2018 Suffolk State of the City speech

STATE OF THE CITY 2018 HILTON GARDEN INN SUFFOLK RIVERFRONT – SUFFOLK CONFERENCE CENTER MAY 8, 2018

NOON – 2:00 P.M.

SUFFOLK: BE INSPIRED!

MAYOR: BLACK TEXT INTRODUCTION PROVIDED BY DAWN S. GLYNN, PRESIDENT AND REGIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TOWNEBANK CHESAPEAKE-PORTSMOUTH-SUFFOLKNORTH CAROLINA REGION THANK YOU, DAWN, FOR THOSE KIND WORDS. AND THANK YOU, TOWNEBANK, FOR MAKING SUFFOLK YOUR CORPORATE HOME, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OTHERS, AND FOR YOUR COMMUNITY COMMITMENT. TO ALL OF YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR SUFFOLK’S STATE OF THE CITY! TODAY WE’LL HIGHLIGHT ACCOMPLISHMENTS, DREAMS REALIZED, AND SHARE OUR STORY OF A WELCOMING, VIBRANT AND GROWING CITY. WE INVITE YOU TO BE INSPIRED, AND THEN TO BECOME AN INSPIRATION WITH US! THE SUFFOLK STATE OF THE CITY IS PRESENTED BY THE HAMPTON ROADS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE HERE, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER: THANK YOU.

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LIVING UP TO THEIR TAGLINE, THE CHAMBER MEANS BUSINESS! DEDICATED TO HELPING BUSINESS OWNERS AND ENTREPRENEURS NETWORK, LEARN AND BUILD THEIR BUSINESS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS IN PROMOTING OUR REGION AND OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST TODAY, BUT EVERY DAY. TOWNEBANK AND THE HAMPTON ROADS CHAMBER – AND EACH OF YOU HERE TODAY – ARE PROOF POSITIVE THAT SUCCESS IS NOT JUST WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISH, BUT IS IN WHAT YOU INSPIRE OTHERS TO DO. BEFORE I CONTINUE, I’D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE I HOLD MOST DEAR – MY HUSBAND, JESSE, AND MY SON TRIPP AND HIS LOVELY WIFE MARY. YOUR LOVE AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT MEAN THE WORLD TO ME. IT’S TRUE IN LIFE THAT THE GREATEST HAPPINESSES ARE FAMILY HAPPINESSES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK THAT MY FELLOW MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED: VICE MAYOR LEROY BENNETT, COUNCILMAN MIKE DUMAN, COUNCILMAN ROGER FAWCETT, COUNCILMAN DONALD GOLDBERG, COUNCILMAN TIM JOHNSON, COUNCILMAN CURTIS MILTEER, AND COUNCILMAN LUE WARD – TO EACH OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE, AND YOUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD. WHILE WE ALL COME FROM A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES AND BACKGROUNDS, WE ALL ENTERED PUBLIC SERVICE FOR THE SAME REASONS – A GENUINE LOVE OF OUR CITY AND A DESIRE TO SEE US SUCCEED. PLEASE JOIN ME NOW IN RECOGNIZING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS: CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT 2

COURT RANDY CARTER, COMMISSIONER OF THE REVENUE SUSAN DRAPER, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY PHIL FERGUSON, SHERIFF EVERETT C. HARRIS, AND TREASURER RON WILLIAMS. WORKING TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD EVERY DAY IS OUR CITY MANAGER, PATRICK ROBERTS, AND I’D ASK THAT HE ALSO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. THERE IS A SAYING THAT, “IF YOUR ACTIONS INSPIRE OTHERS TO DREAM MORE, LEARN MORE, DO MORE AND BECOME MORE, YOU ARE A LEADER”. PAT, YOU EMBODY THOSE QUALITIES AND MORE, AND YOU HAVE SURROUNDED YOURSELF WITH AN IMPRESSIVE AND TALENTED EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD ASK THAT OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THEIR FELLOW CITY EMPLOYEES WITH US TODAY ALSO PLEASE STAND. OUR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES REPRESENT A THREAD THAT RUNS THROUGH THIS ADMINISTRATION – A BELIEF THAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS A NOBLE CALLING. THESE MEN AND WOMEN DELIVER CITY SERVICES WITH EFFICIENCY AND INTEGRITY, AND I COULDN’T BE MORE PROUD OF THEM. I ALSO COULDN’T BE MORE PROUD OF OUR MILITARY THAT CALLS SUFFOLK HOME, AND I’D LIKE TO THANK COMMANDER DANIEL J. KENDA OF NAVY INFORMATION FORCES FOR JOINING US TODAY AND LEADING OUR PLEDGE TO THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH. COMMANDER KENDA, WOULD YOU AND ANY CURRENT OR PAST MEMBERS OF OUR MILITARY PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE MAY SHOW OUR GRATITUDE. 3

OVER 3,200 MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL ARE PART OF THE WORKFORCE AT NAVAL INFORMATION FORCES AND THE JOINT STAFF, AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE VITAL WORK THAT THESE CYBER WARRIORS AND JOINT WARFARE SPECIALISTS PERFORM HERE IN OUR CITY PROTECTS NOT ONLY OUR COUNTRY AND THOSE WHO SERVE, BUT INDEED OUR VERY WAY OF LIFE. LAST SUMMER THE JOINT STAFF HOSTED – RIGHT HERE IN SUFFOLK – THE ANNUAL CYBER GUARD EVENT WHICH INCLUDED MORE THAN 40 ORGANIZATIONS FROM 22 COUNTRIES AND 700 CYBER SECURITY PERSONNEL FOR THE WEEKLONG EVENT. YOU KNOW, AS MAYOR OF SUFFOLK, IT’S MY DUTY TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE…TO FIND BALANCE. HOW DO WE BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT APPEALS TO EACH OF US INDIVIDUALLY, AND TO ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY? EVERY DECISION, EVERY INVESTMENT HAS BEEN MADE WITH AN EYE TOWARD THE FUTURE. NOT JUST CREATING A STRONG ECONOMY FOR THE PRESENT, BUT BUILDING THE FOUNDATION WE WANT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE ARE A GROWING CITY, AND SO TOO ARE OUR NEEDS, BUT WE’VE MADE IT A PRIORITY TO KEEP OUR FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER. WE’VE GREATLY IMPROVED OUR FINANCIAL STRENGTH BY ADHERING TO FINANCIAL POLICIES, RESTORING FUND BALANCES, EMPLOYING BEST FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND BY OUR CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING PRACTICES. WE’RE ON THE CUSP OF RECEIVING OUR THIRD AAA RATING, AND THE WINNERS HERE ARE ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, AS WE’VE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF OUR IMPROVED CREDIT STANDING AND HISTORIC LOW 4

