The West Piedmont Planning District Commission is in the process of developing a Regional Pandemic Recovery and Resiliency Plan (PRRP), the goal of which is to help local government members and regional partners respond to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to move our communities forward towards a strong recovery.
The PRRP will examine the impact of COVID-19 on local and regional economies, as well as impacts to supply chains and existing businesses and industries, and to research industry clusters that have or may emerge as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan will study the feasibility of those new industry clusters becoming a fixture of the regional economy, the effects on and new opportunities for small businesses/entrepreneurs, agricultural sustainability and food security during challenging times, and best practices for economic recovery. The plan will also consider new strategies to attract and retain managers and young professionals to the region, and will analyze broadband capacity and connectivity, place-making, and other strategies. Finally, the planning process will include the development of a regional brand to serve as a keystone for the implementation of the regional plan for economic recovery and growth.
The West Piedmont Regional Pandemic Recovery and Resiliency Plan will cover Franklin, Henry, Patrick, and Pittsylvania counties; the cities of Danville and Martinsville; and the towns of Rocky Mount, Boones Mill, Ridgeway, Stuart, Chatham, Gretna, and Hurt. Regional leaders in economic development, small business assistance, higher education, workforce, tourism, and chambers of commerce serve on the steering committee for this project. The PRRP effort is being funded via a CARES Act grant, and the WPPDC has employed the services of Thomas P. Miller Planning Consultants to formulate the plan.
Phase I of the PRRP has been completed, which involved the creation of a project website, www.recoverywestpiedmont.com, and collaboration between regional leadership and the study team to establish metrics of success, to review contents of current plans within the region, and to generate an understanding of baseline economic conditions and the pandemic’s impacts on the region.
The development of the PRRP is currently in Phase II, which involves engagement with businesses as well as outreach to residents and other regional stakeholders. The objective of Phase II is to develop an understanding of the challenges imposed by the pandemic to the business community and residents via the dissemination of surveys and conducting interviews, public meetings, focus groups, and workshops. Phase II will also involve the development of a brand strategy, as part of the PRRP.
Phase III will serve as the final phase of development of the PRRP, and will establish strategies for maintaining and improving economic conditions within the region. As part of this phase, branding elements and resiliency strategies will be finalized. Phase III will really be the heart of the effort, as this phase will focus on regional competitiveness in contrast to the state and national economies as part of the resiliency strategy, which will, in turn, help to support regional residents and businesses, enabling them to prosper. In addition, a business cluster strategy will emerge from Phase III, which will identify industry clusters within which the region is determined to be most competitive.
The PRRP is anticipated to be completed in October, and will guide pandemic recovery and development efforts in the region over the next two to five years. You may learn more about this effort by visiting https://recoverywestpiedmont.com/. Additionally, you may provide comments or other information in furtherance of this effort by navigating to https://recoverywestpiedmont.com/get-involved/, via email, at plan@wppdc.org, or by mail, at WPPDC, P.O. Box 5268, Martinsville, VA 24115.