Economic Development: January 2008 Report

January 2008 Report

Nelson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
January 2008 Report

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
•   Applying for 501c3 status for the Blue Ridge Tunnel Project
•   Working with a Virginia Commonwealth University graduate student on a Open Space and Agricultural Preservation Plan
•   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 2

December 2007 Meetings
December 3-4 – VA Hospitality and Travel Association
December 4 – Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development
December 5-7 – VA Department of Housing and Community Development
December 7 – Red, White and Brew Holiday event
December 10 – Lynchburg Tourism
December 10 - Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development
December 11 – Board of Supervisors – Bicentennial Committee report
December 11-12 – VA Economic Development Association
December 12 – Lovingston Holiday Decorating Contest
December 20-21 – VA Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau

Montebello Fish Hatchery
139 visitors in December 2007

Tourism Statistics                    Fiscal                                                Fiscal
                December 2007       YTD 2008   December 2006       YTD 2007
Phone       423                        3,016                328                            2,099
Internet    265,877                1,614,349        137,548                    797,285
Walk In       560                     7,182                769                          6,595

Taxes       November 2007       YTD 2008   November 2006       YTD 2007
Lodging   $24,946                    187,836       14,385                        121,447
Meals       $32,749                    213,637       33,331                        213,913

Media Coverage
Nelson County Times, News Advance, Daily Progress, News Virginian, magazines    Column Inches - 538 Number of articles – 19
Nelson County received $12,734 in advertising through print media sources