Economic Development: November 2004 Economic Development Report

November 2004 Economic Development Report

Nelson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
November 2004 Report

Economic Development Update
Projects
Facilitated strategy meeting Lovingston revitalization project planning grant activities set for November 10
Working with county schools to encourage participation in the Capitol Tree project
Working with the Economic Development Authority on the gateway signs
Lovingston area bed and breakfast, Orchard House B & B opens November 5
Assisting Louisa County Economic Development to set up a tourism department
Working with Delfosse winery, opening spring 2005

Montebello Fish Hatchery Visitation
October 1-12, 2004 - 554 visitors
On October 13 - 31, visitors were charged $1 per person - 486 visitors counted by funds generated
Total for October 2004 - 1040

Recruitment and Retention
Working with 5 new prospects and 3 ongoing relationships

Web Site Update
The new site was launched in July 2004
Average monthly views in 2003 -5000
July 2004 views - 14,258
August 2004 views - 32,099
September 2004 views - 43,865
October 2004 views - 46,775
There have been more than 1200 downloads of the zoning ordinance information

Meetings
October 5 - Louisa County Economic Development
October 5 - Explore Nelson Wine
October 7 - Economic Development Authority
October 8 - business retention visit
October 8 - Lovingston Planning Grant
October 13 - Commonwealth Transportation Board Member
October 13 - Dedication of Emily Couric highway
October 16 - Economic Outlook Ã Lynchburg Chamber
October 18 - Nellysford planning process
October 20 - web site staff training
October 25 - dedication of Ryan School project
October 27 - Service Corps of Retired Executives luncheon
October 28 - Jamestown 2007 community meeting

Tourism Update
Projects
Working with Virginia Logo company on the Tourist Oriented Directional Signage program
Hosted a Virginia Tourism Corporation customer service training seminar with Amherst October 15
Hosted Memphis journalist working on a book about Hurricane Camille
Assisting Wintergreen Resort hospitality staff about Nelson County accommodations
Listed in the "Visit Us" section of the official MATPRA web site
(www.visitmidatlantic.com, www.tourismpr.org and )
Working with Poplar Grove Golf Course and Amherst Tourism on June 2005 event
Set up tourism booth with Amherst County at Garlic Festival (October 9-10)
Orchard House B & B opens November 5
Assisting Louisa County Economic Development to set up a tourism department
Delfosse winery opens spring 2005

Marketing and Promotion
6 media leads distributed to Nelson County tourism businesses
Staff manned the Rockfish Gap Tourist Information Center (Afton-Route 250-Interstate 64-Blue Ridge Parkway-Skyline Drive) on Fridays and Saturdays in September and October. Thanks to the Nelson County orchards who provided apples and peaches: Dickie Brothers, Drumhellers Orchard, Mountain Cove Orchards and Saunders Brothers
September (8 days): 816 visitors
October (8 days): 2,222 visitors

Meetings
October 6 - Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau marketing
October 9-10 - Garlic Festival
October 14 - Virginia Tourism Corporation Fall Marketing Caucus
October 15 - Orchard House B & B
October 16 - Virginia Tourism Corporation Customer Service Training with Amherst Tourism
October 19 - Wine Festival at Poplar Grove Golf Course
October 26 - Wine Festival at Poplar Grove Golf Course
October 28 - Jamestown 2007 community meeting

Tourism Statistics
                October 2004   YTD 2004   October 2003      YTD 2003
Phone        149                    1,680           231                      1,830
Labels        384                    7,967         1,007              9,784
Internet     46,775            177,975       8,869                  67,299
Walk In      1,609                10,691           1,561                 8,670

Taxes   September 2004   YTD 2004   September 2003 YTD 2003
Lodging   $14,419            145,104           12,474           140,262
Meals      $39,338            367,013           34,535           330,473

Media Coverage
Nelson County Times, News Advance, Daily Progress, News Virginian, magazines    Column Inches - 553 Number of articles - 28
Average open rate is $23.67 per column inch for regional papers Ã
Nelson County received $13,090 in advertising through print media sources