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069
<br />
<br />April 20~ 19~3
<br />
<br /> We are not cpn~'~?.,,%~,~,_~h~_c,~_~_~bJ~elcp~revious year. We
<br />are, quite frankly, on t~ 'frOnt 'e~-of ~%-~--~%%ss -- a success,
<br />by th9 w~, that ~ou can See and touch as evidehced by these
<br />examples.frOm 1992:
<br />
<br /> o .Be~di~ COrporation
<br /> o Texcom Corporation
<br /> o Blue Cr~ss/Btue Shield of South Carolina
<br /> q Commerc· ~ Bank Expansion
<br /> o~,- oBonduraDt Architectural and Engineering Firm
<br /> o NSU/ODU Graduate Center
<br /> o Scott's Creek Permit
<br /> o -~irGini~ Employment Office Building at River Pointe
<br />
<br /> It has been 10 years since our City has had a for~al~g~ide
<br />for e~onomic development. The document, known as the Priority
<br />Actio9 Plan, served a useful purpose, but is now dated. We
<br />realized~many PriOrity Action Plan successes, but now need new
<br />direction with a ~r~ater emphasis on suste~tative accompiishment.
<br />To guide our econDmlc futur~, I am requesting Council s~pport for
<br />a new initiative -- an undertaking whichlwill be Guided by
<br />practical.vision ~nd a full understandinG of our City's ~role in
<br />the economic development of Hampton RoadS. Our plan must be fully
<br />based on a broad :ommunity consensus vision solidly backed by our
<br />community busines and civic leaders.
<br />
<br /> ~ am proposiTG this year the selection of a qualified
<br /> ~t~p~a~ng~Drofess~o~m~ toe,ore,directly with
<br />econoTic developm ......
<br />the City Manager,-~d~-~'-LVe-~e~l-~-~n{-b~f~C~--dF~'"P6rtsmouth
<br />Redevelopm~nt and Housing Authority, the Portsmouth Chamber of
<br />Commerce and the ~ortsmouth Partnership to develop and guide-a new
<br />plan for. our City's economic-de~elopment~ efforts over the next ten
<br />years--- Portsmou:h 2004. -Along with the Mayor's and City
<br />Manager's Busines~ Roundtable, this-effort would deve!op a formal
<br />ten,year economic development plan for our City to include
<br />buslness attracti)n, retention and economic diversificat.ion
<br />strat~gies~ it am proposing that the funding for this.effort come
<br />from the City's C)mmunity, Development. BlOck Grant Program[ thereby
<br />avoiding the necessity of costs being.charged t~ the City s
<br />General-Fund. TI ~ Director of Economic Development, along with a
<br />private.sector'b~ ~iness. representatlve, Will chair this effort.
<br />
<br /> ~or the las- three years, I have included extensive passages
<br />in th~s~message r~garding the importanceiof the, creation and
<br />maintenance of Workable Partnerships. T~is~.year my only comment
<br />comes in the f~rm of direct~statements of appreciation for those
<br />business and civi~ lea~ers who have made these partnerships
<br />success~ui and anlintrinsi¢:part of Portsmouth.. We have~
<br />accomptlshed-m~chJtogether, ~nd t~gether!our accomPtishmgats.will
<br />continue.
<br /> ,~ur~¢i~y'is~ich in its d~ersit~ o~.philos0Phy,, perceptions,
<br />and efhnic~herita~e, but there!always exists a central core where
<br />there is full, agreement -- we love and Care f~r Portsmouth and
<br />
<br />even amid diverge
<br />Virginia is unwav.
<br />wagt ~o protect t
<br />nelghborhoods,~an
<br />so that needed se
<br />citizens.
<br />
<br /> qnce again,
<br />the School 'Board
<br />They ~ave request.
<br />approved last yea
<br />their request,
<br />
<br /> ~he School B,
<br />offer educational
<br />strongly applaud
<br />
<br />~t opinions, our commitment to Portsmouth,
<br />~rlng. We are evolving and dynamic, and we all
<br />~e public's safety, have strong and attractive
<br />~ vigorously~pursue,econom~c growth,and vitality
<br />trices may continue to be provided to'our
<br />
<br />EDUCATION
<br />
<br />[ am grateful~t,o the School Superintendent and-
<br />~or their .ca-reful and deliberate consideration.
<br />~d the same level of ,tocal-funding, which was
<br />~, and t am pleased to recommend that we grant
<br />
<br />)ard and Superintendent have and continue to
<br />leadership to the citizens of our community.
<br />~nd support their efforts and determination.
<br />
<br />
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