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EDAAgenda2022April7
AGENDA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY | THURSDAY, APRIL 7| | 8:00 AM | COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING @ BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING ROOM 107 KENT STREET WINCHESTER, VA 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes – March 10th || ACTION 3. Treasurer’s Report || ACTION 4. FredCo Eats: Restaurant Week || INFORMATION Staff presentation on results from first restaurant week initiative that celebrated Frederick County’s local restaurants and promote this sector 5. Target Business Study || ACTION Process on identifying target business sectors will be briefed 6. Joint Meeting with Board of Supervisors Preparation || DISCUSSION Discussion of possible topics/agenda for annual meeting with the Frederick County Board of Supervisors 7. Closed Session in accordance with Section 2.2‐3711(A)(5) for the discussion concerning a prospective business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business or industry’s interest in locating its facilities in the community. 8. Such other business as may come before this Authority MINUTES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY | THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 | A meeting of the Frederick County Economic Development Authority was held on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 8:00 A.M. in the County Administration Building, Board of Supervisors Room, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia. PRESENT: Judy McCann‐Slaughter, Doug Rinker, Susan Brooks, Heather McKay, and Bryan Fairbanks. Rick Till participated remotely due to medical reasons and his participation by this method was approved by the Board members present. STAFF: Patrick Barker, Shayla Rickard, Wendy May, and Donna McIlwee, Frederick County Economic Development Authority; Jay Tibbs, Deputy County Administrator; and Michael Bryan, Attorney MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Chairman Rinker called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the February 3, 2022, meeting were presented. On motion of Ms. McCann‐Slaughter, seconded by Mr. Fairbanks, the minutes were approved by the following recorded vote: J. Stanley Crockett Absent Susan Brooks Aye Bryan Fairbanks Aye Heather McKay Aye Doug Rinker Aye Judy McCann‐Slaughter Aye Rick Till Abstain (due to absence at meeting) TREASURER'S REPORTS Mr. Barker submitted the following reports: Checking Account ‐ Bank of Clarke County as of January 31, 2022 ‐ $26,804.56 Savings Account ‐ Scott & Stringfellow as of January 31, 2022 ‐ $1,440,782.46 Page 2 of 8 Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | March 10, 2022 Checking Account ‐ Bank of Clarke County as of February 28, 2022 ‐ $4612.06 Savings Account ‐ Scott & Stringfellow as of February 28, 2022 ‐ $1,440,793.50 On motion of Ms. Brooks, seconded by Ms. McKay, the Treasurer’s Reports were approved by the following recorded vote: J. Stanley Crockett Absent Susan Brooks Aye Bryan Fairbanks Aye Heather McKay Aye Doug Rinker Aye Judy McCann‐Slaughter Aye Rick Till Aye TARGET BUSINESS STUDY Mr. Barker reported this month proceeds with steps 7, 8 and 9 in the Target Industry Analysis update and staff is providing the results from these steps for review and comment. Step 7: Gather comparative data and benchmark with competing locations At the February meeting, generalized competitors benchmark locations to Frederick County were provided and reviewed to assist in constructing a strong value proposition. Discussion with key site consultants and individuals at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership produced these generalized benchmark locations for Frederick County: NY 81 Corridor PA 81 Corridor Hagerstown/Martinsburg North VA 81 Corridor Middle VA 81 Corridor South VA 81 Corridor Northern Virginia Region Richmond Region Columbus, OH Cincinnati, OH Greensboro I‐74 NC I‐95 NC I‐73/74 SC I‐95 When deciding on site location, companies need to gauge regional/community advantages and disadvantages to determine the most competitive regions/communities for their operations. Page 3 of 8 Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | March 10, 2022 Frederick County needs to understand its competitors to construct a strong value proposition. Using readily available data on the MSA level (31 MSAs) and State (7) level from VEDP, key variables were evaluated between Frederick County and the benchmark locations and between Virginia and the benchmark states: Workforce 7th largest change in population (MSA) 8th highest concentration of manufacturing employment as a percentage of total (MSA) 17th highest concentration of professional and service employment (MSA) 19th lowest percentage of private workers with union membership (MSA) Education 25th in population with at least a high school degree (MSA) 20th in population with a bachelor’s degree or higher (MSA) Occupations 26th lowest hourly rate for software engineers (MSA) 14th in hourly rate for network administrators (MSA) 9th highest hourly rate for customer service representatives (MSA) Cost of Business 6th lowest Average Annual Cost Paid by Employers for Health Premiums for Family Coverage (State) 3rd highest Average Annual Cost of Employment‐Based Health Premiums for Family coverage (State) 7th lowest Unemployment Insurance Tax per Employee (State) 6th lowest Workers’ Compensation Employer Insurance Costs per $100 of Payroll (State) 3rd highest State and Local Taxes per Capita (State) Highest Average Industrial Electric Rate (State) 6th lowest Average Price of Natural Gas Delivered to Industrial Consumers (State) Ms. McCann‐Slaughter asked if having the highest average industrial electric rate was a hurdle for Frederick County. Mr. Barker explained this is a statewide statistic, not a local one. He will provide Board members with the average rate for Frederick County, as well as the State. Ms. Brooks stated she has seen data that states Frederick County is tied with other larger areas in education. Mr. Barker explained the data in that section is just a small portion of the overall information and he will check to see if what is provided is just for Virginia. On motion of Ms. McCann‐Slaughter, seconded by Mr. Fairbanks, Board members voted to proceed to the next step in the analysis. Page 4 of 8 Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | March 10, 2022 Step 8 and 9: Identify key strengths and improvement points A community, like Frederick County, must clearly identify and understand its positive attributes for that sector and, conversely, areas for improvement. These factors will weigh heavily in the realistic potential for locations of an identified sector. These steps will use the previously identified industry drivers and location criteria in step 4 to guide the discussion. Mr. Barker explained that workforce development, talent, and sites and buildings appear in each of the following tables. Ms. McCann‐Slaughter asked how sites and buildings were identified and Mr. Barker stated by property being actively marketed. Corporate Services Selling Point Improvement Needed Workforce development Talent Infrastructure & connectivity Sites and buildings Cost of doing business Quality of life Stability & risk Regulatory environment Environmental and social sustainability Information Technology Selling Point Improvement Needed Workforce development Market & cluster presence Cost of doing business Talent Quality of life Infrastructure & connectivity Stability & risk Sites and buildings Regulatory environment Environmental and social sustainability Finance & insurance Selling Point Improvement Needed Workforce development Talent Infrastructure & connectivity Sites and buildings Cost of doing business Market & cluster presence Quality of life Stability & risk Regulatory environment Environmental and social sustainability Page 5 of 8 Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | March 10, 2022 BioScience Selling Point Improvement Needed Workforce development Market & cluster presence Infrastructure & connectivity Talent Cost of doing business Sites and buildings Quality of life Stability & risk Regulatory environment Environmental and social sustainability Advanced Manufacturing Selling Point Improvement Needed Workforce development Talent Market & cluster presence Sites and buildings Infrastructure & connectivity Cost of doing business Quality of life Stability & risk Regulatory environment Food and Beverage Selling Point Improvement Needed Workforce development Talent Market & cluster presence Sites and buildings Infrastructure & connectivity Cost of doing business Quality of life Stability & risk Regulatory environment After review and discussion, Mr. Fairbanks made a motion to approve staff actions in steps 8 and 9. This was seconded by Ms. Brooks and approved by vote of the Board. JOINT MEETING WITH BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PREPARATION Mr. Barker stated that, while we await a date for the joint meeting, some deeper discussion on the agenda would be prudent. Staff recommends structuring an agenda to provide an overview of core EDA functions and recent projects, then an update to planned activities from last year. The proposed agenda is: Page 6 of 8 Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | March 10, 2022 General overview of EDA’s mission Talent strategy implementation Targeted Business Analysis status update FredCo Eats – Inaugural Restaurant Week Grocery store attraction status update Update of planned activities from last year Board members were given a copy of the most recent Area Development Managers’ Annual Survey of corporate decision makers and site consultants, as it may spark some additional thoughts for the agenda. Staff is seeking feedback regarding the proposed agenda and recommendations concerning possible planned activities for the next year. Mr. Fairbanks stated an educational structure is important to people moving to the area and inquired if the EDA should weigh in on where Frederick County should be educationally. He also inquired if the EDA Board should compose a letter of support for our local educational system to be sent to the BOS. Mr. Barker was directed to draft a letter for Board members to review. Ms. McCann‐Slaughter suggested we should include an agribusiness section on our website. FREDCO EATS: RESTAURANT WEEK Due to time constraints, this agenda item was postponed until the next meeting. CLOSED SESSION Upon Motion duly made by Ms. Brooks, seconded by Mr. Fairbanks, the Authority unanimously RESOLVED to go into a closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2‐3711(A)(5) for the discussion concerning a prospective business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business or industry’s interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community. RETURN TO OPEN MEETING At the conclusion of the closed meeting concerning the