AUGUSTA COUNTY OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
CY2015/FY2016 REPORT
3
George Washington National Forest Mt Solon West Augusta The Department of Economic Development and economy that offers a broad range of job opportunities to the citizens of Augusta
Deerfield
Mt Sidney
42 254
community, regional, state, and federal partners to maximize focus on three main areas: business attraction, existing business retention, and business start-up support, in addition to marketing the community we are proud
of this is done while promoting a quality of life that
Staunton
254
Fishersville
252
Craigsville Middlebrook
252
11 81
to call home, enhancing labor resources, and strengthening infrastructure/site readiness. All
262
42
economic opportunities. We
81
Verona
250
Buffalo Gap
County. We strive to collaborate with
Weyers Cave G
11
Churchville
629
Tourism exists to provide a diverse and vibrant
250
42
340
64
Stuarts Draft
250
Waynesb
Greenville
embraces our heritage, preserves the environment, and effectively manages resources. 2
11
Sherando George Washington National Forest
Grottoes Shenandoah National Park
340
boro
F I GURE S AN D RANKI NGS
3.1%
s
Unemployment Rate
LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT SINCE 2007
April 2016, Virginia Employment Commission 33
567 812
Business Licenses Issued
Building Permits Issued VALUE: $61,667,740
December 2015 Photo by Greg Cromer
4
#1
Fishersville Ranked Best Place to Buy First-Time Home in Virginia (Stuarts Draft Ranked #6) - Nerdwallet.com (2015)
#4
Augusta County ranked one of the smartest localities in VA for mortgages - SmartAsset (2016)
5
I NVE STM E N T AN D JOBS 6
Augusta County is committed to attracting, growing, and retaining business and industry. Our companies benefit from innovation, flexibility, and the focus of professionals who want business to thrive.
33.12
$
million capital investment
528
jobs created /retained
5
projects announced
January 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016 7
2
$
million investment
8
98
new jobs
BlooMaker triples greenhouse
6.1
$
million investment
45
new jobs
Provides opens first US facility 9
22
$
million investment
250
new jobs
Nexus Services opens corporate headquarters
10
5.4
$
million investment
53
new jobs
Preserved
150
Augusta County jobs Former American Safety Razor/Energizer
AccuTEC Blades expands
11
Stable Craft Brewing opens Augusta’s first farm brewery 12
650,000
$
investment
20
new jobs
Joint collaboration between Staunton, Augusta, Waynesboro, Harrisonburg & Lexington and Rockbridge Area Tourism offices
Drink in
TOURI SM
Launched the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail
the Shenandoah Valley beerwerkstrail.com
13
Natural Chimneys Park & Campground Rack Card Joint Departmental Project: Economic Development & Tourism and Parks & Recreation Recipient of
14
10,000 Virginia Tourism Corporation Grant
$
Located ½ mile from interstate 81 at exit 227, Mill Place Commerce Park is owned by Augusta County and located in Verona, Virginia. Mill Place is a 400-acre planned commerce park with zoning designed to accommodate a variety of business uses ranging from hospitality to general industrial in a compatible and complementary format. The Park enjoys interstate visibility with backgrounds of forested tracts and ponds. Approximately 200 acres remain available for development.
I N F RASTRUCTURE
Mill Place Commerce Park
750,000 gallon water tank installed in Mill Place Commerce Park 15
16
Completion of
Route 636 / LifeCore Drive LifeCore Marketing Booklet Published LifeCore Stakeholders Group Assembled Opening of Goose Creek Apartments along LifeCore Drive
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M ARKE TI N G
Marketing our region’s key assets and location advantages is a key priority for Augusta County. As the second largest county in Virginia, Augusta offers one of the largest site inventories in the state. We offer 2,000 acres of shovel-ready industrial sites, pad-ready commercial locations, greenfield sites, and several existing buildings.
Completed site location consultant marketing missions to New York and Chicago
Marke ting
International Production and Processing Expo with Virginia Ag Development Officers
“Keep doing what you’re doing – you’re doing it right.” – Katie Burdorf, Wadley Donovan Gutshaw Consulting 18
t n i r P d n a , b e W Missions, Maintained Economic Development & Tourism Facebook page
Produced new stand-alone Economic Development website First-ever Economic Development website for Augusta County
augustaVAbusiness.com Published monthly electronic newsletter – The Current View
44%
Annual designation only
10%
of Constant Contact customers receive for excellence
Average open rate on monthly newsletter
Economic Development Services Rack Card
19
BUSI NE SS SUPPORT
“Over 50% of the current working population in the United
Produced An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Starting a Business in Augusta County 20
Launched complementary website in conjunction with Staunton and Waynesboro Offices of Economic Development
augusta-startup.com
States works in a small business.� – Forbes
Launched Augusta County Small Business Loan Fund Program
Hosted Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Workshop for Smaller Manufacturing Companies in Growth Mode 21
WORKF ORCE DE VE L OPM E N T
Shenandoah Valley Partnership and WHSV TV-3 Collaboration Marketing high-demand, high-wage jobs available in the Shenandoah Valley, such as health care workers, diesel mechanics, robotics technicians, and others.
valleycareerhub.com 22
Organized by Blue Ridge Community College, Career Connect enabled nearly 400 high school students to tour area industries and learn more about high-growth jobs.
Economic Development in Augusta County is made possible through the collaborative efforts of: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Carolyn S. Bragg, Chair Tracy C. Pyles, Jr., Vice-Chair Wendell L. Coleman Gerald W. Garber Terry Lee Kelley, Jr. Marshall W. Pattie Michael L. Shull
H. Joseph Williams, IV, Chair B. Randolph Roller, Vice-Chair Alphonso P. Boxley, III Michael Godfrey Richard K. Halterman, II Robert J. Kirchman Leah R. Thomas
STAFF Tim Fitzgerald, County Administrator Jennifer Whetzel, Deputy County Administrator Amanda Glover, Director of Economic Development Rebekah Castle, Economic Development Marketing Assistant
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MONTREAL TORONTO MILWAUKEE
BOSTON
DETROIT
NEW YORK PITTSBURGH
CHICAGO
AUGUSTA COUNTY
NASHVILLE
RICHMOND
CHARLOTTE
MEMPHIS ATLANTA 500 miles 800 kilometers NEW ORLEANS
18 Government Center Lane P.O. Box 590 Verona, VA 24482 540-245-5619 staff@augustaVAbusiness.com www.augustaVAbusiness.com
Mid-Atlantic location in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley where I-81 and I-64 converge
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CINCINNATI ST. LOUIS
PHILADELPHIA
AUGUSTA COUNTY VIRGINIA
JACKSONVILLE 750miles 1200 kilometers
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES 22,000 annual graduates from 12 colleges and universities TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION I-81 and I-64 CSX and Norfolk Southern Railroads Amtrak Shenandoah Regional Airport Eagle’s Nest Airport TARGET SECTORS Advanced Manufacturing Food Processing Life Sciences Value-added Agriculture and Forestry