HD58 - Interim Report of the Rural Virginia Prosperity Commission
Executive Summary: The Commission has been gathering facts and information to more comprehensively and thoroughly describe the social and economic position of rural Virginia. Clearly, rural areas have fundamental economic disadvantages that, if left alone, will continue to expand the gap between the economic haves and have-nots. The problems confronting rural Virginia, while exhibiting similar broad dimensions, will require unique solutions for individual communities. Communities must be able to determine their unique destinies and understand the consequences of not developing a broad-based community and regional vision. In its travels to date, the Commission has also found examples of excellence in rural Virginia. Charlotte County, for example, is a rural county whose public schools have achieved some of the Commonwealth's highest SOL test scores. The Regional Renaissance project throughout the Central Virginia Planning District Commission is a regional effort allowing citizens of those areas to chart their own course. Comprehensive community building efforts in Carroll County are finding fertile soil to create broad-based citizen participation and construct meaningful long-term economic and social agendas. As the Commission continues its deliberations, preliminary policy, programmatic, and legislative proposals are emerging. Appendix E lists proposals from the December 13 Commission meeting in Abingdon. Staff briefings and preliminary analyses dealing with each of the December 13 proposals were presented to the Commission at the January 9 meeting in Richmond. Much work remains for the Commission. The Commission acknowledges that this work is critically important, not only to rural areas, but for the economic revitalization and vitality of the entire Commonwealth. |