Accomack-Northampton PDC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Workforce Development Forum
Time: Feb 10, 2022 10:45 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7577872936

Meeting ID: 757 787 2936
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,7577872936# US (New York)
+13017158592,,7577872936# US (Washington DC)

Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 720 707 2699 US (Denver)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 757 787 2936
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kBHWjqLNH

The Director is responsible for coordination of all housing development operations and administration. The services offered by the department include administration of housing rehabilitation, housing construction, community improvement construction and oversight of rental projects that assist low and moderate income persons and the community.

The Director oversees compliance with federal and state program requirements for the department and will require the ongoing willingness to develop in-depth knowledge of changing regulations and reporting requirements of multiple programs and must display a willingness to actively engage with department staff to keep the department programs running smoothly while also promoting positive staff morale in managing the annual program.

The Director is expected to coordinate with the Housing Services Director on collaborative projects that meet development project requirements while also increasing access to housing counseling services to the residents of such projects.

The Director will have oversight of vendor agreements for the various housing software and consultant services needed to operate the department.

The Director must be comfortable working in a very fast-paced environment and resolve conflicts and disputes in a professional manner. They must possess the ability to handle confidential information in a sensitive manner; be detailed oriented; possess strong administrative experience and communicate clearly and effectively to a diverse population.

The Director must be a good writer and be willing to write grants, develop program budgets and have good organizational skills. Working on the financing of new housing development, through grant writing and loan negotiation, and its associated close outs is a critical part of the work. The Director will also manage one or two large projects or three or more smaller projects that vary in size and scope. This variance can be as large as managing the administration and construction of a new 20+ unit apartment complex or rehabilitation of a single house.

Qualifications:

Employee must have the flexibility to work on several projects concurrently. Demonstrate diplomacy and sensitivity in working with confidential matters. Requires sound judgement and analytical skills; attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy and follow through; good writing and math skills and the ability to work under pressure with a positive attitude. Must have relevant experience. Must have the ability to work independently as well as lead a team. Must have an overall commitment to excellence in customer service. Ideal candidate: detail-oriented team leader that is able to communicate clearly.

Ad Copy

The Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission is accepting applications for a full-time Director of Housing Development. A detailed description is available www.a-npdc.org/director-of-development-job-opening/

The essential function of the position is to oversee local administration of federal and state housing service programs, ensure compliance with these programs and lead a team that ensues the consistent and stable delivery of the annual department program. The successful candidate will also be flexible, willing and able to successfully write federal grants and manage construction and rehabilitation of housing and other community improvements.

The hiring range is $50,000 – $60,000 plus benefits depending on qualifications.

Minimum qualifications: Good writing, good math skills and good organizational skills required. Excellent confidentiality and diplomatic traits required. Demonstrated experience in leading a team desired. Must have relevant experience.

Send cover letter and detailed resume to Housing Development Job, PO Box 417, Accomac, Virginia 23301 or to emeil@a-npdc.org. Equal Opportunity Employer

Accomack County Chairman Robert Crockett introduced the representatives and stated that at a meeting on February 6, 2018, Chairman Crockett, County Administrator Mason, Planning Department Director Morrison and Tyson’s Complex Manager Taylor and Growing Operations Manager Watkins had met and discussed enhanced use of the Columbia shallow aquifer.

Tyson’s representatives then spoke and made four points: 1) Tyson is not expanding the amount of chickens that will be processed at the plant, new buildings are replacing old non-performing houses 2)jobs are expanding at the plant along with new equipment and modern technology to create more out of the meat they are already processing, 3) they questioned the accuracy of information being spread, and 4) Tyson Foods, going forward, on the new houses will drill into the Columbia shallow aquifer for their cool cell pads. Tyson will also look at the availability of Columbia for retrofitting houses and they intend to “explore it on every single farm we have”.

