Economic Development: November 2007 Monthly Report

November 2007 Monthly Report

Nelson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
November 2007 Report
Economic Development and Tourism Update

Projects
• Creating the Business Appreciation Recognition Program with the Commissioner of the Revenue for launch in 2008
• Appointed to Virginia Alcohol Beverage Commission tourism advisory board
• Organizing the local effort for the state Civil War commemoration
• Organizing a holiday winery/brewery event – December 7
• Applying for 501c3 status for the Blue Ridge Tunnel Project
• Working with Wintergreen Resort on economic stimulus grant
• Collaborating with Piedmont Futures – regional business/education organization
• Updating the online business directory with Commissioner of the Revenue business license information
• Managing the VA Dept. of Housing and Community Development Rural Broadband grant process – Phase 1 ends November 15
• Working with the prospective buyer for the Callohill property
• Coordinating the 2007 bicentennial celebration marketing efforts

October Meetings
October 4 – Economic Development Authority
October 9 – Board of Supervisors meeting
October 10 – Blue Ridge Outdoors
October 15 – VA Alcohol Beverage Control
October 16 – Nelson County Summer Festival
October 17 – Blue Ridge Tunnel
October 17 – Broadband Planning Grant Management Team
October 18 – Family Consumer Science Advisory Committee
October 23 – VA Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
October 23 – Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development
October 24 – Blue Ridge Tunnel
October 25 – Small Business Development Center Advisory Council
October 28-29 – Travel writer from Norfolk Virginia Pilot
October 31 – Board of Supervisors-Economic Development Authority-Wintergreen Resort

Montebello Fish Hatchery
1,319 visitors in October 2007

Tourism Statistics Fiscal Fiscal
October 2007 YTD 2008 October 2006 YTD 2007
Phone 634 2,131 368 1,217
Internet 245,014 1,038,619 137,645 523,725
Walk In 1600 5,701 1,374 4,966

Taxes September 2007 YTD 2008 September 2006 YTD 2007
Lodging $30,212 15,439 25,674 77,482
Meals $42,971 134,535 44,729 132,882

Media Coverage
Cover Story Grapevine Magazine (October/November issue)
Three Ridges Loop in Nelson featured in Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine
and also by Editor's for "Best Hardest Day Hike in the Southeast”

Nelson County Times, News Advance, Daily Progress, News Virginian, magazines Column Inches - 237 Number of articles – 13
Nelson County received $ in advertising through print media sources