Newport News Mayor McKinley L. Price delivered a “State of the City” address today at an event for the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce at the Marriott at City Center. The presentation was recorded in its entirety and will be available beginning Friday, October 3rd on the City’s website (www.nnva.gov) and on Newport News TV (NNTV), the City’s cable channel, on Cox channel 48/Verizon channel 19.
In his address, titled Newport News: Where Innovation Happens, Mayor Price emphasized
• more than 1700 new jobs in Newport News have been announced over the last year;
• the construction of the Tech Center, an extensive research, retail, residential and commercial campus at Jefferson Avenue and Oyster Point Road;
• the Summer Training and Enrichment Program (STEP), which, as part of the Youth and Gang Violence Prevention initiative, provided over 160 young people in a targeted area real work experience, career readiness skills, and self-sufficiency skills;
• revitalization of the Southeast Community through redevelopment, repurposing, streetscaping, and a new police station; and
• the construction of a new STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) academy for Newport News Public Schools.
In closing his remarks, Mayor Price said, “So what does all of this mean? It means progress. It means that we are innovators. It means that we are moving forward for the future of this city. Every decision that we make and every dollar that we invest is for that future. The commitment from this Council and city leaders is that we will do what it takes, to grow, to rebuild and revitalize our city, so that every resident of Newport News and their children, and their children’s children will have the quality of life that they expect and deserve. We are a great City – a city where dreams are realized and where innovation happens!”
City Manager Jim Bourey preceded Mayor Price at the event. He covered a variety of topics in his remarks, including air service, transportation, financial climate and economic development.
The event was one of a series of events hosted by the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce that features local mayors. Presented by Old Point National Bank, sponsors included Ferguson Corporate Offices, Bon Secours Health System, Saint Leo University, and Newport News Shipbuilding.