INTEREST RATES BY REFUNDING OUTSTANDING DEBT RESULTING IN COST SAVINGS OF CLOSE TO $240 MILLION DOLLARS. WE’RE A BLUE CHIP STOCK IN THE MUNICIPAL MARKETPLACE, AND HAVE INVESTED WISELY WHILE DEMANDING THE VERY BEST FOR OUR CITY. NONE OF THIS SUCCESS – NONE OF IT – HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF CHANCE. IT’S A RESULT OF THE CHOICES WE’VE MADE. TOGETHER, WE’VE MADE SUFFOLK STRONGER THAN EVER, AND MORE IMPORTANT, WE’VE CHANGED THE COURSE OF OUR FUTURE FOR THE BETTER. OUR AMAZING CITIZENS, COMBINED WITH THE VISION OF ENTREPRENEURS AND THE COMMITMENT OF LONGTIME BUSINESSES, PROVE THAT YOU CAN DREAM BIG AND INSPIRE OTHERS. HAVE A LOOK FOR YOURSELF IN THIS VIDEO…..

(ROLL VIDEO – APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES) IF WE’VE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THIS VIDEO, I HOPE IT’S THE KNOWLEDGE THAT BY DOING WHAT YOU LOVE, YOU INSPIRE AND AWAKEN THE HEARTS OF OTHERS. I’D ASK FOR ALL OF OUR SPECIAL GUESTS THAT APPEARED IN OUR VIDEO JOINING US TODAY PLEASE STAND FOR A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. EACH OF YOU ARE WHAT MAKES SUFFOLK SO SPECIAL. IT WAS ALBERT EINSTEIN THAT SAID, “IT IS THE SUPREME ART OF THE TEACHER TO AWAKEN JOY IN CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND KNOWLEDGE”. WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF BEING COMMITTED TO TEACHING THE 5

WHOLE CHILD, I’D ASK THAT DR. DERAN WHITNEY AND MEMBERS OF THE SUFFOLK SCHOOL BOARD JOINING US TODAY PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED FOR ALL THEY DO FOR OUR YOUNGEST CITIZENS. I’D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE A YOUNG MAN I HAD THE PLEASURE TO MEET SEVERAL WEEKS AGO – PAUL MEADORS – A SOPHOMORE AT LAKELAND HIGH SCHOOL. PAUL, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? PAUL REACHED OUT TO ME RELATED TO A SCHOOL EVENT HE WANTED TO COORDINATE RECOGNIZING THE VICTIMS OF THE MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL IN FLORIDA. RATHER THAN LEAVING THE SCHOOL IN PROTEST, MANY STUDENTS JOINED WITH FACULTY IN THE AUDITORIUM FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR EACH OF THE VICTIMS, AND AMONG THE PASSIONATE SPEECHES STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT THE “WALK-UP” MOVEMENT. THIS CRUSADE URGES CLASSMATES TO SPEAK TO AT LEAST FOURTEEN NEW STUDENTS AND THREE NEW TEACHERS THEY DON’T KNOW EVERY DAY, REPRESENTING THE FOURTEEN STUDENTS AND THREE STAFF MEMBERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE TRAGIC FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING. I ATTENDED AND COMMENDED THE STUDENTS ON PRODUCTIVELY USING THEIR VOICE TO INSTITUTE CHANGE, NOTING THAT CHANGE STARTS WHEN WE COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. JUST AS OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER, SO, TOO, IS OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR SCHOOLS. IN FACT, LOCAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION HAS INCREASED BY MORE THAN $10 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE LAST SIX YEARS. FURTHERMORE, AN ADDITIONAL $4 MILLION DOLLARS IS PROPOSED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019, AND WE RECENTLY INVESTED MORE 6

THAN $60 MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILDING TWO NEW SCHOOLS WHICH WE’RE EAGERLY AWAITING THE OPENING OF THIS FALL. IT’S BEEN SAID THAT “THERE ARE TWO EDUCATIONS. ONE SHOULD TEACH US HOW TO MAKE A LIVING AND THE OTHER HOW TO LIVE.” WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN SUFFOLK IS SECOND TO NONE IN HAMPTON ROADS. A TRUE SENSE OF HARMONY AND PRIDE EXISTS HERE, MADE EVEN MORE SPECIAL DUE TO OUR LOW CRIME RATE AND FIRST CLASS POLICE, FIRE AND RESCUE, AND SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENTS. PUBLIC SAFETY IS ESSENTIAL FOR A COMMUNITY’S QUALITY OF LIFE, AND IT’S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS PEOPLE LOOK AT IN JUDGING A CITY. AT THIS TIME I’D ASK THAT CHIEF OF POLICE THOMAS BENNETT, SUFFOLK FIRE & RESCUE CHIEF CEDRIC SCOTT, SHERIFF EVERETT C. HARRIS, AND ALL OF SUFFOLK’S PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE INCREDIBLE JOBS THAT THEY DO. TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIRES COLLABORATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY, AND NO WHERE IS THAT PARTNERSHIP MORE EVIDENT AND EMBRACED THAN OUR NATIONAL AWARD WINNING NATIONAL NIGHT OUT CELEBRATIONS. THE EVENT PUTS A HUMAN FACE BEHIND THE BADGES, UNIFORMS, HELMETS AND TURNOUT GEAR AND PERSONALIZES THESE HEROES – MOST IMPORTANTLY WITH PERHAPS OUR MOST IMPRESSIONABLE CITIZENS – OUR YOUTH – AS THEY CONTINUE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECT WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.

