Where in the World do Newport News Travel & Tourism dollars come from?

Newport News has developed a unique Tourism Awareness Contest...

Did you know that each U.S. household would pay $995 MORE in taxes each year without the tax dollars (revenue) generated from the travel and tourism industry? That would pay for a lot of food, gasoline and entertainment for your family!

This $1.6 trillion industry creates jobs and attracts arts and entertainment to our community, which enhances the quality of life for all. To celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week, Newport News Tourism announces our annual "Where in the World?" contest.

Newport News City Council and City Manager assist in the clues, appearing in the Daily Press and online here. You could be a winner, drawn from all those who correctly match the clues to where the travel and tourism dollars come from!

Contest begins on Monday May 11, and ends on Wednesday May 27 at 5:00 p.m. Open to all U.S. residents 18 and over; here's how to enter.

Chesapeake Bay Clean-up Investments in Hampton Roads

Governor Tim Kaine announced recently the issuance by the Virginia Resources Authority (VRA) of Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund Bonds to finance $186 million in wastewater treatment and sewer system infrastructure and upgrades statewide. VRA's total investment in nutrient removal for the Chesapeake Bay for FY 2007-09 in all programs now exceeds $810 million.

“The Commonwealth has dedicated more than $1 billion to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay since the start of my term,” Governor Kaine said.

The Series 2009 bonds will support improvements to 13 wastewater treatment plants and associated infrastructure including those owned and operated by the Hampton Roads Sanitation District and the City of Newport News. The majority of the projects will provide system upgrades to reduce nutrient pollution being discharged into the tributaries that feed the Chesapeake Bay. Ultimately, the upgrades will enhance marine life and the overall health of the Bay.

Virginia, along with Maryland, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are all signatories to the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement, which calls for each state to reduce by 40% the level of nutrients going into the Chesapeake Bay by 2010.

“A cleaner Chesapeake Bay and cleaner rivers will enhance the quality of life where Virginians live, work and play,” said Sheryl Bailey, Executive Director of the Virginia Resources Authority.

Hampton Roads Sanitation District – (three projects) --

1. The loan will fund upgrades at Nansemond Treatment Plant which will provide nutrient removal to meet the Commonwealth’s 2010 Chesapeake Bay regulations. This project is expected to receive funding from the Water Quality Improvement Fund and FY 2009 CWRLF funds.
2. The loan will also fund upgrades at James River Treatment Plant which will provide nutrient removal to meet the Commonwealth’s 2010 Chesapeake Bay regulations. This is an innovative treatment process, one of the first of its kind in the state.
3. And finally, the loan will provide for the design and installation of flow meters and pressure sensors at sites throughout Hampton Roads. This is part of the regional consent order to reduce sanitary sewer overflows.

Contact:
Bruce W. Husselbee, PE, Director of Engineering
757-460-7012
bhusselbee@hrsd.com

City of Newport News – The loan will provide for sanitary sewer upgrades and rehabilitation, as well as pump station renovation.

Contact:
Steve Williams, Senior Engineer
757-269-2493
swilliams@nngov.com

Building "Civic Muscle"

Learn how to apply to serve on city boards and commissions at a public forum sponsored by Project Inclusion Leadership Development Program, United Way of South Hampton Roads on Thursday, April 30th, 6:00PM – 8:00PM, at the Norfolk Workforce Development Center, 201 E. Little Creek Road, Norfolk.

The forum agenda includes:

Remarks on Community Service by Bernard Henderson-Senior Deputy Secretary, Commonwealth of VA

Keynote Presentation - Civic Boards & Commissions Panelists:

• Velma McNair, Deputy City Clerk of Chesapeake
• Katherine Glass, City Clerk of Hampton
• Mabel Washington-Jenkins, City Clerk of Newport News
• Shelia Wilder, Deputy City Clerk of Norfolk
• Debra White, City Clerk of Portsmouth
• Erika Dawley, City Clerk of Suffolk
• Ruth Hodges Frasier, City Clerk of Virginia Beach

Moderator: Delores “DeeDee” Gee-TV Show Host: “My Good Lyfe”

Project Inclusion aims to serve as an advocate for inclusion within the community and to build and promote cultural diversity among the United Way member agencies and other non-profit agencies to positively impact the quality of life for others.

Forum Take-Aways:

• Learn which boards have current vacancies in your city.
• Gain an understanding of board application processes.
• Obtain useful tips for gaining board appointments.
  

Refreshments will be served at this free event.