Chairman Crockett then asked, did his understanding of the DEQ numbers mean that 66% of the water was for cooling? Mr. Taylor responded that the numbers are still to be worked out. Chairman Crockett then said at the February 6, 2018 meeting when they discussed Columbia water use he stated within seconds both Tyson representatives said “we can make that happen”. Chairman Crockett then said he appreciated their voluntary move.

Boardmember Chesser then stated Tyson would need to go through the same permit process to use the shallow wells as deep wells. Mr. Taylor responded “Yes”. Boardmember Chesser commended them for this move since the Columbia is less certain than Yorktown-Eastover and expressed his hope that DEQ would look into this issue and change their regulations to make it easier to use Columbia water. Mr. Taylor agreed.

Mr. Taylor then stated “We are doing this because we are good neighbors.”

Boardmember Wolf then noted this was voluntary program but that Tyson would require this on their farms. Mr. Taylor indicated they would have to meet the permit criteria and use the Columbia where it was available.

You can hear Tyson’s announcement starting at 28:50.

Accomack February 21, 2018 Board Meeting

For more information on the Eastern Shore’s groundwater, please examine Eastern Shore of Virginia Ground Water Resources

In the publication “Maintaining a Sustainable Groundwater Resource (February 2018) the presentation, by the Eastern Shore of Virginia Ground Water Committee’s hydrogeologist, indicated the most significant threat on the Shore due to over pumping is saltwater intrusion. Three ways were given to reduce potential for saltwater intrusion, a)Most Effective, maximize use of the water table aquifer (Columbia Aquifer) and surface water ponds, b)where possible withdraw close to the center spine where the freshwater lens is thickest, and c) reduce water use through low flow and various low water uses.

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Ground Water Committee has long worked to encourage the use of the Columbia Aquifer including this in the most recent Eastern Shore of Virginia Groundwater Resource Protection and Preservation Plan (December 2013), the Accomack County Water Supply Plan (2011) and Northampton County Water Supply Plan (2011). The Committee has also awarded several Ground Water Awards to users of the Columbia and has worked to increase the use of water ponds for agricultural irrigation since these recharge from the Columbia.

Virginia spent $1.5 billion on economic development incentives from FY10 to FY16 (July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2016). Three thousand three hundred and seventy-nine projects received grants. Completed projects created 45,000 jobs and $7.5 billion was spent in capital investment or other spending. Ten localities received 49% of all of the awards.

1. City of Newport News, 9.5% of total amounts
2. Fairfax County, 6.8%
3. Loudoun County, 5.2%
4. Greensville County, 5.2%
5. Henry County, 5.2%
6. City of Richmond, 4.4%
7. Brunswick County, 4.3%
8. Mecklenburg County, 3.2%
9. Chesterfield County, 2.7%
10. Pittsylvania County, 2.6%

When analyzed by per capita, southside and southwest Virginia receive the largest share of the incentives. This is due to the resources obtained through the Tobacco Commission. The Tobacco Commission was established to “revitalize tobacco-dependent communities” and the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with the four largest tobacco companies funded the creation of the Commission. The Tobacco Commission has identified 40 tobacco dependent localities and the Eastern Shore of Virginia is not part of the Commission region.

One of the incentives, the Virginia Spaceport Users Exemption in the FY10-FY16 time frame provided $700,000 in tax exemptions. The Spaceport Exemption is designed to promote spaceport operations at the facility owned by the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority which is located on Wallops Island in Accomack County.

JLARC in the Film Incentives report found that the two incentives have a low return, 20 cents for one dollar in one and 30 cents for one dollar in the other. JLARC found that “the film tax exemption has little effect on film location decisions, a negligible benefit to the Virginia economy, and provides a negligible return on the state’s investment. However, the exemption addresses imperfections in the sales and use tax system.” JLARC recommends elimination of the tax exemption and the grant and makes recommendations for the General Assembly, if they choose to offer an incentive.

The full reports can be obtained at JLARC Reports.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development (RD) office in Virginia recognized the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission (A-NPDC) in March in Melfa, Va. for the completion of a high quality regional economic development plan for the Eastern Shore.

