HR Partnership | March 20, 2010

from Rita D. McClenny, Director of the Virginia Film Office

The 2010 General Assembly has finished its work, and it has resulted in a ground-breaking victory for the Virginia film industry! The General Assembly has approved:

• A new tax credit incentive program with $2.5 million to be invested in film-related projects beginning January 2011.
• $2 million in funding for the Governor’s Motion Picture Opportunity Fund, effective July 1, 2010 for the biennium.

As we all know, this was a very serious and difficult budget year and we all owe a debt of gratitude to Governor Bob McDonnell, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and our bill patrons Senator Louise Lucas and Delegate Ben Cline. We are also grateful to all the members of the General Assembly. Even those who did not ultimately feel they could vote for the legislation gave it their careful and thoughtful consideration.

There are so many people whose hard work and dedication contributed to this victory. I would like to acknowledge the contributions of the people and organizations who made this great accomplishment possible.

• The Virginia Production Alliance, an incredible organization representing Virginia’s exceptional film, television and production community.
• Terry Stroud, Chairman of the Virginia Production Alliance, who has been championing this cause for longer than anyone can remember.
• VPA President Mark Remes whose leadership in this effort was invaluable, along with board members Anne Chapman, Kahil Dotay, Jennifer Pullinger, Alfred Shapiro and Hunter Thomas.
• The Virginia Production Alliance’s lobbying team at Advantus Strategies, including Bud Oakey, Josh Myers, David Anderson, May Fox and Margaret Ivy-Smith.
• Everyone who participated in Film Day or “Two-a-Days.” These dedicated people went one-on-one during the session with our lawmakers to personally make the case for the need for film incentives in Virginia.
• The many people who took the time to contact their lawmakers. These emails and phone calls were instrumental in making this new legislation and financial resources possible.

Congratulations to everyone and thanks for your support of this important legislation!

Now that we have these important incentives, let’s be certain to support the Hampton Roads Film Office. And don’t forget the 2010 Virginia Screenwriting Competition deadline of May 21st.

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Tags: Hampton Roads, HRFO

HR Partnership | February 26, 2010

Click on image to download your copy of Bravo!

From Particia Rublein, Executive Director of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads, committed to leveraging arts and culture as one more key industry our communities need to become great places to live and work.

The importance of the arts in our communities and in our schools:

Like most economic endeavors, these are not easy times for the arts. But we need the arts. A healthy arts economy not only nurtures our well-being but contributes to a healthy tax base. The arts need to be recognized as part of the solution to our economic turmoil.

It is gratifying to see the advancement of many arts and cultural projects moving forward, especially the renovation and expansion of the Children’s Museum of Virginia located in Portsmouth and the expansion of The American Theatre in Hampton.

Several Hampton Roads arts organizations are looking ahead positively with an eye toward advancement and growth. The pages in this edition of BRAVO! speak to that work.

The businesses and citizens of Hampton Roads understand the need and continue to provided generous support to the effort. Each year arts and culture organizations host, and provide jobs to, thousands of Virginia residents, and generate millions of dollars in revenue, adding a large infusion of visitors to local economies.

More than 300 arts and cultural organizations and individual arts call Hampton Roads “home.” From Williamsburg to the North Carolina border our region hosts historical restoration sites, museums, premiere opera, symphonies, galleries, literary festivals, theater, ballet, art studios, choral groups, independent movie theaters and arts education opportunities.

These resources are what economic development professionals refer to as their “quality of life,” and are, in many respects, the key ingredient in our efforts to attract high-end and high-paying business enterprises to the area.

Beyond the bottom line, research informs us that when students study music, when they read, perform in a play or visit an art exhibit, they learn to appreciate those who produced those works, and become more receptive to other people. The professional artists associated with those institutions become our children’s teachers. And we have found that through involvement in the arts children learn better.