RSVP your attendance to J.R. Locke, Director of Project Inclusion, at 2515 Walmer Avenue Norfolk, VA 23513-2604, ebmincllc@msn.com or call 757-853-8500 ext 134.

Unparalleled Success in Uncertain Times, Newport News State of the City is exceptional

Newport News experienced a year of stunning, positive economic investment announcements totaling nearly $2 billion in the city.

"The message here is we are not going to be as severely impacted like other places because of the investments we made in bringing in these industries and bringing growth to the community," said Newport News Mayor Joe S. Frank.

Mayor Joe Frank and Governor Timothy Kaine were joined by a panel of business and community leaders for the State of the City Summit. Panelists included Dr. Larry Filer, Associate Professor of Economics and Research Fellow for the Old Dominion University Economic Forecasting Project; Takayoshi Hanagata, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canon Virginia, Inc.; William H. Hudnut, III, former four-term mayor of Indianapolis and Congressman, author, public speaker, and TV commentator; Brigadier General Brian R. Layer, Commanding General, Fort Eustis; Dr. Hugh Montgomery, President of Jefferson Science Associates and Director of Jefferson Lab, Jefferson Lab; Mike Petters, Corporate Vice President and President of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding - Newport News; Kregg Wiggins, Senior Vice President, Powertrain North America, Continental).

In April 2008, Canon announced a $623.5 million expansion of its local plant, generating more than 1,000 jobs over several years. AREVA Newport News, the nuclear reactor collaboration with Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, also said it would invest $363 million in its new Newport News plant and create 540 jobs. In December, Continental AG, a fuel injection production company, announced its transfer of 318 jobs and $194 million investment to Newport News from South Carolina.

What's the secret?

Newport News offers a unique mixture of consistent, long-term planning that creates a solid pro-business environment that includes many long-standing relationships, he said. In addition, urban perks such as good schools, work force training, medical, recreational and cultural facilities like the Ferguson Center for the Arts add to the city's appeal, Mayor Frank said.

"All these things give people a sense that Newport News is an attractive place to work, live and raise a family," Frank said.

Like other localities across the region, Newport News is wrestling with rapidly shrinking tax and state dollars. "These projects didn't just happen overnight. It's taken a long time," Florence Kingston, Economic Development Director, said. "It's more than just a piece of real estate or an incentive package (to attract these businesses)."

During the Newport News Summit, Mayor Joe Frank also announced that Pepsi is investing in a $20-million dollar expansion to their existing business in Newport News. It will be a 16,000 sq. ft. expansion that will create 15 new jobs.

Also at the Summit, ODU Economics Professor Larry Filer explained the results of his study showing a ripple effect from that job growth. "The initial job creation of say 3,360 jobs may generate somewhere around 3,200 other jobs in the region maybe as many as 600 more jobs in the City," says Filer.

HRMPO 101 on WhatMatters.TV

What is the HRMPO? The Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization is the intergovernmental transportation planning body for thirteen jurisdictions in Hampton Roads. If you’ve ever been worried about traffic tie-ups in Hampton Roads and you’ve wanted to know how you can find out about the planning process, then you should know about the HRMPO.

Recently, "What Matters" host Cathy Lewis spoke with HRPDC/HRMPO Executive Director, Dwight Farmer; HRPDC/HRMPO member and Newport News Mayor Joe Frank; and Virginia Beach Taxpayer's Alliance Chair, John Moss, for an in-depth look at this little known, federally-mandated, entity that has a major impact on the Hampton Roads transportation issue.


City of Newport News Mayor Joe Frank:
"...it doesn't appear that we're going to have substantial investment in new road programs for the foreseeable future and, I might add, if you had all the money you needed to do these things today, you'd be talking 10 to 15 years before all of the processes took place, the environmental studies, the acquisitions, the engineering studies and the construction so you could actually ride on those roads and then you have the question of what the population is going to be, what are the ridership, what are the needs."

"So, one of the things that I have suggested, and not through the PDC or the MPO, but through the Hampton Roads Partnership, is that they convene the leaders of the largest traffic generators in the region, the colleges, the universities, the military bases, the large manufacturers, the ship yards and so forth, to see if we couldn't voluntarily, because we have no legal basis for requiring it, voluntarily asking these people to consider staggering the times they open and the times they close. If, through that, and you model and simulate that in a very real time way...the data suggests that you could defer the need for all these new road projects for 10 or 15 years, and maybe by that time...you find a way to actually pay for what you've determined you actually need."