discussion concerning a prospective business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business or industry’s interest in locating its facilities in the community, the following Resolution was unanimously adopted upon roll call vote as set forth below: WHEREAS, the Economic Development Authority of the County of Frederick, Virginia has concluded its “closed meeting” at a meeting held on March 10, 2022, and desires return to an “open meeting”; and Page 7 of 8 Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | March 10, 2022 WHEREAS, the adoption of this Resolution is intended to serve as the “Certificate” described in Section 2.2‐3712(D) of the Code of Virginia (1950, as amended). NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Economic Development Authority of the County of Frederick, Virginia does hereby reconvene in an “open meeting” at its meeting held on March 10, 2022; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each and every Member of said Authority who votes in the affirmative for this Resolution does thereby certify to the best of each Member’s knowledge that only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act were heard, discussed or considered during the closed meeting, and that only such public business matters as were identified in the Motion which convened the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered during the course of said closed meeting by the Authority: Roll Call Vote J. Stanley Crockett Absent Susan Brooks Aye Bryan Fairbanks Aye Heather McKay Aye Doug Rinker Aye Judy McCann‐Slaughter Aye Rick Till Aye SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY COME BEFORE THIS AUTHORITY Following the close of the closed session, Ms. McCann‐Slaughter made a motion that the Chairman of the EDA be authorized to retain the services of outside professionals to assist the EDA with the matter discussed in the closed meeting. Motion was seconded by Mr. Fairbanks and approved by the following recorded vote. J. Stanley Crockett Absent Susan Brooks Aye Bryan Fairbanks Aye Heather McKay Aye Doug Rinker Aye Judy McCann‐Slaughter Aye Rick Till Aye Page 8 of 8 Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | March 10, 2022 ADJOURN There being no further business to come before this Authority, the meeting was adjourned at 9:02 a.m. ________________________________ ____________________________ Doug Rinker Jay Tibbs Chairman Secretary DATE: April 4, 2022 TO: Board of Directors, Frederick County Economic Development Authority FROM: Wendy May Marketing Manager CC: Jay Tibbs Deputy County Administrator RE: FredCo Eats: Restaurant Week The EDA held Frederick County’s first Restaurant Week January 31 – February 6, 2022. Restaurant Week is part of FredCo Eats, an effort to cultivate and elevate the full scope of Frederick County, Virginia’s food economy – from agriculture through production and distribution, to the dining experience. A pre‐event survey of 10 Frederick County restaurants was used to select the event dates and develop participation criteria. Primary areas of focus for the inaugural event were to create awareness of Frederick County’s restaurant industry and provide a mid‐winter boost for restaurants during a time when restaurant sales traditionally decline. Frederick County’s restaurant scene is diverse, including stand‐alone restaurants, food trucks, and farms with cafes and markets; participation criteria was broad to include as many local eateries as possible. Fifteen (15) restaurants participated in the inaugural event, offering a mix of multi‐course menus, meal deals, and promotional discounts. Over a three‐month span, the EDA developed a FredCo Eats web presence, created Facebook and Instagram pages, and implemented an advertising strategy to create excitement around the effort. A hashtag campaign was utilized during the week to encourage diners to share their Restaurant Week experience on social media to further expand marketing reach. Participant survey results will be shared at the March board meeting along with opportunities for further development of Restaurant Week and FredCo Eats. LocaLWinchester • Frederick County • Clarke County TheWinchester StarMondayJanuary 17, 2022A4citydesk@winchesterstar.com Holiday scheduleGovernment offices are closed today for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.By BRIAN BREHMThe Winchester StarWINCHESTER — Most people in the Winchester area have seen the remnants of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mount Hebron Cemetery, but few know what the old stone building looked like while it was still standing.Now you can see it again, thanks to a unique interpretive sign that was purchased with community donations and in-stalled earlier this month.The sign, which was the brainchild of Winchester au-thor Mike Robinson, features a drawing of the church as it originally appeared when construction was completed in 1793. When viewers stand directly in front of the sign, the drawing is overlaid against the actual limestone walls that are the only parts of the church still standing following a dev-astating fire in 1854.Robinson said on Friday he was inspired to create the sign while watching a YouTube video about an archaeological dig in Pompeii. The video in-cluded a shot of a plexiglass sign to show visitors what a building in the ancient Roman city looked like before it was buried beneath nearly 20 feet of pumice and ash during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.“I thought, ‘Man, that would be great for the ceme-tery,’” Robinson said.Jim Coots, superintendent of Mount Hebron Cemetery, liked the idea but told Robin-son he would need to run it by the membership of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church because the church still owns the property and holds ser-vices there on Easter and other special occasions.Robinson said he called the church’s current pastor, Martha Sims, “and she was on board. She loved the idea.”It took a while for Robinson to track down a drawing of the original church that could be used for the sign, but he was eventually able to do so thanks to church historian Mary Fro-elich and Handley Regional Library System archivist Re-becca Ebert.Kyle Hopkins of Four Square Architects in Win-chester used the image to de-sign the sign, a service that Robinson said he provided at no charge.After finding the perfect lo-cation for the sign — a place that provided the right visual perspective and did not in-fringe on any burial plots — Robinson set out to find people willing to help cover its produc-tion and installation costs. He initially assumed $4,000 would be enough but soon discov-ered that a quality, long-last-ing sign would cost $10,000.He turned to fans of his popular “Winchester Tales” book series, which is com-prised of six volumes of local history plus a seventh tome called “Civil War Tales,” but only raised a few hundred dol-lars.Robinson then approached Scott Bessette, owner of the Piccadilly Place event cen-ter at 25 W. Piccadilly St. in Star staff reportWINCHESTER — On Wednesday, Speaker of the House of Delegates Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah County) appointed 33rd District Del. Dave LaRock (R-Loudoun County) as vice-chair of the Trans-portation Commit-tee for the House and restored LaRo-ck’s appointments to the Education and the Counties, Cities and Towns committees.The Virginia General Assem-bly’s 2022 legisla-tive session began Wednes-day with a 52-48 Republican majority. Gilbert was elected Speaker of the House. The position was formerly held by Democrat Eileen Fill-er-Corn of Fairfax County.Last year, when Demo-crats controlled the House of Delegates, Filler-Corn stripped LaRock of his mem-bership on the Transporta-tion Committee for signing a letter urging former Vice President Mike Pence to nullify Virginia’s certified presidential election results. Voter fraud claims, which LaRock has promoted, have been rejected by election of-ficials and the courts, includ-ing the conservative major-ity Supreme Court.LaRock said in a news re-lease that he is honored to have been appointed to the committees.“These Committees over-see and enact legislation ad-dressing very important as-pects of Virginia’s citizens’ everyday lives, and I look forward to continuing to serve and working to im-prove the Commonwealth in these areas,” he said.Additionally, La-Rock has been ap-pointed chairman of the Transporta-tion Subcommittee on Highway Safety & Policy, and chair-man of the CC&T Subcommittee on Land Use. He will also serve on the Education Subcommittee dealing with K-12 policy legislation.“Transportation in Vir-ginia includes roads, tran-sit, freight rail, aviation, ports, the DMV, and even space flight,” LaRock said in the release. “The transpor-tation network of Northern Virginia and west to Win-chester sees some of the most congested roads in Vir-ginia. I-81, the Virginia In-land Port near Front Royal, I-66, Rt. 15, and numerous local projects all impact the daily lives of many Virgin-ians. I look forward to con-tinuing my work tackling the transportation challenges that we face, while using taxpayer dollars efficiently.”He further added, “Ed-ucation is key to people of Winchester • Economic Development Authority, 8 a.m. Tuesday, Rouss City Hall, Zuckerman Room, 15 N. Cameron St. • Planning Commission, 3 p.m. Tuesday, Rouss City Hall, council chambers. • Public Health and Safety Committee, 5 p.m. Wednes- day, Rouss City Hall, Zucker- man Room. • Tourism Board, 8 a.m. Thursday, Visitor Center, 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Road. Frederick County • Finance Committee, 8 a.m. Wednesday, followed by a budget work session at 8:30 a.m., County Adminis- tration Building, 5 N. Kent St. • Planning Commission, 7 p.m. Wednesday, County Administration Board. Stephens City • Town Council work ses- sion, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Town Office, 1033 Locust St. • Newtown Heritage Festi- val, 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Town Office. Clarke County • Sanitary Author- ity, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Ber- ryville-Clarke County Govern- ment Center, 101 Chalmers Court. • Board of Supervisors, 1 p.m. Tuesday, government center. Public hearings at 6:30 p.m. • Board of Social Ser- vices, 10 a.m. Wednesday, government center. • Economic Development Authority Committee, 1 p.m. Wednesday, government cen- ter. • Historic Preservation Commission, 4 p.m. Wednes- day, government center. For more meeting infor- mation, visit the locality’s website. By MICKEY POWELLThe Winchester StarBOYCE — Lead foots, it’s time to let up off the pedal when driving through Boyce.Five new electronic ra-dar signs have arrived and will be installed “as soon as the weather improves,” said Town Manager David Winsatt.