What is the Eastern Shore of Virginia Regional Partnership (ESVRP)?
In January of 1997, Accomack County, Northampton County, and the Town of Chincoteague endorsed the implementation and appointment of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Regional Partnership. The Partnership is a diverse membership in compliance with the 1996 Regional Competitiveness Act of Virginia that was enacted to provide economic incentives for regional cooperation and planning, including partnerships between the public, private, education, and civic sectors throughout the Commonwealth. It is comprised of 38 members representing business, civic, education, and government groups, who work together to improve the economic competitiveness for the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Who serves on the ESVRP?
The ESVRP is comprised of government leaders, private sector, secondary and higher education, and civic associations. The complete list is available in a Word Document.

What are the goals of the ESVRP?

1. Building a diverse, prosperous, self-reliant, and globally competitive economy that provides good jobs for all citizens;
   
2. Preserving the globally-significant natural resources, character, history and culture, and quality of life that are the Eastern Shore of Virginia's special strengths;
   
3. Improving the lives of all citizens with good homes, schools, and services;
   
4. Creating a world model community, and
   
5. Encouraging the counties and towns of the Eastern Shore of Virginia to exercise their options provided by law to work together for their mutual benefit and the benefit of their citizens.

A VISION FOR THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA: WHERE WE ARE IN 2020

In 2020, the Eastern Shore of Virginia is a rural community, with thriving towns and villages and lots of open space, parks and trails. Our Eastern Shore is a prosperous region where all residents share in our economic well being. We are proud of the abundance of safe, affordable housing throughout our region.

Our industrial parks attract sustainable industries, which do not deplete our natural resource base or pollute our air or water. We have a sustainable, diversified economy, and an infrastructure that allows for an abundance of small and medium sized businesses, providing meaningful jobs with good wages and benefits-jobs that support our families. We provide job training opportunities for our adults and young people, enabling them to stay and have careers in our region.

To read the rest of our vision, click here.

What does the ESVRP help fund?
There are currently six projects being funded by the ESVRP. They are:

Resort Hotel and Conference Center
The goal of the Destination Resort Project is to recruit a resort hotel and conference center to locate on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Business Development and Workforce Training Center
The goal of the Business Development and Workforce Training Center Project is to establish a business development and workforce-training center at the Eastern Shore Community College.

Sustainable Water Recovery and Reuse System
The goal of the Sustainable Water Recovery and Reuse Project is to establish a sustainable wastewater treatment system at the Cape Charles Sustainable Technology Park.

The Spaceflight Academy on Virginia's Eastern Shore
The goal of the Spaceflight Academy Project is to establish a spaceflight academy on Virginia's Eastern Shore.

Networked Future
The goal of the Networked Future Project is to promote the Eastern Shore of Virginia as a location for businesses and as a destination for tourists with Internet websites, and to teach the region's businesses how to increase sales and create jobs through the use of electronic commerce.

Wholesale Seafood Farmers Market
The goal of the Wholesale Seafood Farmers Market Project is to develop a wholesale seafood market at the Eastern Shore Farmers Market in the Accomack Airport Industrial Park.

Meetings:
The Executive Committee of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Regional Partnership meets every Third Monday from 4:00pm - 5:00pm at the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission in Accomac, Virginia.

The Full Partnership meeting is every Fourth Monday from 4:00pm to 5:30pm at the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce in Melfa, Virginia.

Please see individual project pages for Task Force Meetings.

Eastern Shore Statistics
The Eastern Shore of Virginia is a rural community located on a small peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Agriculture and Seafood are the primary industries. It is connected to the rest of the state of Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel, a 17-mile-long bridge located at the southern tip of the Shore. For more statistical information about Accomack and Northampton Counties, visit these 2000 Census sites:
Accomack County 2000 Census QuickFacts
Northampton County 2000 Census QuickFacts

Contacting the Partnership
To contact the Eastern Shore of Virginia Regional Partnership or offer suggestions,
Email or call the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission at 757-787-2936