Fifty Years of the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions
Twenty-one Planning District Commissions/Regional Councils form part of the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC), which celebrates its 50th year in 2019. The VAPDC works to bring diverse resources together at the regional level, in partnership with local, state, and federal entities to strengthen regions and the Commonwealth. The…
Northern Neck Hub-Zone Companies Among Recipients of Seaport Contract
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 17, 2018 Warsaw, VA —The U.S. Navy has awarded spots on a potential ten-year, $50 billion contract to 1,870 businesses for project management and engineering-support services. Three Northern Neck companies were awarded contracts in this announcement: MTEQ in Kilmarnock; Digital Dynamics, LLC, in Kilmarnock; and…
Walking Tour: Heathsville
Established as Northumberland County’s seat in 1681, Heathsville is the oldest seat of government in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Today, its historic district, running along Northumberland Highway (Hwy. 360), is centered at the Old County Courthouse, surrounded by antebellum plantation complexes. With a grant from the Virginia Department of…
Go Virginia
The Virginia Initiative for Growth and Opportunity in Each Region (GO Virginia) was initiated by the Virginia Business Higher Education Council (VBHEC) and the Council on Virginia’s Future to foster private-sector growth and job creation through state incentives for regional collaboration by business, education, and government. Recognizing the harsh effect…
A Growing Industry in the Northern Neck
Craft breweries are beginning to attract the attention of economic developers in the Northern Neck of Virginia. They are part of a vibrant industry of dedicated entrepreneurs who go beyond the business model of attracting customers just to buy drinks. “They are becoming part of the fabric of many communities,”…
Workforce Training in the Northern Neck
MONTROSS, Virginia: In the last decade, regional collaboration has become the key ingredient in the creation of jobs in rural Virginia, with the private sector often acting as a partner to federal, state, and local governments. A perfect example of this approach is the Westmoreland Workforce Training Center (WWTC), which…
Opportunity Zones
The Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 included provisions for a new revitalization tool, the Opportunity Zone and Opportunity Fund. The designated zones and funds allow investors to receive tax benefits on currently unrealized capital gains that are invested through Opportunity Funds in eligible census tracts designated as…
Living Shorelines Initiative
Throughout the Northern Neck and coastal plain, homes and businesses are experiencing increased erosion from winds, waves, currents, tides and recreational activities making homes and businesses more vulnerable. Evidence shows that hardened shorelines do not function well over time in many settings and harm estuarine ecosystems. Living shorelines are the preferred alternative that:…
Broadband Development
Following the national trend of electrical cooperatives’ beginning to take an active role in the deployment of last’mile solutions for broadband services in rural areas, the Northern Neck Electric Cooperative has expressed an interest and is currently participating in a feasibility study. Since 2003, the Northern Neck PDC has worked…
Flood Hazard Mitigation
The premise of flood-hazard mitigation is this: Spend federal funds now to remove the risk of flooding, and the federal government will save money in the long term because the mitigated property will generate no flood-damage insurance claims in the future. This is because flood insurance is provided not by…