By Barrett Baker
Collected here are some highlights of relevant news and information (available as of press time) from local cities and counties including pandemic response measures.
Hampton
Hampton’s last State of the City Address took place on Nov. 19, 2019. Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck talked about the meeting’s theme, Waves of Change, noting that “For the third year in a row, Hampton has been ranked as one of the 25 most affordable beach towns in America by the financial technology company SmartAsset. Hampton was the only mid-Atlantic city on the list.” Mayor Tuck also pointed out that Hampton had been ranked eighth on a list of waterfront communities published online by USA Today and one of the Best Beach Towns (not just affordable ones) by WalletHub. Hampton was the only Virginia city on the list.
Key Figures
- Hampton City Schools improved their number of schools that are fully accredited by 8% in 2019. In context, only 40% of schools in Hampton were accredited in 2015. That equates to a 150% increase over the past four years.
- The region’s history, economy and culture are closely tied with the military. Hampton is helping to ensure the country’s original Air Force Base, Langley AFB, will continue to serve the country. More than $12 million has been spent on buying land in the base’s Clear Zone to prevent encroachment and ensure safety. The Air Force has also committed more than $240 million in construction projects at Langley. In return, Langley AFB pumped $1.9 billion into the region in fiscal 2018.
- There are multiple housing projects underway, especially in four key areas: Phoebus, Coliseum Central, Hampton Roads North Business Park and Downtown. Home sales and median sale prices continued to rise, showing 43% more home sales in fiscal year 2019 compared against fiscal year 2015.
Talking Points
Hampton is taking a hard stance against crime.
Serious crimes in Hampton continue to decrease, thanks to a dedicated police force, vigilant neighborhoods and programs that provide positive opportunities to young people. Hampton had the second fewest serious crimes per capita in the region in 2018 with 40% fewer than in 2003. This equated to a 16-year low in serious crimes.
Mayor Tuck pledged to continue to focus on improving safety in Hampton, urging people to participate in R.I.S.E (Reach, Inspire, Support and Empower), a program that pairs adult mentors with local middle school boys to promote academic and social success.
Tourists are important to local businesses and the city budget.
Tourism numbers show a 38% growth in visitors from 2010 to 2018. In August of last year, Hampton commemorated the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Africans in English North America. The story was covered by media outlets from across the nation and globe.
Hampton also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing as home to the first NASA Center which hosted the original astronauts. This was portrayed in the 2017 blockbuster movie “Hidden Figures.”
In October 2019, Rosie’s Gaming Emporium helped bring residents from across Hampton Roads to the Power Plant section of the city, which also got star power earlier in the year from the opening of two Guy Fieri restaurants.
COVID-19 Response and Recovery
Hampton City Council authorized a forgivable loan assistance program for Hampton-based small businesses. The program is designed to help small businesses adversely impacted by statewide orders to close or significantly reduce business operations. Loans of up to $10,000 are designed to give Hampton businesses access to needed cash until federal and/or state assistance funds arrive and will be available until funds are exhausted or until Sept. 30.
Newport News
Mayor McKinley Price deviated from tradition during his Oct. 29, 2019 State of the City address by inviting others on stage to join him in delivering remarks, saying “The State of the City involves more than just the mayor, city council and city government. Every citizen, business and visitor plays an important role in the state of our city.” Those individuals included Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding; Sarah Burden, a student at Heritage High School; Jeff Johnson, director of Tech Center Research Park; Owen King, distiller at Ironclad Distillery; Dr. George Parker, superintendent of Newport News Public Schools; Lt. Roberson, a graduate of Newport News public schools; and Jennifer Smith-Brown, managing partner at J. Smith Enterprises.
Key Figures
- Newport News public schools on-time graduation rate is up to 94.8%, up from 72.9% in 2008. The drop-out rate has decreased from 12% to 1.8% in the same time frame.
- Eagle Technologies, LLC revealed plans to invest more than $200,000 to expand manufacturing operations in their Newport News facility, while creating 75 new jobs.
- Solo Inc., the maker of backpack and other pump sprayers, has outgrown its current operations in Newport News and is purchasing a new 64,000-square-foot facility in the city.
- Newport News Police are implementing a number of citizen outreach programs, and crime was reduced by 8% in 2019.
- Newport News received a $30 million Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) grant from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development to revitalize the Marshall-Ridley neighborhood.
