Mar 16, 2022 EDA Meeting 3-16-22

YOU GOT A LOVER?

[00:00:01]

[I. Call to Order, 5:30 P.M.]

AND THIS IS THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING FOR THE GIBSON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY THAT SANDRA MAY HAVE A CORN TODAY.

UM, MR. PICKED UP

[II. Determination of a Quorum]

YOU DO HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

[III. Citizen Comment]

THANK YOU.

APPROVAL

[IV. Approval of Minutes: Economic Development Authority - Regular Meeting - Feb 16,]

I DO FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 16TH, 2020.

OKAY.

AND YOU DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR.

AYE.

THANK YOU.

TREASURER'S REPORTS.

[A. Treasurer's Report]

EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE IN LINE AS IT GOES TO PAY RIGHT NOW.

UM, WE DID, UH, TELL SOME CHECKS AND SIGNED THEM, UM, AND THOSE ARE STILL OUTSTANDING, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THEY DIDN'T MAKE AS GOOD QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

THE PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTS WERE THOSE JUST LIKE THE REBATES.

AND WAS THAT THAT CAME, WERE WE A PASSWORD FOR THAT ETA? GIVE THE PASTOR FUNDS HONESTLY, A 2,500.

WE AGREED TO LAST WEEK.

OKAY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH ONWARD TO BILL'S TEAM PAID NO BILLS TO BE PAID, UH, NEXT ENDORSEMENT OF THE

[B. Endorsement of the Tourism Strategic Plan]

UM, SO AT OUR LAST MONTH'S MEETING, WE PRINTED OUT AND GAVE YOU A COPY OF THE TOURISM STRATEGIC PLAN TO REVIEW BECAUSE WE KNEW IT WOULD BE KIND OF A LOT TO DIGEST IN ONE MEETING.

UM, AND SO THIS MONTH I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO KIND OF GO OVER IT VERY HIGH LEVEL.

UM, AND THEN SEE IF YOU GUYS HAD ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING IT.

SO, UM, WHERE WE ARE WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN IN 2019, UM, TOURISM WAS ADOPTED AS PART OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN AS GOAL THREE.

UM, AND AS FOR THE TOURISM STRATEGIC PLAN, WE WORKED WITH PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT TO DRAFT AND CREATE THIS PLAN KIND OF MOVING FORWARD.

SO ARE YOU GOING TO STILL CONTINUE TO USE THE EXPLORE, LEARN, PLAY ON YOUR TOURISM WEBSITE TO, SO THAT HAS TO BE PART OF THE ARCO MONEY THAT WE GOT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE THAT OPTION, UM, AS POTENTIALLY A TAGLINE AND LOOK AT, UM, REDOING THAT LOGO AS WELL AS PART OF THOSE FUNDS.

YEAH.

WHAT QUESTIONS DURING, OR DO YOU WANT TO FINISH A LITTLE TALK OR DOESN'T MATTER TO ME I'M HAPPY TO, AS WE GO THROUGH IT, KIND OF TALK THROUGH.

ALRIGHT, FIRST QUESTION.

SO IT DOES, IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE PARKS OF RECREATION EXACTLY.

DOES THAT WORK.

SO WE, UM, ARE GOING TO BE THE LEAD OFFICE ON IT.

AND THEN WE WORK ON LIKE A MONTHLY BASIS.

WE'RE MEETING WITH THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT TO KIND OF GO OVER KIND OF ACTION ITEMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO FIGURE OUT WHO NEEDS TO BE THE LEAD ON WHAT, ANY IDEAS THAT COME THROUGH ON IT.

AND JUST KIND OF, UM, REALLY KIND OF IN TANDEM ARE WORKING ON THE PLACE.

IS THERE A NEED FOR THEM TO ATTEND ANY OF THESE MEETINGS AT THIS TIME? I WOULD SAY NOW IN THE FUTURE, POSSIBLY IN THE FUTURE, POSSIBLY JUST DEPENDING ON WHAT ITEMS COME UP, UM, IF WE NEED THEM TO COME IN AND TALK ABOUT ANY OF THE ITEMS OR, UM, ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE DOING.

UM, SO WE CAME UP WITH THE VISIT VISION STATEMENT TO BECOME A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR HISTORY, CRAFT FOOD AND BEVERAGE, RECREATIONAL SPORTS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS, AS WELL AS A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

WE FELT LIKE THIS TOUCHED ON ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY KNOWN FOR IN TERMS OF TOURISM AND IS THERE, OH, I SEE.

OKAY.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SORT OF GOING INTO THE FUTURE.

WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS RATHER THAN WE ARE A POPULAR DESTINATION.

YES.