Whatever our economic situation, the arts overlap with almost every discipline of daily life, promote healing, enhance the environment, foster a healthy workplace and improve education – primary tools to sustaining a high quality of life. These are the features that define our civic identity.

Bravo! Magazine is the definitive arts and culture printed resource in Hampton Roads for venues and events in dance, museums and lectures, music, theater, visual arts, festivals and the friends who bring them to us all.

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Tags: Arts, Culture, Economy, Education, Hampton Roads, Sense of Place, Tourism

HR Partnership | February 26, 2010

The Mariners’ Museum, located in Newport News, Virginia, is the largest maritime museum in North America. Hampton Roads, with the largest naval base in the world, is a fitting location for such a gem.

Besides world class exhibits, the Mariners’ offers educational opportunities for all ages from school programs about the Age of Exploration to adult lectures on topics from the Revolutionary War to World War II.

The Museum invested in cutting-edge technology to provide exhibitions and information about maritime history, science, and culture via the internet. Approximately one million visitors now log onto the web site annually, and the number of people reached through educational programs has grown exponentially. A key aspect of this growth strategy involves interactive video conferencing (IVC) of the educational programs, which increased by 175% in 2008 alone. The IVC facilities have tripled the capacity to broadcast educational programs across the world.

The Mariner’s also offers educational programs designed to meet Virginia SOLs and the National Standards of Learning, online exhibitions, homeschool and scouting programs.

Dollar Tree, headquartered in Chesapeake in Virginia’s Hampton Roads, is an underwriter for these programs.

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Tags: Hampton Roads, Military Bastion, Newport News

HR Partnership | February 20, 2010

Today is a “happy” day, as is most every day in Hampton Roads. At least, that’s according to Richard Florida’s Creative Class project which reports that the Hampton Roads MSA has tied for 7th overall as the “Happiest Metro Area” based on the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. San Jose, CA, Washington, DC and Raleigh/Cary, NC lead the pack of “happy cities” for 2009.

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Tags: Hampton Roads, Sense of Place, Virginia

HR Partnership | February 12, 2010

Excerpt from WTKR-TV3; Photo credit, IMDB

When it comes to Hollywood stars, there are not many brighter than Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly. In her new movie, she plays a woman named Virginia, who lives in Virginia – Virginia Beach.

The movie takes place in Virginia Beach. It involves a Virginia Beach woman who is in a relationship with the Virginia Beach sheriff. They even spend time on the Virginia Beach boardwalk. However, the film was shot in Michigan.

In Holland, Michigan hundreds of extras lined up to play the people of Hampton Roads.

The film is called “What’s Wrong With Virginia?“

Since the filmmakers snubbed the city, the title has become an indictment on Hampton Roads’ feature film failures.

Why did we miss out on that?

“We missed out because we didn’t have the financial package put together,” said Rita McClenny, state film commissioner [Virginia Film Office].

McClenny says unlike most states, Virginia offers no meaningful incentives. Certainly nothing like North Carolina where moviemakers get a 25 percent rebate on what they spend. That’s why much of “Nights in Rodanthe” was actually shot in Rodanthe. And it’s why television shows like One Tree Hill are based in North Carolina.

And Virginia gives nothing like the 42 percent rebate Michigan used to woo away Jennifer Connelly and company.

“It was a very, very Virginia Beach story that was filmed in Michigan. And it was pretty devastating, frankly,” McClenny said.

It could be even more devastating to Jeff Frizzell. Because Hollywood keeps passing us by, local cities are slashing funding to the four-year-old Hampton Roads Film Office. Frizzell, the commissioner, admits the venture is on the verge of collapse. On this day, Frizzell is trying to pry money out of politicians in Richmond.

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Mr. Mathers’ story on WTKR-TV3 is correct, funding for the Hampton Roads Film Office (HRFO) by some cities has been either cut or eliminated all together, but that is where the accuracy ends.

The HRFO received funding from 5 Hampton Roads localities (including Norfolk) and the state for the current fiscal year. This, in combination with in-kind contributions by the Hampton Roads Partnership, allowed the HRFO to have another very successful year.

