EDAMinutes2022October6
MINUTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
| THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022 |
A meeting of the Frederick County Economic Development Authority was held on
Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 8:00A.M. in the County Administration Building, First
Floor Conference Room, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia.
PRESENT: Judy McCann‐Slaughter, Susan Brooks, Bryan Fairbanks, and Doug
Rinker. Stan Crockett and Rick Till participated by telephone, which was approved
by those 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 September 1, 2022, meeting and September 13, 2022, called meeting
were presented.
On motion duly made by Ms. McCann‐Slaughter and seconded by Ms. Brooks, the minutes
were approved by the following recorded vote:
J. Stanley Crockett Aye
Susan Brooks Aye
Bryan Fairbanks 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 August 31, 2022 ‐ $22,092.56
Savings Account ‐ Scott & Stringfellow as of August 31, 2022 ‐ $1,417,787.49
On motion of Ms. McCann‐Slaughter, seconded by Mr. Fairbanks, the Treasurer’s
Report was approved by the following recorded vote:
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Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | October 6, 2022
J. Stanley Crockett Aye
Susan Brooks Aye
Bryan Fairbanks Aye
Doug Rinker Aye
Judy McCann‐Slaughter Aye
Rick Till Aye
Mr. Fairbanks inquired about the status of investigating different investment options to obtain
higher interest rates. Mr. Tibbs stated he had discussed with Scott & Stringfellow but no
changes made. Ms. McCann‐Slaughter requested further exploration of options to be sure we
are doing the best we can with investment monies.
ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR
Mr. Barker explained that the previous Vice Chair, Heather McKay, did not seek reappointment
to the EDA Board. Article 3 of the Bylaws provides a description of the position, which is
selected from the Board membership. The appointment would be through the end of 2022.
Ms. Judy McCann‐Slaughter nominated Rick Till for the position as Vice Chair. Motion was
seconded and approved by all present.
EDA STRATEGY
Mr. Barker stated that this strategy, as approved by the Board, helps guide staff as they pursue
Frederick County’s economic development activities. Annually, the EDA Board reviews and
adopts the Strategy to reaffirm and/or modify overall goals and objectives. A draft copy of the
proposed strategy, which includes staff revisions and EDA Board feedback, was distributed prior
to the meeting.
Discussion of the redlined copy followed. One area of discussion was whether to change to
option 2 on page 5 or stick with the current version. Consensus was to change to option 2.
Other discussion included replacing page 5 with page 7; agreement to accept the redlined
wording on pages 17 and 20; and page 5, item 2, under EDA focus, suggested wording change
to “retain and cultivate” to be consistent with wording elsewhere in document.
Because of the difficulty in reading the document sent previously, Ms. McCann‐Slaughter asked
if the Board could take another month to review before deciding on the final version.
Mr. Barker stated he will do a clean copy, including the redlined areas, and send to Board
members for final review and approval at the November meeting.
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Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | October 6, 2022
UPDATE TO PRIORITY ACTIONS FOR TARGET SUB‐SECTORS COMPETITIVENESS
Mr. Barker stated that, at the EDA’s July meeting, staff introduced short‐term action plans for
improving Frederick County’s competitiveness in attracting the approved target industry
sectors. The plan is focused on the caveats related to talent and sites/buildings. He reviewed
updates to each item as highlighted below:
TALENT
Construct a listing of the “Potential Candidates per Opening for Each Sector”
which are low ratio (red) to moderate ratio (orange) results
o Labor availability analysis for each sector updated.
o Merger and filtering of low to moderate is 25% complete. Estimated
completion in 2 weeks.
Examine recommendations of DCI’s Talent Strategy for short‐term solutions
o Review completed. Such solutions range from implementing candidate
tours, conducting an internship fair and creation of video content.
SITES/BUILDINGS
Identify large acreage areas (100 acres or more) either zoned, comprehensively
planned or otherwise with a focus on areas within proximity of major electric
transmission lines
o Maps and accompanying parcel information received and reviewed.
Several areas discovered.
