(Charlottesville, Virginia – April 3) The North Charlottesville Business Council (NCBC), a council of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, today announced its reaffirmation of its mission and goals and its realigned membership and governance structure.
The action was adopted by the NCBC Board of Directors on March 22nd and ratified by the Chamber Board of Directors at its regular meeting last week. The NCBC mission since its establishment as a Chamber Council in 1992, is:
“… to promote desirable growth and development within the North Charlottesville Business Corridor by fostering a constructive business environment in which to accomplish its goals of prosperity, expansion, and development. …The Council strives to create an economic and governing climate favorable to business, to promote the exchange of ideas between members, and to support other activities needed to further the business success of its membership. …The civic, general welfare, and the quality of life interests of the North Charlottesville Business area shall be promoted and enhanced in the attainment of this purpose.”
In realigning its membership and governance structure, the NCBC announced that NCBC membership is now open to all members of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, at no separate NCBC dues. The NCBC governance is now realigned to a ten (10) – member Executive Committee with James Dickman, CFP®, area Managing Partner at Stifel, a national financial services firm, serving as the 2017 NCBC Chairman, succeeding long-serving NCBC Chairman L. F. Wood, owner of Storage Solutions, and several other enterprises. Mr. Wood is a member of the new NCBC Executive Committee.
“As an Albemarle citizen who grew up just off US29 and owns a business and property in the US29 Corridor, our region’s ‘Main Street,’ it is an honor to help lead the NCBC,” Mr. Dickman said. “And to follow in the footsteps of L. F. Wood, a monumental, distinguished citizen and businessman, is humbling. I will do my best to follow in L.F.’s pathway.”
The NCBC reaffirmation states that the “Council remains committed to continue to be an active, effective, non-partisan advocate to enhance the North Charlottesville Business Corridor and Seminole Trail / US29, as the region’s premier commercial boulevard and ‘Main Street.’”
The NCBC noted its leading priorities, working in partnership with Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, the Virginia Department of Transportation and other regional and Virginia agencies, to be:
A robust and continuing beautification of a Renewed Seminole Trail / 29 Corridor – our community “Main Street” and entrance corridor – with regular, attentive, local and state maintenance;
Enhanced local business / economic development receptiveness & encouragement;
Enhanced local public safety attention to traffic – vehicular, pedestrian & bicycle – along the Corridor, connecting roadways and neighborhoods; and,
Active participation and advocacy in Albemarle County & Charlottesville citizen, planning and regulatory processes and general governance.
In 2007, the landmark “Workplace 29” comprehensive analysis of the Corridor, (September 2007) was conducted for the NCBC by the Free Enterprise Forum. “Workplace 29” reported that the Corridor, which makes up less than 1% of the county’s area, at that time:
– is home to 20,000 jobs;
– annually provides more than $800 million in salaries; and,
– generates more than 40% of Albemarle County’s total local tax revenues.
Clearly, that impact has grown substantially over the ensuing decade.
“Our Chamber applauds the NCBC reaffirmation and realignment,” said Joseph Raichel, Wells Fargo Senior Vice President – Regional Business Banking Executive, who serves as 2017 Chairman of the Board of Directors of our Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Jim Dickman and the new NCBC Executive Committee’s renewed emphasis on beautification, business receptiveness, public safety and active advocacy is excellent.”
In addition to Mr. Dickman as Chairman and Mr. L. F. Wood as a member, the NCBC Executive Committee includes: Carolyn Betts, Peter Borches, Irv Cox, Timothy Hulbert, Chuck Lebo, David Mitchell, John Nunley, Chris Scharnbeck (Vice Chairman) and Mark Wood.
The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to representing private enterprise, promoting business and enhancing the quality of life in our Greater Charlottesville communities. Founded in 1913, today, the Chamber’s more than 1,200 member and affiliate enterprises employ more than 45,000 people in Greater Charlottesville, representing an estimated total payroll of more than $1.75 billion a year.