The HRFO does not define success by sightings of George Clooney or Tom Hanks in Hampton Roads. Major motion picture production does bring in significant economic impact to a region, but so do independent films, television series, commercial work, corporate video, and other types of production. During calendar year 2009, production companies have come to Hampton Roads from networks including MTV, A&E, TLC, BBC, Discovery, The Food Network, The History Channel and others. They have produced shows including the TLC hit series “What Not to Wear”, A&E’s “Hoarders”, and The Food Network’s “Throw Down With Bobby Flay”. As far as big budget Hollywood productions “The Box” starring Cameron Diaz was partially filmed in Hampton at NASA Langley, where over 150 extras were hired along with a large contingent of local crew members. The HBO mini-series “John Adams” starring Paul Gamatti and Laura Linney, and produced by Tom Hanks filmed in Virginia and spent nearly $80 million dollars in the state, with a portion of that in Williamsburg.

The Hampton Roads region produced $120 million in economic impact, $9 million in state and local tax revenue, and created over 700 jobs annually since the inception of the HRFO in 2006. The reality series “Eish Safari” filmed in Hampton Roads this past summer produced over 900 man-hours of work for local crew and spent nearly $1 million dollars in the region, and while you may not see it in the theaters, 20 million viewers overseas will. They will see the beauty and the history of Hampton Roads, Virginia and maybe decide it’s where they want to take their next vacation or locate their next business venture.

The HRFO’s lobbying efforts over the last 4 years at the Virginia General Assembly has been for funding of the production industry as a whole in an effort to create jobs, not for money to fund the regional office. The HRFO is currently working with the Norfolk Economic Development Alliance to create an Advisory Board to help secure funding and commit to a long-term strategic plan so the Film Office can continue to bring in production dollars and create jobs in Hampton Roads.

Please feel free to contact the Film Office with any comments, questions or concerns.

W. Jeffrey Frizzell has been Commissioner of the Hampton Roads Film Office (HRFO) since it’s inception. The Film Office, a division of the Hampton Roads Partnership, opened in July of 2006 with it’s office located in downtown Norfolk. The HRFO mission is to generate economic impacts in the Hampton Roads region by attracting film, television and related media projects to our region. The Film Office assists local and out of area productions with location, crew and resource (building materials, rental cars, hotel, etc) assistance. The film office also markets the region as a superior location of choice.

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Category: About Hampton Roads, Business Community, Government & Citizens, HR History, Visit HR | 2 Comments »
Tags: Economy, Film, Hampton Roads, HRFO, Virginia

HR Partnership | January 31, 2010

Found this great site that will help you plan your perfect getaway to America’s Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown: “Williamsburg Weekends” featuring different events and programs happening in our area, new information brought to us by the Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance on a weekly basis.

For more information, contact Williamsburg Weekends at: info@williamsburgweekends.com

Photo courtesy of
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg, VA

And, if you want to stay up-to-date on tourism happenings in the Hampton Roads region and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, follow “Virginia is for Lovers” on Twitter.

If you have a terrific tourism experience in Hampton Roads, please share your story and your photos with us! If you live in the region and you’ve enjoyed an attraction, venue or arts & cultural event, we’re looking for blog guest authors.

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Tags: Arts, Culture, History, Jamestown, Tourism, Williamsburg

HR Partnership | January 29, 2010

“The real story is how many people showed up tonight; there’s real passion in the region for high speed rail. This is the most important decision in Hampton Roads for the next 50 years.” — Attendee

We're on board with High Speed Rail…

Over 500 regional residents, public officials and private citizens alike, jammed into Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise Terminal on the evening of January 28^th. Only negative comment heard during this Virginia Dept. of Rail and Public Transit’s (DRPT) federal hearing? Not enough seats! The crowd was standing room only!

