Economic Development: April 2006 Economic Development Report

April 2006 Economic Development Report

Nelson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
April 2006 Report

Economic Development Update

Projects
• Now serving on Piedmont Workforce Board of Directors (one of two economic director seats)
• Online business directory now complete and categorized by occupation
• Facilitating Schuyler historic district project –public meeting 4/4/06
• Facilitating the historic district signage for Lovingston
• Lovingston Revitalization planning process – master plan is complete
• Marketing Central Virginia Small Business Development Center seminars and coordinating monthly onsite sessions – 4/11/06 Marketing Seminar
• Working with the Economic Development Authority on broadband initiatives and Business Appreciation event

March Meetings
March 2 – Economic Development Authority
March 8 – Nelson County Chamber of Commerce
March 10 – Lovingston Revitalization Project
March 10 – US Air magazine
March 15 – Lovingston Revitalization Project
March 17 – Lovingston Revitalization Project grant application completed
March 21 – Chamber of Commerce event
March 24 – Department of Business Assistance
March 25 – Colleen Business Park prospect
March 29 – Department of Business Assistance

Recruitment and Retention
Working with 10 new prospects and 5 ongoing relationships

Tourism Update
Projects
• Developing a framework for the 2007 Nelson County Bicentennial
• Working with Explore Nelson Wine and orchards on Taste of Nelson event August 18-19, 2006
• Planning Jamestown 2007 events
• Arranging for the installation of signage for the Watchable Wildlife program

Marketing and Promotion
• 23 media leads distributed to Nelson County tourism businesses
• Working with Virginia Film Office on location sites for “Evan Almighty” movie
• Wintergreen Resort Spa featured in Virginia Business Review
• Organizing familiarization tours of local wineries and accommodations

Montebello Fish Hatchery
238 visitors in March – Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will not charge visitors in 2006

March Meetings
March 1 – VDOT regarding placement of watchable wildlife program signs
March 3 – Nelson County Hospitality and Travel Association
March 4 – Wintergreen Resort
March 7 – Bicentennial
March 8 – Monticello – Bed and Breakfast Association of Virginia
March 8 – Winery familiarization tours
March 9 – Virginia Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus
March 10 – US Air magazine
March 13 – Jamestown 2007
March 15 – Taste of Nelson
March 15 – Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention and Visitor Bureau
March 21 – July 4th parade
March 21 – Chamber of Commerce event
March 30- Bicentennial

Tourism Statistics

                                                 Fiscal                                            Fiscal
                    March 2006         YTD 2006         March 2005     YTD 2005
Phone         156                         2051                 111                     1777
Internet        87577                    580733             51163                 358881
Walk In     669                        8692                 693                     8225

Taxes
                    February 2006     YTD 2006         February 2005     YTD 2005
Lodging     $27716                 150497             25473                  140592
Meals         $51855                 33968             54758                  33131

Media Coverage Nelson County Times, News Advance, Daily Progress, News Virginian, magazines Column Inches – 652 Number of articles - 22 Average open rate is $23.67 per column inch for regional papers – Nelson County received $15,433 in advertising through print media sources