Calling biz owners (including nonprofits!): Take this survey and inform the area’s Economic Growth and Diversification Plan

Map of the region, outlining each jurisdiction. Jurisdictions are city of Fredericksburg; and the counties of Caroline, Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Westmoreland.

Businesses in GO Virginia Region 6―Fredericksburg area, the Northern Neck, and the Middle Peninsula (Planning Districts 16, 17, and 18)―are encouraged to identify challenges, opportunities, and needs they are facing so that the upcoming Economic Growth and Diversification Plan can reflect what is happening on the ground.

Take the survey. The survey is open through August 4.

Questions include:

  • Number of years in operation

  • The biggest economic challenges your business is currently facing

  • Number of employees

  • 2024 revenue

  • Region/market served

  • Your confidence in the local economy’s growth over the next year

  • Primary industry

The purpose of the plan is to grow local and regional economies. The TL;DR version is:

The Economic Growth and Diversification Plan is intended to describe specific goals and actionable strategies that will produce measurable results over a two-year period. Additionally, the plan should consider how these efforts can be coordinated and sustained over a 5 to 10-year horizon, and the broad steps to be taken in four GO Virginia investment strategies: workforce development, start-up ecosystems, site development and infrastructure, and cluster scale-up.

The detailed version of the plan requirements:

The Virginia Growth and Opportunity Act establishes that each Regional Council is required to develop an Economic Growth and Diversification Plan to (i) promote private-sector growth and opportunity in the region; (ii) identify issues of economic competitiveness for the region, including gaps in education and skills required to meet existing and prospective employer needs within the region; and (iii) outline steps that the collaborating business, education, and government entities in the region will pursue to expand economic opportunity, diversify the economy, and align workforce development activities with the education and skills needed by employers in the region. § 2.2-2489 of the Code of Virginia requires each Regional Council to review its Plan not less than biennially while receiving grants from the GO Virginia fund.

The Economic Growth and Diversification Plan is intended to describe specific goals and actionable strategies that will produce measurable results over a two-year period. Additionally, the plan should consider how these efforts can be coordinated and sustained over a 5 to 10-year horizon, and the broad steps to be taken in four GO Virginia investment strategies: workforce development, start-up ecosystems, site development and infrastructure, and cluster scale-up.

. . .

A survey of business owners is an important tool in developing the Growth and Development Strategy for Go Virginia Region 6, as it provides direct insights into the challenges, opportunities, and needs faced by local businesses, enabling data-driven policy decisions and targeted initiatives.

And speaking of the economy, the priority industries in GO Region 6 are aquaculture, agriculture, forestry/wood products/paper, IT and data centers, logistics and distribution, manufacturing, and professional services.