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Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc. (FSEDI) has been awarded $10,000 from the Norfolk Southern Corporation to support its mission in its Coastal region, which includes Hampton Roads in Virginia.  

An FSEDI and Norfolk Southern news release noted that the funds will be used to help support the Franklin Southampton Community Visioning Process, which is a community initiative that FSEDI is leading to help its communities grow and develop in the coming years.

“This funding will have an immediate impact on the work we do,” FSEDI President and CEO Karl Heck said. “We’re thankful to Norfolk Southern for investing in our community and supporting our mission.” 

The Franklin Southampton Community Visioning Process was started earlier this year by FSEDI, with the support of various thought leaders in both communities. A Steering Committee has been established, along with subcommittees that have been paneled focused on economic development, tourism and community impact, community engagement, education and workforce, and economic uplift. 

There will be an initial community event on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the Camp Community College Workforce Development Center to show the progress to date, introduce new community leaders and invite the community to help FSEDI continue forward with this effort.

The Thriving Communities grant from Norfolk Southern is part of two community programs launched by Norfolk Southern in 2023: The Safety First Program, which seeks to advance safety organizations and initiatives, and the Thriving Communities Grant Program, which aims to promote economic opportunity, support vibrant community life and provide equal access to basic necessities. Award recipients are selected annually from across the railroad’s 22-state network.

FSEDI is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024-25. FSEDI is the not-for-profit economic development organization serving the city of Franklin and Southampton County. FSEDI was formed through the work of Franklin Southampton Futures, a previous community visioning effort conducted in the early 2000s. FSEDI’s mission is to diversify the economy, create high-quality jobs and provide a future for the families and youth of Franklin and Southampton.

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, NSC operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. 

Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than seven million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and it is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic Coast, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.