OH, YOU'RE HERE KIND OF SOME OF THE ASSETS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND NOW WE WANT TO BECOME A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR THESE THINGS.

CORRECT.

AND THEN OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT OFFER AUTHENTIC VISITOR AND RESIDENT EXPERIENCES WHILE PRESERVING AND PROTECTING VIGILANCE HISTORY, RESOURCES, BUSINESSES, AND AGRICULTURE.

AND IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US

[00:05:01]

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST PROMOTING THESE TO RESIDENTS OR, UM, EXCUSE ME, VISITORS, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT OUR CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS KNOW ABOUT WHAT, UM, ASSETS WE HAVE HERE AS WELL.

AND TALKING ABOUT PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE HISTORY THAT IS HERE, THE RESOURCES ARE BUSINESSES WHO OFFER THEM AND THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

SO WE WANTED TO DIVE INTO KIND OF WHAT ARE OUR UNIQUE TOURISM ASSETS.

AND I THINK THERE'S A KIND OF A CAVEAT THAT THESE ARE NOT ALL OF THEM.

UM, BUT THESE ARE REALLY THE ONES THAT ARE UNIQUE TO OUR COUNTY THAT YOU WILL NOT FIND IN NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

SO IT'S NOT A COMPLETE LIST, BUT JUST KIND OF SOME OF THE ONES WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, YOU KNOW, GOOCHLAND DAY, UM, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY DRIVE IN THEATER OR THE COMMUNITY THEATER, THE DRIVE-IN THEATER, OUR JEFFERSON COURTHOUSE.

UM, SO JUST KIND OF SOME OF THOSE UNIQUE ASSETS THAT PEOPLE WOULD LEAVE THEIR COMMUNITY TO DRIVE HERE AND SPEND A DAY TO VISIT IT.

SO HERE ARE UNDEVELOPED ASSETS.

SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE MAYBE WOULD WANT IT TO KIND OF DEVELOP OR KIND OF EXPLORE.

UM, SO AN AGRICULTURAL FAIR GUIDED HISTORY TOURS, THERE'S SO MUCH IN THE COUNTY.

SO HOW DO WE, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO KIND OF EXPLORE THAT AND KIND OF, UM, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT AND MOVE WITH IT.

UM, THE EAST CENTRAL SYSTEM, UM, YOU KNOW, AN ARTISTS AND CENTER, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY THINGS THAT ARE UNDERWAY AT THE MOMENT, BUT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT OR EXPLORED YES, WHAT ARE INCREASED RIVER AMENITIES.

EXACTLY.

UM, SO WE HAVE LAUNCHED POINTS INTO THE RIVERS, BUT WE DON'T EXACTLY HAVE A BUSINESS THAT OFFERS KAYAKS TO GO INTO THE RIVER OR CANOES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO HOW DO WE GET THAT RIVER AMENITY TO INCREASE PEOPLE, TO USE THOSE ACCESSIBLE? IS THERE A ROOM ON THE BORDER FOR THE WORLD FOR A SMALL MARINA OR SO MAYBE NOT EVEN A MARINA, I'M SOMETHING JESSICA, AND I'VE SEEN HER, THEY'RE ACTUALLY LIKE KAYAK LOCKERS, WHERE YOU USE QR CODES AND YOU WALK UP AND YOU PUT IN YOUR, YOUR INFORMATION AND YOU SCAN IT AND YOU JUST OPEN THE LOCKER AND YOU PULL IT OUT.

IT DOESN'T TAKE UP MUCH SPACE, BUT IT MIGHT BE AN ASSET FOR US, UM, TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF GO UP AND USE SOMETHING THAT SMALL, WHERE OUR AREA, OUR LAUNCH AREA IS NOT VERY BIG.

UM, BUT JUST EXPLORING SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO INCREASE PEOPLE'S VIEWS OF THAT AREA CONCERT SERIOUS.

YEAH.

IT'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE IN THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY.

YEAH.

AND THAT'S, LIKE I SAID, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT, WE HEAR IT ALL THE TIME, OR YOU HEAR MULTIPLE VENUES LIKE HARDYWOOD AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT AND BRING THAT UP.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, WHERE IT WOULD GO.

IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE TOPICS THAT IS CONSTANTLY BROUGHT FORWARD THROUGH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS AND TUCKER PARK.

ALSO THEY'VE HAD APPROVAL TO START HAVING ALCOHOL AND CONCERT SERIES.

AND WE JUST GOT THE BOARD TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT COULD GET WE AT THOSE EVENTS BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE THE WALKWAY TO THE OTHER SIDE.

SO THERE'S ADDITIONAL PARKING.

