News Article

Lt. Governor Bolling urges regional leaders to step up economic development efforts

Thursday, July 22, 2010
Starke Jett
Rappahannock Record

Reedville - Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling on Monday invited Northern Neck leaders to meet with him and his staff to develop strategies and policies to bring business and economic prosperity to this region.

Bolling heads up the economic development office charged by Gov. Bob McDonnell with developing policies to bring more business and promote current businesses in the Commonwealth.

"We are beginning to see the economy recovering," said Bolling. "We are beginning to see the results of our economic investment. If we keep our focus, there is a light at the end of the tunnel that leads to economic prosperity. I invite you all here to meet with my staff and me and tell us what we can do to help you promote the Neck. We need to work together."

Bolling spoke to the Northern Neck Planning District Commission (NNDPC) at its quarterly meeting at Tommy's Restaurant in Reedville. The commission is comprised of representatives from each county in the Neck, including private and public leaders, and seeks to develop the region with "sustainable and appropriate" businesses as described by NNPDC executive director Jerry Davis.

Bolling held the attention of the more than 50 people present with facts and figures highlighting the achievements of McDonnell's staff. The six-month-old administration has been able to get 36 of 39 economic development policies passed through the legislature with bipartisan support. They procured $57.5 million in a very limited budget to finance these efforts. Bolling said 110 "economic deals" have been negotiated that have led to the "third highest job creation in the nation."

After Bolling's speech, Davis summed up the NNPDC's Comprehensive Economic Development Document, which outlines the priorities of the Northern Neck Planning Commission. Broadband access is first, followed by developing tourism through a federal National Heritage Area Designation, now in the feasibility-study phase.

Third is business and industry development, with preservation and conservation of the region's natural resources as fourth.

Davis reported that an application to procure federal stimulus funds for broadband access infrastructure construction is being "favorably reviewed."

"We feel very good about where the application stands," he said.

For additional information contact Ibbie Hedrick at 804-225-2487 or ibbie.hedrick@ltgov.virginia.gov.