“They’re in my office right now,” he said.Police-type radar af-fixed to the signs detects the speeds of passing ve-hicles. Speed displays ei-ther start flashing or turn red when drivers exceed posted speed limits. That’s designed to encourage them to slow down.Boyce Town Council members say speeding is a problem in the town of roughly 600 residents, which doesn’t have a police department.It’s up to Clarke County Sheriff’s Office deputies or Virginia State Police troop-ers passing through Boyce to nab speeders in Boyce. Neither law enforcement agency has a local office, so the presence of deputies and troopers in the town is limited.Radar signs will be in-stalled along Greenway Av-enue (U.S. 340) at Boyce’s northern and southern boundaries, along Main Street at the western and eastern boundaries and at the town’s entrance on Old Chapel Avenue.Officials estimated the signs would cost Boyce about $37,500. However, the town was able to purchase them for slightly less than $26,900, Winsatt said.Winsatt informed coun-cil members that the signs had arrived during their re-cent monthly meeting.— Contact Mickey Powell at mpowell@winchesterstar.comA sign of times gone byNew display shows original appearance of local church that was destroyed in 1854JEFF TAYLOR/THE WINCHESTER STARWith just a remnant wall of the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winchester’s Mount Hebron Cemetery remaining, a new glass interpretive sign shows visitors what the church would have looked like before it was destroyed by fire in 1854.LaRock appointed vice-chairman of transportation panelDel. Dave LaRockBy JOSETTE KEELORThe Winchester StarA nearly two-year-long solar panel project on Win-chester Medical Center’s campus is expected to be finished next month.Once finished, it will be one of the largest solar power systems at any Vir-ginia hospital, said Mark Baker, vice president of facil-ities management and safety for WMC’s parent company, Valley Health.The solar project should save an estimated $3.25 mil-lion in electric utility bills over the next 30 years, The Winchester Star reported in January 2020.“There are three pieces to the project, two of which are already complete,” Baker said recently.WMC’s solar energy system nearly completeJEFF TAYLOR/THE WINCHESTER STARMark Baker, vice president of facilities management and safety at Valley Health, at the site of Winchester Medical Center’s new solar farm under construction near the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy Thursday. When operational, the solar units, sitting on more than 3 acres, will produce 1.2 megawatts of electricity.Boyce prepares to install speed monitoring signs This week’s government meetings By JOSH JANNEY The Winchester Star WINCHESTER — The Fred- erick County Economic De- velopment Authority will soon launch a campaign to raise awareness of the coun- ty’s restaurants. From January 31–Febru- ary 6, the EDA will hold its first FredCo Eats Restaurant Week. During this time, 15 participating restaurants will offer special multi‐course menus, meal deals, and/ or promotional discounts. Menus and promotional de- tails will be posted at Fred- CoEats.com the week of Jan. 24. The EDA will also use the website to highlight the county’s local cuisines, favor- ite neighborhood hangouts, creative chefs, and restau- rant families. EDA Marketing Manager Wendy May said in a news release that the county “has a strong food economy, in- cluding generational farms, thriving agribusinesses, large-scale food manufac- turers, and a growing restau- rant scene.” “Restaurant Week will showcase and celebrate the unique restaurants we have in Frederick County, an eco- nomic sector that adds so much to the overall feel and success of our community,” she added. “We look forward to rallying around, and sup- porting, our local restaurants this winter.” May told the Star she wanted to start a restaurant week for some time. Inaugural Frederick County restaurant week announced See Solar, Page A5 See Sign, Page A5 See LaRock, Page A5 See Restaurant, Page A5 THE WINCHESTER STAR MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2022 A5LOCAL & VIRGINIA BINGOBINGOBINGOBIG WINBIG WINBIG WIN FOUR WAYS TO WIN HORIZONTALWINS $50ANY ROW VERTICALWINS $50ANY Column DIAGONALWINS $50Either direction Full CardWINS $100Every square I29 G54 B05 ...TODAY’s lucky numbers Read the star Every day for... WINBIG PRIZESUP TO Entries due in The Star office by NOON on FEBRUARY 11, 2022 Be sure to put your name & phone number on the back of each of the four cards and cut them apart! The Winchester Star,100 N. Loudoun Street, Suite 110, Winchester, VA 22601$250 Never underestimate the soothing power of warm toes. Frederick County • 540-866-0015 Warren County • 540-686-1065 AireServ.com By MATT WELCHThe Winchester StarWINCHESTER — Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF) is accepting applications for the fourth cohort of Startup Shenan-doah Valley (S2V), which serves as the region’s online incubator program for scalable businesses.The fourth cohort will focus on technology and tech-enabled companies, but all companies are encouraged to apply.Selected companies will have access to resources, mentors and investors in and beyond the re-gion.Several startups in the North-ern Shenandoah Valley were se-lected in the previous three S2V cohorts.“S2V is a signi cant opportu-nity for both our entrepreneurs and the community as a whole,” Executive Director of SCCF, Deb-bie Irwin said. “With support from partners across the region and our ecosystem builders, we have de-signed an innovative program that will help businesses in the Valley compete at a national level. Best of all, because of the GO Virginia grant SCCF received in 2020, we are able to offer this program free of charge and without equity re-quirements.”Selected companies will partici-pate in an eight-week implementa-tion program beginning March 14, with one-on-one virtual coaching and tailored mentoring on all as-pects of running a successful scal-able business — including raising capital, recruiting and retaining top talent, marketing, legal issues, and more.The program is supported by SCCF’s ecosystem builder, Ryan Hall.“We urge committed entrepre-neurs at any stage of the business cycle to apply,” Hall said. “Of par-ticular importance is that our co-hort represents the diversity of talent we have in this region.”Entrepreneurs and companies interested in the next round of S2V should begin the application process at sccfva.org/s2v/. Applica-tions will be reviewed on a rolling basis until Friday, Feb. 24.— Contact Matt Welch at mwelch@winchesterstar.comStartup Shenandoah Valley accepting applications for 4th cohortJEFF TAYLOR/THE WINCHESTER STARA solar panel installer works on the Winchester Medical Center campus near the entrance to the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy on Thursday.The rst two sections — a roof-mounted system on Valley Health’s diagnostic center and another system on the roof of the cancer cen-ter — were both completed last year, he said.The rst one has a capac-ity of 289.4 kilowatts and the second one 125.8 kilowatts, a Valley Health news release from early 2020 says. Com-bined with the nal section (1.3 megawatts), the total grid of 4,635 solar panels will provide 1.7 megawatts of clean energy. The final section, a ground-mounted system on the northwest side of the campus, should be com- pleted in February, Baker said, depending on any issues outside of Valley Health’s control. “We’re up against some weather challenges and parts availability because of COVID,” Baker said. Though the solar panel grid can stand up to the weather, he said that enough snow will prevent the panels from generating solar power until it’s cleared away.Valley Health won’t be storing any solar energy, so they’ll use whatever power they have as they generate it, he said. Most of the energy will be generated from March to October, Baker said, and the rest of the year, Val- ley Health will supplement with the energy it buys from Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, which he said has been fantastic to work with. “They are our primary source,” he said. He expects the solar panels to provide about 20 to 25% of electrical power to the campus, Baker said. “It certainly provides an element of resilience which might not currently exist, meaning we can generate our own power,” he said. “It gives us some inde- pendence if you will.” The solar panel grid is also expected to result in about $80,000 a year in en- ergy cost savings, The Star reported in early 2020. Staunton-based com- pany Secure Futures Solar agreed not to charge Valley Health for the installation of the grid, Valley Health Pub- lic Relations Manager Carol Weare said in January 2020. Instead, Secure Futures So- lar planned to cover all costs to get the system up and run- ning and will start billing Val- ley Health for services once the system begins operation and starts producing power. Aside from sustainability and reliability, using solar energy helps Valley Health keep its costs down so it can provide more cost-effective health care, Baker said. “Ultimately it benefits the environment and the patient.” Contact Josette Keelor at jkeelor@nvdaily.com Winchester, who immedi- ately agreed to contribute $4,000. He got an additional $4,000 from local philanthro- pist James R. Wilkins Jr., and Omps Funeral Home in Win- chester ponied up the remain- ing amount needed to cover the sign’s $10,000 cost. “Within a week, we had the funds raised,” Robinson said. “It was a community ef- fort.” The sign was manufac- tured by Bryan Quick at Fast- signs, 1720 Valley Ave. in Win- chester, using UV-resistant glass and a custom-designed metal frame that should last for decades. While produc- tion was taking place, Coots and his groundskeeping staff trimmed back a few tree branches near the old church’s remnants to make sure viewers of the sign would have a clear line of sight. Robinson said he had hoped the sign would be ready in November, “but with supply chain issues and other things that were going on, we couldn’t get the glass.” The delays pushed back the sign’s installation to this month, about one year from when he rst saw the video of Pompeii. Even though the sign is already in place at Mount Hebron Cemetery, Robinson said he won’t hold a formal unveiling until April when the weather is warmer. “I think it takes historical markers to another level,” he said. “The community came together and I was so pleased. This town always amazes me with its generosity.” all ages maximizing opportu-nity and prosperity. Loudoun County was the center of nu-merous controversies which in uenced the 2021 Virginia elections. I look forward to in- uencing this committee and working closely with Gover-nor Youngkin as we refocus on making excellence in ed-ucation accessible to all Vir-ginians.”The Counties, Cities and Towns Committee deals with issues pertaining to local gov-ernments.LaRock said in the re-lease, “As Chairman of the Land Use Subcommittee, I look forward to working with local governments to ensure they have the resources nec-essary to ef ciently meet the various needs of communi-ties