Town and City
Gear up for growth: What the future holds for Economic Development in Virginia
Inside:
- The business of creating business-ready sites
- Virginia looks to workforce development on its way to the top
- What is the state of economic development?
- Nine basics to put your community on track for success
- … and more!
About the cover: In 2019 Virginia was ranked #1 among states for business. That was news worth celebrating, but we won’t keep that title without robust economic development initiatives in 2020 and beyond. In this issue, we check in with some state-level programs that are poised to take economic development in Virginia to new heights and what that means for localities across the Commonwealth. We also check in with a small town’s economic development director and get some international relations advice from a protocol expert.
VML’s new president: Norfolk’s native son Thomas R. Smigiel, Jr.
Inside:
- VML’s 2020 Legislative Program
- A visit to FASTC and Blackstone
- Rethinking recycling
- …and more!
This is one busy guy. He’s a council member from the City of Norfolk, principal of the Academy for Discovery at Lakewood, a city-wide Project Based Learning and International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme school, and our new president! Get to know Tommy Smigiel beginning on page 12.
Happy budget season!: Celebrate all that the season offers (and takes) with our experts.
Inside:
- A budget primer
- Understanding Virginia’s budget process
- A budget perspective
- …and more!
Most everyone enjoys making money. Some people enjoy spending money while others prefer to save. Local and state governments are made up of people, so why should they be any different? In this issue we explore the mechanism by which governments make plans to spend or save money: Budgets!
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Vol. 51 No. 6 – July/August 2016
When trust is frayed: Restoring public confidence following a crisis Inside: Annual Conference Highlights Cover story: Most public organizations face controversy from time to time. Restoring public trust means allowing the public an open view while you’re fixing it, being prepared to be unpopular, reporting successful baby steps and not expecting much credit for a…
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Vol. 51 No. 5 – June 2016
Friday, June 3, 2016 – 10:00am Zika in Virginia? : State and local officials prepare to combat virus About the cover: Summer is here and so are mosquitoes. Localities have been given broad authority to fight the spread of the virus. Files: Download VTCJune_web.pdf (4.26 MB)
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Vol 51. No. 4 – May 2016
State of emergency: Get to know your state partners before disaster strikes Inside: Innovation Awards call for entries About the cover: Governor Terry McAuliffe speaks with the press in the aftermath of the February 2016 tornadoes that devastated the Tappahannock region. In this month’s cover story (page 8), learn the most important ways localities can…
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Vol. 51 No. 3 – Apr 2016
Turning the page on child hunger: First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe tells a new story about feeding Virginia children Inside: VML’s General Assembly scorecard About the cover: First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe reads to a class at Bellevue Elementary School in Richmond during Virginia Agriculture Literacy Week. In this month’s cover story (page 7), Mrs. McAuliffe shares…
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Vol. 51 No. 2 – Mar 2016
Re-imagine the place where you live: Take a page from Danville’s brand makeover About the cover: The water tower in Danville displays the city’s new brand “Reimagine That.” The icon represents a new identity that celebrates the spirit of the town and all that it is becoming. Download VTC March 2016 (3.07 MB)
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Vol. 51 No. 1 – Jan/Feb 2016
‘If I were mayor’ Lily McClung of Fishersville is statewide winner of essay contest Inside: Winning essays from all 8 regions About the cover: Lily McClung of Fishersville, Va., was the statewide winner of the League’s annual “If I Were Mayor” Essay Contest. Her essay is reprinted on page 8. Download VTC Jan/Feb 2016 (2.45…
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Vol. 50 No. 10 – Dec 2015
Living local with Ron Rordam: Blacksburg Mayor is new VML President About the cover: Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam is the new President of the Virginia Municipal League. Download VTC Dec. 2015 (2.41 MB)
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Vol. 50 No. 9 – Nov 2015
Mixing it up: Mixed-use/mixed-income loans spark revitalization projects About the cover: VHDA’s Dale Wittie and developer Buddy Gadams stand in front of The Law Building in Norfolk. Due to a recent expansion of VHDA’s mixed-use/mixed-income loan program, local governments and developers have more options when it comes to financing rental properties – enabling them to…
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Vol. 50 No. 8 – Oct 2015
VML Annual Conference Issue – Richmond: The people, the history, the issues that shape a city Inside: 2015 Achievement Award Winners About the cover: The city and the river aren’t worlds apart in Richmond, but woven together. Offices, shops and restaurants overlook the river where kayakers and paddleboarders glide along the banks of downtown Richmond.…
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Vol. 50 No. 5 – Jun 2015
On Location: Why filmmakers are zooming in on Virginia communities About the cover: Steven Spielberg chose Petersburg and Richmond as the setting for his Academy award winning biopic Lincoln. For this scene, the filmmakers recreated a tent camp where Lincoln has a poignant exchange with two African-American Union soldiers. Photo courtesy of City of Petersburg.…
