CATEGORY 1 – INFRASTRUCTURE

PROJECT 1
SITE READINESS

PROJECT 2
WATERFRONT

Project 3
EXPAND & MODERNIZE SEWER / WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Goal
To provide adequate infrastructure to support business growth and new locations
Goal
Expand access for boaters, recreational fishing
Goal
To provide at least one major new and one major repaired sewage system
Objective
Identify at least two new sites for economic development and bring at least one to shovel ready status
Objective
Open at least four new waterfront access openings
Objective
Monitor improvement in sewer/wastewater system
Evaluation Criteria
One new site shovel ready with defined industry target to be pursued
Evaluation Criteria
Open for use at least 4 new waterfront access areas along the waterfront
Evaluation Criteria
Before and after measure of wastewater system particulates

Project 4
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

Project 5
BRIDGE REPAIR & WIDENING

Project 6
INDUSTRIAL / BUSINESS PARK
Goal
To improve stormwater management and reduce damage from flooding
Goal
More dependable, free flowing traffic for travelers, workers, shipping
Goal
Get best site shovel ready to attract investment
Objective
Add at least one improvement to the stormwater management system
Objective
Get VDOT to invest in roads and bridges to the Northern Neck (widen Rte 3; Norris Bridge in Lancaster needs maintenance, and ultimately, replacement)
Objective
Address infrastructure issues
Evaluation Criteria
Set measurement and benchmark for degree of flooding reduction
Evaluation Criteria
Repair/replace the Norris Bridge most and widen/improve state Rte 3
Evaluation Criteria
Site ready to be promoted for new investment
CATEGORY 2 – BUSINESS ATTRACTION, RETENTION / EXPANSION / NEW STARTUPS

PROJECT 1
ATTRACT TOURISM VENUES

PROJECT 2
RETENTION PROGRAM / SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Project 3
ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS TO THE NORTHERN NECK
Goal
Expand on tourism activities and accommodations
Goal
Build capacity of small businesses to handle operations, marketing sales with direct business assistance
Goal
Expand the local business community through enhanced marketing, incentives, infrastructure development
Objective
Develop the product and raise outreach/marketing
Objective
Enhance the viability and profitability of small local businesses
Objective
Build the tax base; create quality jobs
Evaluation Criteria
Measure tourism expenditures, jobs, tax revenues generated
Evaluation Criteria
Sales and tax receipts for local businesses
Evaluation Criteria
Growth in commercial tax base, jobs added, impacts on local businesses

Project 4
EXPAND THE WATER SUPPLY

Project 5
EXPAND ASSISTANCE FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Project 6
EXPAND OPTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING
Goal
Avoid shortages and constraints on development
Goal
Help grow more businesses
Goal
Create Programs to make affordable loans to smaller firms
Objective
Attract firms who can offer alternatives to groundwater: e.g., desalinization, rainwater harvesting
Objective
Create business incubator, mentoring program, SCORE Chapter
Objective
Make financing available that is affordable, quick and uncomplicated; crate revolving loan fund, possibly with bank participation (done)
Evaluation Criteria
Number of firms attracted, new technologies utilized, increase in water supply
Evaluation Criteria
Number of small business startups; survival rate of new firms
Evaluation Criteria
Number small business loans made; survival rate of assisted businesses

PROJECT 7
ENCOURAGE MORE BUSINESS STARTUPS

PROJECT 8
CAPTURE MORE BUSINESS FROM DAHLGREN NAVAL BASE
Goal
More business “births” in NN
Goal
More contracts for local firms
Objective
Make financing, incentives available for startups; launch co-working and/or incubator facility
Objective
Take advantage of small business set asides
Evaluation Criteria
Number of new business startups
Evaluation Criteria
Gauge value of business generated by Dahlgren
CATEGORY 3 – TOURISM

PROJECT 1
NORTHERN NECK NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

PROJECT 2
ADD MORE WAYFINDING SIGNS

Project 3
MORE TOURISM MARKETING / INCREASE MARKETING BUDGET
Goal
Make optimal use of new designation
Goal
Increase tourism
Goal
Increase tourist visits
Objective
Market to attract tourists
Objective
Help make it easier for tourists to find destinations
Objective
Reach new markets; saturate current markets
Evaluation Criteria
Measure increase in tourist visits
Evaluation Criteria
Measure tourist visits to local destinations
Evaluation Criteria
Measure tourist visits; source the advertising that reached them; measure hotel occupancy

