Mary B. Bunting, City Manager of Hampton, Reginald E. Gordon, Director of Office of Community Wealth Building, City of Richmond, and Cecil "Rhu" Harris Jr., County Administrator of Hanover County

The Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission (MPPDC) knew that local residents were facing grave problems with repairing failing septic systems. The Commission turned to the Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund (CWRLF) for a solution to this pressing problem. The MPPDC secured a $200,000 loan from the CWRLF to support the Regional On-site Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Funding Program. This Program was established in 1997 to improve water quality and address public health concerns in the York, Rappahannock and Lower Small Coastal Watersheds. This Program also supports the Commonwealth's Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan.

More and more, you'll see communities blending their tourism and industrial economic development efforts, and management offices. Aside from benefits of office and staff resource management, a shared vision for 'community development' depends on the same infrastructure requirements, including site locations, connectivity of base utilities and business technology, zoning, parking/transportation and more. Another factor is funding, both private and public. Whether for new business recruitment or the expansion of existing businesses, funding is a key element.