WHEREAS, on February 1, 2024, the Hopewell/Prince George Chamber of Commerce chartered the regional military affairs council known officially as the Capitol Region Military Alliance of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, the Hopewell/Prince George Chamber of Commerce, which was incorporated in 1920 and has served the region for more than 100 years, is a trusted resource that helps employers, employees, military families, veterans, transient students, and visitors connect with one another and achieve success in all their endeavors; and
WHEREAS, the Capitol Region Military Alliance of Virginia (CaRMA-VA) recognizes that local military installations, including Fort Gregg-Adams, Fort Barfoot, and Defense Supply Center Richmond, have a multi-billion dollar economic impact on the region; and
WHEREAS, the Fort Gregg-Adams Civilian Military Council (CMC) provides a consistent communication venue that fosters relationships across the region, and CaRMA-VA builds upon the CMC to create a broader coalition organized for action on behalf of these communities; and
WHEREAS, the 2023 "Survey to Action" assessments from the Office of the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs recommended the creation of military affairs councils, and other regions in the Commonwealth benefit from using like organizations to access federal grants and improve the quality of life for both military installations and local communities; and
WHEREAS, higher education is a vital component of military affairs, and the Hopewell/Prince George Chamber of Commerce and CaRMA-VA are engaged with all public and private institutions of higher education in the area, including Bryant & Stratton College, Virginia State University, Brightpoint Community College, the Community College Workforce Alliance, Richard Bland College of William & Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing, Commonwealth Center for Advanced Logistics Systems; and
WHEREAS, the Hopewell/Prince George Chamber of Commerce and CaRMA-VA also maintain ties to some of the Commonwealth's finest institutions of higher education, including the University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Longwood University, and Old Dominion University; and
WHEREAS, the Crater Planning District Commission, an important resource to military installations, provides the conduit to local governments and nearby planning district commissions, and is integral to the work of CaRMA-VA; and
WHEREAS, other chambers of commerce throughout the region plan to engage with and support CaRMA-VA; and
WHEREAS, the charter members of CaRMA-VA are committed to inviting further participation in the alliance by military, business, academic, and veteran groups, as well as other military affairs councils, planning district commissions, and local government organizations; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Capitol Region Military Alliance of Virginia, chartered by the Hopewell/Prince George Chamber of Commerce, for its contributions to the military community in Central Virginia; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare copies of this resolution for presentation to the Capitol Region Military Alliance of Virginia, the Hopewell/Prince George Chamber of Commerce, and the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Virginia South, as an expression of the General Assembly's appreciation for the alliance's important mission.