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VB official: Tourism well positioned to grow

By WTOP Staff

BROCK VERGAKIS
Associated Press

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s largest city is well positioned to see its tourism industry grow, helping to diversify the region’s military-dependent economy, but traffic gridlock and increased competition from other states could become obstacles if they’re not addressed, officials said Monday.

Tourism is Virginia Beach’s second largest revenue generator, after defense spending, and the city drives more leisure travel visitation than any other city in the state, according to city officials. Virginia Beach primarily draws tourists to its oceanfront and bay beaches, for sporting events and for convention and business travel.

In an address at an oceanfront hotel, Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau Director Jim Ricketts said tourism spending in the city reached $1.28 billion in 2012. In the first three months of 2014, he said, the city has seen a 6 percent increase in tourism spending compared with the same period in 2012, which set records.

“We are on a roll as we move into the summer season,” Ricketts said.

Ricketts listed potential developments that could boost tourism in the future, including the possibility of an 18,000 seat arena at the oceanfront and a convention center headquarters hotel. But he also warned that competition for tourism spending is fierce and that traffic congestion continues to be a problem, particularly as tourists must wait in long traffic lines at bridge-tunnels to get to the city.

He said research indicates that the thing tourists like least about Virginia Beach is the traffic leading up to the city.

“We want Virginia Beach to be better connected to the entire Coastal Virginia region,” he said.

To that end, he said he supports extending light rail from Norfolk to Virginia Beach. Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who spoke after Ricketts, has committed to spending up to $200 million of state money to help make that happen.

McAuliffe said he’s well aware that transportation is a major problem when it comes to getting visitors in and out of the area. He said that’s one of the reasons he supports adding additional lanes to part of Interstate 64 east of Richmond to Hampton Roads, which drew heavy applause.

“Once we do that, I just think it’ll be spectacular for what we need to do on tourism,” he said.

With the possibility of Defense Department spending cuts always on the horizon, McAuliffe said he fully supports ideas that will diversify Virginia’s economy.

“We are the No. 1 recipient of DOD dollars. That’s great news until you start receiving cuts,” McAuliffe said.

He said boosting tourism is a natural way for Virginia Beach to achieve economic diversification.

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Brock Vergakis can be reached at www.twitter.com/BrockVergakis

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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