of all sizes across the Commonwealth. We want to make Virginia an attractive place to live, work, play and retire, and localities need to be able to manage growth in a way that protects prop-erty rights and doesn’t over-whelm services and infra-structure for existing and new residents.”While committees have begun organizational meet-ings, consideration of legis- lation will begin in earnest this week. “I grew up in Frederick County, and I’ve always been a big fan of Winchester’s restaurant week,” May said. “And there’s just a ton of restaurant weeks in the state of Virginia in general. Seeing how much the restaurant in- dustry has grown in Freder- ick County, I really thought the area could support a restaurant week for Freder- ick County.” According to the EDA, Restaurant Week will show the unique character of Fred- erick County’s dining expe- rience. Participating busi- nesses include Bam Bam’s BBQ, Chinatown, Daily Buzz Café, Fizzle’s BBQ, Jordan Springs Market BBQ, Non- ni’s Eats & Sweets, P2 @ Woolen Mill, Paco’s Tacos, Paladin Bar & Grill, Pan D Endz Cuisine, Shaffer’s BBQ, Taqueria Guadalajara, Taste of India, Vault & Cellar and West Oaks Farm Market. Olivia Synnott, Jordan Springs Market BBQ owner, notes in the release that Fred- erick County is home to “a wide variety of independently owned and operated restau- rants.” “We are thrilled to join with other restaurants in sharing our stories and favor- ite dishes, providing insight into the many genres of foods available locally,” she said. FredCo Eats Restaurant Week is part of the umbrella of FredCo Eats, which is an EDA effort to cultivate and elevate the full scope of the county’s food economy. The EDA will launch a hashtag campaign during restaurant week where par- ticipants photograph and post their Restaurant Week expe- rience to Facebook or Insta- gram with the hashtag #Fred- CoEatsRW. Participants will be entered into drawings for swag packs, which will in- clude a FredCo Eats t-shirt, stickers, and gift certi cates. For more information, visit FredCoEats.com, facebook. com/FredCoEats or instagram. com/FredCoEats. — Contact Josh Janney at jjanney@winchesterstar.com SolarFrom Page A4 Restaurant From Page A4 LaRockFrom Page A4 Sign From Page A4 JEFF TAYLOR/THE WINCHESTER STARMore than 3 acres of unused land deemed unsuitable for building on the campus of Win-chester Medical Center is being converted into a solar farm that will provide 1.2 megawatts of electricity for the hospital.Northam issues pardons in flurry of actions before leaving office© 2022, The Washington PostRICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam left of- ce with a urry of actions Friday, issuing pardons and consigning the state’s for-mer electric chair to the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.Northam has now issued more than 1,200 pardons during his four-year term - more than nine previous gov-ernors combined, according to his of ce.Among those pardons was one issued this week for state Sen. Joseph Morrissey, D-Richmond, who was con-victed of a misdemeanor in 2014 over a relationship with a 17-year-old who was work-ing as his assistant. Mor-rissey later married her, and they had several children to-gether.Morrissey said Friday that he applied for execu-tive clemency several weeks ago, going through the nor- mal pardon petition process. He found out it had been granted Thursday afternoon. “My wife and I are ex- tremely pleased that the governor pardoned me, but the people that are going to be most pleased and most grateful are our four little kids in the ensuing years,” he said. Other pardons include exonerating eight people who served lengthy prison terms for crimes they did not commit, a news release from the governor’s of ce said. LocaLWinchester • Frederick County • Clarke County TheWinchester StarThursdayFebruary 10, 2022A4citydesk@winchesterstar.com Upcoming Handley Library programThe story of three women who thrived in the Shenandoah County community of Fisher’s Hill in the late 1800s is part of a mystery that has played out over the last few years as researchers piece together the women’s life work. The women will be the focus of a Zoom program on Saturday at Handley Library.Full Story B4By BRIAN BREHMThe Winchester StarWINCHESTER — After years of de-lays, City Council on Tuesday was presented with a proposed update to Winchester’s Comprehensive Plan.The plan is comprised of 12 chapters filled with goals the council hopes to pursue in order to make Winchester a better place to live and work. It includes sug-gestions for protecting the envi- ronment, preserving wetlands and trees, increasing available housing and recreational oppor- tunities, attracting and supporting businesses that pay higher wages, making the city easier to traverse for drivers, bus riders, bicyclists and walkers, and more.“Every time we come to you with a land rezoning or a zon- ing text amendment or a condi-tional use [for a property], you will hear us talk about, ‘Here’s what the Comprehensive Plan recommends,’” Winchester Plan- ning Director Timothy Youmans told council. “It [the Comprehen- sive Plan] is not law, though, and I think that’s a key thing. ... You can determine a rezoning or a text amendment or a conditional use based on the merits of the proposal even when it is not com-pletely consistent with the Com- prehensive Plan.” The plan is updated by the Plan-ning Commission every few years to reflect the city’s evolving devel- opment, infrastructure and res-idential goals. The latest update was expected to be presented for council’s approval in April 2020 but was significantly delayed when the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with the collection of public input, forced key city employees to work from home for several months and made it unsafe to hold in-person commission meetings. “This represents many years of the Planning Commission working through some very challenging times,” Youmans said on Tuesday night while presenting the long-awaited update to City Council for its review. State law requires Virginia mu-nicipalities to adopt a comprehen- sive plan and review it at least once every five years.“It does not have to be updated every five years; it simply needs to be reviewed,” Youmans said.The last significant changes made to Winchester’s plan were in 2011.The latest updates prepared by the Planning Commission primar- ily focus on ways to bolster the city’s housing supply and ensure economic stability and growth. Council is now required by the Code of Virginia to hold a public hearing on the proposed Com- prehensive Plan updates. That hearing has been scheduled for By JOSH JANNEY The Winchester Star WINCHESTER — The inaugural FredCo Eats Restaurant Week was a success, according to the Fred- erick County Economic Develop- ment Authority and participating restaurants. Fifteen restaurants in the county took part in the event from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, with customers offered pro- motional discounts, special multi- course menus and meal deals. “Overall, the response to Restau- rant Week exceeded my expecta- tions,” said EDA Marketing Man- ager Wendy May. “There was so much excitement from both the restaurants and the diners them- selves.” The EDA organized the first- time event to help elevate the coun- ty’s food economy and introduce people to restaurants and foods they might not typically try. Olivia Landry, owner of Jordan Springs Market BBQ in Stephen- son, called the week “a huge suc- cess.” She and other restaurant own- ers said that late January and early February tend to be the slowest time of the year for the restaurant industry, so the timing of Restaurant Week gave them a needed boost. Landry said it also brought new cus- tomers to her business. Jordan Springs Market BBQ of- fered two types of specials during Restaurant Week — one was a fam- ily pack with a variety of smoked meats and sides that people could take home. She said this was pop- ular because some customers are still concerned about dining indoors amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The other special featured a different By BRIAN BREHMThe Winchester StarWINCHESTER — City Council member Evan Clark staunchly opposes a proposal to lower resi-dents’ personal property tax bills, saying that anyone who owns a car or truck should be prepared to pay the expenses that come with it.“When people buy their cars, they know the tax rate,” Clark said during council’s business meeting Tuesday in Rouss City Hall. “The tax rate hasn’t changed a lot in Winchester, and if I buy a new car, I know I’m going to pay a higher price than a 10- or 20-year-old car. ... I think we’re really going in the wrong direction here. We strug-gle for sources of revenue every single year.”Nationwide, the values of cars and trucks have risen significantly over the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain problems, material shortages and increased consumer demand. Ac-cording to Car and Driver maga-zine, the average price of a new car in the United States in December was $47,077, up from $38,292 in December 2018, and the average price of a used vehicle in Decem-ber was $27,500, up from approxi-mately $21,000 three years earlier.As a car or truck increases in value, so too does the amount of personal property tax owed on it.“It’s going to impact the most vulnerable ... if we don’t find a way to assist them,” Mayor and council President David Smith said.Winchester Commissioner of the Revenue Ann T. Burkholder has proposed changing the city’s vehicle valuation method in an at-tempt to lower the assessed val-ues of cars and trucks. By lowering the values, it will correspondingly lower the amount of tax owed on those vehicles using the city’s cur-rent personal property tax rate of $4.80 per each $100 of assessed value.