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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-10-02ADJOURNEDAttending Thomas Jefferson Venture Meeting October 2~ 1997 Minutes Locality Represented Walter Perking Steve Murray Sara Lee Barnes Jodie Webber Jim Eddins Peter Hallock Sally Thomas Charlotte Humphris Karen Dame Karen Lilleheht Nancy Price Kay Slaughter Charles Rotgin, Jr. Jim Peterson Meredith Richards Vicki Crews Helen Poore Sandy Snook Joanne Burkholder Dean BeLer Pete Bradshaw Jef-fi:ey Ltms£ord A1 Weed Fred Boger Mitchell Van Yahres Albemarle Albemarle Albemarle Albemarle Albemarle Albemarle Albemarle Albemarle Albemarle Albemarle Charlottesville Charlottesville Charlottesville Charlottesville Charlottesville Charlottesville Charlottesville Charlottesville Greene Fluvarma Louisa Louisa Nelson Nelson Virginia House of Delegates Staff: Nancy K. O'Brieu and Bonnie Fronfelter The meeting was called to order by Ms. Sally Thomas. Invited Speaker, Linda McMinimv: Ms. McMinimy, the director ofthe Urban Partnership, spoke to the group about the second round for qualifying for the Regional Competitiveness Ac! on December 2, 1997. She stated that of the 21 possible regions. 20 had formed regional groups. In 17 of those localities, the groups were formed through the local Chambers of Commerce. She described the formation of the Urban Partnership. She described the themes of the regional plans that qualified in the first round as focusing on specific targeted programs such as workforce training, infrastructure improvement and developmem, education, and tourism. Ms. McMinimy stated that the evolution of the Urban Partnership and the regional groups formed for the purpose of the Regional Competitiveness Act might be a coalition of regional partnerships. She closed by suggesung that this coalition may be a place for leadership to come together. In the past the business community has not been represented on regional plamfing district commissions. Revising Strategic Plan for Second Qualifying Round: Ms. O'Brien reviewed the problems with the original strategic plan submittal. She stated that it was not apparent to DHCD that there was local government commitment to the projects set forth in the plan. DHCD indicated that successful applying regions had indicated promises of financial support from participating localities. Ms. O'Brien reviewed the five questions required to be answered in the application: 1) What will be done? 2) How does it relate to economic development? 3) What will change as a result of the activity? 4) Are new issues addressed or old issues looked at in a new way? 5) When will we do tasks in larger projects? Ms. Thomas opened the floor to discussion from members on how to proceed. A1 Weed suggested that the revised plan focus more on economic viability and goals. Ms. O'Brien suggested the plan could attempt to level the playing field for localities in planning district. J0anne Burkholder asked about unemployment rates in the 6 localities. Kay Slaughter felt that perhaps the Venture group could enlist the aid of state legislators from the region and gather letters of support from local governments and business groups in the planning district. Sandy Snook asked whether the original submittal had the support of the Chamber of Commerce. Sally Thomas noted that Jane Dittmar was a member of the DHCD board. Kay Slaughter suggested letters of support from the local chambers of conmr~erce. Attempting to summarize the ideas put forth, Charles Rotgin proposed five items that the group should proceed with for the resubmittal: 1) reemphasize what a neat and unusual group of community leaders the Venture is 2) tighten up the strategic plan and redraft 3) send an early draft to DHCD and solicit comments from them 4) make necessary business and legislative contacts, especially Earl Dickinson and 5) add job tra/ning to the strategic plan and rewrite as if answering the questions Ms. O'Brien reviewed. A1 Weed added that the original plan probably did not address competitiveness completely. Pete Bradshaw agreed that the definition of competitiveness needed to be simplified in the plan. A1 Weed continued by asking if the group had defined the region's economic goal. Pete Bradshaw replied that the question may have more than one answer depending upon locality. In the case of Louisa County, unemployment rates are higher and Virginia Power's contribution to the county's coffers is uncertain in light of deregulation of electric utilities. 2 Other Business: Karen Dame armounced a candidate forum at the Days Hotel and passed around a flyer. Delegate Mitch Van Yahres noted that Senator Emily Couric could not attend today's meeting because she was out of town at a higher education legislative study committee meeting. Sally Thomas reminded members o£the upcoming activities planned to recognize the 25th Anniversary of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. Ms. O'Brien reminded members that the next TJ Venture Meeting would be on October 9, 1997 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ar Walker Middle School Cafeteria. l'here being no additional business, the meeting was adjourned.