November 18, 2025
By Mayor Derrick R. Wood

There are days when a town’s progress becomes undeniable — when the work, the vision, and the partnerships come together in a way that you can feel.

Today was one of those days for Dumfries.

At the Prince William Chamber’s Economic Development Series: Dumfries Revitalization Breakfast Panel, our town’s transformation didn’t just show up on slides — it took center stage.

This event made one thing clear:

Dumfries is no longer a footnote in regional development. We are becoming the headline.

A Spotlight on a Town in Motion

For years, we’ve been planting seeds — real planning, real investment, real collaboration. Today, the Chamber highlighted that the seeds have taken root.

We shared the three anchor districts driving the transformation:

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Gateway District

A major redevelopment-ready corridor positioned as the Southeast Gateway to Washington, D.C. With over 10 acres of opportunity, future Route 1 improvements, and the relocation of the VDOT sandlot, this area will redefine how the region enters Dumfries.

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Main Street Commons

Our future walkable heart — a place designed with tree canopy, street parking, pocket parks, mixed-use development, and welcoming public spaces. A Main Street built for community, not just convenience.

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Waterfront District

161 acres — nearly a quarter of the entire town — transitioning from industrial land to a mixed-use, eco-focused destination with boardwalks, trails, dining, and cultural experiences.

Each district tells a different part of the Dumfries story, but together they form a bold, unified vision:

Dumfries is becoming a destination town.

The Partners Behind the Progress

What made today’s panel powerful wasn’t just the vision — it was the alignment of the people behind it.

Our panel included:

• Dr. Lilia A. Abron (Stantec)
  Bringing environmental integrity to the Waterfront and helping guide responsible redevelopment.
• Andy Davenport (Community Housing Partners)
  Leading community-focused development across Dumfries, ensuring growth benefits all.
• Bobbi Sample (The Rose Gaming Resort)
  Strengthening one of the most impactful public-private partnerships in our history and helping turn a former landfill into a landmark.

Each of these leaders represents a key component of our progress:

environmental stewardship, thoughtful development, and destination-level hospitality.

Together, they showed why Dumfries’ revitalization wasn’t just another agenda item today — it was the highlight.

Financial Strength Backing the Vision

Behind every visible project is the discipline that makes it possible.

Dumfries’ strong bond ratings, clean audits, and diversified revenues show that our town is:

• Financially stable
• Professionally managed
• Ready for investment
• Prepared to deliver infrastructure at scale

This financial strength is why developers, consultants, and regional partners are confident stepping into Dumfries right now.

We’re not just dreaming big — we’re positioned to build big.

A New Era for the Oldest Chartered Town in Virginia

Today’s Chamber spotlight wasn’t a routine update.

It was a moment of recognition — a regional acknowledgment that the transformation of Dumfries is real, measurable, and accelerating.

We are turning:

• A landfill into a landmark
• A highway into a Main Street
• A waterfront into a generational destination

And we are doing it with purpose, transparency, and partners who believe in the vision.

This is the strongest alignment of strategy, leadership, and opportunity our town has seen in generations.

Dumfries is rising — and today, the region saw it for themselves.