“I do believe that using a lower guide for this year will help us to soften the blow of some of this in-crease and will come a little closer to approximating a fair market value [for vehicles],” Burkholder told council on Tuesday.Currently, the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office assesses ve-hicle values using the “clean trade” method created by J.D. Power, a national data analytics firm. A clean trade value is what a car dealer would pay for a trade-in that is in excellent condition. Burkholder suggested changing to J.D. Pow-er’s “average trade” method, which is what a dealer would pay for a trade-in that is in good condition.Switching to the average trade method, Burkholder said, would lower the assessed value of a me-dian-priced vehicle by $963 and Lone councilor opposes measure to lower personal property tax billsWINCHESTERJEFF TAYLOR/THE WINCHESTER STARTeam cleanupAdam Bradford of Case Tree LLC in Winchester, center, along with City of Winchester employees Mark Wilson, left, and Mike Allman, clear debris cre- ated when Bradford brought down the city’s Christmas Tree on the Loudoun Street Mall in downtown Winchester Wednesday morning.Delayed update presented to City CouncilWINCHESTER COMPREHENSIVE PLAN By MICKEY POWELL The Winchester Star BERRYVILLE — Census data show- ing a population spike in the past decade is forcing the Berryville Town Council to slightly alter elec- tion ward boundaries. A public hearing on the pro- posed changes will be held during the council’s 7 p.m. March 8 meet- ing. Berryville’s charter requires the council to be comprised of a mayor, recorder (similar to a vice mayor) and four regular council members. The mayor and recorder can live anywhere in town. How- ever, each regular council mem- ber must represent one of the four wards, which are drawn so they basically divide the town into quad- rants. The town’s population in- creased from 4,185 in 2010 to 4,584 in 2020, according to census data. Under the charter, each ward must have a population within 5% of each other. The allowable range for each ward is between 1,118 and 1,174. Ward 1 currently has 1,052 res- idents. Ward 2 has 1,369, Ward 3 has 1,033 and Ward 4 has 1,130. Councilwoman Donna Marie McDonald represents Ward 1, the northeast quadrant. Council- woman Diane Harrison represents Ward 2, the southeast quadrant. Councilman Grant Mazzarino represents Ward 3, the southwest quadrant. Councilwoman Kara Rodriguez represents Ward 4, the northwest quadrant. The bound- ary changes won’t affect who rep- resents which ward. The changes proposed by Town Manager Keith Dalton involve: • Enlarging Ward 1 and increas- ing its population by 104. • Reducing the physical size of Ward 2 and its population by 209. • Enlarging Ward 3 and increas- ing its population by 105. No changes are proposed to Ward 4, which already is in the permissible population range. The result would be 1,156 res- idents in Ward 1, 1,160 in Ward 2, 1,138 in Ward 3 and 1,130 in Ward 4. Each ward would be in the re- quired range. Complete details of the pro- posal will be placed online at www. berryvilleva.gov. They also will be available for perusal, during reg- ular business hours, at the town offices in the Berryville-Clarke County Government Center. Despite scheduling the formal hearing, the town plans to continue accepting public comments on the boundary changes through March 11. Comments can be brought to the town offices, emailed to public- comment@berryville.va.gov, faxed to 540-955-4524 or mailed to Town of Berryville, 101 Chalmers Court, Berryville VA 22611. A special council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 14 to consider approving the changes. If approved, the redrawn boundaries will take effect on April 13, barring no legal challenges. Satisfying requirements of the law, the roughly month-long period between those dates will “allow any aggrieved party to take the matter to Circuit Court,” Dalton told the council Tuesday night. The new boundaries must be official by the Nov. 8 municipal elections. Changes in state law recently prompted the town to move its elections from May to November. Council members didn’t com- ment at length on the proposed boundary changes before Re- corder Erecka Gibson motioned to schedule the public hearing. — Contact Mickey Powell at mpowell@winchesterstar.com Population increase prompting Berryville to redraw election wards Inaugural FredCo Eats Restaurant Week exceeded expectations PROVIDED PHOTO Takeout from Pacos Tacos offered during FredCo Eats Restaurant Week. PROVIDED PHOTO Paladin Bar & Grill during FredCo Eats Restaurant Week. From left are Reese Martin, Dan Myers, Cassie Prescott, Sam Bragg, Lindsey Orndorff, Ralph Watson, Jason Von Moll, Josh Rivers and Abby Chin. See Restaurant, Page A7See Update, Page A5 See Bills, Page A5 THE WINCHESTER STAR THuRSdAy, F EbRuARy 10, 2022 A7LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL FUNERAL SERVICES Q. A. There are many differences in services provided. We provide 24/7 availability to respond and serve every day of the year. We take care of death certifi cates, obituaries, and other document needs. We provide in person consultation with the client and an in person identifi cation of the deceased, all at no additional charges. Travis L. Nesselrodt Operations Manager/ Funeral Director Michael R. Phelps, CFSP Funeral Director/Owner What differences are there with a Phelps cremation versus discount cremation providers? Traditional ServicesCremation ServicesAdvance ArrangementsMonuments Call Phelps for more information! DEMENTIA TRAINING AND SUPPORT Upcoming ‘A Walk in the World of Dementia’ Training Classes Saturday, February 12, 10-1 Wednesday, February 23, 10-1 Location: DementiaMatters: 2400 1/2 Valley Ave., Winchester 22601 Upcoming DementiaMatters Support Group Sunday, February 20, 2022, 2-4 pm Location: Winchester Church of God; 2080 North Frederick Pike Winchester, VA 22603 Jodi Young, Clinical Manager, Social Work, Winchester Medical Center, will be presenting, “Everything you need to know and more about discharge from the hospital”. TO REGISTER: CALL OR TEXT: 540-535-9775 OR EMAIL: Jseymour@dementiamattersusa.org UNTIL THERE’S A CURE, THERE’S CARE Q. A. I’m thinking about bringing my dad to come live with me since he can no longer take care of himself. He has dementia and just isn’t safe at home alone anymore. DementiaMatters is a local non-pro t training and support organization that provides the awareness, knowledge, skills, techniques, strategies, resources and SUPPORT to the Caregiver of those living with dementia. BONE & JOINT 152 Linden Drive, Winchester, VA 22601 Phone: (540) 667-9252 Fax: (540) 722-4514www.boneandjointspecialists.com James W. Larson, III, M.D. A.The ACL is an important part of your knee. It is a ligament that provides stability when walking, running, and jumping. If it is torn, you may feel the knee shifting out of joint while trying to do these activities. An ACL cannot be repaired but instead must be replaced. This is performed by grafting a new ligament into the position of the torn ACL. This new ACL can be taken from your body or from a donor. Recent studies show that using a graft from your own body (or an autograft) provides much better strength and a lower chance of re-tear in high school or college athletes. Rehab after an ACL surgery takes several months, and athletes must usually wait at least 6 months before playing competitively again, but most are able to return to sports after this time. Q. How is an ACL tear fi xed? HOME IMPROVEMENT A. Q. Tiffany & Bryan Peters 1838 Roberts St., Winchester, VA 22601 • Phone: 540-450-0671 Toll Free: 800-88-HANDY • handymanconnection.com/winchester Email: hc1202@handymanconnection.com From “Honey Do’s” to remodeling, Handyman Connection handles it all! Here are some ideas of home improvements that Handyman Connection can help you out with: 1. Home Maintenance - Gutter cleaning, Caulking, Power washing, weather stripping, etc. 2. Drywall - Patch/Repair 3. Carpentry - Crown molding, Doors, Windows, Trim work, etc. 4. Shelving & Storage – Installing pre-made shelving/storage systems, Built In Shelving/Cabinets 5. Remodeling - Bathrooms, Kitchens, Basements 6. Painting - Interior or Exterior 7. Tile - Repairs and Installation (Floors, Showers, Backsplashes, etc.) 8. Decks - Repairs and Installation, Power washing & Staining 9. Handyman - Hanging pictures, mirrors, Honey-Do List’s, etc. 10. Plumbing - Faucet/Toilet/Vanity Install, Repairs, etc. 11. Electrical – Light/Ceiling Fan Install, etc. Show your home some love this February by checking items off your home project list! Handyman Connection can assist with projects of all sizes from just a few to lots of to-do’s! What types of services does Handyman Connection offer? CHIROPRACTIC CARE During this time of year, slips and falls occur more frequently due to ice, snow, and wet sidewalks. If you must go out in wet weather, be careful walking on wet surfaces, as they are more slippery. If you do fall, do not try to get up quickly, take a brief assessment of your body. Can you move your arms and legs relatively pain free? Did you hit your head? Get up slowly and carefully, if you are able, to prevent a second fall. Use ice on any areas that feel sore for the fi rst 48-72 hours and call your chiropractor to get checked over for any misalignments that could contribute to your aches and pains due to the fall, and to recover more quickly. Try chiropractic, a safe and natural approach to health! Q. A. 1809 Plaza Dr. Winchester, VA 22601 (540) 667-7300 What should I do if I slip and fall? Dr. Michelle Kotkin, DICCP TAX SERVICES Many different factors can affect the timing of your refund after it is fi led. Even though most refunds are issued in less than 21 days, it’s possible your refund may take longer. You can track the status of your refund by calling 1-800-829-1954 or online at IRS.gov “Where’s My Refund”. 110-2 Featherbed Lane, Winchester, VA 22601 540-667-8044 Stine & Reed LLC A. I’m counting on my refund for something important. Can I expect to receive it in 21 days? Q. Are the free masks now available to the public and where I can I get them? Any pharmacy who is participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program should have masks available now. The limit is 3 per person until supply is exhausted. Rotz Pharmacy currently has free masks available and all COVID vaccines. We also have COVID antigen home tests as well as other PPE, sanitizer, etc available for purchase. A. Q. Dr. Corey Boxwell Owner Jason Rotz Owner PHARMACY Contact Us:askrph@rotzpharmacy.com FREE CITY DELIVERY! Rotz Pharmacy 1338 Amherst Street (Across from James Wood Middle) Winchester, VA 22601 “Old Fashioned Service and Care…The Way Pharmacy Should Be” (540) 662-8312 VETERINARIAN Q. 274 Linden Drive, Winchester, VA 22601 Phone 540-667-4290 www.lindenheightsanimal.com Yes, it is an annual event throughout the veterinary industry! It is recommended that your pet’s mouth be examined at least once a year by a veterinarian to determine when it is time for a dental cleaning. Some pets are resistant to an oral exam while awake; you can monitor your pet for signs of dental disease such as decreased appetite, swallowing food whole, drooling, gingivitis, or foul smelling breath. Professional dental cleaning requires general anesthesia and consists of a complete oral exam, ultrasonic scaling and polishing, and dental radio-graphs which allow a thorough evaluation of the roots. After the cleaning, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene by utilizing a dental home-care routine for your pet to extend the length of time between cleanings. Ask your veterinarian for an appropriate dental care plan for your pet. Is February Pet Dental Health Month? By Dr. Kristy Greene A. ADVERTISING Call Jennifer at The Winchester Star. She’ll be glad to set up an appointment to explain Professional Forum and its benefi ts to your business. 