Our Initiatives and Programs

Entrepreneurs 2000
Initiatives

Vision Initiative

Goals:

- Obtain/Identify a Mandate from the Public on the Future of Economic Development in Mathews.
- Identify the Most Effective Roles that Forward Mathews can play in Mathews’ Future.

Objectives:

- Develop/recognize a clear consensus vision mandate on economic development and its role and importance in Mathews County;
- Continuously refine the Goals and Objectives of Forward Mathews, and make recommendations for any modifications to the Forward Mathews board.

Assignments:

- Study the results of the Main Street Forums to determine whether a public mandate in favor of compatible economic development is clearly exposed there;
- Determine whether additional investigation/exploration of the public attitude in Mathews is necessary;
- Define the public perception of the "compatible" entrepreneur;
- If necessary, develop and implement a plan to identify a public mandate for economic development.
- Review the Goals and Objectives of Forward Mathews, and, utilizing comparative Goals and Objectives from similar Organizations, and the visioning process, formulate recommendations for modifications to those Goals and Objectives.

Business Assistance Network Initiative

Goal:

- Assist New and Existing Businesses in Mathews to Thrive.

Objectives:

- Help create an environment in Mathews conducive to entrepreneurial initiative and
- Promote Mathews to potential entrepreneurs, by
- Being an information conduit to Mathews business for business assistance services and resources, and
- Being advocates for business with government and regulatory agencies.

Assignments:

- Compile an inventory of key providers of business services, including capital sources, business sites, and consulting support;
- Develop, promote, and distribute on request to new and existing businesses a professionally-designed packet of information, including lists of available resources, maps, guides, and sales materials on Mathews County. These materials will be made available to businesses through the use of advertising, 24 hour voice mail services, and other tools; and
- Form a Business Advocacy Bureau to speak out at Zoning hearings and similar events, on the benefits of particular proposed business projects supported by Forward Mathews.

Education Initiative

Goal:

- Assist our Citizenry to Reach World-Class Standards of Knowledge.

Objectives:

- A world-class educational "system" in Mathews County by the year 2026;
- Ensure that the Mathews school "system(s)" will be globally competitive in student outcomes by raising expectations from students and reengineering the system;
- Infuse the entrepreneurial spirit within the educational system and among students with that aptitude;
- Ensure that local Colleges and Universities recognize their opportunity and responsibility for a broad range of involvement in economic development and in preparing graduates for business and industry.

Assignments:

- Produce a professional, typed report, including citations to information sources, if relevant, which explains the long term education options for Mathews and our region through the theoretical development of the Mathews Educational System of 2026, and which develops a plan, including a timetable and specific recommendations, for the development of a world-class education system for the people of Mathews County, Virginia. Concentration should be on studying successful techniques being employed in other communities around the world, and how those techniques can be employed in Mathews. The results of this study will be presented to our Education leaders, Government, and the Public;
- Form the Young Entrepreneurs Initiative, in partnership with the Mathews School System and Rappahannock Community College. The Initiative’s goals will include exciting young people to entrepreneurial opportunity in Mathews, and infusing the Entrepreneurial Spirit and Mindset into Mathews youth and citizenry. The Initiative should include a Speaker’s Bureau with an ad hoc volunteer membership of community and regional business and professional leaders, who speak to young people about their fields of expertise and about the world of entrepreneurial opportunity in Mathews;
- Work aggressively to promote innovative educational opportunities for the people of Mathews.

Telecommunications & Technology (TeleTech)

Initiative

Goal:

Ensure that our physical infrastructure, and particularly our Telecommunications assets, make Mathews as attractive a location for compatible business as any place on earth.

Objectives:

- Investigate the most critical and necessary infrastructure needs for an information-intensive 21st Century Mathews County;
- Ensure continuously improving infrastructure in Mathews;
- Bring total Internet connectivity to Mathews at the lowest possible cost;
- Bring technology fully into all aspects of education in Mathews.

Assignments:

- Produce a professional, typed report, including citations to information sources, if relevant, which explains the telecommunications options for Mathews and our region - immediate, medium and long term, and which develops a plan, including a timetable and specific recommendations, for the development of a world-class telecommunications infrastructure in Mathews (and/or our region);
- Make Mathews County a "centerpiece" wired Internet community within five (5) years.
- Investigate the near and long term infrastructure needs of Mathews County, and produce a detailed report outlining these to the Forward Mathews board.

Public Relations Initiative

Goal:

- Promote Economic Development and Entrepreneurial Initiative in Mathews through Effective Communication.

Objectives:

- Develop an effective public education campaign;
- Enlighten the public to entrepreneurial opportunity in Mathews;
- Infuse the Entrepreneurial Spirit into Mathews citizenry, young and old;
- Obtain a Commitment from County Government acknowledging a consensus Vision Mandate in favor of compatible economic development;
- Obtain Government support for economic development initiatives consistent with the Vision Mandate;
- Assist County Government in its efforts to develop intelligently crafted Zoning Ordinances and a Comprehensive Plan that reflect and effectively further the Vision Mandate;
- Develop, Promote, and Distribute information on business assistance resources which are available to potential entrepreneurs and to new and existing businesses;
- Develop a group of sponsors/grants to pay the costs involved in accomplishing our goals.

Assignments:

- Develop, promote, and distribute on request to new and existing businesses a professionally-designed packet of information, including lists of available resources, maps, guides, and sales materials on Mathews County. These materials will be made available to businesses through the use of advertising, 24 hour voice mail services, and other tools;
- Form the Young Entrepreneurs Initiative, in partnership with the Mathews Public School System and Rappahannock Community College. The Initiative’s goals will include exciting young people to entrepreneurial opportunity in Mathews, and infusing the Entrepreneurial Spirit and Mindset into Mathews youth and citizenry. The Initiative will include a Speaker’s Bureau with an ad hoc volunteer membership of community and regional business and professional leaders, who will speak to young people about their fields of expertise and about the world of entrepreneurial opportunity in Mathews.

THIS SITE LAST UPDATED AUGUST 4, 2002