Doing Business in Nelson County: December 2005

December 2005

Nelson County Economic Development Authority
December 1, 2005

Present:
Natt Hall
Barbara Powell
Allen Hale
Montie Pritchett
Tom Wheaton
Stu Armstrong
Alphonso Taylor

There was no public comment.

Chairperson Natt Hall called the meeting to order.

Motion: To approve the November 3, 2005 meeting minutes. Powell-Armstrong (6-0) (Allen Hale was not present for this vote.)

Members discussed the draft audit prepared through June 30, 2005. Stu Armstrong reported that he would prepare and present a draft budget and county budget request for the January 2006 meeting. Maureen Corum reported that the Small Business Development Center has again requested $5,000 in funding to continue programming for Nelson County. Stu Armstrong asked members whether that request should be funded through the EDA, included in the EDA budget request to the county or the request made directly to the Board of Supervisors. Allen Hale said that the SBDC program seems appropriate for funding through the EDA as it is specifically designed to encourage economic development. He said that the EDA's budget request should demonstrate where the money will go and what it will be used for and he asked whether there are specific requests that will be included. Stu Armstrong said that the issue is whether the Board of Supervisors sees the EDA as a real entity for developing economic development initiatives or just a board in place for specific bond issues. Montie Pritchett said that that is why he wanted to charge the county a fee for the bond financing. Barbara Powell said that she does believe the Board of Supervisors takes the EDA seriously but that there are only so many dollars and those dollars will only go so far. Allen Hale said that there is not an adversarial relationship between the Board and the EDA so if the county does not approve the budget request, that does not mean they do not value what the EDA does. Natt Hall said that he agrees with both sides - it is not adversarial relationship, but a budget request should be submitted. He suggested including funding for the SBDC in the EDA budget.
Motion: To include $5000 for FY07 funding for the Small Business Development Center. Pritchett-Powell (7-0)
In other matters, Stu Armstrong reported that the Nelson County finance office would create a mid-year budget variance report for the January 2006 meeting. The proposed FY07 EDA budget will also include training and travel funds for members to attend the Virginia Industrial Development Authority conference.

Sue Friedman with Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development reported that multiple agencies throughout the state are looking at the issue of broadband and identified the need to do a survey to determine need and gap analysis. She said that the focus would be in three primary areas - economic development/business, education and public safety. She said that grant monies are available to create a survey, develop a database and generate GIS mapping through James Madison University. Sue Friedman said that TJPED is responsible for identifying a pilot study area in the region and that Nelson is in a position to be that study area. She said that the advantage to the county is that the county would have the data earlier and that could attract interested providers. Ms. Friedman said that the survey development is underway with the survey mailing expected to happen in January. She noted the cost to the pilot study locality as $5,000, which is strictly the cost of printing and mailing the survey as all development, and the grant funding covers staff costs. Natt Hall said that participation would give the county a strong argument with private sector providers. Montie Pritchett agreed, noting that recent discussions with Verizon had identified a lack of information as a problem. He said that gathering this kind of information was going to eventually be a challenge for the county.
Motion: To approve a grant of $5,000 to TJPDC for the purpose of creating a pilot study for broadband in Nelson. Hale-Wheaton (7-0)

Members reviewed a draft Request For Proposal for the Callohill property (16.575-acre) parcel owned by the EDA. After discussion, members agreed that the purpose of the RFP is to attract proposals for the purchase and use of the property and they made changes to the language of the RFP to clarify that goal. Members directed staff to make the changes for another review.

Maureen Corum reported that the Charlottesville chapter of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) is now serving Nelson County, offering business counselors, seminars and assistance in developing a business plan. (NOTE: Contact SCORE at 434.295.6712 or chairperson@score-494.org)

Maureen Corum presented an activity report from the Central Virginia Small Business Development Center, noting that the programs in Nelson began in July 2005 and included only that five-month period. She said that Nora Gillespie is still working on developing and changing programs to fit the needs in Nelson but that number of clients served has increased over the previous year when Nelson residents had to go to Charlottesville for the same services. Stu Armstrong asked whether the $5,000 allocated to the program would be better spent on sponsoring a couple of people for training. Barbara Powell said that it is hard to judge the effectiveness of the program on a five-month period in its first year. Natt Hall suggested budgeting for the support with a final decision based on a 12-month report. Alphonso Taylor said that he would like to have Nora Gillespie come back to give an update. Members directed staff to schedule Nora Gillespie to attend the May 2006 meeting for a report.

Allen Hale submitted his resignation from the Authority effective January 1, 2006. He said that he felt the EDA had accomplished much over the past few years and that he looks forward to working with members as a Supervisor.

Closed Session
Motion: To end regular session and move into closed session to discuss legal matters under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act 2.2-3700. Wheaton-Powell. Roll Call Vote – Hall- aye, Hale - aye, Powell- aye, Taylor - aye, Wheaton - aye, Armstrong - aye, Pritchett - aye
Motion: To end closed session. Wheaton-Powell. Roll Call Vote – Hall- aye, Hale - aye, Powell- aye, Taylor - aye, Wheaton - aye, Armstrong - aye, Pritchett - aye
Motion: To return to regular session. Wheaton-Powell. Roll Call Vote – Hall- aye, Hale - aye, Powell- aye, Taylor - aye, Wheaton - aye, Armstrong - aye, Pritchett - aye
Motion: To adopt the following resolution: Be it hereby resolved, the Economic Development Authority of Nelson County does hereby return to regular session having only discussed legal matters. Wheaton-Powell. Roll Call Vote – Hall- aye, Hale - aye, Powell- aye, Taylor - aye, Wheaton – aye, Armstrong - aye, Pritchett - aye

Maureen Corum presented the 2005 Economic Development Authority Annual Report for review. The report included a review of the projects undertaken during the year and the progress made on each, noting a focus on two goals - fostering existing business retention and expansion and creating a county broadband strategy. The projects undertaken included 53 appointments with local businesses to discuss individual business concerns and development; the installation of two gateway signs (north and south Route 29); funding of the SBDC program in Nelson; and the participation in the pilot study for broadband access.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
(Meeting notes excerpted from Rural Nelson, Inc.)