540-667-3200 jnull@winchesterstar.com Q. A. How do I get my business in The Professional Forum? barbecue sandwich each day, which was popular among regular customers looking for something new to try. Chris Daniels, owner of the Daily Buzz Cafe in Stephens City, agreed that the event’s timing was perfect. “The Frederick County Economic Development Au- thority, they just really did an exceptional job of coordinat- ing this, especially for being a first-time effort,” Daniels said. “It definitely helped boost busi- ness during that week.” Daniels said Restaurant Week was an opportunity to ex- periment, and the cafe offered special coffee flights. He said the idea came about because he had seen a lot of buzz on so- cial media about the growing trend of serving coffee flights. “We did a different bever- age flight each day all week. So as an example, we did Mo- cha Monday, and you’d come in and try four different mo- chas,” he said. “We did Frappe Friday, Bubble Teas day. So we had a lot of fun with the flights. People were super excited about that. And then the other thing that we did was a grilled cheese soup and dessert spe- cial as well.” Dan Myers had two partic- ipating restaurants — Paladin Bar & Grill on Warrior Drive in Stephens City and Paladin Woolen Mill (also known as P2) on Martinsburg Pike.“It was really great, actually. I was a little bit surprised that the amount of people partici-pated,” Myers said. “ ... This past Saturday was one of the biggest Saturdays that we had in a winter month in a long time. And that was both restau- rants.”Myers’ restaurants offered special three-course meals. He said the shepherd’s pie at P2 and the ham and cheese scones were “hands down” the crowd favorites.“I know for our staff, the kitchen crews were excited about being able to be creative and make something different from what’s on the menu,” My- ers said. “So they enjoyed that. And the feedback from every-body was really positive.” He said he hopes to partic- ipate in Restaurant Week next year and would “absolutely” recommend other restaurants take part. He noted many small businesses took a financial hit during the pandemic and events like Restaurant Week are helping local businesses recover. “We’ve just come out of an-other little COVID scare, so I think the timing couldn’t have been better,” Myers said. “Peo- ple are starting to come back out. Last year was terrible. So I think we were all able to join to- gether. I feel like it brought all the small businesses together a little bit. Like we all kind of work together for the same goal, which I think is a really positive thing for the commu- nity.” Other participating eater- ies included Bam Bam’s BBQ, Chinatown, Fizzle’s BBQ, Non- ni’s Eats & Sweets, Paco’s Tacos, Pan D Endz Cuisine Shaffer’s BBQ, Taqueria Gua- dalajara, Taste of India, Vault & Cellar and West Oaks Farm Market. May said the EDA will sur- vey the participating restau- rants about Restaurant Week to get feedback. “It was really important that we included all types of eater- ies, because of the diversity that we have in the county,” May said. “I think moving for- ward, expanding restaurant participation would be key. We did have 15 that partici- pated, but I’d like to increase that number and then also in- crease diner participation.” For more information, visit FredCoEats.com or facebook. com/FredCoEats. — Contact Josh Janney at jjanney@winchesterstar.com Restaurant From Page A4 PROVIdEd PHOTO Andy and Cindy Lescalleet of Bam Bam’s BBQ during FredCo Eats Restaurant Week. By ROB GILLIES Associated Press TORONTO — Prime Min- ister Justin Trudeau stood firm against an easing of the country’s COVID-19 restric- tions Wednesday in the face of mounting pressure from protesters using trucks to blockade the capital and U.S. border crossings, including the economically vital bridge to Detroit.A growing number of Ca- nadian provinces have moved to lift some of their precau-tions as the omicron surge lev- els off, but Trudeau defended the measures the federal gov-ernment is responsible for, in- cluding the one that has an- gered many truck drivers: a rule that took effect Jan. 15 requiring truckers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated.“The reality is that vac- cine mandates, and the fact that Canadians stepped up to get vaccinated to almost 90%, ensured that this pandemic didn’t hit as hard here in Canada as elsewhere in the world,” Trudeau said in Par- liament. The country has been be-set in recent weeks by protests against COVID-19 restrictions and against Trudeau himself.A blockade by people mostly in pickup trucks en- tered its third day at the Am-bassador Bridge between De- troit and Windsor, Ontario. Traffic was prevented from entering Canada, while U.S.- bound traffic was still moving. The bridge carries 25% of all trade between Canada and the U.S., and Canadian au- thorities expressed increas-ing worry about the economic effects. “They are essentially put-ting their foot on the throat of all Canadians,” Emergency Preparedness Minister Fed-eral Bill Blair said. “They are cutting off essential supply lines.”Also, protesters have been blocking the border cross- ing at Coutts, Alberta, for a week and a half, with about 50 trucks remaining there Wednesday. And more than 400 trucks have paralyzed downtown Ottawa, Canada’s capital, in a protest that began late last month. Trudeau defends COVID restrictions amid truck blockades # F r e d C o E a t s R W JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 6, 2022 MENU GUIDE MULTI-COURSE MENUS Paladin Bar & Grill D | T P2 @ Woolen Mill D | T Taqueria Guadalajara D Taste of India D | T Vault & Cellar D MEAL DEALS Daily Buzz Café D | T Fizzle’s BBQ T (food truck) Jordan Springs Market BBQ D | T Paco’s Tacos D | T Pan D Endz D | T West Oaks Farm Market D | T PROMOTIONAL DISCOUNTS Bam Bam’s BBQ T (food truck) Chinatown D Nonni’s Eats & Sweets T (food truck) Shaffer’s BBQ D | T D - Dine In T - Take Out Welcome The restaurant scene in Frederick County is diverse and growing! We are celebrating the full scope of eateries in Frederick County — stand alone restaurants, food trucks, growing agribusinesses serving up wholesome meals, and even specialty convenience stores serving authentic cuisine you might not expect! We are cultivating, elevating, and supporting our favorite neighborhood hangouts, passionate owners, innovative chefs, and restaurant families. We welcome you to enjoy a mix of multi-course menus, promotional discounts, and meal deals at 15 Frederick County eateries. We hope you’ll agree that Frederick County’s local food scene is worth paying attention to. Let’s eat, The FredCo Eats Team BACK TO MAIN LIST BAM BAM’S BBQ Location Varies Restaurant Week Promotion — Take Out — 10% OFF ORDERS UNDER $40 15% OFF ORDERS OVER $40 FACEBOOK:@bambamsbbq1 PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR DINE IN X TAKE OUT DAYS & HOURS Food trucks are mobile and agile! View days, times, and locations on Bam Bam’s Facebook page during Restaurant Week! @bambamsbbq1 % OFF FREDCOEATS.COMBACK TO MAIN LIST CHINATOWN 1085 Millwood Pike, Winchester, VA 22602 Restaurant Week Promotion — Dine In — 15% OFF dine in only — Excludes Alcohol — Tax & gratuity not included URL ChinatownWinchester.com FACEBOOK:@chinatownwinchester PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR X DINE IN TAKE OUT DAYS* MONDAY X TUESDAY X WEDNESDAY X THURSDAY X FRIDAY X SATURDAY X SUNDAY HOURS* 11:30am - 8:30pm TUESDAY - FRIDAY Noon - 8:30pm SATURDAY & SUNDAY * Days and hours are current at the time of release, and are subject to change based on weather and other unpredictable factors. Check for updates on the restaurant’s Facebook page or call ahead to confirm. % OFF BACK TO MAIN LIST DAILY BUZZ CAFE 114 Elizabeth Dr., Stephens City, VA 22655 Three-Course Meal Deal — Choose a Soup — Chicken Tortilla, Minestrone, Tomato Basil, Clam Chowder — Choose a Specialty Grilled Cheese — Crunchy Pig bacon, bbq chips, cheddar and American CheeShroom garlic, mushrooms, provolone Cheesy Caprese tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella — Choose a Dessert — Ice Cream vanilla, chocolate, or twist soft serve with choice of toppings Italian Ice rainbow, cherry, mango, or cotton candy Gelati any combination of Italian ice and ice cream $15 Tax & gratuity not included URL DailyBuzzCafe.com FACEBOOK:@dailybuzzcafe PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR X DINE IN X TAKE OUT DAYS* X MONDAY X TUESDAY X WEDNESDAY X THURSDAY X FRIDAY X SATURDAY X SUNDAY HOURS* 7:30am - 6:30pm MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:00am - 5pm SATURDAY - SUNDAY * Days and hours are current at the time of release, and are subject to change based on weather and other unpredictable factors. Check for updates on the restaurant’s Facebook page or call ahead to confirm. MEAL DEALS Hot Beverage Flight Barista’s Choice: Four hot beverages from the Coffee & Espresso Bar $15 Option Two: FREDCOEATS.COMBACK TO MAIN LIST FIZZLE’S BBQ 134 White Oak Rd., Stephens City, VA 22655 Pulled Pork/Chicken Meal Deal ($45) — 2 lbs of Pulled Pork or Pulled Chicken, or Choose 1 lb. of Each — 3 (16 oz.) Sides — Includes: 4 Buns, 4 Beverages, and Sauce (add another 16 oz. side for $5) Brisket Meal Deal ($60) — 2 lbs of Brisket — 3 (16 oz.) Sides — Includes: 4 Rolls, 4 Beverages, and Sauce (add another 16 oz. side for $5) Sandwich Promotion (B3GO) —Buy 3 Pulled Pork or Pulled Chicken Sandwiches, Get One Free Available Sides Mac n Cheese, Bad Betty’s Slaw, Baked Beans, Green Beans with Ham and Corn Additional menu items available during Restaurant Week! Check Following Fizzle’s BBQ on Facebook to stay up-to-date! FACEBOOK:Search: Following Fizzle’s BBQ PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR DINE IN X TAKE OUT DAYS & HOURS Food trucks are mobile and agile! View days, times, and locations on the Following Fizzle’s BBQ Facebook page during Restaurant Week! Search: Following Fizzle’s BBQ MEAL DEALS BACK TO MAIN LIST JORDAN SPRINGS MARKET BBQ 741 Jordan Springs Rd., Stephenson, VA 22656 JSM Smokin’ Family 4 Pack ($25) — 1 lb of Classic Pulled Pork or Alabama Pulled Chicken — 2.5 lbs of Homemade Sides — 4 Jumbo Cookies/Brownies JSM Smokin’ Family 6 Pack ($35) — 1.5 lbs of Classic Pulled Pork or Alabama Pulled Chicken — 3.5 lbs of Homemade Sides — 6 Jumbo Cookies/Brownies or Pack of Whoopies Smokin’ Meal Deal of the Day! ($10) — Each Day of Restaurant Week, JSM will feature a Specialty BBQ Sandwich with Choice of Homemade Soup or Homemade Side Tax not included URL JordanSpringsMarket.com FACEBOOK:Search: Jordan Springs Market PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR X DINE IN X TAKE OUT DAYS* X MONDAY X TUESDAY X WEDNESDAY X THURSDAY X FRIDAY X SATURDAY X SUNDAY HOURS* 6:30am - 7:00pm MONDAY 6:30am - 8:00pm TUESDAY - FRIDAY 7am - 8pm SATURDAY 8am - 5pm SUNDAY * Days and hours are current at the time of release, and are subject to change based on weather and other unpredictable factors. Check for updates on the restaurant’s Facebook page or call ahead to confirm. MEAL DEALS FREDCOEATS.COMBACK TO MAIN LIST NONNI’S EATS & SWEETS Location Varies Restaurant Week Promotion — Take Out — 10% OFF $10 