Why an Economic Framework?
The shape of the Newport News economy through 2030 is critical to its citizens. How many jobs will be available, what kinds of jobs will there be, and where in the City will they be located? The answers to these questions impact everyone. The City's economy affects how high taxes will be, where traffic problems may occur, what our schools will be like, whether poverty in our City can be reduced and whether our overall quality of life will improve or deteriorate. What forces will mold our City's economic future? Some will be national or international trends that are beyond our control. However, what we as a community do now, and how we plan, will spell the difference between economic success and failure. We have important decisions to make.
Should we continue to develop attractive business and industrial parks to lure new firms to Newport News? Should we continue to invest in the creation of new communities based on the urban village model? Should we cooperate regionally to make sure that our schools and colleges educate our youth for the jobs of the future? Should we make the necessary investments in our transportation system? Should we reduce the socio-economic disparities that exist in the southern section of the City and in pockets elsewhere? Should we invest in the Downtown to continue its transformation into a viable employment center and to spur a further transformation so that it becomes a livable community?
We need to make these decisions in the context of an overall plan. We need to understand the forces that will determine our future and how our actions can also shape the future. Before we can understand the future, however, we must first understand the past and the present.