What is the economic impact of bringing high speed rail to Hampton Roads? According to Mike Barrett, Chair of the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance (HREDA), it’s $3 Billion and 30,000 jobs. As the 36th largest metropolitan area, this region deserves high speed rail. “Proximity equates to prosperity,” said Barrett. “We will see immediate return on investment from day one.”

New DRPT Director (and former Virginia legislator and U.S. Congressman), Thelma Drake, arrived late to the event due to a disabled car in the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT). Drake explained that the mission of the DRPT is to expand the state’s transportation choices and increase mobility, adding that tonight’s crowd should show the federal government how critically important this project is to the citizens of the region.

Norfolk City Mayor Paul Fraim welcomed everyone and mentioned the announcement today of the $8 Billion in first-round awards for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program and how Virginia fared. (see White House Press Release)*

Read the full summary here, including public comments…

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Category: About Hampton Roads, Business Community, Economy, Government & Citizens, Military Bastion, Transportation, Visit HR | 7 Comments »
Tags: Economy, Environment, General Assembly, Hampton Roads, Military Bastion, Newport News, Norfolk, ODU, Regional, Transportation, Virginia Beach

HR Partnership | January 22, 2010

Its called Vision Hampton Roads. On this edition of What Matters, the weekly public affairs talk show on WHRO TV, we take a look at a roadmap that’s taking shape to diversify and strengthen the region’s economy.

Its goal: Hampton Roads will be recognized as a region for centers of excellence fueled by innovation, intellectual and human capital, infrastructure and a sense of place.

Right now (until February 5th), the plan is seeking public comment, and you are invited to take an online survey at http://VisionHamptonRoads.com.

Joining host Cathy Lewis for the discussion: Dana Dickens, President of the Hampton Roads Partnership; Doug Smith with Kaufman & Canoles, and Dwight Farmer, Executive Director of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.

Click on the graphic to see the video on YouTube, visit iTunes and download or watch at http://WhatMatters.tv.

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Category: About Hampton Roads, Arts & Culture, Business Community, Economy, Education & Workforce, Government & Citizens, HR History, Military Bastion, Research & Technology, Transportation, Visit HR | No Comments »
Tags: Hampton Roads, Military Bastion, Port, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia

HR Partnership | January 11, 2010

by Philip Newswanger, Inside Business

Here’s your chance to comment on the region’s first comprehensive economic development strategy.

Go to VisionHamptonRoads.com and fill in the questionnaire. The comment period lasts until Feb. 5.

The strategy will make the region eligible for grants from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, to which the plan will be submitted. And the strategy will serve as a blueprint for the future economic growth of the region.

Spearheaded by the Hampton Roads Partnership, the strategy took six months to compile and involved 150 community leaders in four committees.

“We all got real excited and said this is what Hampton Roads needs to align our organizations, our municipalities, our industries – to align the region under some common goals and objectives,” said Dana Dickens, President and CEO of the Partnership.

Two-thirds of the region’s economy is based on federal spending, the port and tourism, Dickens said.

“We are blessed in one sense,” Dickens said. “But it makes us more vulnerable in another sense.”

Dickens said that the loss of an aircraft carrier or the closure of NAS Oceana would take a tremendous toll on the region’s economy.

So the region needs to diversify its economic base, he said.

The concept was to formulate a strategy around maintaining and growing the three pillars of the economy while adding a fourth one, which Dickens called opportunities to grow the economy.

“We took those four categories and developed committees,” Dickens said. “We got 150 of the best and brightest [individuals] in the region” on the committees.

Larry Filer, associate professor of economics at Old Dominion University, completed a SWOT (strength, weaknesses opportunities, threats) analysis for the group, Dickens said.

“We put the SWOT analysis in front of the four committees and took notes,” Dickens said.

To give the plan a brand, it was named Vision Hampton Roads.

“The focus is to align the economic units, the organizations, the people who are engaged in the economy of Hampton Roads,” Dickens said.

The plan will be submitted to the federal government in February after the public comment period.

