# Joint Special Meeting of City Council & Hopewell Economic Development Authority 29 September 2026

Joint special meeting of the Hopewell City Council and Hopewell Economic Development Authority (EDA), held September 29, 2026 (the supplied metadata lists September 30 UTC), focused on coordinating implementation of the city’s economic development strategy. Discussion covered priority redevelopment areas—including Cavalier Square, downtown, the riverfront, the Route 36/295 corridor, industrial sites, and healthcare—along with housing, grocery access, business growth, and utility capacity. The EDA described four recently developed business programs and discussed tools such as property acquisition, performance-based incentives, revolving loans, and tax increment financing. Members emphasized aligning assistance with measurable public benefits and building on small-business and redevelopment successes. The transcript cites a $35,000 EDA incentive previously used to address a site-demolition gap for 7 Brew, 12 Legacy Business Grant applications requesting just over $98,000 total, and a ground-lease option with Ecoplexus for EDA-owned property that could yield $120,000 annually if approvals proceed; the company was reported to be paying $1,000 monthly during the option period.

A Robert Bob Group proposal for a waterfront/Gateway District vision plan was discussed, including an overall proposed fee of $1.25 million, but no approval or spending decision was made. The proposal would develop an implementation-oriented plan and identify potential partners and infrastructure needs. Members also supported further staff analysis of a strategic property acquisition and blight-removal fund, including coordination with the Housing Authority, and discussed exploring TIF and a revolving EDA credit facility. No contract award, RFP decision, or new funding appropriation was recorded. The council and EDA separately voted to enter closed session to discuss potential acquisition of real property and related legal advice; the transcript records no property transaction decision.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure, Professional Services
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** September 30, 2026

### Sources
- [Joint Special Meeting of City Council & Hopewell Economic Development Authority 29 September 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uJionXeaxI) - City of Hopewell, Virginia