OR MORE FACEBOOK:Search: Nonnis-Eats-Sweets-LLC PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR DINE IN X TAKE OUT DAYS & HOURS Food trucks are mobile and agile! View days, times, and locations on the Nonni’s Eats & Sweets Facebook page during Restaurant Week! Search: Nonnis-Eats-Sweets-LLC % OFF BACK TO MAIN LIST P2 @ WOOLEN MILL 3416 Martinsburg Pike, Clear Brook, VA 22624 First Course — Choose One — Street Corn Arancini blistered corn fried risotto ball, whipped cotija cheese, chili lime season Ham & Cheese Pastry puff pastry, ham, cheddar, bacon, southwest ranch Second Course — Choose One — Maple-Brined Pork Chop collard greens, sweet potato-corn cake, apple butter P2 Shepherd’s Pie ground beef & pork, carrots, onions, celery, corn, peas in rich gravy, topped with potato au gratin Third Course — Choose One — Shirley Temple Creme Brulee Maple Cheesecake Eggroll candied bacon $30 Tax & gratuity not included URL BullontheRun.net FACEBOOK:@paladinwoolenmill PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR X DINE IN X TAKE OUT DAYS* MONDAY TUESDAY X WEDNESDAY X THURSDAY X FRIDAY X SATURDAY X SUNDAY HOURS* 4 - 10pm WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY 4 - 11pm FRIDAY Noon - 11pm SATURDAY 11am - 4pm SUNDAY * Days and hours are current at the time of release, and are subject to change based on weather and other unpredictable factors. Check for updates on the restaurant’s Facebook page or call ahead to confirm. THREE COURSE MENU FREDCOEATS.COMBACK TO MAIN LIST PACO’S TACOS 1518 Martinsburg Pike, Winchester, VA 22603 SUPER TACO COMBO Four Tacos of Your Choice Housemade Tortilla Chips with dip — Choose from Pico de Gallo or Tuna Salad Beverage soda or water $15 Tax & gratuity not included FACEBOOK:@pacostacosva PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR X DINE IN X TAKE OUT DAYS* X MONDAY X TUESDAY X WEDNESDAY X THURSDAY X FRIDAY X SATURDAY X SUNDAY HOURS* 9:30am - 8pm MONDAY - SUNDAY * Days and hours are current at the time of release, and are subject to change based on weather and other unpredictable factors. Check for updates on the restaurant’s Facebook page or call ahead to confirm. MEAL DEALS BACK TO MAIN LIST PALADIN BAR & GRILL 181-A Warrior Dr., Stephens City, VA 22655 First Course — Choose One — Oyster Chowder select oysters, mirepoix, potato, cream, cinnamon creme fraiche crostini Black Eyed Pea Fritter hot pepper sauce, cool mint sauce Cheesy Sausage Balls sweet chili aioli Second Course — Choose One — Braised Pork Shank collard greens, blistered tomatoes, potlikker, torn noodles Caribbean Jerk Half Chicken coconut milk, stewed vegetables, rice Stuffed Acorn Squash rice, apples, pecans, dried fruits, goat cheese Third Course — Choose One — Chocolate Eclair Cake Sticky Coconut Rice Balls berry sauce $35 Tax & gratuity not included URL BullontheRun.net FACEBOOK:@paladinbarandgrill PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR X DINE IN X TAKE OUT DAYS* MONDAY TUESDAY X WEDNESDAY X THURSDAY X FRIDAY X SATURDAY SUNDAY HOURS* 4 - 10pm WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY 4 - 11pm FRIDAY noon - 11pm SATURDAY * Days and hours are current at the time of release, and are subject to change based on weather and other unpredictable factors. Check for updates on the restaurant’s Facebook page or call ahead to confirm. THREE COURSE MENU FREDCOEATS.COMBACK TO MAIN LIST PAN D ENDZ 7451 Main St., Middletown, VA 22645 MEALS — Served with two sides & beverage | Sides: rice & beans, steamed vegetables, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, plantains Monday Jerk Chicken ($10) Curry Chicken ($10) Stew Chicken ($10) Tuesday Jerk Chicken ($10) Curry Chicken ($10) Oxtail ($20) Wednesday Jerk Chicken ($10) Curry Goat ($15) Stew Chicken ($10) Ackee & Saltfish ($20) Thursday Jerk Chicken ($10) Curry Chicken ($10) Peppered Steak ($15) Friday Jerk Chicken ($10) Curry Goat ($15) Oxtail ($20) Saturday Jerk Chicken ($10) Oxtail ($20) Baby Back Ribs-Half Rack ($15) Jerk Pork ($15) Sunday Jerk Chicken ($10) Curry Chicken ($10) Baby Back Ribs-Half Rack ($15) OTHER — Soups ($5) Chicken - Available M, T, F, S Red Bean - Available W, Th, Su — Jerk Wings ($5) - Available F, S, Su — Jerk Chicken Flat Bread ($5) - Available Every Day — Veggie Loaf ($5) - Available Every Day Tax not included URL PanDEndzVA.com FACEBOOK:@pandendzva PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR X DINE IN (limited seating available) X TAKE OUT DAYS* X MONDAY X TUESDAY X WEDNESDAY X THURSDAY X FRIDAY X SATURDAY X SUNDAY HOURS* 8am - 8pm TUESDAY - FRIDAY 9am - 9pm SATURDAY 9am - 8pm SUNDAY * Days and hours are current at the time of release, and are subject to change based on weather and other unpredictable factors. Check for updates on the restaurant’s Facebook page or call ahead to confirm. MEAL DEALS BACK TO MAIN LIST SHAFFER’S BBQ 8140 Valley Pike, Middletown, VA 22645 Family Meal Special — $5 off any family meal Sandwich Special — Buy one sandwich, get a second sandwich for 50% off URL Shaffersbbq.com FACEBOOK:@ShaffersBBQPalace PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR X DINE IN X TAKE OUT DAYS* MONDAY X TUESDAY X WEDNESDAY X THURSDAY X FRIDAY X SATURDAY SUNDAY HOURS* 10am - 7pm TUESDAY - SATURDAY * Days and hours are current at the time of release, and are subject to change based on weather and other unpredictable factors. Check for updates on the restaurant’s Facebook page or call ahead to confirm. MEAL DEALS FREDCOEATS.COMBACK TO MAIN LIST TAQUERIA GUADALAJARA 1181 Front Royal Pike, Winchester, VA 22602 First Course — Choose One — Fresh Guacamole fresh avocado dip Shrimp Ceviche shrimp cooked in lime juice, pico de gallo, avocado slice Second Course — Choose One — Midnight Tacos two crunchy brisket tacos, cilantro, onion, chihuahua cheese Molé Enchiladas two tortillas, smoky chipotle chicken, smothered in family molé recipe Naked Chile Relleno poblano pepper, chihuahua cheese, local blue oyster mush- rooms Third Course — Choose One — Coconut Flan Mango Mousse $30 Tax & gratuity not included URL GuadalajaraVA.com FACEBOOK:Search: Taqueria Guadalajara PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR X DINE IN TAKE OUT DAYS* X MONDAY X TUESDAY X WEDNESDAY X THURSDAY X FRIDAY X SATURDAY X SUNDAY HOURS* 11am - 8pm MONDAY - THURSDAY 11am - 9pm FRIDAY & SATURDAY 11am - 6pm SUNDAY * Days and hours are current at the time of release, and are subject to change based on weather and other unpredictable factors. Check for updates on the restaurant’s Facebook page or call ahead to confirm. THREE COURSE MENU BACK TO MAIN LIST TASTE OF INDIA 1060 Millwood Pike, Winchester, VA 22602 First Course — Choose One — Vegetable Samosa Vegetable Pakora Onion Bhajia Second Course — Choose One — Navrataan Korma vegetarian Saag Paneer vegetarian Vegetable Tikka Masala vegetarian Chicken Madras Karahi Lamb Chicken Tikka Masala Third Course — Choose One — Rice Pudding Gulab Jamun URL WinchesterTasteofIndia.com FACEBOOK:Search: Taste of India Winchester PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR X DINE IN X TAKE OUT DAYS* MONDAY X TUESDAY X WEDNESDAY X THURSDAY X FRIDAY X SATURDAY X SUNDAY HOURS* 11am - 2:30 pm & 5pm - 9:30pm TUESDAY - SUNDAY * Days and hours are current at the time of release, and are subject to change based on weather and other unpredictable factors. Check for updates on the restaurant’s Facebook page or call ahead to confirm. THREE COURSE MENU Bread — Choose One — Naan Basil Naan Garlic Naan $35 Tax & gratuity not included FREDCOEATS.COMBACK TO MAIN LIST VAULT & CELLAR 7843 Main St., Middletown, VA 22645 First Course — Choose One — Boiled Peanuts dusting of sumac (vegan, gluten free) Appalachian Egg Rolls pickled collard greens, Virginia ham, carrot, spring onion, bourbon honey mustard Buttermilk Biscuits whipped butter, hot honey Grilled Cabbage Steak sweet onion agrodolce, pecans (vegan, gluten free) Second Course — Choose One — Wild Boar Sausage roast sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, dried cranberries, honey and grain mustard sauce Fried Catfish Appalachian blue barley berries, boom boom sauce, herb salad Black Walnut Pesto spaghetti squash, basil, garlic, pepitas, oyster mushrooms, Vidalia onion (vegan, gluten free) Vault Burger smoked cheddar, lettuce, onion, bacon, apple butter, brioche bun from Flour & Water Third Course — Choose One — Bread Pudding candied pecans, drunken golden raisins, bourbon caramel, vanilla ice cream Bourbon Apple Crisp oatmeal, brown sugar, whipped cream Paw Paw Custard toasted coconut flake $35 Tax & gratuity not included URL theVaultAndCellar.com FACEBOOK:@vaultandcellar PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR X DINE IN TAKE OUT DAYS* MONDAY TUESDAY X WEDNESDAY X THURSDAY X FRIDAY X SATURDAY SUNDAY HOURS* 5pm - 11pm WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY * Days and hours are current at the time of release, and are subject to change based on weather and other unpredictable factors. Check for updates on the restaurant’s Facebook page or call ahead to confirm. THREE COURSE MENU BACK TO MAIN LIST WEST OAKS FARM MARKET 4305 Middle Rd., Winchester, VA 22602 APPETIZERS Santa Fe Chicken Eggrolls southwest sauce ($5) Veggie Potstickers sweet thai chili sauce ($5) BBQ Pork Nachos slow roasted pulled pork, melted cheese blend, house made Pico, jalapenos, crema drizzle ($10) ENTREES Spicy Chicken Philly pulled chicken, grilled onions and peppers, jalapenos, melted pepper jack, chipotle mayo — served with side and drink ($15) Skywalker Burger West Oaks 1/3 lb beef burger, American cheese, bacon, fried mac n cheese bites, dill pickles, BBQ sauce — served with side and drink ($15) Korean Pork Tacos three tacos topped with pork, pickled onions, bacon, and gochujang drizzle — served with side and drink ($15) Caprese Panini mozzarella, arugula, roasted tomato, and pesto — served with side and drink ($15) Beet & Orange Salad roasted beets, candied walnuts, orange wedges, goat cheese crumbles, on bed of spinach, blood orange vinaigrette — served with drink ($15) DESSERT Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae warm homemade brownie, split open and filled with premium vanilla ice cream, covered with creamy hot fudge, whipped cream and cherry ($5) English Toffee Cheesecake rich homemade cheesecake, baked with chunks of English toffee, served with a caramel drizzle ($5) URL WestOaksFarm-Market.com FACEBOOK:@WestOaksFarmMarket PROMOTION AVAILABLE FOR X DINE IN X TAKE OUT DAYS* X MONDAY X TUESDAY X WEDNESDAY X THURSDAY X FRIDAY X SATURDAY X SUNDAY HOURS* 8am - 6pm MONDAY & TUESDAY 8am - 9pm WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY 8am - 5pm SATURDAY Noon - 4pm SUNDAY * Days and hours are current at the time of release, and are subject to change based on weather and other unpredictable factors. Check for updates on the restaurant’s Facebook page or call ahead to confirm. MEAL DEALS FREDCOEATS.COMBACK TO MAIN LIST FredCo Eats is looking for your BEST Restaurant Week photos! — Snap