Four Questions Answered About Hampton Roads

Fall 2008

Each newsletter HRACRE will pose the same four questions to someone in the region who can provide answers and foresight in 50 words or less that's highly worth considering. For this issue, Dana Dickens, President and CEO of Hampton Roads Partnership, responds:

HRACRE: What is the greatest Hampton Roads regional achievement?
Dickens: The region's elected officials and the Metropolitan Planning Organization coming together to select 6 major transportation projects stands out. They made compromise after compromise in creating a network of projects that addressed the major choke points in the region, putting the good of the region above parochial interests and political concerns.

HRACRE: What is today's biggest challenge for Hampton Roads?
Dickens: The economy. And, today our biggest challenges relate to the economy: jobs, safety, education, workforce development, transportation, long-term financial security, and healthcare.

HRACRE: What would solve this problem?
Dickens: Cooperation across the political and geographic boundaries is needed to Hampton Roads solve these big challenges. In many instances, solutions can be accomplished by sharing information, ideas, costs and revenues, recognizing and acknowledging that these issues can be addressed more efficiently and effectively as a region.

HRACRE: What will Hampton Roads look like in the future?
Dickens: With proper care and handling, Hampton Roads, America's First Region, will continue to enjoy an economy that is stabilized by significant defense and federal spending. Such spending is a stabilizing factor in turbulent times. We will see continued growth in the Port and the technology industry which will reduce our economic dependence on federal expenditures. Regional cooperation is of even greater importance in dire economic times with shrinking local government budgets. Localities must continually seek out the best way to provide services needed by their communities.