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WHEN WE’RE CONNECTED TO OTHERS, WE BECOME BETTER PEOPLE. THE SPACES WHERE WE GATHER GIVE A CITY ITS CHARACTER AND ARE WHERE WE MAKE SHARED MEMORIES AS WE RELAX AND EXHALE. A NEW VISION FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF OUR HISTORIC COMMERCIAL CORE CONTINUES THE PROGRESS OF THE DOWNTOWN INITIATIVES PLAN WHICH HAS SEEN TREMENDOUS SUCCESSES OVER THE YEARS INCLUDING THIS VERY VENUE, CONSTANT’S WHARF PARK & MARINA, THE SUFFOLK VISITOR CENTER AND THE SUFFOLK CENTER FOR CULTURAL ARTS, TO NAME A FEW. OUR MOST FUNDAMENTAL ASSET OF DOWNTOWN IS ITS DIVERSITY. PART OF BEING A RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT IS TO ENGAGE. A NEW VISION FOR THE CORE CITY – THE SUFFOLK DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN – WAS RECENTLY PROPOSED AND CREATED WITH INPUT FROM CITIZENS, BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS, LOCAL LEADERS, AND CITY STAFF WITH A FOCUS ON KEY STRATEGIES FOR BRINGING NEW LIFE TO DOWNTOWN. CREATIVE THINKING INSPIRES IDEAS, AND IDEAS INSPIRE CHANGE. IMPROVED DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS, SUPPORT FOR NEW BUSINESS GROWTH AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, REUSE OF UNDERUTILIZED PROPERTIES, AND NEW PUBLIC SPACES ARE ALL PART OF THE PLAN TO CONTINUE THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN. ENHANCEMENTS TO CITY GATEWAYS AND STREETSCAPES, AS WELL AS MAKING A MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE ARE IMPORTANT TO THE PLAN’S SUCCESS. THE PLAN’S THREE CENTERPIECES ARE A FESTIVAL AND MARKET SQUARE THAT WOULD ATTRACT 8

ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS LIKE CONCERTS AND COMMUNITY GATHERINGS TO THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN, LIBRARY SQUARE AS THE ANCHOR OF A NEW ACTIVE PUBLIC SPACE ON WEST WASHINGTON STREET, AND A NEW MIXED-USE RESIDENTIAL AND HISTORIC REUSE PROJECT ON EAST WASHINGTON STREET TO STIMULATE NEW ACTIVITY IN THE EASTERN HALF OF DOWNTOWN, NEAR THE HISTORIC PHOENIX BANK BUILDING. THESE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER INITIATIVES INCLUDING THE DESIGNATION OF A CREATIVE ARTS DISTRICT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE VITALITY AND VIBRANCY OF OUR DOWNTOWN. THE ENERGY OF NEW ENTREPRENEURS WILL ALSO HELP DEFINE THE NEW DOWNTOWN. SUFFOLK’S FIRST BREWERY, BRICK AND MORTAR BREWING COMPANY, IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF A CIRCA 1900 BUILDING HIGHLIGHTING EXPOSED BRICK, HIGH CEILINGS AND ABUNDANT NATURAL LIGHT. FEATURING NUMEROUS CRAFT BREWS CREATED ON SITE, INCLUDING PEANUT CITY PORTER AND THE CAFFEINE CAPITAL PALE ALE, THEY’VE UNTAPPED THE POTENTIAL OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE AND HAVE BROUGHT ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS OF EXCITEMENT WITH FOOD TRUCKS, MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT AND AL FRESCO SEATING. THE NEW DECENT PEOPLE TAPROOM LOCATED IN HARBOUR VIEW OFFERS ANOTHER EXCEPTIONAL ENTERTAINMENT OPTION WITH AN INNOVATIVE SELFSERVE TAP SYSTEM, A FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANT AND OVER 40 ROTATING TAPS FEATURING BEERS, CIDERS AND WINES. THE OWNERS – WESLEY MCCULLOUGH, TODD WALSH AND ERIC LANGHORST – ALL MILITARY VETERANS, CHOSE THE NAME AS THEY WANTED TO OPEN A ‘DECENT 9

PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME TOGETHER’, AND THEY’VE CERTAINLY SUCCEEDED IN DOING THAT AND MORE! AND SPEAKING OF MORE, TERESA AND BRIAN MULLINS HAVE ADDED TO THEIR AWARD-WINNING LINE-UP OF RESTAURANTS WITH THE OPENING OF DECOYS SEAFOOD RESTAURANT AND BLIND DUCK TIKI BAR. WOULD YOU BOTH PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? THE RESTAURANT ANCHORS THE RESORT-STYLE, FULLSERVICE BENNETT’S CREEK MARINA FEATURING BOAT SLIPS, OVERNIGHT STAY ROOMS, AND SOON TO COME 55PLUS SINGLE FAMILY CONDOMINIUMS. WITH UNPARALLELED VIEWS AND STUNNING SUNSETS, THEY’RE MORE THAN A RESTAURANT – THEY’RE A DESTINATION! OF COURSE, WHEN I HEAR THE WORD ‘DESTINATION’, MY MIND AUTOMATICALLY TRAVELS TO TRANSPORTATION! AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE HAMPTON ROADS TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION, I’M EXTREMELY VOCAL ABOUT NOT ONLY THE NEEDS OF MY CITY, BUT OF THE ENTIRE REGION. I UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND THAT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IS DEPENDENT UPON OUR ABILITY TO GET FROM PLACE TO PLACE. ON THE COMMISSION WE WORK TOGETHER TO POWER THE PROJECTS PLANNED AND PRIORITIZED BY THE HAMPTON ROADS TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION TO NOT ONLY MOVE PROJECTS FORWARD, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO KEEP HAMPTON ROADS AND OUR ECONOMY MOVING! WE’RE NOT JUST COUNTING ON IDENTIFIED FUNDING STREAMS TO INVEST IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE; CITY STAFF IS ALSO AGGRESIVELY SEEKING OUT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. AS A RESULT, WE’VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL 10

