CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – City Manager Sam Sanders and Albemarle County Executive Jeff Richardson said they’re still determining how what’s happening in Washington will affect funds here, but told the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Community meeting that local businesses will see us through. Richardson said one of the priorities this year is public safety investments as a new county-city courts building is set to be completed this year, and there’s a great need to update the regional jail. He points out Albemarle for the 5th straight year is applying to FEMA for SAFER grant money that has allowed them to hire 97 fire rescue personnel over the past few years and thus supplement volunteer companies with paid staff to help 24-7 staffing. He touts public-private partnerships in North Fork and Rivanna Futures as a way ahead to reduce tax burden on property owners and bring in more tax money through business revenues.

City Manager Sam Sanders said partnerships and relationships are what will make this community work. He says he has worked from Day 1 on establishing working relationships between the city, county, and University of Virginia. He says UVA is going nowhere, and Albemarle and Charlottesville need to work together to attract industries to the area. He says, for instance, he and Richardson don’t have to agree on everything, but must agree to work with each other for the overall good of the community.

Both urged business owners to join chamber, county, and city boards.