A Vision of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County in 2020

1. A Vision of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County in 2020

2. Tools for Planning our Future • Comprehensive Plan • Transportation Plan • Economic Strategy

3. Our Goals … • To have healthy, managed growth • To retain the essential historic attributes • To protect the natural environmental resources • To retain the beauty of the farmland and mountains • To maintain a balanced and vibrant economy • To develop a safe and convenient transportation system

4. By 2020… People Homes Jobs Roads Economic Development Anticipate population, housing, and employment growth rates to continue at a steady pace.

5. Population Growth… PROJECTIONS Estimate Comprehensive Plan Recommendation

6. Our Employment Opportunities… MAJOR EMPLOYERS • Non-Manufacturing • 600-999 Employees • Distribution • Retail Distribution • 1,500 – 2,499 Employees • Health Care • 2,500 – 4,999 Employees • Education • Manufacturing • 100-299 Employees • Concrete products • Soy Products • Telecommunications equipment • 300-599 Employees • Extruded products • Malt beverages • Plastic bottles • Poultry processing • Publishing & printing • 600-999 Employees • Motor vehicle parts • Poultry processing • 1,000-1,499 Employees • Book printing • Pharmaceuticals • 1,500 - 2,499 Employees • Poultry processing

7. Employment Growth… PROJECTIONS Comprehensive Plan Recommendation

8. Our New Homes … Source: City and County Community Development Departments

9. Housing Growth… PROJECTIONS Comprehensive Plan Recommendation

10. Our Roads… • Planning • Urban Planning (MPO Boundary) • Rural Area Planning (Remainder of the County) • Funding?

11. MPO Transportation Plan – Priority Projects Port Republic Road widening to 4-lane major arterial (from East city limits of Harrisonburg to Route 704 Boyers Rd) Stone Spring Road - Erickson Ave connector and Stone Spring extension - Widen/Construct 4-lanes connecting Erickson & Stone Spring, reconstruct railroad crossing at Pear Street, pedestrian/bike facility Port Republic Road widening to 4-lane major arterial with pedestrian and bike facility from Neff Avenue to East City Limits Stone Spring Road Widening - widen Stone Spring Rd to 4-lane facility, realigned to tie into Reservoir Street (County portion) Reservoir Street (Evelyn Byrd to East City Limits) - Widen to 5 lane medium arterial facility & pedestrian/bike facility & enhance traffic flow (City portion) Stone Spring Road Extension from Port Republic to Route 33 crossing Route 704 (Boyers Road) Reservoir Street (City limits to Stone Springs Road) - Widen to 5 lane medium arterial facility & pedestrian/bike facility & enhance traffic flow (County portion)

12. Our Economy… • To increase technology job opportunities • To attract jobs that pay above-average wages • To attract capital-intensive operations • To assist growing companies to expand in the region

13. Major Initiatives • Continue pro-active marketing effort aimed at biosciences, information security firms and technology developers • Encourage expansions from NoVA and Washington-Baltimore corridor into the Shenandoah Valley • Harrisonburg Downtown Technology Zone, Rockingham Center for Research and Technology, and Harrisonburg Technology Park will all be major components of this focused marketing effort.

14. Technology Zones Major Initiatives • Rockingham County Board of Supervisors created technology zones to encourage development of its industrial tax base by the use of incentives to attract certain investment or encourage expansion of existing companies. • Creation of 2 Technology Zones • South Fork • Bridgewater Aviation

15. Technology Zones Major Initiatives • City Council created technology zones to encourage clustering of technology developers in either a business park setting or in the heart of downtown Harrisonburg. The City offers incentives to attract both new investment and high-tech employment opportunities for local residents. • Creation of 2 Technology Zones • Harrisonburg Technology Park • Downtown (HDTZ)

16. Utilizing Economic Revitalization Zones Major Initiatives • VA legislation - became effective July 1, 2007 • Allows VA localities the ability to offer incentives to encourage NEW construction within a specific zone • Most incentives are currently geared toward rehabilitation of existing buildings • This tool was adopted to help with in-fill development and re-development in the northern end of downtown Harrisonburg

17. Redevelopment Area Designation Major Initiatives • Harrisonburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority and City Council designated section of City’s northern downtown as a redevelopment area. • City worked with VHDA and Pinnacle Construction to encourage development of a mixed-use project offering retail/office space, workforce housing, and market-rate housing.

18. Projects Placed in the Pipeline - 2008 & 2009 • Housing Units – 1,430 • Retail – 1.8 million square feet • Business Complex – 2.2 million square feet • Services – 423,000 square feet • Industrial, Educational, & Technology-Related Investments – $203 million 18

19. HDTZ Companies • Rosetta Stone • Gravity Group • Immerge Technologies • Digico • eValley.com • Digital Phenom • Eren Corporation • High Speed Link • The Resource Network • Blue Key Web Studios • Vision Technology Group • MLC Advertising • Venture Interactive • Estland Design

20. www.hrchamber.org