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

A-N Economic Development Committee News

2018 Meeting Schedule Please mark your calendars for the following meetings of the A-N Economic Development Committee and its industry sector subcommittees: Spring 2018 - Four Industry Sector Subcommittees to meet (dates TBD) June 6, 2018 - A-N Economic Development Committee meeting at ESCC Fall 2018 - Four Industry Sector Subcommittees to meet (dates TBD) December 2018 - A-N Economic Development Committee meeting (date TBD) The public is encouraged to participate in all meetings. Stay tuned for more information regarding specific meeting times and locations or contact Curt Smith at [email protected] to learn how to get involved.

Aerospace & Defense News

News NASA’s New Payload Processing Center Could Be Pay Dirt for Local Economy SpaceX Ruled Roost in 2017, Boosting U.S. to No. 1 in Global Launches Events NASA Engineering Program for Homeschool Students - February 7

Agribusiness & Food Processing News

News Va. Shore chickenhouses: Big push for new construction may be over, says official Virginia Beer Boom Tries To Break Through With Virginia Barley New legislation aimed at ‘food deserts’ McAuliffe announces Rural Rehabilitation Trust Fund grants Trump Plants Seeds Of Rural Revival With Friendly Farm Audience Ag Industry, Ports Adjusting to Fast-Changing Landscape Virginia Soybeans, Peanuts, Cotton End Season on High Note Delmarva grown: Farmers unite to promote local produce USDA Agricultural Research Service Recaps Its Breakthrough Research and Technologies of 2017 Data Resources/Tools Presidential Task Force on Agriculture & Rural Prosperity Releases Report

Funding Resources Grant Allows VA FAIRS to Offer Marketing software for Farmers Food & Agriculture: US 2018 Grant Proposals Due February 2 Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator Program Now Open Events Eastern Shore Agriculture Conference and Trade Show - January 24 & 25 Mid-Atlantic Women in Agriculture Annual Conference - February 9 Workshop Series: Starting a Small Farm on Delmarva - January 24 through March 28

Arts, Entertainment, Recreation & Visitor Industries News

News Eastern Shore Is Virginia’s Fastest-Growing Tourism Region Northampton Supervisors Hear Plan for Phase Three of Southern Tip Bike Trail Eastern Shore Makes Cover of 2018 Virginia Travel Guide Southern Living Names Cape Charles Top Beach Chincoteague Museum Had 12,000 Visitors in 2017 Children's author from Accomack County wins NAACP Image Award Cape Charles in running for Coastal Living's Happiest Seaside Town Events SAVE THE DATE: 2018 ESVA Tourism Summit - April 9, 2018

Data Resources/Tool Tourism Business Resilience for Coastal Virginia Assessment Report - Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency - September, 2017 VA ViewFinders Program Launched to Promote State's Scenic Resources

Foundational & Entrepreneurship Development News

News Accomack officials praise Eastern Shore of Virginia Broadband Authority ESVA Broadband Authority Opens Four New Fiber to the Home Service Locations Bayshore Concrete set to close, sell plant Va. Shore to lose jobs as Bayshore Concrete puts plant up for sale Bayshore Concrete puts 90-acre plant on Cape Charles coast up for sale Chincoteague Officials Grapple Future Wastewater Needs Chincoteague businesses need septic, mayor says; council OKs spending ESVBA hopes to offer Fiber to the Home to Town of Cape Charles late summer of 2018 E.S. Public Library Joins Grant Group

News (Continued) New Va. Shore library will feature heritage, community center Microsoft forms rural broadband advocacy group called Connect Americans Now Entrepreneur Resources Financing Options for Small Businesses  Events Intellectual Property Workshop - February 27

Local & State News & Events

Local Accomack faces revenue hit as real estate values fall Trump wants to open Virginia coast, other areas to drilling Parksley Downtown Revitalization Project Page State Governor Northam Administration Governor Northam Cabinet Roster A Coup For All Of Rural Virginia Northam names Megan Healy as first Cabinet-level adviser on workforce development Northam names Prince William teacher as Virginia's next education secretary Governor-Elect Northam Announces Deputy Secretary of Ag & Forestry Gov.-elect Northam announces picks for Secretary, Administration Northam Nominates Eastern Shore Native as Sec. of Administration Virginia governor-elect will disband technology secretary role Research & Data Youth Labor Force Participation and Workplace Readiness in Virginia What is the biggest demographic trend in Virginia? 2017 estimates show growth slowing, with most concentrated in Northern Virginia  Other State News Virginia Housing Development Authority Publishes Blueprint Virginia 2025 Featuring Housing Components Study looks at affordable housing shortage in Virginia McAuliffe, Northam announce rebranding of Virginia’s workforce development Industries Warner, Kaine announce $350,000 in economic development grants for Virginia Other How does Pender, Nebraska, pull off $25 million in improvement projects? Local pride, residents say The Divide Between America’s Prosperous Cities and Struggling Small Towns—in 20 Charts

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