Horntown

1
Onancock
Wachapreague
Horntown
TAKE CHARGE in Accomack County
2
Summary of Activity

• Presented by
• Jon F. Johnson, FCS CI Extension Area
  Specialist
• Prepared by
• - Pauline Milbourne, FCS CI Extension Agent
• - Jon F. Johnson, FCS CI Extension Area
  Specialist
• - Take Charge Participants

3
Meeting 1 Where Are We NOW?
February 5, 2003
4
Strengths in Accomack County
The major strengths identified by
participants Poultry Industry(8) Natural beauty,
open spaces, waterfront(8) Churches(7) ESCC and
Future Business Center(7) Eastern Shore people -
neighborly with tradition and roots(5) Take
Charge(4) Improvement in public schools(4)
5
Weaknesses in Accomack County
The major weaknesses identified by participants
High number of dropouts and low educational
attainment (7) Many Workers lack higher
skills-ability to be trained (5) Lack of industry
diversity (5) Shortfalls in local and state
budgets (5) High percentage of non-marital births
(4)
6
Meeting 2 Where Do We WANT TO BE?
February 25, 2003
7
Hard at work to share ideas!
8
Breakout Group Work
9
and more group work!
10
Reporting Back
11
Our Dream for Accomack County 2020

• Community website up and running
• Every home on the Shore with computers and
  internet access
• Electronic Commerce - Increased selling of local
  products and services over the Internet to the
  global marketplace
• Transit system serving all areas of the Shore

12
Our Dream for Accomack County 2020
(continued)

• Maintaining automotive programs and building
  business training centers
• Cleaner fresh water reservoirs and development of
  surrounding parks
• Building a new facility for the Accomack Social
  Services Building
• Protect the natural integrity of barrier island
  system

13
Our Dream for Accomack County 2020
(continued)

• Modern, (up-to-standard) sewage systems
• Continued support of NASA facilities
• Build a causeway to Cedar Island or other barrier
  island that could be developed as an ecological
  friendly public facility
• Capitalize on the unique and natural culture

14
Turn the Vision into Reality!

• Determine what you want to accomplish!
• Understand how you can assist with what actions
  are already in place!

15
Latest Eastern Shore Virginia Corporate Additions

• Eastern Shore Composites (Cheriton)
• Bay Breeze Tech Center (Nassawadox)
• Interad Inc. (Accomack Airport)
• Clearwater Sprinkler Systems (Accomack Airport)
• Commonwealth Chesapeake (New Church)
• proVento (Cape Charles)
• Flame Crusher USA (Exmore)
• Wako USA (Cape Charles)

16
What Do Businesses Need?

• Counseling Training
• Surroundings Infrastructure
• Financing
• Incentives
• Incubator (space services)
• Markets

17
Counseling Training

• Small Business Development Center (part of
  Hampton Roads SBDC)
• Funding from the Regional Partnership
• Local office opened in 1999
• About 45 clients each year
• Example Blue Crab Bay Company

18
Planned Surroundings Infrastructure Improvements

• Main Street revitalization programs
• Chincoteague Exmore
• Sewer system, streetscape improvements

19
Financing

• Micro-enterprise loan fund (VESEEHC)
• Revolving loan funds in Exmore (30,000 max) and
  Chincoteague (10,000 max) funded by CDBG
• Examples wine shop, garage, manufacturer, gift
  shop

20
Planning District Commission

• Housing Section 8 rental assistance, community
  redevelopment, indoor plumbing program
• Planning Route 13, town plans, water, and other
  regional issues

21
Summary and Outcomes of Take Charge

• Continue efforts to create the grassroots
  community website to improve communication in all
  communities
• Utilize technology and a community village to
  insure that all citizens have a computer or easy
  access to the Internet
• Utilize existing resources (i.e. the TOP
  Initiative) to promote small or cottage industry
  development
• Utilize community Web pages as a resource to
  existing programs and activities in Accomack
  County
• Actively participate with the TLT to develop a
  grassroots technology plan that supplements
  regional technology planning