For Immediate Release
October 15, 2025
Contact: Derek Stamey
County Administrator
Phone: (804) 492-3625
Email: dstamey@cumberlandcounty.virginia.gov
Cumberland County, VA – At their Tuesday, October 13, 2025 business meeting, the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors received a detailed update on County economic development activities and initiatives from County Administration. Updates included the status of the County’s Strategic Economic Development Plan, the Cumberland Grocery Store efforts, the Luther P Jackson Committee, and other planning initiatives.
The County’s economic development strategic plan, fully funded by leveraged grants from the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), is entering its final stages of development and will include 5-year recommendations for County staff, the Board of Supervisors, and the County’s EDA to consider as they seek to maintain the County’s rural character while balancing development. Next steps will include additional community engagement, then review and consideration by the Economic Development Authority (EDA). The Board of Supervisors will ultimately review and consider the plan.
Other planning initiatives were shared, including the Courthouse Village small area plan project, which is partially grant funded through VDACS. The County is awaiting another grant award that could fully fund the project. Also shared was the County’s acceptance by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development into the Explore Main Street/Building Opportunities on Main Street program. Both the small area plan project and the Explore Main Street program, once completed and utilized, will help steer land use recommendations and revitalization efforts throughout the Courthouse village.
Cumberland County officials and proprietors of the Cumberland Grocery Store are finalizing performance agreements between all parties that will rely primarily on grant funds totaling $200,000 which will be administered through the Economic Development Authority. Once agreements are executed, a more concise timetable on the completion of the store will be established and communicated with the public.
County Administration also updated the Board on the efforts of the Luther P Jackson Committee, an ad hoc committee of the EDA intended to help revitalize the Luther P Jackson School and Community Center. Current initiatives include pursuing a historical marker, grant applications for interpretive signage and other facility improvements, the development of programs and events, as well as working to establish a 501c3 non-profit organization to help fund raising efforts.
The Economic Development presentation concluded with a timeframe for an update to the County’s website, to include new landing pages for tourism and economic development. The updated County website is anticipated to go live in January of 2026.
For more information related to Cumberland County’s economic development initiatives, please contact County Administration at 804-492-3578 or by email at dstamey@cumberlandcounty.virginia.gov
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