Doing Business in Nelson County: Economic Development Authority 2007 Annual Report

Economic Development Authority 2007 Annual Report

Report to Nelson County Economic Development Authority
Nelson County Economic Development and Tourism Department
February 7, 2008

Economic Development is an investment in our economic prosperity. The time and resources allocated to economic development include three areas: creating a competitive product, attracting new business opportunities and expanding existing businesses.

Economic Development Department Mission:
To promote the diversity and growth of Nelson County's economic base

Tourism Department Mission:
To enhance the economic prosperity and image of Nelson County by promoting and marketing Nelson County as a destination for leisure visitors and group tours

Location, Staff and Budget:
Office is located at 8519 Thomas Nelson Highway (lower level of the Library) and is open 9 am – 5 pm daily (closed only Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day and Easter)
Employ 2 full time employees, and 3 part time employees. Only the director handles economic development matters
Director serves as staff liaison to Economic Development Authority (EDA)
Fiscal Year 2008 tourism budget - $240,007 (includes all personnel and benefits)
Fiscal Year 2007 tourism budget - $239,516
Fiscal Year 2006 tourism budget - $232,144
Fiscal Year 2008 economic development budget - $12,000
Fiscal Year 2007 economic development budget - $12,000
Fiscal Year 2006 economic development budget - $12,000

Monthly reports are posted on the county web site:
http://www.nelsoncounty.com/economicdev/monthlyreportarchive
http://www.nelsoncounty.com/cvb/tourismreportsarchive

Economic Development Authority Strategic Plan and Annual Reports are posted on the website:
http://www.nelsoncounty.com/business/ida

Lovingston, Nellysford Planning Projects, Branding and Broadband Projects are posted on the website:
http://www.nelsoncounty.com/economicdev

Nelson County Agritourism report
http://www.nelsoncounty.com/visit/agritourism

Website stats are found in each monthly report:
http://www.nelsoncounty.com/economicdev/monthlyreportarchive
Example:
Tourism Statistics                  Fiscal                                         Fiscal
                November 2007    YTD 2008    November 2006    YTD 2007
Phone        462                        2,593          554                        1,771
Internet      265,040                 1,348,472   126,012                 659,737
Walk In      921                         6,622          860                        5,826

Taxes        October 2007    YTD 2008    October 2006    YTD 2007
Lodging    $47,451            180,888        25,674                107,062
Meals        $46,353            162,890        44,724               180,582

2007 Projects:
•   Working with a Virginia Commonwealth University graduate student on a Open Space and Agricultural Preservation Plan
•   Creating the Business Appreciation Recognition Program with the Commissioner of the Revenue for launch in 2008
•   Appointed to Virginia Alcohol Beverage Commission tourism advisory board
•   Organizing the local effort for the state Civil War commemoration
•   Organizing a new holiday winery/brewery event – December 7
•   Applying for 501c3 status for the Blue Ridge Tunnel Project
•   Wintergreen Resort on economic stimulus grant
•   Collaborating with Piedmont Futures – regional business/education organization
•   Updating the online business directory with Commissioner of the Revenue business license information
•   Managing the VA Dept. of Housing and Community Development Rural Broadband grant process (including writing grant application) Phase 1 & 2
•   Coordinated the 2007 bicentennial celebration committee and marketing efforts
•   Facilitated the County marketing and branding process
•   EDA projects: 2006 broadband survey; sale of the Callohill property; funding for the Small Business Development Center and Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development; possible sale of the Colleen Business Park; annual Business Appreciation event

Ongoing Projects:
•   Manage the nelsoncounty.com website
•   Design all tourism collateral marketing pieces
•   Manage brochure distribution system
•   Issue media and press releases
•   Coordinate travel writers, media and industry familiarization tours
•   Coordinate the Lovingston Holiday Decorating Contest with the Nelson County Times
•   Manage Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Watchable Wildlife program (11 loops in Nelson County)
•   Community Representative for Jamestown commemoration
•   Managed Lovingston and Schuyler historic district projects
•   Managed the Lovingston master planning process - continue grant writing to fund improvements

Director Serves as Liaison to:
•   Economic Development Authority
•   Virginia Tourism Corporation – staff manages data on virginia.org
•   Virginia Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus
•   Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association
•   Explore Nelson Wine – now Red, White and Brew ™
•   Monticello Wine Trail
•   Virginia Winery Association
•   Camp Jeep ®
•   Virginia Economic Development Partnership
•   Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development
•   Virginia Main Street (Lovingston and Nellysford are affiliate communities)
•   Sunrise Side of the Blue Ridge ™ - regional tourism alliance

Nelson County Economic Development Authority
2003-04 Strategic Plan

Background
On August 18, 2003 the Nelson County Economic Development Authority Board met to construct a mission statement for the organization and a strategic plan for the upcoming twelve - eighteen months. The planning session was facilitated by John Aughenbaugh and Richard Moorefield, administrative faculty from Virginia Tech University's Office of Economic Development. Also in attendance were Maureen Corum, Director of Nelson County's Office of Economic Development and Tourism, and Steve Carter, Nelson County Administrator. The following are the results of the Authority's planning session.

Mission Statement of the Nelson County Economic Development Authority (EDA)
The mission of the Nelson County Economic Development Authority is to promote the diversity and growth of the County's economic base.

Goals of Nelson County EDA (in rank order)
1. Business and Industry Development
2. Communications and Relationships with Other Economic Development Actors
3. Education, Workforce, and Technology
4. Tourism

Goals of Nelson County EDA (Clarified via Priorities, Objectives, and Strategies within Each Goal)
Goal 1. Business and Industry Development
- Priorities for this goal:
1. Business retention and expansion
2. Rehab and renovated existing vacant buildings
3. Target industry study

Goal 2. Communications and Relationships with Other Economic Development Actors
- Objectives (in rank order):
1. Spur/encourage other economic development groups to become more active AND develop relationships with other economic development actors.
- Activities to accomplish this objective - meet with the following groups (amongst others) in the next 12 -18 months:
- Chamber of Commerce
- Hospitality and Travel Association
- NAMA
- School Board
- Farm Bureau
- Service authorities
- Planning District Commission
- Industrial Development Authorities of neighboring counties
- Historical Society

2. Get word out to public regarding what the EDA can do for community, in addition to educating the public regarding the benefits of economic development, tourism, and the like.

3. Education, Workforce, and Technology
- Objectives (in rank order):
1. Work with Nelson County School District in developing entrepreneurism, whether through courses, seminars, etc.
2. Conduct a workforce audit (labor market study).
3. Prepare for adult education and retraining needs.
4. Continue to monitor internet technology opportunities and to develop internet technology access plan for County.

4. Tourism
- Objectives (in rank order):
1. Improve signage in County
2. Diversify tourism base in County
3. Develop infrastructure to support tourism (current and future), including hotels, restaurants, workforce, housing for tourism workforce, etc.
4. Maintain inventory of tourism product and infrastructure