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Back in February, the Cumberland supervisors approved the creation of a new business task force. The goal was to address a number of issues in the community, such as how to make the county appealing to a grocery store or other operation. Supervisors Bryan Hamlett and John Newman are on the task force, along with Chairman John Seal from the county’s Economic Development Authority (EDA), Cheryl Boswell and Robin Caputo, also from the EDA, and several members of the community. So what have the task force members been up to over the last 10 months? 

One of the key issues involves identity. While the Cumberland comprehensive plan was being developed, residents filled out surveys to share their thoughts. Residents kept talking about how they go to Goochland County to shop or take part in events. Others in central Cumberland head over to Powhatan to get their shopping done, while some folks in Randolph say they actually think of themselves more as members of the Farmville community than Cumberland. 

“While identifying with multiple places is not a problem, it appears that Cumberland County’s self-identity needs reinforcement,” the comprehensive plan states. “Cumberland is not its neighbors and may have similar or completely different challenges unique to its residents.” 

So how do you fix that? You bring in what’s been missing.

“We did land on five initial areas of focus and we’ve worked through a work plan over the past several months related to that and have ironed out some paths moving forward,” said Cumberland County Administrator Derek Stamey.  

Building a new business task force

First up, the new business task force started working on building the county’s brand, so to speak, through foundational marketing and tourism. During the supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10, Stamey explained that the task force has developed logos for both Cumberland tourism and economic development. 

“This is part of that groundwork and framework to use moving forward,” he told supervisors. “We’ve inventoried and catalogued all tourism related amenities, we’ve met with and established relationships with the Virginia tourism commission so they can assist us with the approach and additional grant funding.” 

Stamey said the new business task force is also focused on updating the county’s website to make things easier to find, as well as build a separate one for Cumberland economic development and tourism. The group has also created a draft version of a print tourism booklet they hope to print in 2025. 

“I think we can all agree, it’s time for a (website) refresh,” he said. “It can be cumbersome at times if you don’t know what you’re looking for. We will be working through these elements over the next several months. It’ll take some time to iron this out.” 

Stamey said all of this, plus applying for grant programs to help fund other potential projects, would be finished within the next six months. 

Looking at new group’s goals

The task force’s main goal is to bring in new companies, along with development. And Cumberland wants to focus development in six “village centers”, another piece pulled from the new comprehensive plan. 

The village centers include the Randolph area, north of Randolph, the Cartersville area in the north of Cumberland, the Cobbs Creek Reservoir area also in the north, the identified “rural crossroads” areas throughout the County, and Cumberland’s namesake and central courthouse area. For example, the courthouse area is seen as a place to bring in new mixed use, commercial and residential growth, along with “amenity-filled public spaces for the community to gather.”

Now that doesn’t mean any businesses. Specifically, the task force has been created to focus on shops like grocery stores, things that don’t have much of an impact on county services. And then recruit them in the areas we just referenced. 

At the same time, the task force will be wearing another hat as well. The group will map out marketing strategies for recruiting development, while identifying and promoting tourism in the county.