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Middlesex County EDA Receives $10,000 DRIVE Tourism+ Grant to Strengthen Visitor Experience

The Middlesex County Economic Development Authority has been awarded a $10,000 grant through Virginia Tourism Corporation’s DRIVE Tourism+ program to fund a series of projects centered on the Urbanna Kayak Trail and the Urbanna Creek paddling corridor.


ABOUT THE PROGRAM

DRIVE Tourism+ is a Virginia Tourism Corporation grant program designed to help communities strengthen their tourism offerings through product development and targeted promotion. Awards support projects with a direct impact on overnight visitation and visitor spending. The program deadline for Middlesex County runs through March 2027.


WHAT THE GRANT FUNDS

The $10,000 award will support four projects tied to the Urbanna Creek and Rappahannock River hub-and-spoke itinerary.

The EDA will produce a full-color, foldable Urbanna Kayak Trail brochure featuring an interpretive map, safety guidelines, and points of interest for paddlers. A weatherproof brochure box will be installed at the new Urbanna Town Marina kayak launch for on-site access.

Two kayaks and two stand-up paddleboards, along with paddles and life jackets, will be purchased and branded with Explore Middlesex logos and QR codes linking to the Urbanna Kayak Trail within the Explore Middlesex app. The equipment will serve as loaner gear for visitors paddling the trail and will also be used at tourism events and photo and video shoots.

A paid digital advertising campaign targeting out-of-state paddlers and outdoor recreation audiences in Washington D.C., Northern Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina.

Two portable touchscreen kiosks loaded with the Explore Middlesex app will be rotated at local events, visitor centers, and lodging partners to highlight the Urbanna Kayak Trail, nearby attractions, and lodging options.


“Tourism is about creating unforgettable experiences that inspire visitors to stay longer and engage more deeply with the places they visit,” said Rita McClenny, President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. “The DRIVE Tourism+ program will help these destinations take a more intentional approach to tourism promotion and product development, using data, planning, and local partnerships to strengthen their visitor offerings and remain competitive in today’s travel marketplace.”


About Virginia Tourism Corporation Virginia Tourism Corporation promotes Virginia as a premier travel destination under the Virginia is for Lovers brand. Learn more at virginia.org.

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John Anzivino

John Anzivino brings decades of experience in economic development, local government administration, and public-sector leadership to the Middlesex County Economic Development Authority, where he has served as a board member since 2018 and Chairman since 2020.

Originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, John earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Concord University and a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Urban and Regional Administration from the University of Georgia. John and his wife, Kristi, purchased property in Urbanna in 2008 before becoming full-time Middlesex County residents in 2016.

Throughout his career, John has held leadership positions in planning, economic development, and local government across the Mid-Atlantic region. His experience includes serving as Planning Director and Deputy Director for the Eastern Panhandle Planning District Council in West Virginia, State Planning Director for the Governor’s Office of West Virginia, County Administrator in both Amelia and Caroline Counties, and Town Manager for the Town of Warrenton, Virginia. He also served as Senior Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Group Director for a national consulting firm specializing in public-sector management, organizational development, budgeting, and economic development.

Even in retirement, John has continued serving communities throughout Virginia in interim leadership roles, including Interim Town Manager, Interim County Administrator, and Interim Executive Director for several localities and economic development organizations. He currently serves as Chairman of GO Virginia Region 6 and is also a member of the Town of Urbanna Board of Zoning Appeals.

John joined the Middlesex County EDA to help support future generations by expanding economic opportunities throughout the County. He believes economic development in Middlesex should remain balanced — building upon the County’s rural character, waterways, working waterfronts, agriculture, forestry, and tourism economy while creating sustainable opportunities for residents to live and work close to home.

GET TO KNOW

Doug McMinn

Doug McMinn was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, and graduated from Brigham Young University in 1996 with a degree in microbiology. A lifelong love for the Chesapeake Bay and strong family ties to the region led Doug to become a full-time resident of Middlesex County in 1997.

