AUGUSTA COUNTY OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM CY2018/FY2019 REPORT
Colliers International Recognizes the Shenandoah Valley /I-81 Corridor among “10 Emerging Industrial Markets to Watch” in 2019
VIRGINIA TOP STATE For Regulatory Environment (Forbes)
TOP STATE for Higher Education (SmartAsset)
TOP STATE
celebrates 10-year anniversary in 2019
in Prosperity Cup (Site Selection)
George Washington National Forest
The Office of Economic Development and Tourism exists to provide a diverse and vibrant economy that offers a broad range of job opportunities to the citizens of Augusta County and the Shenandoah Valley.
Mt Solon West Augusta
We focus on three main areas: business attraction, existing business retention, and business start-up support, in addition to marketing the community we are proud to call home, enhancing labor resources, and strengthening infrastructure/site readiness. All of this is done while promoting a quality of life that embraces our heritage, preserves the environment, and effectively manages resources.
2
Mt Sidney
W C
11
Churchville
629
Deerfield
250
42
42 Buffalo Gap
254
81
Verona
250
262
Staunton
42
254
Fishersville
252
Craigsville Middlebrook
252
11 81
340
64
Stuarts Draft
250
Way
Greenville
11
Sherando George Washington National Forest
AUGUSTA COUNT Y OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
525
779
BUSINESS LICENSES ISSUED
BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED VALUE:
99,825,726
$
AS OF DECEMBER 2018
Weyers Cave Grottoes
4
Shenandoah National Park
340
ynesboro
EMPLOYMENT WITHIN 45 MINUTES
269,738 CY2018/FY2019 REPORT
3
INVESTMENT AND JOBS JANUARY 1, 2018 – MAY 30, 2019
141
$
million
CAPITAL INVESTMENT
234
JOBS CREATED & RETAINED
6
PROJECTS ANNOUNCED
PROVIDES US A N N O U N C E S E X PA NSI O N MAY 2018
897,000
$
20
NEW JOBS
INVESTMENT
Announcement increased Provides US workforce by
50%
4
AUGUSTA COUNT Y OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
MAY MAY 2018
$897,000 20 JOBS
2018
JUNE JUNE 2018
$615,000 34 JOBS JULY
COMSONICS, INC. CONTINUES LO N G -TI M E G ROW TH I N S H E N A N D OA H VA L L E Y
AUGUST 2018
$14,000,000 30 JOBS
AUG
AUGUST 2018
JUNE 2018
$6,000,000 34 JOBS RETAINED
SEPT
OCT
615,000
$
INVESTMENT
NOV
DEC
JAN
34
NEW JOBS
2019
FEB
MARCH
APRIL 2019
A long-time Shenandoah Valley success story, ComSonics is headquarted in Harrisonburg with expanding manufacturing operations in Augusta County.
$15,500,000 51 JOBS
APRIL
MAY MAY 2019
$104,000,000 65 JOBS
CY2018/FY2019 REPORT
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N I B C O E X PA N D S M E TA L M A N U FA C T U R I N G O P E R AT I O N AUGUST 2018
14,000,000
$
INVESTMENT
115+ years manufacturing history
30
NEW JOBS
6
AUGUSTA COUNT Y OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
SUMITOMO DRIVE TECHNOLOGIES OPENS GEARBOX CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AUGUST 2018
34
6,000,000
$
INVESTMENT
CY2018/FY2019 REPORT
JOBS RETAINED Moved into new facility in Mill Place Commerce Park
7
F L O W A L K A L I N E S P R I N G WAT E R A N N O U N C E S F I R S T U . S . O P E R AT I O N APRIL 2019
15,500,000 million
$
51
NEW JOBS
INVESTMENT
Packaging Facility in Mill Place Commerce Park
8
AUGUSTA COUNT Y OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
T H E H E RS H E Y CO M PA N Y TO O P E N P E A N U T ROASTING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE MAY 2019
104,000,000 million
65
$
INVESTMENT
CY2018/FY2019 REPORT
New line to manufacture Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups America’s #1 candy brand
NEW JOBS
9
MARKETING MISSIONS & OUTREACH
Launched theshenandoahvalley.com
S H E N A N D OA H VA L L E Y PA R T N E R S H I P
New Executive Director Jay Langston, Ph.D.
