Final night of charrette in Christiansted to be held at the National Park Service Office
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – March 20, 2013 - Percival E. Clouden, Chief Executive Officer of the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (VIEDA), announces that there will be a change in the venue for the final night of the charrette hosted by VIEDA’s Enterprise Zone Commission. On Thursday, March 21, 2013, the charrette will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the first floor of the National Park Service Office located on Hospital Street across from The Customs House in Christiansted, St. Croix.
Thursday night’s meeting will focus on economic development with a panel discussion and audience participation. This will be the final night of this week’s four-day series of collaborative meetings hosted by the VIEDA’s Enterprise Zone Commission (EZC) to help establish a plan to develop the town of Christiansted.
According to CEO Percival E. Clouden, “This is the final evening of the charrette, and we are encouraging the general public to attend and continue to let their voices be heard as they present recommendations and solutions, especially on the subject of economic development for the town of Christiansted.”
During the charrette, participants will share their ideas and solutions to problems that the community faces in Christiansted. A charrette is a quick, intense, collaborative method of creating a town plan by bringing the community together to assist with the town plan initiative.
More than 60 individuals attended the first night of the charrette on Monday this week in Christiansted. On Wednesday this evening, the charrette will continue at 6:00PM at St. Mary’s Catholic School Auditorium. The EZC’s charrette for the Christiansted Town Plan is being held this week from March 18-21, 2013.
The designated enterprise zones in the U.S. Virgin Islands are Christiansted and Frederiksted on St. Croix; and Savanne, Downstreet, Upstreet and Garden Street in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.
For more information, please contact Ms. Cusa Holloway, Enterprise Zone Specialist, at 340.773-6499, ext. 234, or by e-mail at cholloway@usvieda.org.
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About the Enterprise Zone Commission (EZC):
The Enterprise Zone Commission (EZC) was created by the Virgin Islands Legislature with the passage of Act. No. 6294 to revitalize blighted and distressed communities which once were socially and economically vibrant. The authorizing act provides for tax incentives and economic development benefits free from regulatory barriers which inhibit economic growth. The act also encourages collaboration among public, private and non-profit entities in order to accomplish the desired objectives. On February 15, 2012, Governor John P. deJongh, Jr., and Lt. Governor Gregory R. Francis entered Executive Order No. 456-2012 to expand the enterprise zone program in the towns of Frederiksted; and in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas which now include Downstreet, Garden Street and Upstreet.
About the V.I. Economic Development Authority (VIEDA):
The V.I. Economic Development Authority (VIEDA) is a semi-autonomous government agency that was created on February 1, 2001. It is responsible for the promotion and enhancement of economic development of the U.S. Virgin Islands, namely: St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John. The VIEDA assumes, integrates and unifies the functions of these five entities: Economic Development Commission, Industrial Park Development Corp., Small Business Development Agency, Government Development Bank and the Enterprise Zone Commission. The VIEDA accomplishes its mission by attracting multi-national investors to the territory to establish or relocate their business in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It also provides financial assistance for new and existing small to medium-sized businesses in the Territory.