Ruckersville Citizens Council

RUCKERSVILLE CITIZENS COUNCIL Check out our website at http://www.orgsites.com/va/ruckersvillecitizens/index.html Minutes of October 7, 2008 Meeting

Our discussion guest is Tony Williams, Director of our Economic Development Authority.

1) EDA organization and mission, introduction to Director. EDA is seeking new employers and supports existing businesses in Greene. EDA’s focus is commercial and light industrial, not retail. EDA plans to keep growth in growth areas, and main- tain rural quality of life. Before coming to EDA, Tony worked for Virginia Economic Development Partnership and Departments of Aviation, Tourism, and Transportation. Jane Capone asked who is in charge of retail, if not EDA. Tony replied retail locations work hard at filling themselves up, such as Gateway Center, which has attracted Arby’s and McDonald’s to go along with Lowe’s and Walmart.

2) What companies look for when considering relocating and how it applies to Greene. Greene is one of the smallest counties in the state. They are looking for a welcoming atmos- phere and available workforce. Confidentiality is important to prospects, and EDA may have to sign a confidentiality agreement, so they cannot provide much information to the public. Leads come through the state Economic Development Partnership and Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development. TJPED provides lots of statistical information as well at http://www.tjped.com/index.html Chris Capone asked how the community can be welcoming when they don’t know what is being considered until after the fact? Tony pointed out that new businesses want to make their own an- nouncements, so the newspapers will often provide public information before EDA is allowed to do so. Andrea Wilkinson commented that new businesses often wish to make contact with citizens’ groups to help them smoothly transition into the community, as did Gateway Center. Chris asked if Greene has sufficient work force. Tony replied that we use work force from the whole re- gion, which is currently sending a lot of commuters outside the area to work (18,000 from the re- gion, 5,000 from Greene). If Greene provided similar jobs, some would stay here. Larry Baker asked if Greene is offing tax incentives to new companies, or fast tracking, water and sewer hookups, or other incentives. Tony said state and federal incentives have dried up because of budget constraints.

3) What jobs Greene residents currently commute outside the county to get. Nicole Strickland asked how do find out the answer to this question? Tony doesn’t have an- swers at this time, but said TJEDP is researching this currently. Virginia Employment Commis- sion also has some data. Andrea commented that people working in the health care field must mostly commute out, since health care facilities in Greene are pretty limited. 4) EDA’s new visitation program to work with existing businesses in Greene. This is called “Business First”. EDA personnel visit existing business to identify their needs, assist if possible, and help make them good ambassadors to new business in the county.

5) Identifying industries that fit into Greene county’s landscape. Tony explained that the Board of Supervisors and citizens help define this. Some of the identi- fied types include insurance and billing services, biotech, data processing, custom production, an- tique markets, agricultural niche producers, defense contractors. Big trucking businesses would not fit in well with our small roads and crowded intersections.

6) Updating the county’s inventory of business sites and buildings. EDA is in the process of updating this. Aaron Gilbert suggested inventory should include acreage already zoned commercial, and empty commercial buildings, such as the new retail space behind Wendy’s, the mainly empty new office building south of Vinny’s, and the vacant small new office building at Tierney Plaza. Tony commented that though the EDA is not charged with filling these empty buildings, the EDA's office will encourage and assist in any ways that are appropriate in getting the vacant buildings filled. The group was concerned that a lot of current empty space gives a bad impression to prospective new businesses, as does unattractive sig- nage and road sides, etc. Tony said we are trying to update the look of our commercial areas.

7) Where are we – pipeline of retail and commercial? Tony commented that Walmart is expected to begin building in 2009 and open in 2010. Larry Baker asked how EDA keeps up to date on available housing, utilities, costs, etc. Tony said EDA meets monthly with BoS and Planning Department to help team sell new employers.

8) From the group – what services / businesses would you like to see in Greene that you currently commute outside the county to use? Group suggestions included movie theatre, bowling alley, pharmacy (two are on the way – CVS on 29 west side, north of 33, and Walmart pharmacy with drive-up), horticultural center / botanical garden, day care, ACAC, eye care, more medical services (Greene Family Medicine not accept- ing new patients), dental, urgent care, medical testing, full service senior residential, alternative energy, DMV location.