IN LEVERAGING LOCAL DOLLARS TO OBTAIN SIGNIFICANT STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS TOTALLING OVER $58.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN 2017 ALONE. WE’LL BE SEEING MORE AND MORE ORANGE CONES ACROSS OUR CITY AND REGION, A SURE SIGN OF PROGRESS AND THAT WE’RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION! YOU KNOW, PEOPLE USE THE HOURS OF THE DAY DIFFERENTLY, BUT THE WAY YOU SPEND YOUR TIME DETERMINES THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO SPEND THEIR TIME ENJOYING THE MULTITUDE OF CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND FAMILY-ORIENTED EVENTS FOR ALL AGES OFFERED

BY OUR LIBRARIES. TODAY’S LIBRARIES AREN’T THE PLACES WE REMEMBER FROM OUR CHILDHOODS. THEY ARE TRULY INSPIRING PLACES THAT PROMOTE IMAGINATION AND INFORMATION AND HELP PEOPLE CONNECT TO ONE ANOTHER. MANY ARE TAKING NOTICE OF THEIR SUCCESSES, INCLUDING MARK CUBAN, OWNER OF THE DALLAS MAVERICKS AND OF SHARK TANK FAME. SUFFOLK WAS A FINALIST AND ONE OF THE TOP BOOK-LOGGING LIBRARIES WORLDWIDE IN THE INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE HE HELPED SPONSOR TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE READING AMONGST ALL AGES. THE LIBRARY’S AMAZING PEANUT CHASE CITYWIDE SCAVENGER HUNT ALSO PROVIDED THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE OUR CITY IN A FRIENDLY COMPETITION, RESULTING IN A STATEWIDE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ADULT PROGRAM FOR THE EVENT.

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THEY’VE ALSO ADDED ANOTHER STATEWIDE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING INNOVATIVE OUTREACH EFFORT FOR THEIR PRISON AND RE-ENTRY OUTREACH. IT’S BEEN SAID THAT “LIBRARIES STORE THE ENERGY THAT FUELS THE IMAGINATION. THEY OPEN UP WINDOWS TO THE WORLD AND INSPIRE US TO EXPLORE AND ACHIEVE. LIBRARIES CHANGE LIVES FOR THE BETTER.”.

WHEN ONE HEARS THE WORD “OUTSTANDING” IN SUFFOLK, IT’S ONLY NATURAL TO THINK OF OUR EVER INCREASING AND EXPANDING HEALTHCARE OPTIONS. SENTARA HEALTHCARE LAUNCHED A MAJOR EXPANSION AT THE BELLEHARBOUR CAMPUS BY INVESTING $34 MILLION DOLLARS IN AN 85,000-SQUARE-FOOT, FOURSTORY FACILITY THAT IS JOINED TO THE EXISTING THREESTORY BUILDING. THE NEW CONSTRUCTION ADDS AN AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTER WITH TWO OPERATING ROOMS, AN FAA-REGISTERED HELIPAD FOR NIGHTINGALE AND OTHER AIR AMBULANCES, AND ADDITIONAL MEDICAL OFFICES SPACE. SENTARA ALSO RECENTLY OPENED A 20,000-SQUAREFOOT MEDICAL OFFICE AT THE SENTARA OBICI CAMPUS. THE FACILITY HOUSES SENTARA FAMILY MEDICINE PHYSICIANS AND AN OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE PRACTICE. IT FEATURES A NEW DELIVERY CARE CONCEPT THAT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF TIME TO TREAT PATIENTS EFFECTIVELY. OUR FAST-GROWING POPULATION IS DRIVING THE NEED FOR THESE SENTARA EXPANSIONS. BON SECOURS, TODAY’S SERIES PLATINUM SPONSOR, HAS BEEN GROWING WITH US SINCE THE 80’S, AND THEIR HARBOUR VIEW CAMPUS INCLUDES EMERGENCY CARE, A WOMEN’S CENTER, RADIOLOGY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, WEIGHT LOSS SERVICES, AND THEIR 12

NEWEST ADDITION – A $20 MILLION DOLLAR, STATE-OFTHE-ART CANCER INSTITUTE OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FOR THE CITIZENS OF WESTERN HAMPTON ROADS. ESTEEMED FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, HENRY FORD PROFESSOR AND EDWARD J. BRICKHOUSE CHAIRMAN AT THE EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL, SUFFOLK’S NATIVE SON – DR. L.D. BRITT – WHOM YOU HEARD FROM EARLIER IN THE VIDEO, IS LEADING AN HISTORICAL EFFORT BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. AS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR TO RESEARCH SURGICAL DISPARITIES IN THE UNITED STATES AFTER RECEIVING A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR RESEARCH GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH, THEY COULDN’T HAVE TAPPED A MORE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL TO LEAD THIS CHARGE. HIS REPUTATION – AND HIS LOVE FOR SUFFOLK – ARE KNOWN WORLDWIDE. ALSO IMPROVING THE HEALTH STATUS OF CITIZENS ACROSS OUR CITY AND WESTERN TIDEWATER IS THE OBICI HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION. SINCE 2006 THEY’VE AWARDED OVER $45 MILLION DOLLARS TO ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO MEDICAL NEEDS OF THE INDIGENT AND UNINSURED AND TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF PREVENTING ILLNESS AND DISEASE. ONE OF THEIR MANY BENEFICIARIES IS THE WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC, WIDELY KNOWN AND RESPECTED FOR PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY, NONEMERGENCY HEALTHCARE TO THE RESIDENTS OF WESTERN TIDEWATER WHO CANNOT OTHERWISE AFFORD IT. 13

