2025 Goals: Economic Development Committee of Colonial Beach

An Independent Voice, An Advocate for Business, An Advisor to the Town of Colonial Beach

The Economic Development Committee (EDC) is excited to share our goals for 2024-2025. These objectives aim to enhance tourism, support businesses, strengthen maritime industries, and improve access to medical care, ensuring a prosperous future for Colonial Beach.

GOAL 1: Enhancing Tourism

Our focus is to attract visitors to Colonial Beach year-round by promoting our natural resources, developing recreational opportunities, and improving our infrastructure.

Key Objectives:

• Extend the Season: Develop strategies to drive tourism throughout the year.
• Enhanced Communication: Expand advertising efforts, utilize social media, and improve the town’s website.
• Natural Resources: Maintain and develop resources such as the beaches, swim screens, showers, and address beach erosion. If town funds are unavailable, we will seek sponsorships for improvements.
• Parks and Recreation: Develop activities like pickleball tournaments, guided tours (water and walkable), and other events to encourage year-round visitation.

GOAL 2: Supporting New and Existing Businesses

We aim to foster a business-friendly environment, support current businesses, and attract new ventures that benefit the community.

Key Objectives:

• Streamline Processes: Simplify the process for businesses to work with the Town of Colonial Beach.
• Business Mentorship Program: Create a mentorship program inspired by Henrico County’s model to guide entrepreneurs.
• Community Engagement: Host business appreciation events and build relationships with retail, restaurant, lodging, and commercial enterprises.
• HubZone Program: Promote opportunities for businesses within the HubZone to support economic growth.
• Workforce Development: Partner with Colonial Beach High School to align students with career paths through testing, job fairs, and mentorship. Address workforce housing needs to attract and retain employees.

GOAL 3: Strengthening Maritime Support

As a waterfront community, we aim to leverage our maritime resources for economic and recreational growth.

Key Objectives:

• Support Marinas: Collaborate with marina owners to understand and address their needs while advocating for marina growth and improvements.
• Boating Opportunities: Encourage local and regional entrepreneurs to establish year-round boating activities and events that attract tourists and locals alike.

GOAL 4: Improving Access to Medical Care

Health and wellness are crucial to our community’s prosperity. We aim to identify and address current and future healthcare needs.

Key Objectives:

• Service Inventory: Assess existing medical services available in Colonial Beach and surrounding areas.
• Needs Analysis: Identify gaps in healthcare services and collaborate with providers to address them.
• Community Partnerships: Build strong relationships with healthcare providers, the Town, and Westmoreland County to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Committee Development

To ensure effective operations, we are working to:

• Develop bylaws and policies to guide the committee.
• Assign committee members to oversee each objective, matching their interests and expertise.

By working collaboratively, we can achieve these goals and continue to make Colonial Beach a thriving community for residents, visitors, and businesses alike. Stay tuned for updates and progress reports as we move forward.

Your Voice Matters!
The EDC invites community members to share their ideas and feedback. Together, we can shape a brighter future for Colonial Beach.