Economic Development: December 2004 Economic Development Report

December 2004 Economic Development Report

Nelson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
December 2004 Report

Economic Development Update

Projects
Working with the Economic Development Authority on gateway signs
Lovingston area bed and breakfast, Orchard House B & B opened November 5
Prepared Economic Development Authority 2004 annual report (attached)
Issued requests for proposal for Lovingston Revitalization project
Wrote and submitted a Wireless Broadband grant with Amherst County
Created a marketing plan and collateral piece for the Lovingston historic district
Posted draft zoning ordinances on web
Assisting with the Nellysford planning process

Montebello Fish Hatchery Visitation
November 2004 - 31 paid visitors

Recruitment and Retention
Working with 5 new prospects and 4 ongoing relationships

Web Site Update
The new site was launched in July 2004
Average monthly views in 2003 Ã 5000
November views Ã 34,619
There have been more than 1500 downloads of the zoning ordinance information
Board of Supervisors site includes agendas and meeting minutes
Planning page has meeting agendas, minutes and zoning ordinance updates
Animal Control and Emergency Services sites is being built out
Economic Development Authority site has meeting minutes and reports

Meetings
November 1 - Nellysford planning process
November 4 - Virginia Economic Development Association Workforce Development conference
November 4 - Economic Development Authority
November 5 - business retention visit
November 7-8 - Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities conference
November 10 - Lovingston planning project
November 17 - Virginia Chamber of Commerce economic development summit
November 18 - Virginia Economic Development Partnership Allies meeting
November 18 - Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission meeting on Route 29
November 19 - business retention visit
November 22 - Amherst County economic development director Ã wireless broadband grant
November 29 - business retention visit

Tourism Update

Projects
Working with Virginia Logo company on the Tourist Oriented Directional Signage program
Hosted travel writer for Recreation News working on a story for the March 2005 issue
Created ad for Virginia Wine Guide with Charlottesville-Albemarle CVB
Assisted with Mossy Creek 2 hospitality event
Created an ad for March 2005 Southern Living issue for Nelson County Hospitality and Travel Association
Coordinated consignment of Wintergreen Resort ski vouchers for accommodations
Updated Nelson County information on the VA Convention and Visitors Bureau web site
Distributed Heritage Tourism toolkits to 20 sites in the County
Working with the Charlottesville-Albemarle CVB on a kiosk at North Garden
Distributed Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries Birding Trail booklets

Marketing and Promotion
7 media leads distributed to Nelson County tourism businesses
Swannanoa Palace is the featured location in Harolds Look Book (Dallas, Texas retailer)
St. Mary's Chapel at Oak Ridge Estate miniature will be available mid-December

Meetings
November 9 - Explore Nelson Wine
November 10-11 - hosted travel writer
November 29 -Virginia DeRailer Mountain Bike Series

Tourism Statistics
                November 2004   YTD 2004   November 2003   YTD 2003
Phone    73                          1,753              89                         1,919
Labels    846                      8,813             140                        9,924
Internet 34,619                 212,594        5,376                    92,675
Walk In   846                       11,537            778            9,448

Taxes     October 2004     YTD 2004     October 2003     YTD 2003
Lodging $13961                159065           16305                  156,567
Meals    $36193                404796           39131                  369604

Media Coverage
Nelson County Times, News Advance, Daily Progress, News Virginian, magazines    Column Inches -108 Number of articles - 7
Average open rate is $23.67 per column inch for regional papers Ã
Nelson County received $2556 in advertising through print media sources

Nelson County Economic Development Authority
2004 Annual Report

Mission Statement of the Nelson County Economic Development Authority (EDA): To promote the diversity and growth of the County's economic base.

2004 Goals and Progress of Nelson County EDA

Goal 1. Business and Industry Development
1. Business retention and expansion
2. Rehab and renovated existing vacant buildings
3. Target industry study

Progress towards Goal 1
1. January-November 2004:
    19 business retention visits
    25 new prospect visits
2. Lovingston Planning Grant and historic district status underway
3. Target business study completed; funded one-half cost of study $13,700

Goal 2. Communications and Relationships with Other Economic Development Actors
1. Spur/encourage other economic development groups to become more active and develop relationships with other economic development actors
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

Progress towards Goal 2
1. Met with Nellysford Area Merchants Association, Library, Hospitality and Travel Association, Chamber of Commerce, Planning Department and Amherst County Director of Economic Development, and Gail Troy (adult literacy)

Goal 3. Education, Workforce, and Technology
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

Progress towards Goal 3
1. Working with Small Business Development Center in Charlottesville, Piedmont Virginia Community College and Central Virginia Community College, and the Workforce Investment Board and Virginia Economic Development Association
2. No labor market study has been completed
3. Working with existing businesses on adult education opportunities
4. New County web site was launched July 2004 - better reflects economic development efforts - launched in July 2004 - 5000 views to 50,000 views in October. Submitted a wireless broadband grant to the FCC with Amherst County.

Goal 4. Tourism Development
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

Progress towards Goal 4
1. Gateway signs along Route 29 are being installed
2. Lodging and dining revenues are up this year; a new event, Taste of Nelson was launched in September
3. 3 new lodging establishments and 2 new restaurants opened in 2004.
4. An inventory of tourism product and infrastructure is being maintained

Other projects and accomplishments in 2004:
1. The EDA is following the zoning ordinance changes as they relate to home occupation and business development
2. Secured a bridge loan for California Side Car bond issue
3. Creating a working budget for 2005
4. Sponsored legislation enabling any locality to change its IDA to EDA - including Nelson County's
5. Created Standard Operating Procedures for handling business prospects and County incentives Ã worked with the Board of Supervisors
6. Callohill property secured and bush hogged
7. Loan prospect market feasibility study funding - $20,800
8. Changed bylaws to better reflect operations