PROJECTS, Strategy & Action Plan
POTENTIAL PROJECTS
The ideas/requests raised by stakeholders in interviews and online surveys are listed below.
INFRASTRUCTURE
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- Broadband service expansion – universal coverage, reliability, affordability
- Waterfront infrastructure – more access at different points along the river, transient docks, shoreline protection measures to protect waterfront property
- Dredging projects that will preserve the navigability of waterways
- Both municipal, community and private water and wastewater improvements and expansion – multiple locations
- Stormwater management systems in areas that experience frequent flooding
- Bridge widening (one bridge is owned by MD and the other two are maintained by VDOT; Norris needs repair and maintenance; replacement planned in 2038)
- Road widening in certain locations (VDOT) especially Route 3
- Industrial Park development to create more business-ready sites with infrastructure
- Address water constraints
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BUSINESS ATTRACTION/RETENTION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT
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- Business attraction and development: hotels, service businesses including medical specialties, more resident-focused shopping for items such as apparel, delivery services, ride sharing, waterfront businesses to provide more activities for tourists and residents
- Incentivize water treatment facilities (reverse osmosis; entice rainwater harvesting businesses
- Small business retention program, incorporating business training in basics of running a business, e-commerce, marketing, finance, networking and provide problem solving support
- Mentoring program for entrepreneurs – form a SCORE chapter or similar entity
- Creative financing options for small businesses, such as the Revolving Loan Fund, which is capitalized at $125,000.
- Co-working spaces, particularly for those that do not have universal broadband. One proposal was written by citizens that would like to place such a facility in Lively
- Encourage small businesses to do more business with Dahlgren Naval Base
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TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
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- National Heritage Area Designation needs to be marketed once it becomes final
- Wayfinding signs
- More marketing of the region to tourists in multiple markets (will require greater budget than is currently available)
- Develop themed driving tours, more packages such as multiple winery tours, heritage tours, sports and nature tours. Tourism development opportunities for Adventure Sports/Outdoor activities (e.g., zip lines, horseback riding, bike trails, water sports), enhanced recreation of underutilized sites (Belle Isle State Park underutilized (awareness, programming); the new Compass Entertainment Complex; development of the Tri-Way Trail
- Specialty/Niche marketing – sport fishing, ecotourism, arts/culture, special events during shoulder and off season
- Expand capacity for lodging for small conferences and meetings, where groups can meet, dine, and stay in one location, preferably on the water.
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FISHING / FARMING / AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT
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- Certified commercial kitchen that can offer shared facilities, equipment to create value-added products, food incubator support services
- USDA Meat Processing Plant/Mobile Unit
- Working waterfront improvements
- Agritourism initiative featuring collaboration among sites, festivals and activities, promotion, “how to” support, training with examples from other successful destinations such as Shenandoah
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HOUSING
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- Housing study to determine needs and locations that address workforce affordability, as well as impacts of influx of new residents and growing practice of vacation homes/rentals
- More housing development, particularly for multi-family affordable housing
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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
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- Marketing to attract new residents of working age, families
- Youth employment program to address work readiness (as a best practice, see Georgia’s Work Ready Certification) – training in work ethics, responsibilities of employees/employers, basic finance, resume writing, interviewing skills, etiquette and good customer service
- Teacher retention initiative to help improve education overall, holistic approach
- Public transportation expansion to support workforce needs
- Support for cross-communications to connect businesses with training providers
- More online training programs, especially for trades
- Construction worker shortage – address various issues such as trades training, use of shared tools and equipment
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