Economic Development: August 2004 Economic Development Report

August 2004 Economic Development Report

Nelson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
August 2004 Report

Economic Development Update
Projects
Working with Lovingston Manufacturing facility's new owner
Submitted Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Planning grant for the revitalization of the Lovingston business district
Submitted historic district nomination for Lovingston
Formalizing the process for business prospects communications with the Board of Supervisors, Industrial Development Authority and staff
Preparing for the target business study visit September 2004
Assisting Industrial Development Authority to replace Route 29 gateway signs
Monitoring progress of VDOT's Tourist Oriented Directional Signage program
Submitted quarterly Jamestown 2007 report

Montebello Fish Hatchery Visitation
June 2004 - 1087
July 2004 - 1134

Recruitment and Retention
Working with 6 new prospect and 3 ongoing relationships

Meetings
July 1 Lovingston Planning Grant management team meeting
July 1 Industrial Development Authority
July 9 Camp Jeep
July 12 - 18 Camp Jeep
July 12 Lovingston Planning Grant public meeting
July 13 web site presentation to Board of Supervisors
July 14 Dept. of Historic Resources historic district
July 14 Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission Ã Birding Trails
July 20 Rockfish Ruritan - update on Taste of Nelson
July 21 Lovingston Planning Grant management team meeting
July 21 site consultant visit
July 21   3 new business prospect meetings
July 21 business expansion prospect
July 22 Taste of Nelson
July 23 Camp Jeep - after action meeting
July 26 new business prospect

Tourism Update
Projects
Oakmoor Country Inn, 98 Lobbans Lane in Afton opened this month
Planning for the opening the Piedmont Phase of the Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries Birding Trail September 29-30, 2004
Organizing September 11-19, 2004 Taste of Nelson event
Planning for Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau annual meeting August

Marketing and Promotion
Submitted What's New events and attractions to Virginia Tourism Corporation
Submitted information for Yellow Pages section
Submitted media release for Southern Living winter issue
Nelson County featured on Virginia Tonight (WVPT-PBS station)
Planning Nelson County Hospitality and Travel Association annual meeting
Assisting in the planning for August 17 event at Mossy Creek 2
6 media leads distributed to Nelson County tourism businesses, including a national NPR promotion
Assisting Roanoke CVB with pre and post tours for the Outdoor Writers Association of America conference in 2007

Meetings
July 19 - Lynchburg-Bedford-Nelson meeting on August 3-5 Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau annual meeting

Tourism Statistics
                July 2004        YTD 2004    July 2003        YTD 2003
Phone        169                1255            148                1312
Labels        413                7000            419               4071
Internet     14,558          55,236        5,849            43,728
Walk In    1612                7030            1189            5382

Taxes        June 2004        YTD 2004    June 2003        YTD 2003
Lodging    $12,867            92,795        14,196            92,170
Meals        $37,455            238,125      39,794        216,991

Media Coverage
Nelson County Times, News Advance, Daily Progress, News Virginian, magazines    Column Inches - 1134 Number of articles - 35
Average open rate is $23.67 per column inch for regional papers
Nelson County received $26,842 in advertising through print media sources