Discuss those identified areas with infrastructure providers to access service
potential within 12‐18 months with preliminary cost estimates, if applicable.
o Meetings scheduled with most of infrastructure providers. Estimated
completion in 4 weeks.
Access feasibility of future applications to the Virginia Ready Sites Program’s Site
Development Fund
o Application submitted for the Peterson Companies’ property (Valley
Logistics) included a request for $36.7 million for Onsite Pump Station
and Force Main to Dawson Pump Station and new substation – 25 MW
power extension. VEDP received 38 applications with a total ask of $312
million in funding. Virtual site visits to occur later in October with in‐
person tours in late November/December.
Collaborate with Planning Department and other applicable committees/parties
to expand permitted uses with the Office/Industrial zoning district
o Staff reviewed and provided comments to the OM zoning district
revisions. Public input meetings for the updated Northeast Frederick
Land Use Plan (NELUP) are scheduled for October. As was noted during
the analysis, many of the targeted sectors will require a large electric
service, which is typically best served directly from the high transmission
lines. One of these lines is present in the area covered by the NELUP. As
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Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | October 6, 2022
such, EDA may wisth to make comment related to land for target
business sectors. Staff can draft a written comment regarding the
NELUP. In addition to a blanket EDA comment, individual EDA board
members can make comment as well.
All present agreed staff should put together a letter from the EDA.
Ms. McCann‐Slaughter stated she is hearing about lighting and suggested Mr. Barker may want
to include that in the EDA’s comments. Mr. Barker stated he will discuss with Wyatt Pearson.
She also commended Mr. Barker for including internships and tours.
PROGRESS REPORT ON ACTIVITIES FROM JOINT MEETING
Mr. Barker gave an update on the planned activities which were presented and discussed at the
joint meeting.
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
UPDATE|Social media campaign continues with very positive results.
Production of video content scope of work is rapidly developing
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
UPDATE| Workforce Investment Board recently concurred to some
organizational changes and scheduling of a Business/Education Summit
for later this year or early next. Manufacturing Model will be promoted
in early 2023 within the school districts.
Activity #2| Encourage development of “ready to go” business properties
o Participate, as necessary, with the County’s comprehensive planning/zoning
process to identify future business properties that align with EDA target business
sectors
o Complete additional site characterizations when 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
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Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | October 6, 2022
UPDATE| Active involvement with revisions to the OM zoning district and
updates to the Northeast Land Use Plan. Application submitted for the
site development fund of the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program.
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
UPDATE| Planning for FredCo Eats in 2023 continues
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
UPDATE| Working with airport to schedule meetings as appropriate
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
UPDATE| Action plan introduced and work underway.
CLOSED SESSION
Upon Motion duly made by Ms. McCann‐Slaughter, seconded by Ms. Brooks, the Authority
unanimously RESOLVED to go into a closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2‐3711(A)(3) for the
discussion and consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the
disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely
affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the Authority, and pursuant to Section
2.2‐3711(A)(5) for 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 the acquisition of
real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where
discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating
strategy of the Authority, and 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:
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Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | October 6, 2022
WHEREAS, the Economic Development Authority of the County of
Frederick, Virginia has concluded its “closed meeting” at a meeting held
on October 6, 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 October 6, 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 Aye
Susan Brooks Aye
Bryan Fairbanks Aye
Doug Rinker Aye
Judy McCann‐Slaughter Aye
Rick Till Aye
Ms. McCann‐Slaughter made a motion, seconded by Ms. Brooks, that staff be authorized to
proceed on the matter that was discussed in closed session.
J. Stanley Crockett Aye
Susan Brooks Aye
Bryan Fairbanks Aye
Doug Rinker Aye
Judy McCann‐Slaughter Aye
Rick Till Aye
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Frederick County EDA Meeting Minutes | October 6, 2022
SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY COME BEFORE THIS AUTHORITY
Mr. Barker encouraged Board members to attend the WoW event being held October 13 and
14 at Shenandoah University.
ADJOURN
There being no further business to come before this Authority, the meeting was adjourned at
8:40 a.m.
________________________________ ____________________________
Doug Rinker Jay Tibbs
Chairman Secretary