Hampton Roads Alliance unveils regional '757' framework, seeks 1,000 'champions' for rollout

Doug Smith, president and chief executive officer of the Hampton Roads Alliance, told the Hampton City Council that a new regional economic framework — branded around the '757' identity — is designed to move the area's recovery and future growth from planning to implementation.

"We are one region," Smith said, presenting a vision built on five pillars: regional unity, growing jobs, growing talent, building resiliency and advancing infrastructure. He described the framework as a departure from past regional plans because "one of the things that's gonna be really different about this is gonna be implementation and accountability" and said the alliance will publish a public dashboard to show progress.

Smith said the alliance has built committees and programs with business and education partners and is aiming to sign up community and business champions to carry the work into neighborhoods and workplaces. "We hope to have 1,000 champions signed up by October," he told the council, and said the alliance has already launched a website where residents can learn about the programs and sign up.

Council members asked about deliberate outreach to school districts, clergy and chambers of commerce; Smith said higher-education partners were the initial focus but that the alliance intends to broaden participation as the effort matures. The presentation closed with Smith offering to return for further briefing and council members thanking him for the outreach.

The council proceeded to its budget workshop presentations after the alliance briefing.