What We're Working On — and How

Promoting our entire region as one while highlighting our multifaceted assets and attractions throughout the Mid-Atlantic States, the Eastern Seaboard and ultimately the United States will bring in visitors through events, destinations, culture, and experiences. Increased tourism will be a catalyst for talent attraction, economic development opportunities and population growth while supporting local businesses, fueling our entrepreneurial ecosystem, adding jobs, and significantly increasing our regional identity and brand.

Creating/encouraging public & private places and properly promoting them for shared experiences make communities and their residents/visitors feel connected, welcomed, and inspired. When people gather in places where they feel camaraderie and affinity with the place and people there, they want to return & bring others.

Supporting the people, programs, capital, and networks that help new businesses grow can revolutionize the startup vibe and business climate in any region. A vibrant ecosystem gives founders more reasons to start here, build here & stay here.

Reducing the conditions that lead young people toward violence through safety, opportunity, connectivity, hope, mentorship, and community support. Prevention reduces crime while helping protect both youth, neighborhoods, and residents, while building our regional brand as an attractive place to visit or relocate.

Making sure our region produces the types of creative housing opportunities so that our residents and new arrivals can find homes they can realistically afford near work, school, and community. This will require a new mindset about the advantages of higher density. Housing costs shape who can stay, grow, and thrive.

Increasing nationwide awareness of Hampton Roads and all of the uniqueness, opportunities and advantages of our region for people who don't already know what's here. We see a future where when we are out of state and say, "we are from Hampton Roads," people know exactly where HR is and have a favorable opinion.

Addressing the lack of stable housing and support for people without a safe place to live. It matters because housing stability affects health, dignity, and opportunity. We need to look for creative ways to eliminate the root causes of people being unhoused.

Building upon Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission's incredible successes, our region can further expand the funding for our region's transportation needs. More regional transportation funding can support mobility, access to jobs, and long-term regional growth.

Finding joint creative solutions for our coastal community's vulnerability to flooding, erosion, sea level rise, and storms. This is especially important here because water is all around us with over 3,000 miles of shoreline. No one municipality can solve its own resiliency problems effectively without us working together for this monumental endeavor.

Exploring how our region can attract professional sports teams, events, and facilities. Major sports franchises will create shared identity, economic activity, and regional visibility and branding.

Improving access to care, support, and early intervention for people facing emotional or behavioral health challenges. Strong mental health systems help communities function better and rescue the most vulnerable while protecting others.

Supporting people coming home after incarceration as they rebuild their lives, find work, housing, reestablish family and community connections. Successful reentry improves lives and strengthens public safety.