UM, SO WE CAN HAVE UP TO, UM, 500 PEOPLE AT ONE TIME DOWN, THERE WAS MUCH LOWER THAN THAT BEFORE.

RIGHT.

BUT YOU, YOU OBVIOUSLY REMEMBER THE PROBLEM WE HAD WITH THE BIG ONE COMING INTO INNSBROOK AFTER HOURS, JUST GOOD CHILDREN TO EVER HAVE A COUNTY FAIR.

DO WE FAIRGROUND ROAD? I ASSUME THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANY, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THERE? I MEAN, IS THERE A, I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD EXPLORE AS A POTENTIAL EVENT, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL? WHO HOPES IT, WHO RUNS IT AND MANAGES IT? WHAT DOES IT COST? ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

AND I THINK GAGE LYNN DAYS IS CHARTS TRYING TO FILL THAT ROLE.

WE HAVE THE FALL FESTIVAL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT ONES THAT MAY NOT BE A COUNTY FAIR, BUT THESE ATTRACT SO AS GOOCHLAND, PARKS AND REC, ARE THEY DOING A SPRING AND A FALL FESTIVAL NOW? OR JUST A FALL ONE FALL? YEAH.

BECAUSE LUCIA DAYS IN SPRINGDALE.

CORRECT.

SO THAT'S GOOD.

YEP.

I DON'T WANT TO COMPETE WITH THE SEGUE COMPETITION.

UM, SO DIRECT COMPETITION OBVIOUSLY COMES FROM OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES AND LOCALITIES WHO ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE OPTIONS IN OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS NIGHT AND EVENING ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING AND SHOPPING.

THIS PROBABLY COMES AS A SURPRISE TO KNOW.

UM, SO OUR SWAT ANALYSIS, OUR STRENGTHS, JUST A COUPLE OF THE ONES I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS OUR EASY ACCESSIBILITY.

IN THE LAST

[00:10:01]

UM, AND THEN LINKS MILL PARK.

UM, I MEAN, PEOPLE DRIVE FROM DC AND EVERYTHING TO COME DO THE BIKE TRAILS.

I WANTED TO CALL IT A CYCLE COURSE AND THAT'S NOT WORKING.

UM, AND THEN JUST OUR TOURISM PARTNERS IN GENERAL THAT WE HAVE, SO OUR WEAKNESSES, INTERNET ACCESS, WHICH WE ARE WORKING ON, AND OBVIOUSLY THE COUNTY HAS MADE A HUGE PRIORITY FOR THEM LIMITED OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS.

WE HAVE ONE HOTEL IN THE COUNTY THAT'S ONE MORE THAN WE HAD, BUT WE ARE STILL LIMITED IN OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS THE BED AND BREAKFAST OUT HERE ON THE WESTERN END OF THE COUNTY THAT BIG YELLOW CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT, CLOTHING AND CLEVER FOREST FOREST.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE DOING MUCH, UH, BNBS AS MUCH AS THEY WERE DOING MORE EVENTS, WEDDINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THIS OVERNIGHT GUESTS FOR THE WEDDING, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE'RE GETTING MORE REQUESTS FOR AIRBNB APPROVAL.

YEAH.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO SORT OF PUT A GROUP OF ALL THOSE TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE TO REGISTER WITH THE COUNTY.

RIGHT.

AND SO ONE OF THAT COMES IN OUR EDUCATION PIECE OF JUST AIRBNBS AND BEING ABLE TO KIND OF LINK TO THE AVAILABLE AIRBNBS THAT ARE IN GOOCHLAND AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THERE IS A PROCESS TO IT.

HERE'S THE APPROPRIATE PROCESS TO BE ILLEGAL AIRBNB.

AND HERE'S WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

IT'S NOT A STRENUOUS PROCESS, BUT LET'S MAKE SURE WE DO IT CORRECTLY.

UM, LEADING STRAIGHT INTO THAT, THERE'S NO CENTRAL INFORMATION POINT FOR TOURISM RIGHT NOW.

UM, AND THEN OUR PERCEPTION OF DISTANCE, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE PEOPLE IN SHARP ON TIME RANK AND SAY, OH, I'M NOT GOING TO GET YOU.

AND THAT'S TOO FAR.

YOU'RE LIKE, YOU'RE IN SHORT PUMP.

IT'S LESS THAN A MILE RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

OR YOU'RE IN DRIVE SHACK.

AND YOU'RE LIKE, YOU'RE IN GOOCHLAND.

UM, SO THOSE ARE OUR WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES ARE AGRITOURISM DEVELOPMENT.

