News

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors will consider creating an Economic Infrastructure Fund that will secure future funds for infrastructure improvements along Centreport Parkway, near the Stafford Regional Airport.

Conceptually, the fund would be used as a savings account that would use a portion of the county's tax revenue to support future growth and development in the area where a new 200,000 square foot Amazon fulfillment center will open. 

The new center is expected to create at least 100 full and part-time associate jobs and potentially hundreds of driver opportunities.

The Centreport area has long been targeted by the county's Community and Economic Development Committee as an area with potential for both industrial and distribution businesses. 

According to county documents, the fund model is based on the use of future tax revenues as opposed to other options such as Community Development Authorities, which raise funds through additional taxes.

Such authorities, as well as proffers, are considered to be examples of bad incentives when trying to attract new private investment.

While the county considers the current infrastructure in the Centreport area adequate to support real estate and personal property, the committee realizes that it may be overwhelmed by potential economic development.

According to county officials, the main concerns would be stress on roads and other infrastructure by increased commuter travel and the presence of new residents in the area. They say the savings account could allow the county to use tax revenue for such infrastructure projects as roads, water, sewer, fiber, and other infrastructure needs.

The economic development committee plans to present the fund concept at a future meeting of the county's board of supervisors. The committee meets monthly inside the county Government Center on the first Tuesday of each month.