•
Developed First-Ever SVP Strategic Plan
• Relaunched InDemand Job Series - first feature on The Hershey HOSTED 14 SITE Company (Industrial SELECTORS ON THREE Manufacturing FAMILIARIZATION Technician) TOURS
The Shenandoah Valley Partnership (SVP) works with public and private partners at the local, regional, and state level to develop an economic climate for business success throughout the Shenandoah Valley. As its second largest public investor, Augusta County enjoys a strong partnership with SVP. 10
AUGUSTA COUNT Y OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
g n i v i L a t s u Aug Completed Augusta Living Video
NUMBER OF NEWSLETTERS
18
PUBLISHED MONTHLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
AVERAGE OPEN RATE
44%
– THE CURRENT VIEW
CY2018/FY2019 REPORT
11
M I L L P L AC E CO M M E R C E PA R K
Located ½ mile from interstate 81 at exit 227, Mill Place Commerce Park is owned by Augusta County and located in Verona, Virginia. The 371-acre Park enjoys interstate visibility with backgrounds of forested tracts and ponds. Approximately 190 acres remain available for development.
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AUGUSTA COUNT Y OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
OPENING OF THE T R A I L S AT M I L L P L A C E SEPTEMBER 2018 • • •
2/3 mile paved trail Event pavilion Future trails possible
TIER 4 CERTIFIED SITE VIRGINIA BUSINESS READY SITES PROGRAM CY2018/FY2019 REPORT
13
T E MDI E LO P M&E N M A R K E T ISNI G SV SE IO NS OTU T R E A C H
Augusta County Economic Development continues to promote site development and encourage site readiness to better attract business and jobs. In today’s fast-paced, market-ready environment, being shovel-ready is more important than ever.
RECENT INITIATIVES: n Completed site characterizations for Virginia Business Ready Sites Program n Held Site Development Workshop for industrial land owners UPCOMING INITIATIVES:
n Augusta County Shovel Ready Grant Program n Virginia Economic Development Partnership to characterize all Virginia Scan properties over 25 acres 14
AUGUSTA COUNT Y OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
VIRG INIA CO M PLE TES DAIRY S TU DY
n 1.7 Billion lbs. of milk produced in VA in 2016 n $308.8 Million in Receipts to Dairy Farmers n VA’s dairy industry is able to support a new regionalscale, value-added dairy processing facility. AUGUSTA COUNTY PARTNERED ON BOTH STUDIES
G R E AT E R A U G U S TA R E G I O N A L CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RELEASES WAG E A N D B E N E FI T S U RV E Y Sample Information includes:
HOURLY PAY BY OCCUPATION
MINIMUM
MEDIAN
MAXIMUM
First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
$19.48
$24.24
$38.46
Food preparation workers
$7.75
$10.70
$15.96
$10.00
$25.96
$78.13
General and operations managers
More information available at https://www.augustava.com/workforce-development. CY2018/FY2019 REPORT
15
S H E N A N D OA H VA L L E Y FA R M 2 F O R K A F FA I R MARCH 2019 Held the inaugural Shenandoah Valley Farm2Fork Affair, a biennial one-day event connecting Shenandoah Valley food producers with commercial buyers. Home to four of Virginia’s top five agricultural producing counties, Shenandoah Valley partners for this event included Augusta County, Clarke County, Frederick County, Page County, Rockbridge County, Rockingham County, Shenandoah County, Warren County and the Cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Front Royal, Lexington, Staunton, and Waynesboro.
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AUGUSTA COUNT Y OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
AGRITOURISM HOW-TO GUIDE Navigating Augusta County requirements for starting your business and planning your event
Talk to us (and our friends)
Augusta County Need-to-Know
Economic Development Staff Introduction and guide to Augusta County 540-245-5619 staff@augustavabusiness.com augustavabusiness.com
augusta-startup.com visitaugustacounty.com
Visit 18 Government Center Lane, Verona VA. Get to know: Register your business name; Check on zoning, building,
Services and the Central Shenandoah Health
planning and engineering; If an existing building is under consideration, ensure your use is permitted
Department (separate from the County and not located at the Government
540-245-5700 or comdev@co.augusta.va.us
Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Solidify business plans, marketing vision and financial projections
Center). Depending on your business model, you will need to
Commissioner of the Revenue
Register your business license; Farmers can be exempt
540-568-3227 krechjh@jmu.edu
from business licenses, but agritourism operators need to verify individual situations (i.e. bringing in
valleysbdc.org
outside product, holding events, on-farm lodging etc.); Event licensing depends on individual events, and it’s better to understand now!