From 1997 to 2000, Doug served as the Marine Science Director at Christchurch Episcopal School. He married his wife, Karen, in 1998, and the couple later moved to St. Croix, USVI, where they worked at Good Hope School before returning home to Middlesex County in 2001.

In 2002, Doug started a small oyster farm on the Rappahannock River. He expanded those operations in 2003 by founding Chesapeake Bay Oyster Company, which farm-raises oysters and develops and distributes commercial shellfish farming equipment. Doug is also a founding member and current board member of the Shellfish Growers of Virginia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Virginia’s shellfish farming industry, and serves on the State Aquaculture Advisory Committee.

Doug and Karen live in Wake, Virginia and have three children, all graduates of Middlesex County High School.

As a member of the Middlesex County Economic Development Authority, Doug is passionate about supporting long-term economic stability while increasing public access to the waterways that help define Middlesex County.

GET TO KNOW

Hallie Jean Holmes

Hallie J. Holmes is a lifelong resident of Middlesex County and currently serves on the Middlesex County Economic Development Authority. Following her retirement in 2010 from the Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center, Hallie committed herself to volunteering and serving the Middlesex community in any capacity she could.

Hallie attended Rappahannock Community College in Glenns, Virginia, where she studied subjects including psychology, chemistry, biology, algebra, and constitutional law. Over the years, she has worked a variety of jobs throughout Middlesex, Essex, Richmond, and Gloucester, giving her a broad understanding of the region and its communities.

As the daughter of a former waterman who worked as both a menhaden fisherman and oysterman before later serving as Sheriff, Hallie has deep roots in Middlesex County’s maritime heritage and working waterfront culture. Her travels throughout Virginia and across the country have also given her a strong appreciation for tourism, local identity, and community development — though she says Middlesex has always felt like home.

Hallie enjoys genealogy and local history research, baking pound cakes for family and friends, and continuing to learn through community leadership opportunities, including recent board leadership training through the River Counties Community Foundation.

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Joe Heyman

Joe Heyman is the President of The Allen Group Inc. and has been a business owner and community leader in Middlesex County since moving to the area in 1989. Shortly after relocating, Joe started his construction business and has since built experience across several industries including construction, hospitality, marina operations, commercial leasing, and small business development.

Throughout his career, Joe has remained deeply involved in the Middlesex community, serving on numerous local boards and organizations including the YMCA, the Urbanna Oyster Festival, and the Middlesex Sports Complex. He also previously served on the Urbanna Town Council and has spent many years coaching local youth sports programs.

Joe joined the Middlesex County Economic Development Authority to help support existing businesses while encouraging new economic opportunities throughout the County. To him, economic development means creating an environment where small businesses can succeed and where future generations have opportunities to live, work, and invest locally.

One area Joe is especially excited about is expanding recreation and boating access throughout Middlesex County and continuing to strengthen the County’s connection to the water. Outside of work and community service, he enjoys sailing and spending time with his family, including his grandchildren.

GET TO KNOW

Gerald "Jerry" Crittenden

Gerald “Jerry” F. Crittenden is a lifelong resident of Middlesex County and a fifth-generation member of the Deltaville community. A graduate of Middlesex County Public Schools, Jerry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Radford University in 1988.

Throughout his career, Jerry has worked across several industries including farming, education, coaching, agricultural supply sales, and contracting. He is the owner of GFC Contracting LLC and part owner of T.H. Crittenden & Son (Riverdale Farm), a third-generation family farming operation in Middlesex County.

Deeply involved in the local community, Jerry has served for more than 30 years as a Little League baseball coach and has managed the Deltaville Deltas baseball team for over four decades. He is also a founding board member of the Wilton Hunt Club and serves on the boards of the Middlesex County Farm Bureau, the Deltaville Community Association, and the Middlesex County Economic Development Authority.

Jerry and his wife, Martha Fleet Crittenden, have three children and two grandchildren, all of whom reside in Middlesex County. In his free time, he enjoys baseball, hunting, and fishing.