Economic Development & Tourism
For more than four decades, the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission (RRRC) has worked to enhance the region's livability and overall quality of life for citizens and visitors to the region. The Commission brings together community resources to achieve the region's vision of a vital economy with healthy towns and neighborhoods and quality jobs for all residents, doing so in part by leveraging public funds from federal, state and local sources to stimulate private investment.
RRRC economic development services focus on housing development, neighborhood revitalization, tourism promotion, and business development. The Regional Commission works with local economic development offices, tourism departments, Chambers of Commerce, civic organizations and elected and appointed officials to ensure the region's economy continues to support rural businesses while supplying opportunities for diversified business expansion and attraction.
Presently, RRRC is leading development of the region's first Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) with support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and in collaboration with GO Virginia Region 9 and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission.
The Regional Commission is an active member and supporter of the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development and the GO Virginia Region 9 Council.
Tourism
Tourism is an important economic driver for counties and towns across the beautiful and historic Rappahannock-Rapidan region. The region's abundant outdoor resources and natural beauty, rolling farmlands, historic towns and sites, attract increasing numbers of visitors to the area each year.
Situated within easy driving distance of Northern Virginia/Washington, DC, and other points north and south, and located in the scenic foothills adjoining the Shenandoah National Park to the west, the region is an attractive weekend get-away and increasingly, extended-stay vacation destination for nearby and distant travelers alike. With exciting new restaurants, places of lodging, and myriad other points of interest to please just about every type of traveler, the Rappahannock-Rapidan region is definitely worth a visit!
RRRC also particpates and leads the Regional Tourism Committee comprised of tourism and/or economic development leadership from the Town of Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock Counties. The Regional Tourism Committee regularly meets throughout the year to collaborate on tourism activities across multiple localities, along with promoting the tourism efforts of RRRC.
Tourism efforts throughout the region have focused on promoting agritourism businesses and producers via the Commission's Purely Piedmont brand. The continued partnership with the Virginia Tourism Corporation on tourism initiatives is gratefully acknowledged.