Original air date: Fri, Jan 30, 2009
See the complete show: http://www.whro.org/home/html/podcasts/whatmatters/144.mp4

Newport News and HRMPO acting regionally

In a Daily Press article by Sabne Hirschauler on December 19, 2008, it was reported that the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Organization* voted to shift $3 million in Newport News light rail dollars to the city of Norfolk to cover current cost overruns as well as $1.5 million to Virginia Beach.

Newport News had approximately $10.2 million in federal grant money for its light-rail study, which would have paid for preliminary engineering reports and environmental studies. Because of Newport News’ slim chances to get light rail anytime soon, Mayor Joe Frank agreed to the shift of funds so it could be used for the region. This is a long-term vision for a regional light rail system for a regional metropolitan area.

According to online commenters: when southside cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach have a functioning line, then the peninsula and Portsmouth should connect. Light rail would be successful region-wide because of its connectivity to a stable/viable light rail system. These things have to be done in order and in good measure.

* Federal regulations require that urbanized areas throughout the United States have a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to conduct a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive transportation planning process. Urbanized areas are defined as areas with a population of 200,000 or greater.

For the complete Daily Press article, click HERE.

Jefferson Lab Begins Awarding Contracts For $310 Million Upgrade

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Contact: Dean Golembeski, Jefferson Lab Public Affairs Manager, deang@jlab.org

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (aka Jefferson Lab or JLab) has awarded three contracts as it begins a $310 million upgrade project that will provide an international community of physicists with a cutting-edge facility for studying the basic building blocks of the visible universe.

The contracts are the first to be awarded since Jefferson Lab received approval in September to start construction of its 12 GeV Upgrade Project. Under the project, the lab will double the energy of its accelerated electron beam from 6 billion electron volts (GeV) to 12 GeV. The lab also will upgrade the equipment in its three existing experimental halls and construct a fourth experimental hall, to be known as Hall D.

Among those awarded a contract was the Ritchie-Curbow Construction Co. The Newport News company will construct a $1.5 million addition to Jefferson Lab’s Central Helium Liquefier building. The expanded building will house much of the equipment necessary to double the refrigeration for the upgraded electron accelerator.

The two remaining contracts were awarded to vendors from Japan and Germany for materials required for the construction of particle detectors and related electronics for Hall D:

• A $3.3 million contract was awarded to Kuraray Co. of Japan for nearly 2,000 miles of plastic scintillation fibers for a barrel calorimeter. The calorimeter will be 13 feet long, 6 feet in outer diameter and weigh more than 30 tons. It will detect and measure the positions and energies of photons produced in experiments.
• A $200,000 contract was awarded to Acam-Messelectronic GmbH of Germany, for 1,440 ultra-precise, integrated time-to-digital converters. The converters will read the signals from particles in the Hall D experiments.

A contract for the construction of Hall D, worth in excess of $10 million, is now under review by DOE and is expected to be awarded in early 2009. The entire project will take more than five years to complete, and the upgraded facility is expected to be commissioned in 2015.

Jefferson Lab is a world-leading nuclear physics research laboratory devoted to the study of the building blocks of matter – quarks and gluons. The 12 GeV upgrade will enable scientists to address one of the great mysteries of modern physics: Why are there no single quarks?

Jefferson Lab is one of 17 Department of Energy national laboratories. It is managed and operated by Jefferson Science Associates, LLC for the DOE Office of Science.

Click on photo above for large view

Important Links:

New release about the contracts awarded: http://www.jlab.org/news/releases/2009/awarding_contracts.html

Description of the 12 GeV Upgrade project and its importance written for the non-scientist: http://www.jlab.org/12GeV/public.html

Description of the research work done at Jefferson Lab written for the non-scientist: http://www.jlab.org/visitors/science/index.html

Jefferson Lab also has a You Tube Channel, where people can view an introductory video and see experiments from Frostbite Theater: http://www.youtube.com/JeffersonLab

Brochures available include: a general brochure, a 12 GeV brochure and a science education brochure. Contact: Dean Golembeski, Jefferson Lab Public Affairs Manager, deang@jlab.org

Commissioning at Northrop Grumman Newport News

Nearly 1,700 guests and crewmembers attend the commissioning ceremony of the Virginia-class attack submarine USS New Mexico (SSN 779) at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., Dec. 13, 2008. Cindy Giambastiani, the wife of retired U.S. Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani and the vessel’s sponsor, christened the submarine during the ceremony.

(DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Todd A. Schaffer, U.S. Navy/Released, VIRIN: 081213-N-7705S-045)