ADVANCING OUR COMMUNITY’S QUALITY OF LIFE GOES MUCH DEEPER THAN HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION, FINE DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT. THE QUALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY IS EVIDENT IN THE TIES THAT BIND US, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING SUFFOLK THE BEST IT CAN BE. AS A REALTOR, I’M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT HOME SALES IN HAMPTON ROADS ARE UP OVER THE LAST YEAR, WITH SUFFOLK SEEING THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN SALES IN THE REGION, GROWING BY 8.6 PERCENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. ALSO GROWING ARE OUR POPULATION NUMBERS ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU. IN FACT, WE’VE RECORDED A STEADY POPULATION INCREASE EVERY YEAR SINCE 2012, AND WE’RE THE ONLY LOCALITY IN HAMPTON ROADS PROJECTED TO GROW TEN PERCENT OR MORE IN EACH DECADE BETWEEN 2000 AND 2040, ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA’S WELDON COOPER CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE. GROWING COMMUNITIES ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO WORK, LIVE, AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES. AS A FAST GROWING CITY, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS WELL PLANNED. MEETING THE INCREASING NEED FOR HOUSING, BUILDING PERMIT FIGURES REMAIN IMPRESSIVE FOR MULTI-FAMILY AND SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS. WHETHER IN THE MARKET FOR AN AFFORDABLE SINGLE-FAMILY HOME IN A NEW, ESTABLISHED, OR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD – A STUNNING DREAM HOME OR EXPANSIVE ESTATE – A LUXURY APARTMENT OR 14

CONDOMINIUM – RURAL FARMETTE OR RETIREMENT COTTAGE – OR IF YOUR TASTES LEAN TOWARDS AN EXCITINGLY ECLECTIC DOWNTOWN LOFT – YOU’LL FIND IT ALL IN SUFFOLK! I’M ALSO PROUD TO OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE THAT SUFFOLK WILL ONCE AGAIN BE HOME TO THE TIDEWATER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION HOMEARAMA THIS FALL AT THE CREEKS OF NANSEMOND IN THE COMMUNITY OF NANSEMOND RIVER ESTATES. THE HOMEARAMA SITE AT THIS LOVELY NEW CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY WILL PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE IN HOME PRICES FEATURING INTERIOR AND WATERFRONT LOTS PERFECT FOR THOSE WANTING TO ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS. AMENITIES WILL INCLUDE A DOCK AND PAVILION FOR FAMILIES TO ENJOY FISHING, PICNICS, AND SPECTACULAR SUNSET VIEWS OVER THE WATER. WE KNOW THAT THRIVING COMMUNITIES INCLUDE SAFE PLACES TO LIVE, WORK AND LEARN, BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN PLACES TO PLAY, AS WELL. WITHOUT QUESTION, THE TIME TO RELAX IS WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE THE TIME FOR IT! SUFFOLK PARKS & RECREATION LAST FALL JOINED THE RANKS OF ELITE AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

BY EARNING ACCREDITATION THROUGH THE COMMISSION FOR ACCREDITATION OF PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES AND THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION. THIS MARK OF DISTINCTION INDICATES THAT AN AGENCY HAS MET RIGOROUS STANDARDS RELATED TO THE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF LANDS, FACILITIES, RESOURCES, PROGRAMS, SAFETY AND SERVICES. 15

WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS AND HAVE ENHANCED OUR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AS WE FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR POWER TO TRANSFORM OUR DAILY LIVES. RECENT EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE COMPLETED DESIGN FOR THE BENNETT’S CREEK RECREATION CENTER, THE FINALIZATION OF THE LONE STAR PARK MASTER PLAN, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRAIL AT LAKE MEADE PARK, THE LAKE KENNEDY PARK TRAIL, TWO WATER ACCESS PROJECTS AT SLEEPY HOLE PARK AND CONSTANT’S WHARF PARK AND MARINA, THE BOSTON PARK PLAYGROUND, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SECOND PHASE OF THE SUFFOLK SEABOARD COASTLINE TRAIL IN PUGHSVILLE. TO CONTINUE WORK ON THIS WIDELY POPULAR TRAIL FOR RUNNERS, CYCLISTS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS, THE DEPARTMENT WAS RECENTLY AWARDED AN $800,000 GRANT FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THESE FUNDS, COMBINED WITH OUR LOCAL MATCH OF $200,000 WHICH ALLOWS FOR A FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT, BRINGS THIS TOTAL GRANT AWARD TO $1 MILLION DOLLARS. FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEXT PHASE OF THE SUFFOLK SEABOARD COASTLINE TRAIL THAT WILL EXTEND FROM SUBURBAN DRIVE TO NANSEMOND PARKWAY FOR AN ADDITIONAL 1.6 MILES OF FULLY PAVED AND FULLY ADA ACCESSIBLE TRAILS FOR OUR CITIZENS TO ENJOY. THERE’LL ALSO BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CYCLISTS AND OTHERS TO ENJOY OUR SCENIC HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS AS THE SUFFOLK PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THE INCLUSION OF THE FIRST BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN IN THE CITY’S 16

