THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601200009
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
The top elected officials of the four cities and two counties on the Peninsula have been meeting at least monthly for six years in search of ways to prosper together.
``We recognize that our futures are linked together,'' said Newport News Mayor Barry DuVal. ``We will grow and prosper together, or we will fall behind together.''
The organization, which has no counterpart in South Hampton Roads, is called Peninsula Mayors and Chairs, and it just announced an impressive six-point regional plan to promote high-paying jobs and successful businesses.
Newport News and Hampton councils have approved the plan; the governing bodies for James City County, Poquoson, Williamsburg and York County are expected to follow suit.
For Virginia, Duval said, the plan is the first detailed economic vision involving several governments.
It calls for cooperation to:
Train the work force.
Identify the Peninsula as a community that is an emerging technological center for the nation.
Create low-cost transportation by land and air, including railways.
Create venture capital and brainstorm to create a vital business environment.
Revitalize civic groups and tap their leadership potential.
Improve telecommunications infrastructure.
The plan places the Peninsula in a good position to profit from a state proposal to give extra economic-development money to regions that act cooperatively. The General Assembly probably will consider that incentives proposal in this session. The program eventually could provide millions of dollars to regions that act cooperatively, and DuVal said the Peninsula would be first in line for the money.
While there is no South Hampton Roads Mayors and Chairs organization, there is a Hampton Roads Mayors and Chairs, whose members meet monthly. That organization has been brainstorming with the business community to develop a regionwide competitive strategy. Much good could come out of that, even as much good is expected from the Peninsula plan.
Meanwhile, leaders on this side of the water would be wise to study both the Peninsula's economic-development plan and the way it was devised.
DuVal said of the Peninsula organization's plan, ``I think it will spur the leaders of the south side to get active very quickly.'' by CNB