NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Two month's into President Donald Trump's second term, local business and government organizations in Hampton Roads are making their thoughts known on the potential good, and bad, of his proposed policies. Specifically, the letter sent to the six lawmakers representing the region on the federal level highlights where they think the local workforce and infrastructure fit within the president's "America First" agenda. It also lists off the risks — what tariffs could do to local farmers, what the lack of support of offshore wind could mean for investments already made and what cuts to defense spending and the federal workforce could mean for the local economy. "We would like for you to protect the gains we have made in recent years, help buildupon those gains, and work with us to advance the region, ensuring new gains under thisadministration," the letter said. A pair of the signatories said the idea to compile the document was born out of the Trump administration's proposals to drastically change the way the federal government operates. Dominion’s offshore wind project spared from Trump’s pause "We are 37th [largest United States metro] in population, we're fifth in terms of DoD spending, and we're fourth in terms of percent of federal workforce," said Nancy Grden, president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable. "So anything that happens at the federal level, we are really getting sort of more than 'our share' of what's happening." Aside from Grden, the letter is signed by the leaders of the Hampton Roads Chamber, Hampton Roads Alliance, Hampton Roads Workforce Council, Virginia Peninsula Chamber, Virginia Maritime Association and Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance. Hampton Roads’ economy is supported by three main pillars: defense, the maritime port and the hospitality and tourism industry, according to Old Dominion University. In the economic department's latest "State of the Region" report, a "fourth-straight year of growth" was predicted for the region. However, Bryan Stephens, president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Chamber, said business doesn't thrive when uncertainty exists. Forty percent of the region's GDP is tied to federal spending. It's the same spending the Trump administration is looking to slash. "The business community likes certainty," Stephens said. "The business community likes predictability, and with this rapidity of policy changes, there is a lack of certainty and there's a lack of predictability in the business community. So we wanted to address the issue head-on." Trump’s plan to ‘resurrect’ American shipbuilding could mean opportunity for Tidewater The letter touts Hampton Roads as the "epicenter of our nation's security interests" and encourages lawmakers to vouch for the region when at all possible. "You know, the fact that the administration wants to increase shipbuilding and ship repair is going to play big benefits to Hampton Roads." Stephens said. "But there's also some risk associated to it, like layoffs in the federal government." The letter warns of "shocks" to the economy, our national security and to the services necessary for the health and safety of residents if cuts aren't carried out in a "deliberate and thoughtful" way. Grden said this will likely only be the first iteration of the letter. "Considering the rapidity of these executive orders and all that's coming out, we know that this is a living document," Grden said. "We acted as regional organizations on behalf of Hampton Roads, and I think the important takeaway is that there is a group of groups, if you will, that really wants to advocate on behalf of the of the whole place." Kiggans: Cuts that weaken defense capabilities ‘unacceptable’ Congressional-Delegation-Letter-New-Administration-and-New-CongressDownload ...read more read less