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Op-Ed by Russell Seymour of Spotsylvania County about economic development and the future of commerce in the county Date published: 4/18/2010
THE CURRENT economic downturn continues to pose challenges for the public and private sectors. While significant discussion is ongoing regarding the causes and potential solutions for the situation, the result is fairly straightforward. Businesses are more focused now on survival than expansion, and projects are delayed as corporate leaders remain in a wait-and-see mode with regard to the economy. Consumers, many of whom are concerned about job security, are choosing to spend less, which has in turn forced businesses to cut back on production and reduce their work force. State and local governments have also been hit, as decreasing revenues have forced reduction in services at a time when the need for them is high. While very few business sectors have been immune to the impacts of the down economy, one market segment that continues to see positive activity in our area is in the professional sectors. Spotsylvania County continues to experience relatively strong growth in defense and technology and is seeing an increase in requests for office space for state and federal government agencies. These sectors should fare well, as the region begins to see the positive impacts associated with the latest Base Realignment and Closure proceedings. In addition to the potential increase in federal employment opportunities as more federal and contract positions are relocated to local military installations, the need for additional services and infrastructure should have a positive impact on our local economy, including the construction industry. Another positive for our region has been the rapid growth in the health care sector. The recent expansion of HCA Virginia Health System (the Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center) and the continued growth of Mary Washington Healthcare have provided Spotsylvania County and the Fredericksburg region with a variety of employment opportunities. These developments act as strong economic magnets for attracting other product and service providers to the area, and are excellent examples of the area's high quality of life.
Date published: 4/18/2010
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
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