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. HOWEVER ONE REACHES OUR PARKS, THE MAIN THING IS TO SLOW DOWN AND ABSORB THE NATURAL WONDERS AT LEISURE. FROM PROVIDING US PLACES TO PLAY, GET FIT AND STAY HEALTHY, TO FOSTERING NEW RELATIONSHIPS AND FORGING A CONNECTION WITH NATURE, OUR CLOSE-TOHOME COMMUNITY PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. NOTHING STIRS THE HEART, INSPIRES THE IMAGINATION AND BRINGS ETERNAL JOY TO THE SOUL MORE THAN WHAT WE CHOOSE TO DO IN OUR LEISURE. SUFFOLK’S GREAT PAST IS ALWAYS PRESENT WITH THE DIVISION OF TOURISM’S AWARD-WINNING COORDINATED EXCURSIONS AND OUTINGS VISITING TIMELESS LANDMARKS AND MORE. OR MAYBE YOUR TASTES LEAN TOWARD AN ARRAY OF GOURMET RESTAURANTS, ART EXHIBITS, FESTIVALS, OR HOLIDAY HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES. WE’RE THE PERFECT BLEND OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO CHOOSE, AS YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL! THE ARTS HAVE LONG BEEN AN INTEGRAL AND VIBRANT PART OF OUR NATION’S CULTURAL HERITAGE. IN ITS MANY FORMS, ART ENABLES US TO GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF OURSELVES AND PROVIDES US WITH A UNIQUE WAY TO LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE OF OTHER CULTURES BY ALLOWING US TO DISCOVER ALL THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON. AT ITS BEST, ART CAN BEAUTIFY OUR CITIES, ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL CHANGE, AND PROFOUNDLY AFFECT THE WAYS WE LIVE OUR LIVES. 17

SUFFOLK’S PRIME ARTS, RETAIL AND CULINARY INITIATIVE, BETTER KNOWN AS SPARC, A PRIVATE UNDERTAKING, HAS A GOAL TO PROMOTE, SUPPORT AND FOSTER THE ARTS STARTING WITH EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS AND GALLERIES. IGNITING THIS SPARK IN OUR DOWNTOWN ARE ED BEARDSLEY, HEAD OF THE SPARC INITIATIVE, JACKIE CHERRY, DIRECTOR OF THE SUFFOLK CENTER FOR CULTURAL ARTS, AND LINDA BUNCH, DIRECTOR OF THE SUFFOLK ART LEAGUE. THEY BELIEVE THAT THE ARTS ARE IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR INDIVIDUAL ENRICHMENT, BUT ALSO TO GENERATE REVITALIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT DOWNTOWN. ALREADY, THE SPARC INITIATIVE HAS ATTRACTED WORKING ARTISTS THAT CREATE, DISPLAY, AND SELL THEIR WORK AND WHO ARE THE CATALYSTS FOR THE PROPOSED DESIGNATION OF A CREATIVE ARTS DISTRICT I MENTIONED EARLIER. CURRENTLY, NEARLY 70 ARTISTS LEASE SPACE DOWNTOWN, INCLUDING PAINTERS, CRAFTERS, TEXTILE ARTISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, JEWELRY MAKERS AND OTHERS AT VENUES INCLUDING ONE PAST 7, BEARDSLEY’S VISION FOR THE FUTURE WHICH OPENED IN LATE DECEMBER ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND MEZZANINE OF DOWNTOWN’S HISTORIC PROFESSIONAL BUILDING. FEATURING EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, OPEN HOUSES, POP-UP SHOPS, ROTATING SHOWCASED ARTISTS AND MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO INTERACT WITH THE ARTISANS – THESE CREATIVE VISIONARIES DEMONSTRATE THE BELIEF THAT “YOUR LIFE IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE WORLD. MAKE SURE IT IS INSPIRING.”

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IF YOU OWN, ARE EMPLOYED BY, SHOP AT, DINE AT, AND SUPPORT OUR SUFFOLK BUSINESS COMMUNITY, PLEASE STAND. LOOKS LIKE WE’VE GOT THE WHOLE ROOM ON THEIR FEET! NOW GIVE YOURSELF A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, AS YOU’VE JUST BEEN A PART OF THE FIRST SEVENTH INNING STATE OF THE CITY STRETCH! TODAY, TOGETHER, WE’RE BUILDING THE FOUNDATION OF A FISCALLY SOUND, INNOVATIVE, THRIVING CITY – SUFFOLK IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS! WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SUFFOLK ATTRACTS A DIVERSE MIX OF INDUSTRIES THANKS TO OUR PRIME MID-ATLANTIC LOCATION, ROOM FOR EXPANSION AND PRO-BUSINESS CLIMATE. EACH YEAR BRINGS A HOST OF NEW BUSINESSES WHO OPT TO ESTABLISH ROOTS IN SUFFOLK BECAUSE THEY ARE CONFIDENT THAT IT IS THE SMARTEST GROWTH STRATEGY FOR THEM, AND THEY KNOW THAT BY LOCATING HERE, THEY’LL HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED AND GROW. SUFFOLK IS A BIG CITY – WHICH PRESENTS BIG OPPORTUNITIES – AND DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES, AT THAT. HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY ARE NEW AND EXCITING ACTIVITIES IN HARBOUR VIEW. THE SUFFOLK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, WORKING WITH GEE’S PARTNERS, JUST REZONED 55-ACRES FOR A MIXEDUSE DEVELOPMENT OFF OF INTERSTATE 664 CALLED THE POINT AT HARBOUR VIEW. THIS SITE ALSO SERVES AS THE GATEWAY TO THE AMAZING 300-ACRE FORMER TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE SITE THAT SITS ON THE JAMES RIVER. THE TCC REAL ESTATE FOUNDATION IS MAKING GREAT STRIDES AS THEY PREPARE THIS 19

