CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – March 14, 2013 - The Enterprise Zone Commission (EZC), a division of the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (VIEDA), will host a charrette next week to initiate the development of the Christiansted Town Plan. The general public is invited to the charrette that will be held from March 18 through March 21, 2013 from 6:00P.M. to 8:00 P.M. every night at St. Mary’s Catholic School Auditorium on Queen Street in Christiansted, St. Croix.
At the charrette, the general public and panelists who specialize in various subjects that affect community and area development will come together to share their ideas, opinions, recommendations and possible solutions to the problems that exist in Christiansted. Representatives from the VIEDA’s Enterprise Zone Commission, including EZC Director Nadine Marchena Kean and Enterprise Zone Specialist Cusa Holloway (St. Croix District), will also be present. A consensus of ideas and solutions will help initiate the development of the Christiansted Town Plan.
The plan, which will provide a road map for the economic, social and architectural development of Christiansted, should reflect the vision of the community.
Panel discussion schedule and topics:
March 18, 2013: “Historical and Cultural Aspects of the Town”
March 19, 2013: “Social Issues and Housing”
March 20, 2013: “Environmental Impacts”
March 21, 2013: “Economic Development”
Charrette Center, Inc., describes a typical charrette as “an intensive, multi-disciplinary week-long design workshop designed to facilitate an open discussion between stakeholders of a development project. A team of design experts meets with community groups, developers and neighbors over a period from 3-4 days to 2 weeks long, gathering information on the issues that face the community. The charrette team then works together to find design solutions that will result in a clear, detailed, realistic vision for future development.”
Christiansted is one of the designated enterprise zones in the U.S. Virgin Islands along with Savanne on St. Thomas and the town of Frederiksted on St. Croix.
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 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.