Project 4
DIVERSIFY TOURISM ATTRACTIONS

Project 5
NICHE MARKETING FOR SPECIALIZED TOURISM EXPERIENCES

Project 6
GROUP LODGING FACILITY
Goal
Attract more tourists; enrich the tourism experience
Goal
Attract more tourists
Goal
Ability to host small meetings and conferences
Objective
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
Objective
Spend money for Niche marketing – sport fishing, ecotourism, arts/culture, special events during shoulder and off season
Objective
Develop a location for groups to meet, dine and stay in one location, preferably on the water
Evaluation Criteria
Measure visits, revenues, taxes collected
Evaluation Criteria
Measure tourist visits, hotel occupancy, taxes collected
Evaluation Criteria
Development of a facility; meetings booked
CATEGORY 4 – FISHING, FARMING, AGRICULTURE

PROJECT 1
COMMERCIAL KITCHEN

PROJECT 2
MORE PROCESSING FACILITIES, POSSIBLY TO INCLUDE A “MOBILE’ FACILITY

Project 3
WATERFRONT IMPROVEMENT
Goal
To encourage entrepreneurship; serve existing food companies and producers
Goal
Provide local services to food producers; add potential markets for local agricultural businesses
Goal
To make it easier for working watermen
Objective
Identify or create a commercial kitchen that can be utilized by food cooperatives, local farmers, small businesses; serve as a food business incubator
Objective
Open new opportunities for food producers and increase sales
Objective
Upgrade working waterfront facilities
Evaluation Criteria
Open the commercial kitchen; spawn new businesses; increase sales by food businesses and entrepreneurs
Evaluation Criteria
Welcome new facilities; measure processed food sales
Evaluation Criteria
Improve revenues for the watermen; jobs added
CATEGORY 5 – HOUSING

PROJECT 1
ASSESS THE NEED FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING
Goal
Ensure that there is adequate housing for the workers that employers need (and their families)
Objective
Study the availability of affordable workforce housing and ways to fill any gaps
Evaluation Criteria
Review housing availability at selected prices; have more workers moved to the Northern Neck
CATEGORY 6 – TAX AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

PROJECT 1
USE LOCAL AND STATE INCENTIVES TO
ATTRACT INDUSTRY
Goal
Attract more businesses
Objective
Take advantage of VA Clean Economy Act and Green Development Zone Authorization
Evaluation Criteria
Monitor investment in clean and green technologies
CATEGORY 7 – WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

PROJECT 1
ATTRACT MORE WORKERS TO THE NORTHERN NECK

PROJECT 2
UNDERTAKE PROGRAM TO BOLSTER READINESS OF THE EXISTING WORKFORCE

Project 3
TEACHER RETENTION
Goal
Expand the workforce
Goal
Help meet employer needs
Goal
Find and keep qualified teachers
Objective
Conduct marketing and develop incentives to attract new workers and bring back homegrown talent
Objective
Assist workers with work readiness, including training in soft skills for younger workers
Objective
Identify incentives that appeal to local teachers, including salary and benefits
Evaluation Criteria
Number of working age men and women move to or join the workforce; monitor median age of population
Evaluation Criteria
Employers who are able to fill jobs; number and percentage of workers who find jobs; percentage of employed workforce
Evaluation Criteria
Retention rate of current teachers

Project 4
CONDUCT A STUDY TO DETERMINE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS

Project 5
IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TRAINERS AND EMPLOYERS

Project 6
FOCUS ON FACILITATING GROWTH IN KEY INDUSTRIES
Goal
Ensure that teachers and other local workers can get to work
Goal
Bring trainers and employers into closer communication; foster collaboration so that trainers can best meet employer needs and employers can be aware of training resources
Goal
To solidify their position in the Northern Neck, create jobs, leverage growth
Objective
Find an affordable way for the community to meet the local travel options for workers
Objective
Attain a better matchup between employers and trainers in order to optimize the utilization of current resources for supporting business growth
Objective
Work with RCC and other trainers to meet training needs in industries that show potential for growth, including construction, marinas/aquaculture, light manufacturing, timber, tourism
Evaluation Criteria
Assess the effectiveness of new transportation options in terms of number of workers using that transportation
Evaluation Criteria
Monitor job openings that are getting filled; track jobs filled locally by people seeking employment
Evaluation Criteria
Monitor economic indicators for core industries