EXTRAORDINARY, ONE-OF-A-KIND OPPORTUNITY FOR DEVELOPMENT, AND WE ARE A PARTNER IN THIS INITIATIVE. THE SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED FUNDING FOR THE ENGINEERING OF THE 1.3 MILES OF SHORELINE IN ORDER TO PROTECT THIS IRREPLACEABLE ASSET FROM EROSION AS WE PLAN FOR A FUTURE PUBLIC SPACE THAT WILL SPAN THE LENGTH OF THE ENTIRE WATERFRONT. I’D ALSO ASK THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE SUFFOLK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR COMMITMENT AND TIRELESS EFFORTS IN PROMOTING OUR CITY. THE ABILITIES OF OUR WORKFORCE ARE ALWAYS A CRITICAL PART OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AS COMPANIES DEMAND AN ENVIRONMENT THAT’S RIPE FOR BUSINESS. I’M PLEASED TO ADVISE THAT THE VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE SELECTION OF SUFFOLK, FRANKLIN, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY AS WINNERS IN THE 2018 COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS AWARDS FOR OUR COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE CEDA AWARD WAS PRESENTED FOR THE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OUR JURISDICTIONS WITH COLLABORATION FROM PAUL D. CAMP COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PDCCC REGIONAL WAREHOUSE AND DISTRIBUTION TRAINING FACILITY IN ORDER TO MEET THE GROWING MANUFACTURING, WAREHOUSE AND DISTRIBUTION NEEDS IN THE REGION. 20

THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND FOR EMPLOYERS AND ARE NOW PART OF THE PRECONDITIONED FACTORS THAT LEAD COMPANIES TO MAKE MAJOR FUTURE INVESTMENT DECISIONS. I CAN POINT TO TWO SUCCESSES IN 2017 WHO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PEOPLE OF SUFFOLK AND HAMPTON ROADS WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR THEM. ATARFIL, THE SPANISH-BASED COMPANY WHO ESTABLISHED ITS FIRST U.S. MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN SUFFOLK CONSTRUCTING GEOTHERMAL MEMBRANES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAINMENT, HAVE SHARED THAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS HAVE BEEN EXCEEDED HERE IN SUFFOLK. THE OTHER IS ACE HARDWARE, WHO ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED THEIR EAST COAST REDISTRIBUTION CENTER IN 2011 AT THE CENTERPOINT INTERMODAL CENTER, AND JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED A $9 MILLION DOLLAR, 138,000-SQUARE-FOOT EXPANSION. THE ULTIMATE SIGN OF SUCCESS IS IN INVESTMENT. THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR INVESTMENT AND PARTNERSHIP IN SUFFOLK. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK HAS ALSO BEEN PERFORMED OVER THE PAST YEAR BY THE VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP AND THE HAMPTON ROADS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE TO BETTER POSITION THE COMMONWEALTH AND OUR REGION TO BETTER COMPETE IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING GLOBAL ECONOMY.

BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATION WAS OUR TALENT POOL. WE HAVE TREMENDOUS ASSETS AND RESOURCES WHEN IT COMES TO OUR COLLECTIVE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND THE VALUABLE RESOURCE OF THE EXITING MILITARY, BUT WE MUST DO A BETTER JOB OF RETAINING THIS TALENT BEFORE THEY START LOOKING FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN OTHER STATES AND CITIES. CONNECTING OUR FUTURE 21

WORK FORCE TO JOB OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE REGION MUST BE PRIORITY ONE. WE APPLAUD OPPORTUNITY INC., WHICH HAS RECENTLY OPENED THEIR ONE-STOP VETERAN CAREER CENTER. SUFFOLK WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER COORDINATOR LARRY BRUNSON IS ALSO HELPING TO LEAD THE WAY FOLLOWING HIS ELECTION TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS AS THE STATE BOARD DIRECTOR FOR VIRGINIA. WHILE THESE ARE GOOD STARTING POINTS, WE DEMAND GREATER COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL BUSINESS AND EDUCATION PARTNERS SO THAT THESE CONNECTIONS BECOME ROUTINE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ENTIRE REGION. JUST AS WE NEED TO TAKE A DIFFERENT LOOK AT THE ‘RECRUIT AND RETAIN’ PROCESS, MANY COMPANIES ARE ALSO TAKING A DIFFERENT LOOK AT THE FUNDAMENTAL WAY THEY DO BUSINESS. MAKING THE HAMPTON ROADS CHAMBER’S LIST OF THE SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARDS “TOP TO WATCH” IN SUFFOLK IS SUFFOLK EXECUTIVE OFFICES, OWNED AND FOUNDED BY RICHARD CHAING. RICHARD, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? OPENING LAST SUMMER IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SUFFOLK AS OUR CITY’S FIRST FLEXIBLE COWORKING SPACE, THEY PROVIDE A MODERN, SHARED WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR ENTREPRENEURS THAT INCLUDES ALL THE AMENITIES THEY NEED TO NETWORK, COLLABORATE ON IDEAS AND GROW THEIR BUSINESS, WITHOUT THE HUGE INITIAL INVESTMENT. ALSO BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE HAMPTON ROADS CHAMBER AS SUFFOLK’S SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR IS THE CATERING PLACE, WITH HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM 22

