Chair Askew and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to speak today.
My name is Eric W. Payne, Esq., and I serve as the Executive Director of the Economic Development Authority for the City of Martinsville, Virginia. I am here in support of Delegate Phillips’ legislation to expand the authority of designated EDAs and IDAs to engage in housing-related work.
I want to start with a simple statement that reflects what we see every day on the ground. Housing development is economic development. Without housing, employers cannot recruit or retain workers, families cannot stay rooted in their communities, and revitalization efforts stall before they ever reach their potential.
EDAs and IDAs are uniquely positioned to help address this challenge. These authorities are made up of vested community members who live where they serve. They include business leaders, civic leaders, and regional stakeholders who are deeply invested in the long-term success of their localities. They bring continuity, institutional knowledge, and a singular focus on economic outcomes.
Local governments do extraordinary work, but they are not immune to disruption. At times, localities experience leadership transitions, political gridlock, or internal challenges that slow progress. When that happens, critical projects can stall, even when the need is urgent and funding is available.
An empowered EDA provides a stabilizing force during those moments. It allows a community to continue advancing housing and redevelopment work in parallel with local government processes. It does not replace the locality. It augments it.
In Martinsville, we face a severe housing shortage, especially workforce housing. Our city is land-locked, with limited greenfield opportunities. That reality means adaptive reuse is often the only viable path forward. EDAs are well suited for this work because they already manage complex projects involving property acquisition, predevelopment, financing, and public-private partnerships.
Yet under current law, our ability to fully participate in housing solutions is constrained, even when housing is the single greatest barrier to economic growth. This legislation fixes that gap. It gives communities the flexibility to use an existing, accountable tool to address one of their most pressing economic needs.
This bill is not about expanding government unnecessarily. It is about using the right tool at the right time. It allows EDAs to step in when needed, to keep momentum moving, and to ensure that housing development keeps pace with job creation.
I respectfully urge the committee to support this legislation.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Chair Askew and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Eric W. Payne, Esq., and I serve as the Executive Director of the Economic Development Authority for the City of Martinsville, Virginia. I am here in support of Delegate Phillips’ legislation to expand the authority of designated EDAs and IDAs to engage in housing-related work. I want to start with a simple statement that reflects what we see every day on the ground. Housing development is economic development. Without housing, employers cannot recruit or retain workers, families cannot stay rooted in their communities, and revitalization efforts stall before they ever reach their potential. EDAs and IDAs are uniquely positioned to help address this challenge. These authorities are made up of vested community members who live where they serve. They include business leaders, civic leaders, and regional stakeholders who are deeply invested in the long-term success of their localities. They bring continuity, institutional knowledge, and a singular focus on economic outcomes. Local governments do extraordinary work, but they are not immune to disruption. At times, localities experience leadership transitions, political gridlock, or internal challenges that slow progress. When that happens, critical projects can stall, even when the need is urgent and funding is available. An empowered EDA provides a stabilizing force during those moments. It allows a community to continue advancing housing and redevelopment work in parallel with local government processes. It does not replace the locality. It augments it. In Martinsville, we face a severe housing shortage, especially workforce housing. Our city is land-locked, with limited greenfield opportunities. That reality means adaptive reuse is often the only viable path forward. EDAs are well suited for this work because they already manage complex projects involving property acquisition, predevelopment, financing, and public-private partnerships. Yet under current law, our ability to fully participate in housing solutions is constrained, even when housing is the single greatest barrier to economic growth. This legislation fixes that gap. It gives communities the flexibility to use an existing, accountable tool to address one of their most pressing economic needs. This bill is not about expanding government unnecessarily. It is about using the right tool at the right time. It allows EDAs to step in when needed, to keep momentum moving, and to ensure that housing development keeps pace with job creation. I respectfully urge the committee to support this legislation. Thank you for your time and consideration.