Crater Regional Partnership

In response to the VA General Assembly's enactment of the Regional Competitiveness Act in 1996 (Section 15.2-1306-1310 of the Code of Virginia), the Crater Regional Partnership was created to analyze the competitive strengths and weaknesses of the Crater Region, and develop a regional economic development strategic plan to guide efforts to address those weaknesses and increase the overall economic competitiveness of the Region.

Crater Region: Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George and Sussex Counties, and portions of Chesterfield, and Surry Counties; Cities of Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, Petersburg.

• Officers & Members
• Partnership Initiatives
• EDA Projects

The Virginia Regional Competitiveness Act specifies inclusion of representatives of local government (mayors and board chairs and chief administrative officers of each member locality) elementary and secondary education, president of each institution of higher education, business leaders, and leaders of civic organizations.

Economic Competitiveness - A Definition

The over-arching goal of the Crater Region's economic development effort is job creation and increased private investment. The definition of economic competitiveness in the Crater Region is the ability to attract community spirited, environmentally sensitive employers, which are compatible to and supportive of the region's existing business base; provide private investment to enhance the regional/local tax base; and provide wages and benefits that enable the region's citizens to enjoy increased discretionary income and a high quality of life.

The Vision

Over the next ten years the Crater Region will become a major employment hub within its strategic mid-Atlantic location with:

• a skilled, well-trained and motivated workforce prepared for future challenges within the workplace;
• a well coordinated and strong educational system working in concert with the private sector;
• an attractive and diverse quality of life and culture with a sense of community, environment, and heritage;
• a strong and committed private sector/public sector leadership willing to act as the catalyst in addressing the most significant strategic regional issues of the Crater Region; and
• state-of-the-art infrastructure system, sites, and buildings throughout the region.

Issues of Regional Economic Competitiveness

Workforce Development Strategic Objectives:

• a regional partnership linked together with a common purpose of preparing students in our region for the jobs of the future.
• an enhanced effort to provide ongoing worker training programs within the Crater Region.

Education Strategic Objective:

• an educational system that provides students with a solid academic base for continuing their education through college and for employment through the use of enhanced technology.

Quality of Life Strategic Objective:

• a quality of life that ensures that all segments of the region's diverse citizenry enjoy a sense of enhanced community and neighborhood wellness.

Regional Cooperation Strategic Objective:

• a roundtable of senior executives representing industry, business, education, and government to address mutual areas of concern and consider solutions to key regional issues.

Infrastructure Strategic Objective:

• a coordinated program to ensure infrastructure enhancements are brought on line throughout the Crater District