COREY AND JNEL DUNCAN, AND WE’D ASK THAT THEY STAND SO THAT WE MAY CONGRATULATE THEM. THIS ONE-STOP-SHOP, AS THEY LIKE TO CALL THEMSELVES, HANDLE ALMOST ANY EVENT THAT REQUIRES FOOD FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, DOING IT ALL WITH DELICIOUS SOUTHERN FLAIR AND FLAVOR! SPEAKING OF SOUTHERN FLAVOR, WE WERE DELIGHTED TO RECENTLY SHARE GREAT NEWS FROM “THE LITTLE CREAMERY” – BLUE BELL ICE CREAM – NOTING THEY WILL SOON BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR DISTRIBUTION FACILITY IN NORTHGATE COMMERCE PARK. SOME SAY BLUE BELL HAS BEEN MAKING THE BEST ICE CREAM IN THE COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS! EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2019, THE FACILITY WILL CONSIST OF COLD STORAGE SPACE WITH LOADING DOCKS, FLEET PARKING AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES, AND WILL SERVE CITIES WITHIN APPROXIMATELY A 70MILE RADIUS FOR CUSTOMERS WHO DEMAND NOTHING LESS THAN THE VERY BEST IN FROZEN TREATS. ALSO “GROWING” – LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY – DUE TO CUSTOMER DEMAND, I’M PLEASED TO ALSO ANNOUNCE TODAY THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HARVEST, THE SUFFOLK-BASED HYDROPONIC FARM, IS EXPANDING THEIR GROWING OPERATIONS INTO A LARGER FACILITY THANKS TO A STRONG REGIONAL INTEREST IN SUSTAINABILITY, HEALTHY GREENS AND SALADS AND THE BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES. IN FACT, YOUR DELICIOUS SALAD, DRESSING AND BREAD TODAY WAS PROVIDED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD HARVEST – HOW’S THAT FOR FARM TO TABLE? THEY’LL BE MOVING THE MAJORITY OF THEIR GROWING AND PROCESSING OPERATIONS TO THE 23

SUFFOLK INDUSTRIAL PARK WHERE THEY’LL CONTINUE TO GROW A VARIETY OF GREENS HYDROPONICALLY, WHICH MEANS WITHOUT THE USE OF SOIL. PROUDLY CALLED “BEYOND ORGANIC”, THEY ARE COMPLETELY NON-GMO AND PESTICIDE-FREE. THEIR DELIVERY SYSTEM GIVES THEIR CLIENTS AN AMAZING CHOICE OF GREENS AND CULINARY HERBS, AND THEY CAN ALSO LOCALLY-SOURCE CUCUMBERS, EGGS, CHEESE, DAIRY PRODUCTS, BREAD AND OTHER ITEMS TO BE HOME-DELIVERED. THIS IS A TRUE EXAMPLE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AS FOUNDER THOMAS VANDIVER STARTED THIS PROJECT WHEN HE WAS A GRAD STUDENT AT WILLIAM & MARY. THOMAS, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? WITH THEIR EXPANSION, THEY INTEND TO DIVERSIFY THEIR OFFERINGS, WITH PLANS IN PLACE TO INVEST IN AN ON-SITE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN MODEL WITH THE GOAL FOR IT TO SERVE AS A COMMUNAL KITCHEN FOR ALL AGES – THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS FOR THESE SUCCESSFUL IDEA GENERATORS AND THE INCUBATOR THEY ARE CREATING FOR FUTURE GROWERS. WHEN IT COMES TO ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES, THE SAME HOLDS TRUE FOR HUB 757, SUFFOLK’S NEWEST EVENT CENTER WHICH OPENED EARLIER THIS YEAR ON BRIDGEWAY DRIVE IN HARBOUR VIEW. THE BELIEVERS CHURCH CONSTRUCTED THE COMBINED EVENT CENTER, DAY SCHOOL AND NONDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH WHICH FEATURES AN INDOOR AMPHITHEATER AND MODERN DESIGN. OUR CENTRIC LOCATION IN HAMPTON ROADS WAS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR WHEN THEY CHOSE WHERE TO BUILD THEIR NEW FACILITY. WE COULDN’T BE MORE 24

PROUD TO HAVE THIS EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE IN OUR CITY. IN THIS YEAR’S ECONOMIC ACTIVITY REPORT, WHICH IS PROUDLY MAKING ITS OFFICIAL DEBUT TODAY AND CAN BE FOUND IN YOUR GIFT BAGS, YOU’LL NOTE THAT WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 712 NEW JOBS AND MORE THAN $114 MILLION DOLLARS IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT. THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN 1,180,000 ADDITIONAL SQUARE FEET IN NEW AND EXPANDING BUSINESSES – INSPIRING NUMBERS, TO SAY THE LEAST! AND THE NUMBERS ARE PROJECTED TO CONTINUE TO GROW! OUR PROXIMITY TO THE PORT OF VIRGINIA AND ACCESS TO A VAST RAIL AND INTERMODAL NETWORK CONNECTED TO MAJOR POPULATION AREAS POSITIONS OUR CITY AS A TOP CHOICE FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES, MANY WHOM ALREADY PROUDLY CALL SUFFOLK HOME. AS THE MAYOR OF SUFFOLK, I EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF WELCOMING THESE NEW BUSINESSES TO OUR CITY AND SEEING OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES EXPAND THEIR FOOTPRINTS AS DEMAND FOR THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES GROW, CREATING JOBS FOR MY FELLOW CITIZENS. EVERY DAY, EVERY YEAR, OUR GOAL IS FOR COMPANIES TO BE INSPIRED AND CONTINUE TO SAY, “YES, SUFFOLK!” TAKING THE LEAD IS KEVIN HUGHES, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, AND HIS AMAZING STAFF. WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, AS YOU’VE BEEN INVOLVED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY IN EVERY ANNOUNCEMENT MADE TODAY! 25

TAKE A LOOK AROUND YOU. WE’VE COME SO FAR, AND OUR FUTURE IS AS BRIGHT AS OUR DETERMINATION IS STRONG. IN THE END, WE WILL ALL BE DEFINED BY OUR SUCCESSES AND BY OUR CHALLENGES. IN CLOSING, IF YOU CAN WAKE UP EVERY MORNING LOVING WHAT YOU DO, IF YOU CAN HELP AND INSPIRE OTHERS AROUND YOU TO BE BETTER THAN THEY WERE YESTERDAY, THEN YOU KNOW YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT IN BUSINESS AND IN LIFE. IF YOU WANT TO BE INSPIRED, INSPIRE OTHERS. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS!

BRYAN STEPHENS TO PROVIDE ADJOURNMENT AND INVITATION FOR DESSERT RECEPTION CUE FINAL MUSIC

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