Doing Business in Nelson County: March 2007

March 2007

Nelson County Economic Development Authority
March 1, 2007

Present:
Barbara Powell
Alphonso Taylor
Natt Hall
Greg Kelly
Steve Crandall
Stu Armstrong
Erwin Berry

There was no public comment.

MOTION: to approve the December 7, 2007 meeting minutes. Crandall-Hall
(7-0)

Nora Gillespie gave an overview of the services offered by Central Virginia Small Business Development Center to existing and start-up businesses including one-on-one counseling, business planning, strategic planning, marketing, financial analysis and loan assistance. She noted that 83% of those receiving services in 2006 from Nelson were existing businesses. Ms. Gillespie reported that the organization receives $40,000 in funding from the SBA and must match at least 100% of that allocation with through in-kind and cash matches. No state funding is provided for CV SBDC. Ms. Gillespie noted that the Nelson EDA had provided $5,000 in funding in 2006 and that CV SBDC has submitted a request for $7,500 to the Board of Supervisors for 2007.

Ms. Gillespie reported that 17 Nelson clients received business counseling in 2006 (up from 7 in 2005 and 1 in 2004) with the majority (65%) of those clients in the Service Industry. She noted that 19 Nelson clients received business training in 2006 (up from 7 in 2005 and 3 in 2004). She reported that CV SBDC services include independent contractors who offer counseling in financial statement analysis and marketing. In addition, CV SBDC offers training in QuickBooks and NxLevel. Plans for Nelson programs in 2007 include "How to Start and Plan for your Business" (June 2007); a co-sponsored training with the VA Department of Agriculture, Economic Viability Group; and a co-sponsored training with the IRS on business taxes.

MOTION: to amend EDA by-laws to establish the position of "Assistant Secretary/Treasurer". Hall-Armstrong (7-0)

MOTION: to elect the following officers for 2007: Chair - Alphonso Taylor;
Vice Chair - Greg Kelly; Secretary/Treasurer - Stu Armstrong; Assistant Secretary/Treasurer - Erwin Berry. Hall-Crandall (7-0)

The Authority reviewed its scope of services as discussed during their January strategic planning session: Issue bonds; Study loans and revolving loan pool; Support broadband initiatives; Support existing business

Staff will work with Charlottesville's IDA to schedule a workshop with Dan Siegel to review EDA/IDA projects.

MOTION: to adopt a policy that if Nelson schools are closed due to weather on the day of a scheduled EDA meeting, the meeting is postponed to the second Thursday of the month at the same time and place. Hall-Powell (7-0)

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Meeting notes attributed to Rural Nelson, Inc.