WE, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF WHAT GOOGLE WAS FOUNDED ON IN TERMS OF AGRICULTURE AND THE AGRITOURISM DEVELOPMENT.

I MEAN, THIS SAYS IT PROBABLY DAILY.

IT'S HUGE.

AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY PUSH AND PROMOTE THAT ON OUR TOURISM WEBSITE.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, BUT THE JAMES RIVER ACCESS AND JUST HAVING THAT ABILITY TO, TO ACCESS THAT, UM, KAYAKS, TUBING, ANYTHING ELSE, UM, SPORTS TOURISM WITH OUR SOCCER FIELDS AND THE JEFFERSON CUP THAT'S COMING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKENDS.

UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAD SNOW LAST WEEKEND, BUT NORMALLY THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

UM, BUT THAT'S ABOUT 15,000 PEOPLE COMING INTO THE AREA FROM OUT OF TOWN.

SO THE ABILITY JUST TO MARKET TO THEM AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE HERE COME EASTERN COUNTY.

UM, AND SELF GUIDED TOURS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF THE LOW HANGING FRUIT IT'S REALLY EASY TO DO.

IT'S NOT SUPER EXPENSIVE.

UM, BUT HISTORY BUFFS LOVE THAT.

THE ABILITY TO KIND OF JUMP FROM POINT TO POINT AND HEAR ABOUT THE JEFFERSONIAN COURTHOUSE AND, UM, THOMAS JEFFERSON'S BOYHOOD HOME AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YES.

OOPS.

NO, THAT'S OKAY.

I GOT IT HERE.

WHAT IS CONTRACT RECREATION? OH, SORRY.

SO, UH, CONTRACTING IN LIKE RECREATIONAL, UM, UH, SPORTS TOURNAMENTS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

OKAY.

YEP.

SORRY.

I HAVE TO THINK THAT THROUGH PARKS AND REC SAYS OUT OF THINGS, AND I HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT THEY MEAN TOO.

UM, SO OUR THREATS GETTING THE COMMUNITY BUY-IN THAT, YOU KNOW, TOURISM WILL DEVELOP AND THAT THESE PEOPLE WILL COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN ALSO LEAVE OUR COMMUNITY, BUT LEAVE IT AS THEY FOUND IT.

UM, AND THEN JUST LACK OF COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OUR ASSETS.

IT'S THAT EDUCATION PIECE ABOUT, HEY, THESE ARE OUR ASSETS.

SO IF THEY GO INTO A RESTAURANT AND THEY ASK SOMEBODY WHO'S WORKING THERE, HEY, WHAT IS THERE TO DO? THEY DON'T GO NOTHING.

UM, YOU KNOW, SO MAKING SURE THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, ARE, UM, INFORMED ABOUT OTHER THINGS TO DO SO THEY ARE SENDING THEM TO OTHER PLACES TO SPEND MONEY IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

SO GETTING KIND OF INTO THE OBJECTIVES, I'M NOT GOING TO READ EVERYTHING ON THE PAGE, BUT I'M OBJECTIVE KIND OF 3.1 IS MARKETING OUR TOURISM ADS ASSETS TO INCREASE VISITOR SPENDING.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, UTILIZING WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA, INCREASING MARKETING AWARENESS BY HOSTING MEDIA TOURS, UM, MARKETING MATERIALS, I PUT UP THE BUCHANAN VISIT ORANGE LOGO.

THERE'S JUST ONES THAT KIND OF STAND OUT TO ME.

UM, YOU KNOW, OUR TIMELINE IS JANUARY 23 AND KIND OF SUSTAIN.

THIS IS REALLY JUST KIND OF DIVING INTO THOSE MARKETING MATERIALS.

UM, SOME OF THOSE ARE JUST KIND OF CREATING DAY TRIP MAPS.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THAT OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS.

SO WEEKEND TRIPS, MAYBE NOT TO START WITH,

[00:15:01]

AND WHO'S THE WHO ON THIS, WE WOULD DO IMMEDIATE TOURS AND DO THE WEBSITE AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING.

IS THAT, THAT YET TO BE DETERMINED OR IT'S KIND OF YET TO BE DETERMINED, BUT IT'S, I MEAN, WE'LL HAVE TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT WHO YOUR TARGET MARKET IS.

UM, I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE A VIEW AT THIS POINT, WE'RE KIND OF BUILDING OUR BUILDING THAT FOUNDATION.

ARE WE, UH, COLLABORATING WITH, UH, TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES? THEY ARE BUYING TOURS AND BURGERS.

YEAH, NO, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S PART OF THAT WILL BE PART OF, UM, THE DATA BY ITINERARIES TOO, IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT NECESSARILY DRIVING THEMSELVES TO THOSE DOORS PASSING BY LEAVING RICHMOND TASKS, MIGRATIONAL, INDIGO TO CHARLOTTESVILLE.

