North Tidewater News

Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones is gearing up to present his inaugural State of the City address on Tuesday, March 5 at the Freeman Center Field House on the campus of Christopher Newport University. The theme for this year's event is "Building Forward," where Mayor Jones will reflect on recent city achievements and outline future plans and projects.

"When I ran for mayor, I asked the citizens of Newport News to 'Build with Me,' and they gave me the incredible responsibility and privilege to serve our city," expressed Mayor Phillip Jones. "I am proud of the projects and strategies we have implemented this year."

The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is organizing the event with Old Point National Bank as the Presenting Sponsor. Bob McKenna, President/CEO of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber, remarked, "As the voice of the Peninsula business community and a strong advocate for the region's economic growth, the Virginia Peninsula Chamber looks forward to hosting the Newport News State of the City each year as a forum for the Mayor to share the city’s good news and plans."

During the address, Mayor Jones is set to unveil a new safety initiative aimed at improving community safety and fostering youth engagement in Newport News. He highlighted the city's approach to addressing gun violence, stating, "Gun violence is a national issue that Newport News is addressing through civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness, and innovation."

Tickets for the Newport News State of the City are priced at $45 per person with various sponsorship opportunities available. Interested individuals can register or become sponsors through the Chamber of Commerce website. The entire presentation will be recorded and accessible post-event on the city’s website (www.nnva.gov) and Newport News Television (Cox 48/Verizon 19). Additionally, the event will be live-streamed on the Newport News Facebook page.