Address of the state of the state of dumfries: partnerships and possibilities of progress

Supplied by the city of Dumfries

In an address of the state of the city in 2025 which had residents and dignitaries on their feet, the mayor of Dumfries, Derrick Wood, proclaimed a new era for the oldest city of Virginia: a rooted vision, fueled by partnerships and fueled by measurable progress. The oldest city in America declares the victory during the decades of bypass, reveals a daring future which will put it on each card.

“For too long, we were the city of the city only knew as an exit panel,” said Mayor Wood. “Tonight, I’m here to tell you: Dumfries is no longer overlooked. Dumfries becomes unforgettable.” This message closed a transformation trip of a decade which transformed DUMFRIES – a city of 1.5 square mile with colonial roots – in a rising star of regional development and innovation. From a closed discharge that has become a public park, a partnership of $ 500 million with Churchill Downs, Dumfries recovers its objective and opens the way to what small cities can achieve.

From forgetting to unforgettable: the figures tell the story

The rise of Dumfries is being documentation in results and opportunities:

Unforgettable economy

• $ 500 million in private investment in pink Gaming Resort
• 500 new jobs created (333 jobs per Mile Carré)
• The recipes for the city game tax should double in 2026
• First clean municipal audit for decades
• Triple Crown Budget Award Nomination

Unforgettable efficiency

• The discharge closed 10 years before the scheduled date.
• 8 million dollars saved thanks to the strategic acquisition of the town hall vs new construction.
• The police service has fully personal and pursued the national accreditation of VLEPSC.
• City which is preparing for the first note of municipal obligation.

Unforgettable

• 2044 Destination Dumfries Full Plan unveiled.
• Redevelopment of the main street districts and the seafront in progress.
• Overlook Park (80 acres of recovered green space) opening the fall 2025.
• Launch of Dumfries Youth Council to empower new generation civic leaders.

“We have stopped excluding ourselves and started to celebrate”

Mayor Wood shared the evolution of the city with franchise and pride. “When I joined the municipal council in 2012, people apologized to visitors to the smell of the discharge,” he said. “Now people ask when they can come back to try our 40 Oz Tomahawk steak or attend our next festival by the water.”

His mixture of humor and vision signed throughout the evening when he described a city that was no longer moving through his past.

Three pillars of an unforgettable future

Mayor Wood has attributed the city’s progress to a targeted strategy:

Progress
Tangible is gaining infrastructure, public finances, public security and strategic planning.

Partnerships
Key alliances with Churchill Downs, the Luke Torian delegate (president, house credits), the member of the Congress Eugene Vindman and other regional leaders.

Possibilities
Major redevelopment plans, new public spaces, a city center accessible on foot and civic commitment initiatives which position DUMFRIES as a destination of the 21st century rooted in the heritage of the 18th century.

Make history while honoring heritage
Founded in 1749 as a Scottish tobacco port along Quantic Creek, Dumfries recovers its heritage as a connection and trade hub. With bold leadership and community planning, the city writes a new chapter in the American transformation of small town.

“Our founders have understood what we will rediscover now,” said Wood. “Dumfries has always been supposed to be a place where people come – not just through.”

This rediscovery continues today. From the recovery of its historical identity to investment in the future through policies, partnerships and people, Dumfries traces a course that cities across America are beginning to notice.