- Newport News Shipbuilding, a company that has been operating in Newport News for 134 years, employs 25,000 people. Seven thousand of those people have been hired in the last three years, many coming from local public schools and the military.
Talking Points
Newport News is at the intersection of innovation and tradition.
Construction on Building One at the Tech Center Research Park began five years ago and includes retail, apartments and an 80,000-square-foot facility for research that just opened in August of last year. As part of the city’s plan to develop an area where innovation can land and grow, the construction of Building Two is ready to begin.
Revitalization is the key to moving forward.
The Denbigh-Warwick Area Plan is an initiative to establish a comprehensive, long-range planning and development vision to stabilize the neighborhood and attract new investment.
The Four Oaks Day Service Center is a beacon of hope and opportunity in the heart of Newport News, helping people transition out of homelessness and into employment, stable housing and independence. Programs at Four Oaks include job skill and workforce development classes; medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment services and resources; counseling on permanent housing solutions; computer literacy in an onsite computer lab; assistance in securing documents needed to obtain housing, employment and benefits; budgeting and financial literacy classes; transportation to and from appointments, interviews and pre-approved locations.
COVID-19 Response and Recovery
To ensure the resiliency of local business, the City of Newport News and the Economic Development Authority of Newport News have established small business grants to support eligible businesses impacted by COVID-19. This grant is one-time financial assistance in amounts not to exceed $5,000. The grants will be committed and funded on a first-come, first-served basis based on availability of funds.
The City of Newport News has also established an online Business Status Reporter so local businesses can let residents know if they are open, open under modified hours, closed and more. The information will be used to create an interactive web-based map to help connect local businesses with consumers.
Williamsburg/James City County
At his last State of the City address in 2018, Mayor Paul Freiling touted Williamsburg as “a unique city, small in number, but big in community” with “great heart, abundant creativity and a desire to be innovative and inclusive.” In the Williamsburg City Manager’s statement for the 2020 budget, Andrew Omer Trivette noted that the theme for this year’s budget is renewal. “We have made strident efforts to renew our budget development process, our appropriation of funds based on needs, our collaboration in meeting the challenges, our commitment to structural balance and our drive for innovative techniques.”
Key Figures
- For the 13th year in a row, every school in Williamsburg/James City County earned full accreditation. Standards of Learning data reflect strong student achievement in reading, math, science and history.
- The City of Williamsburg’s economy is largely supported by tourism and education, with two world-class institutions—William & Mary and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation—at its core. The area caters to 6-8 million annual visitors, generating $1.3 billion in spending.
Talking Points
City Council approves Tourism Development Fund grants.
Williamsburg City Council approved seven recommendations for Tourism Development Fund (TDF) grants. This is the first year of TDF grant funding. The following grants were approved unanimously:
- $750,000 grant to be used by the city to improve downtown parking lots if a management and lease agreement is executed between the city and Colonial Williamsburg
- $350,000 grant to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation for the renovation of the Henry Street restrooms
- $529,153 grant to the city’s Parks & Recreation Department in fiscal year 2020 and a planned reserve of $670,847 for 2021 to total $1.2 million to complete the fourth lighted field at Kiwanis Park
- $250,000 grant to the Williamsburg Economic Development Authority to facilitate the design and installation of a comprehensive wayfinding signage system
- $10,000 grant to the Williamsburg Regional Library to purchase additional furniture for the City Square Plaza
- $100,000 grant to the city’s Parks & Recreation Department to purchase a portable stage available for use in the city
- $250,000 grant for further study and design of an indoor sports complex and planned reserves of $250,000 in 2021 for building design
- $800,000 in fiscal year 2022 to pay the TDF share of debt services during construction of an indoor sports complex and $1.15 million in fiscal years 2023 and 2024 to pay the TDF share of debt services after construction
COVID-19 Response and Recovery
In April, the Williamsburg City Council discussed the impacts of COVID-19 on the city’s current and upcoming fiscal year 2021 budget. City manager Andrew Trivette proposed three strategies to make up for predicted current fiscal year 2020 budget deficits: 1. Use savings and other non-mission critical project funds in this year’s capital improvement program. 2. Use TDF grant money that has not been expended. 3. Utilize General Fund Reserve for the balance of the need.
At their May 12 meeting, the James City County Board of Supervisors also allocated $500,000 to the Greater Williamsburg Small Business Relief Fund, which provides forgivable loans to businesses located in the Greater Williamsburg region.
