TJPDC adopts regional plan for economic development 

There are 270,319 people in the six localities that make up the Thomas Jefferson Planning District and the median household income is $81,318. Those are two numbers to monitor over time as economic development efforts continue.

One such effort is something called a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy that has been put together by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, a government agency that coordinates all manner of activities across the five counties that surround the city of Charlottesville. (view the document)

The TJPDC hired Camoin Associates to develop the plan and Alex Tranmer is the project manager. 

“Obviously across this region, we’ve got very different priorities and characteristics and factors that affect the entire region so we’re not looking to economic development the same in all of these areas but we are looking to pick up on opportunities that touch multiple parts of the region and really think about sharing resources and amplifying the strengths and assets that the region does have,” Tranmer said. 

The document can be used to unlock federal grant opportunities by demonstrating what activities are already underway across localities. The document identifies areas of infrastructure that might be needed such as commercial centers, improved transportation, and places for people to live. 

“This is a regional document,” Tranmer said. “It does not supercede or come before any of the local work that’s been done. All of the local economic developers were great in contributing to this.”

In all there are four goals, ten strategies, and 44 actions in the document. Tranmer said this work directs staff on how to coordinate work with each other. 

Some of the action steps:

• The first under Goal 1 is to “coordinate business development initiatives across North Fork UVA Discovery Park, Greene County, and Rivanana Station.” Albemarle County is to take the lead but the Rivanna Futures initiative that’s underway is not specifically mentioned. 
• The second under Goal 2 is to develop programs to encourage development of new companies to research and develop “clean” technology. The idea would be to create a “pilot manufacturing” location with assistance from a federal entity called the Manufacturing Extension Partnership.  
• Action 1.B.2 would be to establish a clinical trials network to “complement the work of the Manning Institute of Biotechnology” which itself is likely to attract pharmaceutical and biotech companies. 
• Action 1.C.1 would “forge strong connections between outdoor recreation activities and nearby Main Street commercial and service offerings.” 
• Action 1.C.2 calls for a study to see if the region has enough hotels and other “accommodation options.” 
• Many of the actions under Goal 2 are about workforce development and retaining talent. 
• Goal 3 is about placemaking and 3.C.4 is about transit ridership. 3.C.5 calls for identifying parcels along the proposed Commonwealth Corridor route for future economic development. 
• Goal 4 is about infrastructure including whether the community has enough electricity, water, and sewer capacity to support the dreams of economic development planners.

The TJPDC Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted the document on May 2. After adoption, an “implementation committee” will be created to shepherd the actions in the document. They’ll keep tabs on various metrics. 

The Thomas Jefferson Planning District is within the jurisdiction of the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development which is the support agency for “Growing and Opportunity Virginia Region 9.” The Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission is also in District 9, and their draft Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy is now under review. Take a look here.

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