[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6191194,"mediaKeyId","4977681-3bf785656a0cbbdeac9e0bd6b048cd2d","parentId",4977681,"title","Northumberland EDC approves agenda and May minutes; pushes digital zoning map, tourism and workforce initiatives","audioSeconds",1036,"startMs",2274000,"endMs",3310000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=4977681-3bf785656a0cbbdeac9e0bd6b048cd2d&start=2274&end=3310","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4977681-3bf785656a0cbbdeac9e0bd6b048cd2d/thumbnail_2274000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6191194/Northumberland-County/Virginia/Northumberland-EDC-approves-agenda-and-May-minutes-pushes-digital-zoning-map-tourism-and-workforce-initiatives","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191194-00fc22ab3ed572a53a5513fc06353e8a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191128&Signature=MsAC4IWtUlYXcw12w1oZFgvkoy9IHla0~PPRQThv~adnTkDMBEfGKpuc4J1WQHHuiZGznEwX5VOsOqmN70iChKHM1bFVki0hUA5f8ZxOBJW1K7kxk~uuxXtD1nRM54JG3nipVHt-xG2H7upd~80p3fHMo2kK9u3L0dv-eE3dPGbCDvz-4cNqVtm6Ev01ADPwC9x-synM7tL2fPfAK~a2OrufIt-Hu1bt0da-biPm9jWy5D5HQmt6HejQYUpkuQfM80wId6W5fIUdzfE3qjPwzVKUFGAbf1N057FVyDAIZBMsXs2D~jiNu0K9w60HjJQ3wMJkp-bfe78so4rAuKH5TQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northumberland County, VA","date","2025-06-18T15:15:13Z","article","The Northumberland County Economic Development Commission approved its meeting agenda and the minutes from May by voice vote during its June 17 meeting.

Commissioners spent the remainder of the meeting on project updates and planning. Members reported on an upcoming Business & Heritage Expo and a county golf‑tournament booth where the EDC will be colocated with Compass; both events will be staffed by commission members and used for outreach. Commissioners said turnout for the Saturday expo is smaller than hoped but viewed the event as a start.

Workforce development remained a central theme after the earlier presentation by Keenan Allen. Commissioners discussed aligning employer needs with training providers, developing tours and internships, and recruiting employers to take part in pilot convenings. Several commissioners noted that employers must offer competitive pay to retain trainees, citing recent large employers’ wages as a factor in recruitment.

Commissioners highlighted two near‑term county initiatives: (1) an effort to produce a public, digital zoning map so prospective businesses can more easily identify available parcels and (2) analysis and grant‑application work to pursue tourism grants (including grants discussed in local notices and a Northern Neck funding opportunity). The commission said it will press the board of supervisors for deadlines on the digital map and will coordinate with staff to identify grant opportunities.

Staff reported the county comprehensive plan drafting is concluding and a public hearing is expected July 22; commissioners were told specific economic development recommendations and an interactive “pillars of community growth” survey will be included in the draft.

Procedural items: the chair called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with a quorum (three of four commissioners present). The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Northumberland Economic Development Commission - 6/17/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Northumberland County Economic Development Commission approved its agenda and May minutes by voice vote on June 17 and spent the meeting reviewing ongoing projects: workforce outreach, a Business & Heritage Expo, a golf tournament presence, pursuit of tourism grants and a push to publish a county digital zoning map.","taxTitle","Northumberland County, Virginia","taxId",37847,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6191201,"Bay Consortium presenter outlines two‑year talent pipeline project for Region 6 manufacturing and aquaculture",0,2361000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4977681-3bf785656a0cbbdeac9e0bd6b048cd2d&start=2361&end=2361","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4977681-3bf785656a0cbbdeac9e0bd6b048cd2d/thumbnail_2361000.jpg","/articles/6191201/Northumberland-County/Virginia/Bay-Consortium-presenter-outlines-twoyear-talent-pipeline-project-for-Region-6-manufacturing-and-aquaculture","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191201-de330f7f8dbdac1708d633695a4f0c9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191128&Signature=hWeDYxT2PiEuIVKZWTI-ZknoXVrhyOP3CiNsLHBRe62mJcXbEETNAjEWqcy5JqyK0z8jXVcSu40yuUv-Cgvfqjl13ToKgzET2J6M3iq5NImkRHwdz9W7G3sXOVDJhmnpsU-wwSBC1KQhIC-LAQtuhdcGLFX2tEhFBdjndP6~mtiZB2F-KhtLZBzUmJi6fLszNkGqdkGD0g2bzGixFjJT5dPGu5rrztEh88xGPj5uVAPQjpNCULaziXIYILnTdXzp7XPyrlhahoB1aW-SUCorb7PSsN1AANB0UrrGNnh-oGFg3I2TZ~uplA-umqsKnKQukDn2sY4MME4uambOcPXNhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Keenan Allen, talent development coordinator for the Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board, told the Northumberland County Economic Development Commission on June 17 that a two‑year grant will support a career advancement and resource education effort focused on manufacturing and aquaculture in Virginia’s Region 6.

Allen said the CARE project (Career Advancement and Resource Education) is funded through Gulf Virginia Region 6 and the Bay Consortium and uses the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Talent Pipeline Management model. He described the initiative as employer‑led: employers will convene to identify shared hiring pain points, agree on common job descriptions and credential requirements, and coordinate recruitment and upskilling.

The presentation framed several persistent workforce gaps in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula: a small and aging talent pool, underemployment, and the outflow of workers to higher‑paying jobs outside the region. Allen said the project will consider “nontraditional” sources of labor, including women in nontraditional roles, returning citizens, people with limited English proficiency and people with disabilities.

Allen outlined the program steps: convene employers to identify priority positions and common pain points; standardize job descriptions and credential requirements across employers; align education and training providers to deliver the credentials employers need; and use work‑based learning—internships, apprenticeships and school tours—to build candidate pipelines. He emphasized employer participation in recruitment and in defining which credentials are necessary for particular roles.

On barriers, Allen said employers and community stakeholders will need to address childcare, transportation and soft‑skills training as part of a coordinated plan. He also described outreach to schools—middle and elementary grades—to introduce career options earlier and to partnerships with community colleges and community‑based organizations for training and mentoring.

Allen asked the commission to help introduce him to local employers and said the first manufacturers’ convening for the project is scheduled for July 7 in Warsaw. He said some meetings may be virtual to accommodate seasonal industries such as aquaculture.

The commission’s members asked about the size of the local labor pool; Allen said a state study of Region 6 showed a small talent pool that can be expanded but will require employer and community effort to develop. He also noted the project intends to measure return on investment for participating employers and to hand off successful local collaboratives to regional partners after the two‑year period.

Allen closed by inviting commissioners and staff to refer employers and to participate in the convenings planned for the summer.","Keenan Allen, talent development coordinator for the Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board, briefed the Northumberland County Economic Development Commission on a two‑year, employer‑led career advancement project focused on manufacturing and aquaculture in Virginia’s Region 6.","actionData","errors"]

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Northumberland EDC approves agenda and May minutes; pushes digital zoning map, tourism and workforce initiatives

Bay Consortium presenter outlines two‑year talent pipeline project for Region 6 manufacturing and aquaculture