YEAH, WE'LL DEFINITELY ADD THAT IN THERE.

UM, SO OBJECTIVE 3.2 IS PERPER PRESERVING HISTORIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO JUST PROMOTING THE EXISTING HISTORICAL ASSETS.

UM, SO, UH, CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF THE EXISTING HISTORICAL ASSETS AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S KIND OF PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED BUILDING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, UM, SHARING THE FOUNDING STORY OF GOOCHLAND AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S, UM, CREATING A COMMUNITY PRIDE ON IT, RESEARCHING FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORICAL PLACES FOR ADDITIONAL SITES AND PROMOTING THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OFFICE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE NEWSLETTER AND TOURISM WEBSITE.

ONCE AGAIN, JANUARY 23 AND KIND OF SUSTAIN, WE'RE STILL ON A YEARLY BASIS.

A COUPLE OF THEM, THIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY WE DON'T WANT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE COUNTY IN THE PAST, WE HAVE PEPPER FROM THEIR CALENDAR OR IS THEIR CALENDAR.

I'M SORRY, JUST THE CALENDAR, BUT THAT'S A FUN THING FOR THEM, RIGHT? THINK TO THEIR OWN FUNDRAISING.

I THINK THEY HAVEN'T COME TO US SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

SO , THEY DO A CALENDAR THIS YEAR, ANY QUESTIONS? UM, SO OBJECTIVE THREE, THREE DEVELOP COMMUNITY ASSETS AND TOURISM MARKETS.

UM, DUBAI, THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE KIND OF DID WITH VIRGINIA TECH FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT IT FROM A TOURISM STANDPOINT.

SO DEFINING AND EVALUATING OUR EXISTING AND EMERGING REGIONAL TOURISM SECTORS.

SO IDENTIFYING THE TOURISM SECTOR, CREATING THREE TO FIVE MARKETING PIECES FOR THEM, UM, IDENTIFYING THREE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THOSE YOU BUILD RELATIONSHIP WITH EXTERNAL TOURISM PARTNERS, SPENDING THE ARBITERS OF FUNDS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE KIND OF IN THE PROCESS OF THAT, UM, RECRUIT ONE NEW TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COUNTY DEVELOP A FULL LIST OF EVENT VENUES.

SO THAT'S WEDDINGS, CORPORATE EVENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE'RE CONSTANTLY GETTING CALLED ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, WHERE CAN I HOST THIS MEETING, THAT MEETING, UM, CONFERENCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, AND CREATING A STANDARDS AND RESOURCE GUIDE.

SO THAT'S MAINLY AROUND THE FILM INDUSTRY.

WE GET THAT PHONE CALL, HEY, WE'D LIKE TO DO ANOTHER FILM IN GOOCHLAND.

WE NEED TO DO X, Y, AND Z AND SARAH AND I ARE LIKE, OKAY, WELL, WHO CAN WE CALL? WHO DO WE NEED TO CALL TO CLOSE THE ROAD? WHO DO WE NEED TO CALL ABOUT A DILAPIDATED BUILDING? WHO DO WE NEED TO CALL ABOUT THIS? WHO HAS SAID NO TRANSPORTATION, RIGHT? WHO DOESN'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS WHO DOESN'T WANT THEIR, YOU KNOW, SO JUST KIND OF CREATING THAT STANDARDS AND RESOURCE GUIDE FOR THAT.

UM, SO THAT'S A JANUARY 24 AND SUSTAIN QUESTIONS, COMMENTS CONCERNS.

SO THAT'S OUR OBJECTIVE COMPLETION TIMELINE.

UM, MAY CHANGE, MAY GET PUSHED OUT A LITTLE BIT.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT COATS.

UM, IT IS A LOT, I THINK IT WAS VERY WELL DONE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THEN, SO NEXT STEPS, TIMELINES, UM, IT GOT SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH IT AND THEN ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

EXCELLENT THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

IF THIS IS GOING TO BE A DOCUMENT, IF IT'S AN INTERNAL DOCUMENT, JUST THE STRATEGIC PLAN, YOU KNOW, SETTING THE LONG-TERM GOALS AND SETTING UP THE VISION AND STUFF LIKE THAT IS FINE.

IF IT'S GOING TO BE A

[00:20:01]

AND THEN LAST EXAMPLE, I DON'T THINK THIS DOCTOR, BUT THE JAIL, I THINK IT'S A JAIL.

UH, I THINK SHOVEL, YOU SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED AS IN HISTORIC STRUCTURE.

