Community assessment of Halifax County: To grow, go bold

By Ashley Hodge

With bold action, Matt DeVeau, project manager of Market Street Services, feels like anything is possible for Halifax County.

This was part of the message he delivered to the dozens who came out to the community meeting Wednesday afternoon at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center Innovation Center.

The chamber of commerce hired the Atlanta-based consulting firm to provide guidance to a steering committee of local leaders working on a growth strategy for the county.

The community meeting was part of a six-phase research and strategic planning process. Previously 1,579 community members participated in an online survey to reveal challenges, weaknesses and strengths of this county.

Interviews with local leaders and focus groups also were held, and DeVeau on Wednesday evening revealed some of the findings from the research.

To read the full article click here or email Alexia Eanes.

Education, quality of life gains will set Halifax’s future

By Tom McLaughlin
News & Record

Halifax County is hardly alone among rural communities in the economic uncertainties it faces, but “bold action” will be required if the county is to avoid further stagnation and decline, a consultant told civic and business leaders Wednesday at the SVHEC.

Matt DeVeau with Market Street Services, a nationally-recognized economic development advisory firm, presented the findings of a “community assessment” that is envisioned as the first step in a turnaround plan for the county. The Atlanta-based consultancy was hired by the Chamber of Commerce to provide guidance to a steering committee of local leaders working on a growth strategy for Halifax.

To read the full article click here or email Alexia Eanes.

JEDO Approves Funding for Downtown Topeka Plaza, NOTO Parking

By Sherman Smith

The Joint Economic Development Organization on Wednesday cleared the way for completion of a public plaza in downtown Topeka, granting more than a million dollars to the project and sparking debate on how countywide sales tax funds are distributed.                                                                                                

In a 4-3 vote, JEDO members approved recommendations made by a panel of community volunteers to award $2 million in economic development money to four projects out of 16 applicants.

One of those projects will invest $644,000 in the NOTO Arts District, assisting in efforts to add parking and establish Redbud Park.

Mayor Michelle De La Isla rebuffed criticism over pouring the bulk of available quality of place funding into jewels in the heart of the city, saying feedback from the community makes it clear residents want to make the city more attractive.

To read the full article click here or email Alexia Eanes.

Bristol Virginia Council Receives Update on Visioning Process

By David McGee, Bristol Herald Courier

BRISTOL, Va. - City leaders received an update on the new Bristol 2040 visioning process unveiled last month by the Bristol Chamber of Commerce.

Alex Pearlstein, vice president of projects for Market Street Services, the Atlanta-based consulting firm managing the project, described the group’s initial steps in developing a long-term vision for both the Twin City and its adjoining counties of Sullivan in Tennessee and Washington in Virginia.

To read the full article click here or email Alexia Eanes.

Bristol-focused economic initiative launches

By Leif Greiss | Bristol Herald Courier

BRISTOL, Tenn. — The Bristol Chamber of Commerce announced an initiative Monday to create a 25-year vision and action plan for the economic and community development of the Twin City.

The Bristol Chamber of Commerce and the Bristol2040 Steering Committee will embark on an eight-month process to create a long-term blueprint for what Bristol and surrounding Sullivan County, Tennessee, and Washington County, Virginia, can and should look a quarter of a century from now. The effort will be in consultation with Market Street Services, an Atlanta-based firm specializing in community and economic development.

To read the full article click here or email Alexia Eanes.

County kicks off community strategic planning effort

Special to The Gazette

How does Halifax County become a more prosperous, successful and vibrant place to live and work? Citizens are invited to help answer that question as Halifax County kicks off a community strategic planning effort today.

Public, private and non-profit leaders in Halifax County have come together to develop a community strategic plan that will provide a roadmap to help the county address challenges, increase prosperity and improve quality of life for current and future residents. The plan will address the full range of competitive factors that influence a community’s attractiveness, including talent, education and training resources, infrastructure, business climate and quality of life and place.

To read the entire article click here or email Alexia Eanes.

BVEDC looks to consulting firm to help with regional development

By Briana Nipper

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- The Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation is partnering with an Atlanta-based consulting firm to help focus its regional development efforts.

BVEDC announced its partnership with Market Street Services during the 2018 Brazos Valley Business Forum held Thursday at the newly opened Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center.

BVEDC unveiled a roughly eight month plan to create an economic development strategy.

The plan, which began in August, is split into five phases...

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