee is the body that created the framework of which “AI Ready Roanoke” is merely the implementation. The 2025-2029 CEDS document offers the following prescriptions for the regional economy:
“Nine target industries have been identified by the Roanoke Regional Partnership for the region [including]…Advanced Manufacturing, Transportation Manufacturing, Life Sciences…Technology & Innovation…and Foreign Investment. The Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation has identified…Key Industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Data Centers & Back Office Operations…Information Technology…
“1. Advanced Manufacturing Expansion Opportunity: Leverage the region’s strategic location and existing manufacturing base to attract advanced manufacturing industries. Focus Areas:
“• Aerospace components, automotive parts, and precision instruments.
“• Integration of Industry 4.0 technologies, including robotics and artificial intelligence, to modernize production facilities.
“2. Growth in Life Sciences and Biotechnology Opportunity: Build on existing assets like the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. Focus Areas:
“• Research and development in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and genetic engineering.“
“3. Clean Energy and Sustainability Industries Opportunity: Capitalize on the growing demand for renewable energy and sustainability-focused industries. Focus Areas:
“• Solar and wind energy production and storage systems.”
In terms of food, we throw our hulls and cobs on the compost heap. What do we do with these P3 pirates?
P.S. Since publishing this, I came across WVRIFA’s public statement regarding its NDA, from which it has purportedly been released. The Authority declines to identify the company anyways. Here is the most pertinent portion of their statement as reported by WVTF:
“Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority (WVRIFA) has been released from its nondisclosure agreement with Clearview Dynamics, following a request from WVRIFA.
“While the NDA has been lifted, WVRIFA and its local partners have an ethical obligation to protect project information, including the identity of Clearview Dynamics’ corporate parent. This ethical obligation is a foundation of successful economic development and is a tenet recognized in the International Economic Development Council’s code of ethics.“
Once again, the interests of international economic development, so-called “stakeholders,” are put above those of local resident taxpayers, i.e. “not stakeholders.”
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