RIGHT? YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE, YOU KNOW, DALTON 19 OR 18 OR WHATEVER IT WAS.

I DID YOU SEE TWO REFERENCES FOR NATION COUNTRY INSTEAD OF NICHING COUNTY? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS A MOVE OR NOT.

YEAH.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE JUST MAKING OURSELVES A KIND OF, YEAH.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE CAN YOU ON THOSE? WHAT WAS AVAILABLE WAS OKAY.

SO, UM, THE FEDERAL CARES ACT GAVE EACH COUNTY ERICA ACT I'LL GET THERE.

UM, GAVE EACH COUNTY IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA MONEY BASED ON THEIR 2019, UM, TAX DOLLARS FOR TOURISM.

THERE WAS A MINIMUM THRESHOLD, AND THEN IT WAS KIND OF THE BTC IN VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION FIGURED OUT A PERCENTAGE BASED ON THE WHOLE MAP THE STATE GOT, UM, WE GOT THE MINIMUM AMOUNT BECAUSE IN 2019, OUR TOURISM DOLLARS, OUR HOTEL WASN'T OPEN DRAG SHAQ, WASN'T OPEN, ET CETERA.

SO IT'S $30,000 THAT WE GOT.

UM, SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

WE'VE JUST SELECTED OUR PERSON OR COMPANY TO USE FOR THOSE.

BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO USE THEM FOR IS CREATING THE TOURISM MAPS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, FOR THE DAY TRIP ITINERARIES, UM, CREATING A TOURISM LOGO SPECIFICALLY, UM, AND CREATING A CONTENT, A MARKETING CONTENT STRATEGY FOR HOW ALL OF THIS KIND OF GETS WE'VE BEEN CALLING IT LIKE A SPIDER WEB OUT APPROACH, UM, FOR THAT.

SO IT'S BASICALLY GOING TO BE SPENT ON MARKETING.

YEAH.

SO IT IS MORE SPECIFIC SPECIFIC COMPANY, CORRECT? IT IS MARKETING, CORRECT.

IT WAS MARKETING SPECIFIC.

IT HAS TO BE SPENT ON TOURISM MARKETING.

THE WHOLE PURPOSE FOR IT IS THAT IT HAS TO, UM, BE SPENT TO BRING VISITORS BACK TO COMMUNITY.

OKAY.

THANKS.

YUP.

ANY PLANS TO TRY IT AGAIN? THOSE MAPS AND TOO LIKE VISITORS.

YES.

YEAH.

SO IN, WITHIN THOSE DOLLARS IS A PRINT BUDGET TO GET THEM BACK INTO VISITOR CENTERS AND BUSINESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS.

COOL.

YEAH.

GOOD JOB.

THANKS.

THANK YOU.

SO, UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO ENDORSE TRUISM STRATEGIC PLAN? SO MOVE SECOND ALL IN FAVOR.

AYE.

[C. New Business Update]

UM, NEW BUSINESS UPDATE.

UM, SO I HAVE 26 ACTIVE PROJECTS.

THESE NUMBERS HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE LAST MONTH.

UM, WE, SO IF WE WERE TO LAND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, THAT WOULD BE 2,227 NEW JOBS, A MINIMUM IN $5.7 BILLION OF INVESTMENT IN THE COUNTY.

UM, WE DID LOSE ONE PROJECT, UM, THAT CAME IN LAST WEEK DUE TO NOT HAVING AN EXISTING STRUCTURE.

SO THEY SET UP THE PROJECT.

I SAID, THIS IS A GREAT, I'M SO EXCITED.

AND THEY'RE LIKE, IT'S AN EXISTING BUILDING.

IS THAT, I'M SORRY.

WE'RE AT, UM, IT WAS ONLY A MINIMUM OFFICE OF 10,000 SQUARE FEET AND WE COULD NOT SUBMIT 10,000 SQUARE AND IT WAS A TARGET INDUSTRY SECTOR TOO.

SO IT HURT.

UM, BUT TALKING ABOUT AVAILABLE BUILDINGS AND SITES, WE HAVE TALKED, I'VE TALKED TO I'M BLUE IN THE FACE WITH DEVELOPERS ABOUT SPECULATIVE SPACE.

I HAVE THEM OUT HERE, I'VE TOURED THEM AROUND AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD, UM, THE SAME TWO THINGS.

OUR LAND IS ENTIRELY TOO EXPENSIVE AND THE COST TO BUILD RIGHT NOW IS ENTIRELY TOO EXPENSIVE TO MAKE IT WORK.

SO SOMETHING LIKE WEST OAK I'M SORRY.

WIDER.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

THE LOCATION ON PATTERSON, THE DEVELOPMENT.

