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EDAMinutes2022May5 MINUTES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY | THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022 | A meeting of the Frederick County Economic Development Authority was held on Thursday, May 5, 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 Rick Till. STAFF: Patrick Barker, 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 April 7, 2022, meeting were presented. On motion of Ms. McKay, seconded by Mr. Till, the minutes were approved by the following recorded vote: J. Stanley Crockett Absent Susan Brooks Aye Bryan Fairbanks Absent Heather McKay Aye Doug Rinker Aye Judy McCann‐Slaughter Aye Rick Till Aye TREASURER'S REPORT Mr. Barker submitted the following report: Checking Account ‐ Bank of Clarke County as of March 31, 2022 ‐ $2211.56 Savings Account ‐ Scott & Stringfellow as of March 31, 2022 ‐ $1,440,805.71 On motion of Ms. McCann‐Slaughter, seconded by Ms. Brooks, the Treasurer’s Report was approved by the following recorded vote: Page 2 of 5 Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | May 5, 2022 J. Stanley Crockett Absent Susan Brooks Aye Bryan Fairbanks Absent Heather McKay Aye Doug Rinker Aye Judy McCann‐Slaughter Aye Rick Till Aye TARGET BUSINESS STUDY Mr. Barker reported this month proceeds with the final step in the Target Industry Analysis update. Staff is providing the partial results from this step for review and comment. Step 12: Develop value proposition per sector that includes both qualitative and quantitative attributes specific to Frederick County, VA: For purposes of this step, a value proposition refers to the value Frederick County promises to deliver to companies in each target industry sector should they choose to locate in Frederick County. A value proposition is part of Frederick County’s overall marketing strategy and provides a declaration of intent or a statement that introduces Frederick County’s brand to businesses and site consultants by telling them Frederick County deserves their business. This statement, if worded compellingly, convinces the potential business that a particular asset(s) and/or offering(s) by Frederick County will add more value or provide a better solution than competing localities. He then presented staff’s draft recommendations for value propositions for the identified promising industry segments, indicating these were the initial results for review and comment. Mr. Barker stated additional research will be done to ensure quantitative propositions are accurate. In response to the Board members being asked what issues were “missing,” Ms. Brooks stated the lack of housing in the area and traffic issues on I81 and I95. Ms. McCann‐Slaughter suggested we invite Mark Merrill, the Staunton Area representative on the Transportation Board, to an EDA Board meeting to discuss the plans for I81. She also suggested testimonials from local businesses be included. JOINT MEETING WITH BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PREPARATION Mr. Barker gave a recap of the joint meeting held on April 27, 2022. The following planned activities for the next 12 months were presented and discussed: Page 3 of 5 Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | May 5, 2022  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 Advance 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/zoning ordinance 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 County agribusiness entities  Activity #4 | Continue collaborative marketing with Winchester Regional Airport o Outreach to companies with large governmental portfolio and direct government/private users with activity connected to Winchester Regional Airport  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 Mr. Barker stated staff is seeking discussion and feedback from the Authority to the annual meeting. Ms. McCann‐Slaughter encouraged continued collaboration with Frederick Water. Mr. Rinker thanked the Board members for their attendance and the three EDA Board members who made comments/points. Staff was also complimented on their presentation. Page 4 of 5 Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | May 5, 2022 Ms. McCann‐Slaughter stated it would be beneficial to encourage members of the Board of Supervisors to attend EDA activities. LORD FAIRFAX SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR BILINGUAL COUNSELING SERVICES TO FREDERICK COUNTY BUSINESSES Mr. Barker stated that, in August 2021, the EDA approved providing $15,000 to the Laurel Ridge Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for bilingual counseling services to Frederick County businesses. He distributed a copy of a report on resulting activities from this funding. He also stated they held their first financial recordkeeping class in Spanish in March and had 8 businesses in attendance. CLOSED SESSION Upon Motion duly made by Ms. McKay, seconded by Ms. Brooks, 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 May 5, 2022, and desires return to an “open meeting”; and 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 May 5, 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 Page 5 of 5 Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | May 5, 2022 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 Absent Heather McKay Aye Doug Rinker Aye Judy McCann‐Slaughter Aye Rick Till Aye ADJOURN There being no further business to come before this Authority, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 a.m. ________________________________ ____________________________ Doug Rinker Jay Tibbs Chairman Secretary