“The agency is very proud of the hard work and dedication that the Eastern Shore region committed to completing high quality economic development plans,” said Janice Stroud-Bickes, Virginia Acting State Director USDA Rural Development. “We look forward to continuing support to the region as it fulfills its identified goals.”

The Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission received an award of outstanding achievement for the November 2016 completion of the Stronger Economies Together (SET) regional economic development plan Tuesday at Eastern Shore Community College. Executive Director Elaine Meil, Director of Planning Curtis Smith and Eastern Shore Community College President Dr. Linda K. Thomas-Glover accepted the award on behalf of the commission during the Accomack-Northampton Economic Development Committee’s public meeting.

Aerospace and Defense; Agribusiness and Food Processing; Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, & Visitor Industries; and Foundational & Entrepreneurship Development are the four industries that members of the region identified as cluster goals to further economic development.

Since completion of the plan, the Eastern Shore has leveraged $5.7 million of RD and other funding consisting of almost $20,000 in rural business programs, $151,700 for community facilities programs, nearly $20,000 in rural utilities programs, and $5.5 million to support rural housing. Read more.

Findings Summary

1. VEDP is not an efficiently or effectively managed organization
2. VEDP’s approach to marketing Virginia compromises its effectiveness
3. VEDP’s marketing efforts do not fully adhere to any fundamental industry practices for effective marketing
4. VEDP has demonstrated success in promoting international exports
5. VEDP’s unstructured approach to administering incentive grants leaves the state vulnerable to fraud and poor use of limited resources
6. VEDP had no documented policies and procedures for critical aspects of administering grant awards prior to January 2016
7. Lack of systematic coordination of statewide economic development activities undermines impact of state’s total investment
8. Systemic deficiencies at VEDP necessitate more accountability through an effective, engaged, and informed board of directors

Fraud and Financial Loss
JLARC found that 46% of 133 projects did not meet their individual requirements in the Commonwealth Development Opportunity Fund ($58.7 Million). “VEDP’s approach to administering state incentive grants has been highly unstructured and has left the state exposed to avoidable risk of fraud and poor use of limited resources. VEDP staff responsible for administering incentives exercise an undue level of discretion when awarding, monitoring, verifying, and enforcing performance contract requirements such as clawbacks (repayments).”

Staff Accountability
One of the most surprising recommendations is that JLARC has included a recommendation for VEDP to track the time staff work and establish penalties for staff when they don’t come to work. “According to multiple staff, including staff in VEDP’s administrative offices, an unknown but significant number of staff have routinely shown up for work late, left early, and have not reported their leave.” JLARC states the extent of this problem is unknown. “When a staff member was asked whether their most recent performance evaluation was a fair reflection of their performance, the staff member said, “You know what? I don’t care.”” JLARC further found that VEDP staff have higher salaries than similar economic developers.

VEDP Agency Response Prompts Further JLARC Response
Further, the agency response included in the report prompted JLARC to add a staff response that stated VEDP has made “misleading claims” and restate that one of the recommendations was for VEDP to hire an internal auditor. JLARC staff stated they disagreed with VEDP’s assessment in 23 items of 27 comments where VEDP provided a response.

Official Comments
Governor McAuliffe has stated “it is my hope that we can work collaboratively with members of the General Assembly and other stakeholders to reform VEDP to ensure better management of taxpayer dollars and more accountability throughout the organization. I have instructed Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore and other members of my administration to review the JLARC report and identify opportunities, either through legislative or executive action, to maximize the impact of Virginia’s economic development efforts.”

House Speaker William J. Howell has also released a statement on the report. “Today’s JLARC report on VEDP is extremely disappointing. VEDP lacks the basic practices necessary for effective management and marketing of Virginia’s economic development activities. It is important that we do everything we can to get VEDP back on the right track so that Virginia can remain competitive when attracting new jobs and investment. I appreciate JLARC’s work to uncover these problems and I look forward to working with my colleagues to fix them.”

For full details, including the report, please read the JLARC summary.