Staunton Creative Community Fund (SCCF) Creative grant and loan funding
discuss regulations and inspections with one of the organizations. 540-786-4569 (VDACS) 540-332-7830 (CSHD)
540-245-5640
540-213-0333
kathy@stauntonfund.org stauntonfund.org
ATTENTION FOOD-BASED BUSINESSES! Talk to the VA Department of Ag and Consumer
Community Development
Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability (VA FAIRS) Technical and grant assistance
Treasurer’s Office
Learn due dates for all
taxes as well as business license fees
ATTENTION ALCOHOL-BASED BUSINESSES! Beverage Control (ABC) representative.
for rural agricultural areas to enable development 804-290-1158
Talk to a local Alcohol
540-245-5660
540-332-7800
Fun(d) Ideas
ccook@vafb.com vafairs.com
Augusta Small Business Loan Fund
ATTEND ANNUAL VIRGINIA AGRITOURISM CONFERENCE
Augusta County Tourism grants
JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORS!
Vet your location Working with zoning is imperative. Verify by-right uses prior to beginning work. Zoning code specifies what is allowed, and some uses require a special use permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Fields of Gold, the Shenandoah Valley agritourism trail, is a great marketing and networking organization. spencer@cspdc.org or 540-885-5174
Completed Agritourism & Event How-To Guide
100+ Buyers
RECEIVED AN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT (AFID) GRANT
50+ Producers
CY2018/FY2019 REPORT
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– Reader’s Digest
All Augusta, All Outside
endless on mode with unwind into vacati ground Augusta County, trail rides and under When you visit summit hikes to on. Our valley views. From outdoors vacati mountain and as needed for your rd trails, as well got everything brewery and vineya caverns, we’ve farm, with t -owned restaurants, iences deligh authentic exper small towns, family ing charm museums, historic sites and tion. recrea or and plentiful outdo
Pictured: Natural Chimneys
G o B iG&:Outdoor Recreation Nature
G Rape To G Rain :
Breweries Vineyards & Craft ful
for perfect base camp Augusta is your Ridge al Park, the Blue Shenandoah Nation Jefferson Washington and Parkway, George Natural Grand Caverns, National Forest, do Lake, and more. Sheran eys, Chimn
: R oad T Rippi&nGMotor cycle Tours Scenic Drives
the drives are among Our mountain in the USA, most famous the historic but don’t miss
(an old Wilderness Road it runs wagon road) as al through the nation ts of Mount Sidney historic distric For motorcycle and Middlebrook. te for the ultima enthusiasts, plan at our Shenandoah window-shopping Showroom. Harley-Davidson
i T : Treasures S o W oRTh& Vintag e Antiques
COMPLETED MEDIA PROFILE SHEET
S ampL e i Tine RaRy al Pebble Hall g picking season
Adventurous • Authentic • Aff ordable
e Mall is the largest The Factory Antiqu the country, and antique mall in ers & Antiques off Rocky’s Gold Silver and ion of gold, silver a huge collect out into our small jewelry. Branch of antique where dozens communities, ered. discov be shops wait to
at beauti Bask on the deck rds, or Barren Ridge Vineya flavors at tap into the fresh
Brewing and Seven Arrows g, two Stable Craft Brewin ies on the of 14 area brewer rks Shenandoah Beerwe award-winning Tasting Ox-Eye Vineyards Trail. Nearby are Vineyards. Room and Veritas
: Markets L ocaL F LavoR Farms & Farm Eateries,
Natural Chim neys “Virginia’s Hidd named en Gem” by Reader’s Diges t
ade White’s Take a bite of homem based on Wayside’s bread recipe or the original 1929 iss’ wiener sample Edelwe dose of schnitzel for a heritage. Valley German mileComfort food (and of pie) are the stuff high coconut cream our farmers Rowe’s. Explore legend at Mrs. trail. Fields of Gold farm markets and the “beyond epicenter of the Polyface Farms, to one of home is ent, organic” movem s, Joel famous farmer America’s most a stop are My Peeps Salatin. Also worth , es!), Wenger Grapes Farm (goat snuggl Nursery, and more. Andre Viette Farm
Spend your mornin to America’s oldest s then head over s. Wildflowers’ bloom Grand Cavern ing show cave, continually operat Market, housed at Valley Pike Farm Refuel with lunch e stores and art antiqu our Visit barn. in a century-old reservations o-table dining farm-t make by galleries and, Shack (headed Ian Boden’s The a at Zynodoa or chef End the day with award nominee.) replica the James Beard – an authentic riars Playhouse at show at Blackf theatre. Fall asleep peare’s indoor Farm t of William Shakes wCrof like the Inn at Meado with a signature spot, Skyline Drive out your trip on or Iris Inn. Round ndoah Valley from Shena the over endless views back al Park. Shenandoah Nation
