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Hampton Roads Alliance outlines regional 'Playbook' and EVRIFA role; cites defense, energy and logistics projects
Summary
Steve Harrison of the Hampton Roads Alliance briefed council on a regional economic development playbook, strategic projects in defense, energy, aerospace and logistics and the Eastern Virginia Regional Industrial Facilities Authority's role in advancing sites such as Kings Creek Commerce Center.
Steve Harrison, chief operating officer of the Hampton Roads Alliance, briefed the Williamsburg City Council Sept. 8 on the Alliance’s “Playbook,” target industries and the role of the Eastern Virginia Regional Industrial Facilities Authority (EVRIFA) in regional site development.
Harrison said the Alliance represents 15 member localities and roughly 100 private-sector investors and serves as a single point of contact for companies considering the Hampton Roads region. "We are the regional economic development entity. We represent 15 jurisdictions," Harrison told the council.
Harrison outlined the Alliance’s strategic focus on four “DEAL” target sectors — defense, energy, aerospace and logistics — and a set of initial strategic projects intended to convert strengths in research, workforce and industrial infrastructure into investments. He said year-to-date Alliance-supported announcements include 14 projects, about 1,700 jobs and nearly $400 million in capital expenditures; he also reported that 2020–2024 announcements totaled about 7,060 jobs.
Harrison described EVRIFA as a flexible, regional financing and project vehicle that can be used for industrial sites, infrastructure or other projects. He identified the Kings Creek Commerce Center in neighboring York County — a former naval fuel depot now partially leased for solar — and said about 183 acres remain available for manufacturing or distribution opportunities.
Why it matters: The Alliance’s playbook aims to shift economic development from general marketing to building projects that match regional comparative advantages, Harrison said. Several council members emphasized that Williamsburg’s William & Mary and other research assets could play a role in attracting higher value R&D and workforce-focused projects.
Harrison listed proposed strategic projects and initiatives that include a Defense Efficiencies and Production Center, an AUKUS Center of Excellence (a trilateral Australia-UK-US defense collaboration), a Nexus advanced-air-mobility initiative, a defense ambassador corps and regional maritime workforce training. He said the Alliance is working with William & Mary, NASA Langley, Jefferson Lab and the Port of Virginia on targeted opportunities.
Council member Barbara Ramsey, who Harris earlier referenced as EVRIFA chair, and others praised the regional coordination. Harrison invited council members to an Oct. 29 Playbook launch event and said the Alliance is administering EVRIFA on behalf of the region.