The committees began meeting during the summer. Each committee has met five times.

Dickens said the plan is transformational in two areas.

“For the Hampton Roads Partnership, this will be our work plan,” Dickens said. “I hope it’s going to be transformational for the region in the fact that we align around this common vision.

“I hope we develop these economies of scale that everyone knows are important for the region. We need to get in the mode of thinking, acting and living in one region. We’re all regional citizens, and we hope this will be a step toward that.

“We are competitive as a regional economy,” Dickens said. “We are less competitive when we compete as individual localities. If we are working for the same goals and objectives, it will help diversify our economy.

“There’s no effort here to change what cities and counties are doing,” Dickens said. “What’s good for one city or county is good for all of us.”

The committees were led by the following individuals: J. Robert Bray, Kaufman & Canoles Consulting LLC; Arthur L. Collins, former executive director of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission; Rob Cross, Virginia Arts Festival; Russell Held, Virginia Port Authority; and Roy Whitney, Jefferson Lab.

Article originally posted on Inside Business, Januray 8, 2010: http://www.insidebiz.com/news/thinking-acting-living-one

Others, thus far, who are helping to spread the word to enlist Public Comment are:

• City of Chesapeake http://www.cityofchesapeake.net/
• City of Newport News http://nngov.com/
• City of Williamsburg http://www.ci.williamsburg.va.us/
• College of William & Mary http://swem.wm.edu/
• County of James City http://www.jccegov.com/
• Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement http://hrcce.org
• Hampton Roads Performs http://hamptonroadsperforms.org/
• Hampton Roads Planning District Commission http://www.hrpdc.org/Public_Notices.asp
• Hampton Roads Research Partnership http://hamptonroadsrp.org/
• Hampton Roads Technology Council http://hrtc.org
• My Hampton Roads Blog http://myhamptonroads.blogspot.com/
• Patchwork Nation http://www.pbs.org/newshour/patchworknation/
• Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily http://www.wydaily.com/local-news/3671-regional-group-has-plan-now-wants-public-feedback.html

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Tags: Economy, Hampton Roads, Military Bastion, Sense of Place

HR Partnership | January 5, 2010

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
January 5 – February 5, 2010

The Vision Hampton Roads document (draft) was released on January 5, 2010.

This will begin the 30-day public comment period required by the Economic Development Administration (EDA). You can view/download the document, i.e., our regional roadmap, at http://VisionHamptonRoads.com. We encourage you to take the Public Comment Survey and pass this link along to your friends, neighbors and colleagues.

During the next 30 days, the plan’s link will appear on the websites of many regional organizations. We are encouraging the 17 local governments, 3 planning partner organizations (i.e., Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance, and Hampton Roads Research Partnership) and others to post and pass along the link as well. We’re depending on your word-of-mouth (and email) to help create meaningful public participation in order to promote democracy and civic engagement, build public trust in government and enhance credibility within the community.

The Vision document is the product of over eight months of work, involving over 150 community volunteers who served on one or more of the 5 committees/sub-committees established to develop or oversee the plan. Presentations have been and will continue to be made during this period to organizations and local government leaders. News media outlets have already and will continue to post editorials and articles or air interviews focused on Vision Hampton Roads.

A Public Responsiveness Summary will follow the 30-day comment period, showing respondents how their feedback impacts the plan. In early February, the final document will be developed for final review, approval and submission to the EDA.

Vision planning has placed Hampton Roads on a path to regional transformation by embedding a working process in all that we do…
to think, live and act regionally.

Thank you,

E. Dana Dickens, III
President & CEO, Hampton Roads Partnership (HRP)

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Category: About Hampton Roads, Arts & Culture, Business Community, Economy, Education & Workforce, Government & Citizens, HR History, Military Bastion, Research & Technology, Transportation, Visit HR | 3 Comments »
Tags: Economy, Government, Hampton Roads, Military Bastion, Port, Tourism