pics of your FredCo Eats Restaurant Week experience! — Share them on Facebook and/or Instagram with #FredCoEatsRW — Be entered to win FredCo Eats prize packs! — Remember to tag the restaurant and FredCo Eats! Don’t forget to set your posts to public so we can see them! — Winners will be announced on the FredCo Eats Facebook and Instagram pages the week of February 14. FredCoEats.com #FredCoEats #FredCoEatsRW FredCoEats.com DATE: April 3, 2022 TO: Board of Directors, Frederick County Economic Development Authority FROM: Patrick Barker, CEcD Executive Director CC: Jay Tibbs Deputy County Administrator RE: Target Industry Analysis Update | Steps 10 This month proceeds with steps 10 in the Target Industry Analysis update. Staff is providing the results from these steps for the EDA’s review and comment. Step 10: Develop current product profile of the location A product customer profile is an essential component of any target analysis. This step aids in defining the target customer (i.e., business) for a product (i.e., Frederick County, VA). For the purposes of the Target Industry Analysis, the economic development pitch points will serve in this role. Summary details of the pitch points are provided. • Frederick County, Virginia welcomes new, quality companies and, more importantly, provides continual resources and assistance (i.e., Widget Cup, Worlds of Work, Manufacturing Week) to secure their future. We are a growing community of more than 85,000, and the northernmost locality in Virginia, with a central East Coast location only 90 minutes from Washington, D.C. • Diversity within Frederick County's business community includes expanding large‐ scale and home‐grown businesses, manufacturers, farms and agri‐businesses, consumer credit unions, retailers and back‐end operations. With an award‐winning healthcare system and outstanding public education offerings, we are a community that residents and businesses proudly call home. • Frederick County’s robust workforce is drawn from a 45‐minute drive time across counties in Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia. Leading business development programs, recognized higher‐education institutions and organizational assistance make us a top choice for companies looking to expand or relocate. Target Industry Analysis Update April 2022 Page 2 of 3 • More than $300 million has been invested in capital expenditure projects in Frederick County in the past three years and we continue to build and maintain partnerships with our business and educational communities. Step 11: Define most promising industry segments In this step we will select the industry sectors with the strongest likelihood of success for Frederick County, VA. All of the previous steps have provided ample evidence to drive the selection. The end goal throughout the process was to quantitively and qualitatively identify Frederick County’s best fits relative to traded‐sector industries, which are those industries that would most benefit from Frederick County’s assets and would be willing to expand and/or relocate to the area, as well as identifying those industries that bring value to Frederick County in the form of investment, jobs, payroll, and local purchasing. Staff recommends advancing all sectors to value proposition development with some caveats. Talent and sites/buildings were identified weaknesses for all sectors in the previous step. Action plans with short term solutions need to be developed and executed in earnest. The talent action plan likely needs a deeper investigation to ensure proper career pathways for high to moderate results with Potential Candidates per Opening for each sector. Several caveats are worth mentioning for some sectors and understood as we progress into the next step. Information Technology is recommended to focus on hyper scale business activity. Such development with multiple buildings is more likely to create an economic of scale to make the cost of infrastructure (electric) and connectivity extensions feasible. For BioScience, some effort will be needed to formulate a path to add volume to the number of related businesses. For a refresher, the following are the industry segments by sector previously endorsed by the EDA Board. • Corporate Services • Administrative Services • Management of Companies and Enterprises • Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services • Information Technology • Computer Systems Design and Related Services • Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services • Finance & Insurance • Depository Credit Intermediation • Non‐depository Credit Intermediation • BioScience • Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories • Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing Target Industry Analysis Update April 2022 Page 3 of 3 • Scientific Research and Development Services • Advanced Manufacturing • Boiler, Tank, and Shipping Containers • Cement/Concrete • Control Instruments • Electric Vehicle and components • Lime/Gypsum • Metals • Petroleum/Coal • Plastics • Printing • Wood • Food & Beverage • Animal • Dairy • Fruit and vegetable • Grain • Specialty DATE: April 4, 2022 TO: Board of Directors Frederick County Economic Development Authority FROM: Patrick Barker, CEcD Executive Director CC: Jay Tibbs Deputy County Administrator RE: Joint Meeting with Board of Supervisors | Planned Activities The annual joint meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27th, at 5:30 pm. This meeting will focus on the current direction and activities of the EDA, as well as provide an opportunity for the EDA Board and Board of Supervisors to discuss expectations for economic development. The agenda, as discussed at last month’s meeting, is the following: General overview of EDA’s mission Talent strategy implementation Targeted Business Analysis status update FredCo Eats – Inaugural Restaurant Week Grocery store attraction status update Update of planned activities from last year At the last joint meeting, several planned activities for the subsequent 12 months were presented and discussed. Considerable advancement has been made on the endorsed planned activities. The following is a bulleted summary on the advancement of each planned activity. Highlights of Accomplishments from Last Year’s Planning Activities Activity #1 | Maintain awareness of current and projected workforce needs and partner with appropriate local and regional partners to create solutions o Website supporting the Shenandoah Valley Talent Solutions Strategy has been completed (www.liveloveshenandoah.com). A social media campaign plan has been developed and is underway with funding from the Virginia Tourism Corporation. o Again, hosted an employer expo, a Workforce Initiative project, which is a regional comprehensive hiring event featuring companies, professional development workshops and fast track training providers. Page 2 of 4 Joint Meeting with Board of Supervisors | Planned Activities o Manufacturing model workgroup drafted some plans, which will require discussion by the Workforce Initiative Board. o Proposal to hire contractor for enhanced outreach to shift the way our community views career opportunities was paused to focus on workforce models. Activity #2 | Continue refinement of the business sites program o The characterizations of four additional sites completed per the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program. They were property at the Winchester Regional Airport, Milton Ray, Stonewall Industrial Park and Payne Property. Activity #3 | Cooperative marketing match program with agribusiness entities o Partnered with Winchester‐Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Clarke County and VA Tech Cooperative Extension on “Growing Your Agribusiness” event, an information and idea session to assist and gather feedback from those looking to start or grow their agribusiness in Winchester, Frederick County, or Clarke County, Virginia. o Working with VA Tech Cooperative Extension, the Existing Business Manager will commence business retention visits to arrive at the most effective path for EDA support of Agribusiness entities. Activity #4 | Expansion of retention activities o Analysis completed on data identifying potential gazelles (fast growing companies) in Frederick County. Business retention visits will be broadened to include those identified. Activity #5 | Collaborative marketing with Winchester Regional Airport o Working with Airport’s Executive Director, postcard mailers were developed with tailored pitch point. Mailing started in early March. While much forward movement has been accomplished on these activities, some require a long‐term focus. Proposed planned activities for the next 12 months include continuation of previous ones, refocus of one and addition of one. Full details are provided in the following narrative. Page 3 of 4 Joint Meeting with Board of Supervisors | Planned Activities Planned Activities for the next 12 months Activity #1 | Partner with appropriate local and regional partners to create solutions for current and projected workforce needs o Continue the implementation of the Shenandoah Valley Talent Solutions Strategy including executing additional social media campaigns and exploring feasibility of internship fair o Assist the Workforce Initiative Board with project implementation o Finalize and execute manufacturing workforce model o Advanced forward the information technology, and construction workforce models o Enhanced community outreach/advocacy to parents, guardians, coaches, teachers, counselors Activity #2 | Encourage development of “ready to go” business properties. o Participate, as necessary, with the County’s comprehensive plan process to identify future business properties with alignment with EDA target business sectors. o Complete additional site characterizations when additional sites matching the approved criteria come to market. o Finalize a Business Ready Sites Loan Program Agreement with one or more of the characterized sites. Activity #3 | Engage in activities that support agribusiness entities o Participate in conversations resulting from the “Growing Your Agribusiness” event o Elevate FredCo Eats to incorporate County agribusinesses o Identify, as appropriate and feasible, other potential supporting activities from business retention visits with the VA Tech Cooperative Extension and County agribusiness entities. Activity #4 | Continue collaborative marketing with Winchester Regional Airport o Outreach to companies with large government portfolio and direct government/private users with activity connected to Winchester Regional Airport. Page 4 of 4 Joint Meeting with Board of Supervisors | Planned Activities Activity #5 | Complete an improvement plan for each target business sector o Develop priority actions that can improve competitiveness for target sub‐sectors (short and mid‐term) for Frederick County, VA Staff is seeking EDA Board feedback regarding planned activities for the next 12 months.