OH, I'M SORRY.

OKAY.

UM, SO LIKE, ARE THEY NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH SOME SORT OF, YOU KNOW, OFFICE BUILDINGS OR OFFICE SPACE IN THERE? SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY'RE DOING VERY MINIMAL OFFICE IN THERE AND LOOKING MAINLY RETAIL.

SO, UM, BUT 2007, EVERYBODY KEEPS REFERRING BACK TO IT SCARED A LOT OF PEOPLE OFF FROM BUILDING SPEC, EVEN WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF PROJECTS BEATING DOWN OUR DOOR

[00:25:01]

THEY WON'T DO A LOT OF MEANING, SMALL, MEDIUM TENANTS.

THEY WANT ONE LARGE TENANT TO SECURE THE SPACE AND THEN MAYBE A SECOND LARGE OR MEDIUM TENANT.

SO WE MET WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AS PART OF A, SORT OF OUR PROCESS FOR THE SMALL AREA PLANS.

AND THEY WERE SAYING RIGHT NOW THE BANKS ARE TIGHTENING UP AND THEY'RE JUST NOT GIVING MONEY OUT FOR SPECULATIVE BILLS.

SO YEAH, IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE AWHILE TO TURN THAT SHIP.

YEAH.

24 MONTHS.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

THAT'S ONE OF THE, RECESSION'S GOING TO START ON AVERAGE.

IF YOU LOOK AT 24 MONTHS, IF YOU LOOK AT POSTS, WELL REALLY 19 HUNDREDS, THE IT'S 24 MONTH PERIOD FROM THE TIME THE FED STRESSED RAISING RATES, WHICH HAPPENED TODAY.

SO TODAY, UH, IT TENDS TO RANGE A LITTLE BIT BETWEEN, I FORGET WHAT THE LOWEST IS 18 TO 30.

WE'RE IN THAT VAN RIGHT NOW, UNLESS THEY ENGINEER A SOFT LANDING, WHICH IS NEVER REALLY BEEN DONE, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S MIRACLES HAPPEN.

SO, SO BUSY FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS CONSISTENT, THEN YOU THINK IT'LL SMELL SEED.

THE GOOD THING IS THE PRICING OF CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO COME DOWN AND MATERIALS WILL COME DOWN, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PROBABLY 12 MONTHS OUT DEPENDING UPON WHAT HAPPENS.

YEAH.

YOU'RE SAYING EVERY PROJECT IS ABOUT 30% OVER BUDGET.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY STEEL IN ANY OF YOUR DESIGN, THEY'RE NOT EVEN GETTING BIDS ON IT BECAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T GET STEEL.

YEAH.

RESIDENTIAL IS GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.

I TALKED TO MY FRIEND, HE SAID HE WENT TO LOWE'S AND THERE WAS A, A TWO BY FOUR BY EIGHT PIECE OF LUMBER, RIGHT.

$10.

IT'S LIKE THREE TIMES WHAT IT NORMALLY IS IN COPPER AND APPARENTLY NICOLE, OH YES.

CRANE.

AND IT ALL COMES FROM SOMEWHERE.

UM, BUT WE DO HAVE TWO EVENTS UPCOMING THAT WE'RE PROMOTING EACH LAP.

SO ON TUESDAY, MARCH 22ND, UM, WE ARE DOING A GREATER, WHICH IS THE GREATER RICHMOND AREA COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE EVENT.

UM, WE ARE DOING A NEW WAVE OF GROWTH EVENT WITH NEW KENT AND HANOVER TO TALK ABOUT LOOP DEVELOPMENT THAT IS BEING PUSHED OUT INTO OUR, UM, WHAT WE'RE TURNING THE OUTLINE COMMUNITIES FROM THE BIG FOUR.

UM, SO IT'LL BE A REALLY GOOD CHANCE TO KIND OF PROMOTE, UM, KIND OF THOSE FOUR COMMUNITIES.

AND THEN THE META SPRING CONFERENCES BEING NITA IS VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION, UM, IS BEING HELD IN SHORT PUMP.

UM, WE ARE SPONSORING THE YOUNG PROFESSIONAL EVENT, INTERACT SHACK.

THE GOLF TOURNAMENT IS BEING HELD AT SYCAMORE SYCAMORE CREEK.

AND THEN THE SPEAKER GIFT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO IS REPRESENTED AT RIVER OF COTTAGE.

THERE WE GO.

I'LL GET THERE.

UM, SO WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY GOOD REPRESENTATION AT THAT CONFERENCE AS WELL MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT.

I'M THE CO-CHAIR AND I'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR IT.

