GO Virginia Region 6 Council Approves COVID-19 Relief Funds For New Seafood and Agriculture E-Marketplace Development
GLOUCESTER, VA – The GO Virginia Region 6 Council reviewed and awarded the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority $77,000 in GO Virginia Economic Resilience and Recovery Program (ERR) Fast Access funding to customize the FishLine application for the Chesapeake Bay, host the application, complete website development for online purchasing, marketing the new app, and general project administration.
This project is the first in the region to be approved under a new accelerated review process in partnership with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to better assist localities, businesses, and educational institutions to recover from the economic effects of COVID-19.
GO Virginia is an economic development initiative, that provides project-based funds to encourage collaboration between private industry, higher education, and government partners to create higher-paying jobs. The additional funding for COVID-19 relief will focus resources on economic resiliency and recovery while staying true to the GO Virginia mission.
Funding will allow the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority to customize an app called FishLine to help connect seafood and agricultural producers with those who want to purchase local seafood and agricultural products. This project will help mitigate the economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the seafood and agriculture economies in the Middle Peninsula, by giving producers of a new market. The primary market for seafood and agriculture growers in the Middle Peninsula is restaurants, which have been closed due to COVID-19. This new app will allow seafood and agriculture growers a new market and connect them directly with individuals who want to purchase their goods.
“This project is a priority for our region because seafood/marine and agriculture production industries are primary industries within Region 6 and more so, many businesses and individuals have been affected by the closure of the market due to the crisis. By funding the development of this app and website, we have the opportunity to give many a primary source of income back,” said William Beale, Chairman of the Region 6 Council.
This project will leverage $38,500 in a combination of regional and private funds to match the state funding.
About the GO Virginia coalition: The coalition is comprised of business and community leaders, partners in education and government, and interested Virginians from across the Commonwealth who support regional cooperation on private-sector growth, job creation, and career readiness. Bipartisan and business-led, the coalition favors state incentives to encourage collaboration among business, education, and government in each region, providing a framework for implementation of the private sector-focused strategies of leading business organizations and political leaders in both parties. Learn more and join the coalition at www.govirginia6.org.
