U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Rob Wittman were the keynote speakers during the Virginia Rural Coastal Summit held last Friday at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science campus at Gloucester Point.

Organized by Del. Keith Hodges (R-Urbanna) and Lewie Lawrence, executive director of the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission, the summit brought together federal, state, regional and local policymakers to explore opportunities for economic enhancement in the Middle Peninsula, Northern Neck and Eastern Shore.

The summit also addressed the formation of the Rural Coastal Virginia Community Enhancement Authority, which has been approved by the Virginia General Assembly but must still be adopted by each locality that would like to participate.

Hodges kicked off the summit by introducing more than a dozen officials who were present, from Virginia cabinet heads to the heads of various state agencies to senators and delegates. There were also supervisors, county administrators, planning ...