Economic Development: January 2006 Economic Development Report

January 2006 Economic Development Report

Nelson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
January 2006 Report

Economic Development Update
Projects
•   Online business directory now complete
•   Facilitating the Nellysford Planning
•   Facilitating Schuyler historic district project – Board update January 10
•   Managing Lovingston Revitalization planning grant – third public meeting set for January 31, working on DHCD construction grant application
•   Marketing Central Virginia Small Business Development Center seminars and coordinating monthly onsite sessions
•   Working with the Economic Development Authority on broadband initiatives and business retention visits – EDA funded broadband survey of the county

Meetings
December 1 – Economic Development Authority
December 2 – Greene County Economic Development Authority
December 7 – Department of Business Assistance seminar
December 9 – Lovingston Revitalization Project
December 14 – Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce
December 19 – Lovingston Revitalization Project
December 28 - Lovingston Revitalization Project

Recruitment and Retention
Working with no new prospects and 2 ongoing relationships

Tourism Update
Projects
•   Working with Virginia Tourism Corporation on Travel South February 2006 Showcase (Richmond)
•   Developing a framework for the 2007 Nelson County Bicentennial
•   Working with Explore Nelson Wine on marketing to Wintergreen Resort
•   Planning Jamestown 2007 events
•   Working with Lynchburg CVB and 7 other localities on a tourism attraction passport program

Marketing and Promotion
•   5 media leads distributed to Nelson County tourism businesses

Montebello Fish Hatchery
The hatchery was closed in December 2005 due to flood damages

Meetings
December 8 – Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau
December 9 – Lovingston Revitalization Project
December 12 - .travel webinar
December 12 – Bicentennial Committee
December 14 – Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce
December 15 – Virginia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus
December 19 – Virginia Tourism Corporation

Tourism Statistics
            December 2005   YTD 2005   December 2004   YTD 2004
Phone   176                    3358                 72                        1825
Internet 45,123                643,507            43,388                 255,982
Walk In   483                 12,472            530                      12,067


Taxes   November 2005   YTD 2005   November 2004   YTD 2004
Lodging   $11,569          162,909          8,897                    168,177
Meals        $32,235        429,944          29,070                  438,849

Media Coverage
Nelson County Times, News Advance, Daily Progress, News Virginian, magazines    Column Inches – 380 Number of articles - 23
Average open rate is $23.67 per column inch for regional papers –
Nelson County received $8,995 in advertising through print media sources