April 15, 2025

Building the Future Together: What Happens Next and How You Can Get Involved

By Mayor Derrick R. Wood

What if the next big thing in Dumfries didn’t come from outside developers, or distant decisions—but from you?

What if Main Street came alive again—not someday, but soon?

What if Quantico Creek became a place where your family could walk, relax, and celebrate what makes this town home?

What if your ideas, your experiences, and your belief in Dumfries helped shape its future?

That moment starts tonight.

April 15 Isn’t the End of the Conversation—It’s the Beginning of the Build

Tonight, the Dumfries Town Council will hold a public hearing to decide whether to create the Economic Development Authority of the Town of Dumfries.

If approved, this new Authority will become one of the most powerful tools you’ve ever had to influence how Dumfries grows—responsibly, locally, and in line with the values you’ve shared throughout the Comprehensive Plan process.

With an EDA in place, Dumfries will be better equipped to:

• Bring new businesses and services closer to home
• Revitalize Main Street into a true community center
• Turn the waterfront into a space you can use and be proud of
• Compete for grants and funding to improve our town—without raising taxes
• Create opportunities for you to serve and lead

What Happens After the Vote?

If the EDA is created tonight, here’s what you can expect next:

1. The Authority will be officially established.

It will be formed under Virginia law, with the ability to manage land, build partnerships, issue bonds, and support new projects that benefit the entire community.

2. A new board will be created—made up of people like you.

The Dumfries EDA will be led by a seven-member board appointed by the Town Council, and it will need thoughtful, community-minded people to lead this work.

3. The board’s first priorities will focus on Main Street and the waterfront.

Small Area Plans for both are already included in the proposed FY25-26 budget, and the town has the waterfront property under contract. We are ready to build—and the EDA will help make it happen faster and better.

Who Can Serve? Maybe You.

This isn’t about politics or titles. This is about purpose.

The Town Council is now accepting resumes and letters of interest from those who want to serve on the EDA board. Here’s what you need to know:

You are eligible to serve if:

• You live in Dumfries or a nearby community
• You are not an employee of the Town
• You care about Dumfries and want to help shape its future

We welcome people with experience in:

• Small business
• Real estate or construction
• Law, finance, or public service
• Community organizing or youth development
• Or simply those who love this town and are willing to give their time

No one knows Dumfries better than the people who live here. That means no one is more qualified to lead it.

If you’re interested, send your resume and a letter of interest to:

[email protected]

Why This Matters

This isn’t just another board or another meeting.

This is the structure that will allow us to take the future into our own hands.

The EDA will help us do what we’ve never had the tools to do before—reclaim underused land, attract the businesses you’ve been asking for, and design a Main Street that works for people, not just cars.

It’s how we move from planning to progress. From vision to victory.

Who Will Lead?

That’s not a hypothetical. It’s a real question.

And it has a real answer: You.

You, your neighbors, your voice—this is the team that will shape the next generation of Dumfries.

The Story of Dumfries Isn’t Written in the Clouds.

It’s written in your courage to step forward.

In your choice to serve.

In your decision to help us build something lasting—for your family, your community, and your future.

Let’s not just imagine the Dumfries we want.

Let’s build it—together.