Economic Development of Culpeper

DOING BUSINESS IN CULPEPER

Economic Development of Culpeper Winona Pritts

Winona Pritts enthusiasm for joining Culpeper County’s Department of Economic Development in 2020 is abundantly clear. A native of Virginia, Pritts was drawn to Culpeper’s great sense of community. As a graduate of the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, Pritts was interested in utilizing her management and marketing background to make a big impact in a community where she could see how her work benefited individuals, students and businesses. Giving back to the community is a top priority for Pritts, who eagerly became involved in Culpeper’s Career Partners through volunteering at Eastern View and Culpeper High Schools. With myriad volunteering experience, Pritts was selected for a unique mentorship role as part of the new Culpeper Technical Education Center program in 2021 and returned to mentor two students during the 2022 school year. Providing job shadowing opportunities, networking, and a chance to work through career goals, mentees from CTEC’s newest program earn credit while graduating prepared for the workplace. At the Department of Economic Development, Pritts assists businesses with initial business plans, workforce issues and marketing among other things. Working with Director Bryan Rothamel, the duo has brought new programming to Culpeper businesses through the Small Business Development Center. The office hosts various workshops and seminars, free for Culpeper businesses. Pritts works directly with Culpeper small businesses, including farms, through the administration of the Be A Culpeper Local program - Culpeper’s shop local campaign, and through the Culpeper Farm Tour. Since taking over the Farm Tour, Pritts has grown the event, brought new recognition to participating farms, and found fun ways for visitors to interact with the tour. Through the Be A Culpeper Local program, Pritts helps educate residents on the importance of shopping locally and the benefits it has for the community. To assist residents in shopping locally, she created a comprehensive directory of Culpeper businesses available on the program’s website. To bring further recognition to businesses and provide a fun experience for shoppers, Pritts created Be A Culpeper Local Week, an event that debuted in 2022, during back to school shopping and tax free weekend. Throughout the week Pritts highlighted Culpeper businesses, their owners, and more, on the department’s Facebook page. As part of Pritts’ marketing efforts, she promotes Culpeper businesses, farms, workforce and department goals through various social media platforms. She continues to introduce new ways consumers can interact with Culpeper businesses and show community support. “My goal is to educate the public on what makes Culpeper so special, while continuing to support the individual people and businesses that call it home,” Pritts said. Becoming involved in the community is fundamental in life for Pritts, who has passed the importance on to her children. Her two sons, students at A.G. Richardson, are both SCA class representatives and involved in several school clubs, in addition to youth sports and volunteering. Fostering great working relationships with community partners is essential to Pritts, who serves on Culpeper Renaissance Inc.’s Economic Vitality Group and received CRI’s Partner of the Year Award in 2022.