PROJECTS, Strategy & Action Plan

POTENTIAL PROJECTS

The ideas/requests raised by stakeholders in interviews and online surveys are listed below. 

INFRASTRUCTURE

      • 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

BUSINESS ATTRACTION/RETENTION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT

      • 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

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

      • 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. 

FISHING / FARMING / AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT

      • 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

HOUSING

      • 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 

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

      • 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