Economic Development e-News February 2018 News and Information from the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission Economic Development Office

A-N Economic Development Committee News

A-N Economic Development Committee Seeks New Members for 3 Vacant Seats The Economic Development Committee has appointed a nominating committee and nominees are currently being sought. There are currently 3 vacancies on the 25-member Committee. The following seats are open:  One (1) private sector representative from Accomack County Two (2) private sector representatives from Northampton County If you are interested in serving on the committee (for a 3-year term) please send a statement of interest and qualifications to  Curt Smith  at [email protected] by Friday, March 9. All interested individuals will be forwarded to the Nominating Committee for consideration. Nominations will be considered during the next Economic Development Committee meeting in June.

Committee Members Sara Baldwin, Vice Chair Roland Bailey Peter Bale Joseph Betit Tommy Clark Kevin Dennis Wesley Edwards Ava Gabrielle-Wise Donald Hart Arthur Leonard Dave Lumgair Robie Marsh, Chair Andy Mason Caroline Massey Ron Matthews John Pavlik Mark Reiter Evelyn Shotwell Richard Snyder Charlie Russell Kevin Taylor Technical Advisors Rob Bloxom Charles Kolakowski Lynwood Lewis Mike Mason Elaine Meil, Secretary

SAVE THE DATES 2018 Meeting Schedule Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming meetings

A-N Economic Development Committee June 6, 2018 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. and December 12, 2018 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. ESCC Workforce Development Building , Melfa

Aerospace & Defense Subcommittee April 11, 2018 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and October 3, 2018 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Sentinel Robotic Solutions 33531 Chincoteague Rd., Wallops Island Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, & Visitor Industries Subcommittee April 3, 2018 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. and October 10, 2018 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Onley Town Center 25020 Shore Parkway, Onley

Agribusiness & Food Processing Subcommittee April 26, 2018 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and October 11, 2018 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Eastern Shore Agricultural Research & Extension Center 33446 Research Dr., Painter Foundational & Entrepreneurship Development Subcommittee April 3, 2018 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. and October 10, 2018 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Onley Town Center 25020 Shore Parkway, Onley

Aerospace & Defense News

News Students get an out of this world experience at NASA Wallops Flight Facility Orbital ATK contracted for testing of drone missile targets Events NASA Space Apps Challenge - April 28 & 29

Agribusiness & Food Processing News

News Tyson Foods taps new Eastern Shore water source after growing criticism First craft brewery hops onto Virginia's Eastern Shore Virginia Cooperative Extension, ag experiment station found to have profound impact 2018 Net Farm Income Projected to Decrease Proposal seeks to spur growth in Virginia distillery industry Industries Net Farm Income Projected to Drop to 12-Year Low Events Tenth Annual Ag Trade Conference Set for March Workshop Series: Starting a Small Farm on Delmarva - January 24 through March 28

Funding Resources Governor Northam Announces $440,000 in USDA Specialty Crop Block Grants Available for Virginia Agricultural Interests  USDA Rural Business Development Grant Applications Due April 30 NRCS Offers New Opportunities for Conservation Innovation Grants

Arts, Entertainment, Recreation & Visitor Industries News

News Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce reports successful year Rebranding Hampton Roads to Coastal Virginia Saxis listed in National Register of Historic Places Chesapeakeville Features Two Issues on Virginia’s Eastern Shore New Library to Contain Eastern Shore of Va. Heritage Center Events 2018 ESVA Tourism Summit - April 9 - Register Today! VA Main Street 2018 Training Calendar

Foundational & Entrepreneurship Development News

News Broadband Authority Announces New Areas for FTTH Service Natural gas could be flowing in Somerset, Accomack by 2021 Second Natural Gas Pipeline May be Headed to the Shore 190-mile natural gas pipeline planned for rural Delmarva New natural gas pipeline planned, existing pipeline to expand Events SAVE THE DATE: ESVA Entrepreneurship Summit 2 - April 12 @ ESCC Webinar on Resources for Estimating the Working Waterfront Economy National Working Waterfronts Symposium - May 14-17

Funding Resources USDA Rural Business Development Grant Applications Due April 30 Virginia to receive $646k for boating infrastructure Entrepreneur Resources A-NPDC Small Business Resource Index Data Resources & Tools Report highlights Virginia’s state of Renewable Energy

Local & State News & Events

Local Northam touts 'excellent' health care in first visit home as governor Virginia governor, MGA youth governor, both from Eastern Shore Lucius J. Kellam III: To create jobs, Virginia must invest in conservation Cape Charles Community Enhancement Board Hires Program Manager Parksley Downtown Revitalization Project Page State Governor Northam Administration Northam to meet with Trump on infrastructure Northam Promotes Rural Development in Virginia VA General Assembly House and Senate budgets set differing courses for Virginia Sad stories spark a new idea about rural needs ‘Creating enterprise zones on steroids:’ Va. delegate’s proposal to breathe life back into poorest areas Virginia General Assembly passes unusual bipartisan plan to help impoverished areas Unique bill gives employees incentives to come to distressed localities GO Virginia GO Virginia board approves a second round of grants Industries Over $1.5 million in GO Virginia grants will fund four Hampton Roads projects Other State News Virginia named top state in annual workforce development rankings Virginia's workforce development system has a new brand

Regional Resources & Documents

ESVA Regional Economic Development Plan (2017-2022) Aerospace & Defense Action Plan Agribusiness & Food Processing Action Plan Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, & Visitor Industries Action Plan Foundational and Entrepreneurship Development Action Plan

Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission Accomack Economic Development Authority Northampton County Department of Economic Development ESVA Regional Data Dashboard