Economic Development: June 2006 Economic Development Report

June 2006 Economic Development Report

Nelson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
June 2006 Report

Economic Development Update

Projects
•   Online business directory now complete and categorized by occupation
•   Facilitating Schuyler historic district project –state review board meets June 8
•   Managing the installation of historic district signage for Lovingston
•   Lovingston Revitalization planning process – awaiting construction grant award
•   Working with the Economic Development Authority on broadband initiatives and Business Appreciation event (June 15, 2006)

May Meetings
May 3 – Taste of Nelson – event postponed until August 2007
May 3 – Virginia Welcome
May 4 – Department of Business Assistance
May 4 – Economic Development Authority
May 4 – Schuyler Historic District
May 11 – Frazier and Associates
May 11 – Affordable Housing
May 11 – Bicentennial Committee
May 15 – Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention and Visitor Bureau
May 16 – Nelson Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours
May 18 – Gateway sign
May 18 – Bicentennial Committee
May 19 – Greene County Economic Development
May 25 – Crozet Tunnel tour with film company
May 25 - Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention and Visitor Bureau
May 26 – business prospect
May 31 – 310 Marketing

Recruitment and Retention
Working with 7 new prospects and 2 ongoing relationships

Tourism Update
Projects
Working with Monticello and the Washington Redskins on a September promotion
•   Developing a framework for the 2007 Nelson County Bicentennial
•   Planning Jamestown 2007 events
•   Arranging for the installation of signage for the Watchable Wildlife program

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

Montebello Fish Hatchery
592 visitors in May

Tourism Statistics
                                    Fiscal                                Fiscal
              May 2006   YTD 2006   May 2005   YTD 2005
Phone       227            2,583            415                2,479
Internet    95,729       736,956       47,056           452,572
Walk In    1,156          10,819          1,450             10,666

Taxes       April 2006   YTD 2006   April 2005   YTD 200
Lodging       $8,540       17,3291       6,724       162,574
Meals            $28,578      409,502       29,819       40,392

Media Coverage
Nelson County Times, News Advance, Daily Progress, News Virginian, magazines    Column Inches – 556 Number of articles - 24
Average open rate is $23.67 per column inch for regional papers –
Nelson County received $13,161 in advertising through print media source