Economic Development: December 2007 Monthly Report

December 2007 Monthly Report

Nelson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
December 2007 Report

Projects
Coordinating the Lovingston Holiday Decorating Contest with the Nelson County Times
Working with a Virginia Commonwealth University graduate student on a Open Space and Agricultural Preservation Plan
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 ï¿½ December 7
Applying for 501c3 status for the Blue Ridge Tunnel Project
Working with Wintergreen Resort on economic stimulus grant
Collaborating with Piedmont Futures ï¿½ 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 ï¿½ Phase 2 has begun

November Meetings
November 5-6 - Virginia AgriTourism Conference (presentor)
November 7 - Virginia Tourism Corporation
November 7 - Broadband Planning Grant Public Meeting
November 8 - Bicentennial Committee
November 9 - Wintergreen Performing Arts
November 9 - Girl Scout gold patch project
November 12-14 - Virginia Tourism Corporation
November 15 - Broadband Planning Grant Public Meeting
November 19 - County agritourism program
November 27 - Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development
November 29 - Virginia Wineries Association

Montebello Fish Hatchery
331 visitors in November 2007

Tourism Statistics                  Fiscal                                            Fiscal
                November 2007   YTD 2008   November 2006   YTD 2007
Phone       462                        2,593          554                        1,771
Internet    265,040                  1,348,472   126,012                 659,737
Walk In   921                         6,622           860                       5,826

Taxes       October 2007   YTD 2008   October 2006   YTD 2007
Lodging   $47,451            180,888        25,674                107,062
Meals       $46,353            162,890        44,724                180,582

Media Coverage
Nelson County Times, News Advance, Daily Progress, News Virginian, magazines    Column Inches - 478 Number of articles ï¿½ 18
Nelson County received $11,319 in advertising through print media sources