66 81 SHD
81
77
a TTRa cTio nS & F eSTi vaLS
Staunton name d “One Mountain Town of America’s Favorite s” by Travel+Leis ure
Let us help plan
L OUTS ALL AUGUSTA, AL
IDE
Augusta County
your perfe
• Grand Caverns / Fount • Shenandoah Nation ain Cave • Blue Ridge Parkw al Park/Skyline Drive ay • Sherando Lake • Natural Chimn eys Park & Camp • ground Joel Salatin’s Polyfa ce • Barren Ridge Viney Farm ards • Shenandoah Beerw erks Trail • American Shake speare Center • Woodrow Wilson Presidential Librar • Shenandoah Valley y Blues and Brews • Fields of Gold Festival Farm Trail • Frontier Cultur e Museum • Waynesboro Fall Foliage Festival • & Art Show Jousting Tourn ament • P. Buckley Moss Gallery • Sweet Dreams Festiv • Shenandoah Harley al -Davidson Show • Stonewall Brigad room e Museum • Virginia Food Truck Battle • Augusta Count y Railroad Museu • m Shenandoah Fall Foliag e Bike Festival • Red Wing Roots Music Festival
ct trip! Rebekah Castle , Marketing Coord inator, Augusta rcastle@co.augu County sta.va.us | 540-2 45-5619
VisitAugustaCo
64
95
85
G eTTi nG h eRe
Augusta Count y is located in centra l Virginia, between Charlo ttesville and Harrisonbur g. Driving here is easy via I-64 and/ or I-81. Fly direct ly into Shenandoah Valley Regional Airpo rt (SHD) via United Airline s, or can travel by Amtra you k into Staunton (STA).
W heRe To S Tay
Choose an inn, the perfect cabin, or follow the call of the wild at a camp ground. From romantic to relaxed, Augusta accom modates every style and price point.
All Augusta, All Outside
unty.com f
TOURISM HIGHLIGHTS n n n n
Launched VA Agritourism Conference Scholarship Program Participated in Group Tours Partnership with City of Staunton $3,000 awarded in Augusta County Tourism Marketing Grant Program Upcoming initiative: Revamped Marketing & Facilities Grant Program
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AUGUSTA COUNT Y OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
PHOTO BY RUBY SKY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF RED WING ROOTS
Natural Chimneys named Virginia’s “Hidden Gem”
SHENANDOAH BEERWERKS TR AIL n Over 3,000 passports redeemed (Participants from 46 states and 4 foreign countries) n Launched new t-shirt color for 2019 n Launched three digital marketing campaigns n Received two Virginia Tourism Corporation grants for a total of $60,000
S H E N A N D OA H VA L L E Y T O U R I S M PA R T N E R S H I P n Hosted 13 travel journalists on first-ever SVTP media tour n Completed video series focused on farm-to-table scene, outdoor recreation, family fun and small towns & cities n Received $25,000 Virginia Tourism Corporation Marketing Leverage Program grant
CY2018/FY2019 REPORT
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AUGUSTA COUNTY VIRGINIA Mid-Atlantic location in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley where I-81 and I-64 converge MONTREAL
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
TORONTO
25,000 annual graduates from 19 regional colleges and universities
MILWAUKEE
TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION I-81 and I-64 CSX Railroad Norfolk Southern Railroad Shenandoah Valley Railroad Buckingham Branch Railroad Amtrak Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Eagle’s Nest Airport
BOSTON
DETROIT
NEW YORK PITTSBURGH
CHICAGO
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CINCINNATI ST. LOUIS
AUGUSTA COUNTY
NASHVILLE
RICHMOND
CHARLOTTE
MEMPHIS ATLANTA
TARGET SECTORS Advanced Manufacturing Food Processing Life Sciences Value-added Agriculture and Forestry
PHILADELPHIA
500 miles 800 kilometers NEW ORLEANS
JACKSONVILLE 750miles 1200 kilometers
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Gerald W. Garber, Chair Carolyn S. Bragg, Vice-Chair Pam L. Carter Wendell L. Coleman Marshall W. Pattie Michael L. Shull G.L. “Butch” Wells
B. Randolph Roller, Chair Richard K. Halterman II, Vice-Chair Michael Godfrey Robert J. Kirchman Leah R. Thomas
STAFF Amanda Glover, Director of Economic Development & Tourism Rebekah Castle, Economic Development & Tourism Marketing Coordinator Tim Fitzgerald, County Administrator Jennifer Whetzel, Deputy County Administrator
18 Government Center Lane P.O. Box 590 Verona, VA 24482 540-245-5619 staff@augustaVAbusiness.com www.augustaVAbusiness.com www.visitaugustacounty.com www.augusta-startup.com