757 Recovery and Resilience Action Framework: Transforming Hampton Roads Economy

The new 757 Recovery and Resilience Action Framework — a plan from area business and higher education organizations to lift the Hampton Roads economy out of the pandemic and help it thrive — has partnered with Virginia Beach artist and muralist Victoria Weiss on the project website and other design elements. (Courtesy photo / HANDOUT)

Plan Overview

Leaders in the Hampton Roads business community have debuted a plan to not only lift the region out of the coronavirus pandemic but accomplish an even loftier goal — make it one of the most sought-after and fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country.

Key Initiatives

The plan, called the 757 Recovery and Resilience Action Framework, seeks to improve key economic indicators — job growth, wage growth and gross domestic product — through a barrage of programs and initiatives that span new industry development, diversity and inclusion, resiliency and a regional marketing campaign.

Collaboration and Input

After the Great Recession, it took Hampton Roads more than eight years to recover all the lost jobs — almost three years longer than the national average, according to the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.

Community Engagement

Not wanting to suffer a fatal lag in economic recovery from COVID-19, Smith said project leaders knew this plan needed to be different from past efforts to unite the region. Those leaders came from various organizations and institutions in the region.

Program Development and Tracking

Each program will be tracked and reported to a public-facing online dashboard, and the project leaders will hold progress meetings throughout the process. As part of ODU’s State of the Region address in October, the project will evaluate the success of each program.

Community Awareness

The 757 campaign has been revived as 757Proud, a new nonprofit designed to bring awareness of the plan to regional young professional organizations. The group will also be launching an educational and pride-building campaign.

Get Involved

For more information about the plan, including learning how to become a 757 Champion, visit www.framework.hamptonroadsalliance.com.

Contact Information

Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@insidebiz.com

Question & Answer

What is the 757 Recovery and Resilience Action Framework?

The 757 Recovery and Resilience Action Framework is a strategic plan devised by leaders in the Hampton Roads business community with the aim of recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and transforming the region into one of the most sought-after and fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country.

What are the key initiatives of the 757 Recovery and Resilience Action Framework?

The key initiatives of the 757 Recovery and Resilience Action Framework include improving key economic indicators such as job growth, wage growth, and gross domestic product through new industry development, diversity and inclusion programs, resilience building, and regional marketing campaigns.

How will the progress of each program be tracked?

Each program will be tracked and reported to a public-facing online dashboard, and project leaders will hold progress meetings throughout the process to evaluate the success of each program.

What is the role of 757Proud in the initiative?

757Proud is a nonprofit organization that aims to raise awareness of the 757 Recovery and Resilience Action Framework among regional young professional organizations through an educational and pride-building campaign.