UM, YEAH, SO WE, WE FEEL REALLY REPRESENTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IT'S BEEN KILLING ME, BUT YES, WE WERE REPRESENTED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT ONE OF THOSE CONFERENCES REALLY WELL.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT AND THAT'S EVERYTHING.

APRIL 30TH, I'LL BE AT DISNEY.

THANK YOU, MS. HERBERT.

AND THEN, UM, WE DID AGREE TO DO MOCK INTERVIEWS.

DID YOU SETTLE ON THE 30TH? UM, MS. WORLEY, UM, I'VE HAD FOUR

[D. Existing Business Update]

UM, I DID MEET WITH ROXANNE, UM, AND POWER TAN TO TALK TO HER ABOUT A WORKFORCE SUMMIT, UM, WHERE WE CAN GET BUSINESSES TOGETHER TO LEARN OF EXISTING RESOURCES, TO HELP THEM HIRE AND RETAIN BUSINESSES.

SO WHAT I HEAR IS, UM, THE VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION THROUGH VIRGINIA CAREER WORKS HAS AN AWESOME KIND OF RESOURCE THAT IF YOU SEND THEM A JOB APPLICATION, THEY'LL POST IT FOR YOU.

AND THEN THEY'LL TRY TO MATCH PEOPLE LOOKING FOR JOBS TO YOUR JOB, BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT CUMBERSOME FOR BUSINESSES TO GET, TO TAKE THE TIME, TO SIGN UP AND TO MAKE

[00:30:01]

SO WHAT I WOULD LOVE IS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THEM, COME AND BUSINESSES BE ABLE TO DO LIKE A, A WALKTHROUGH EVENT, YOU KNOW, AND THEY COME IN AND THEY SAY, OKAY, YOU'RE AND JUST GET SIGNED UP ONCE AND DONE.

AND THEN WHEN THEY LEAVE THERE, THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN NOW POST THEIR JOB WITH PATIENTS.

SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, UM, AND GET THAT DONE.

UM, I'VE DONE 14 BUSINESS TOUCHES SINCE THE LAST MEETING.

I ALSO ATTENDED, UH, THE CENTERVILLE VILLAGE IN COURTHOUSE VILLAGE, ROUND TABLE EVENTS WHERE, UM, MS. DURBIN AND MR. SOLANO WERE IN THE COURTHOUSE.

AND YOU WERE ALSO IN CENTERVILLE.

UM, I THINK THERE'S, I, I PERSONALLY FOUND IT GREAT TO HEAR JUST, UM, FEEDBACK JUST FROM A FLY ON THE WALL OF WHAT BUSINESSES THINK ABOUT CREDENTIALING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, UM, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS ATTENDING THOSE.

AND, UM, THERE WAS A QUESTION AS TO, OH, DID THE DOC, MR. SLOAN WAS ASKING, DID THE DOC AND, UM, RENTALS HAVE THEIR MEETING? YES.

OKAY.

SO YES.

AND ACTUALLY, UH, WE DID A TOUR WITH THE CONSULTANTS OF THE REYNOLDS CAMPUS, UM, AND, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LIBRARY, GOOCHLAND CARES COUNTY STAFF AND THE CONSULTANTS ALL TOWARD IT.

UM, SO REYNOLDS IS SORT OF GOING THROUGH A STRATEGIC PLAN OF THEIR OWN.

UM, THEY HAVE VERY LIMITED STUDENTS THAT ARE ON THE CAMPUS RIGHT NOW.

UM, THEY WILL NOT SELL THE CAMPUS, UM, BUT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE USES B IT'S 90 ACRES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GOT A LOT OF VACANT LAND.

MAYBE THERE COULD BE OTHER USES ON A COLLEGE.

UM, YOU KNOW, SARAH AND KCF AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, PERHAPS IT'S AN INCUBATOR.

UM, POSSIBLY COULD IT BE A LOCATION FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING? CAUSE IT WOULD BE A TRUST, YOU KNOW, LAND TRUST.

YOU COULD KEEP THE HOUSING AFFORDABLE, THEY'RE OPEN TO BUSINESS USES.

SO, UM, WE'RE EXPLORING THAT WITH THEM AS WELL.

KIND OF AN EXCITING TIME THAT WE'RE PLANNING A SMALL AREA PLAN AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE DOING A PLAN SO WE CAN STORE IT IN A COORDINATE LEASED PROPERTY, $1 A YEAR FROM COLLEGE, IT'S SUCH A GREAT RESOURCE AND THEY HAVE DONE SUCH A, IN MY MIND, A POOR JOB OF MARKETING, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY THEY HAD TO PULL THE MECHANICS PROGRAM, WHICH IS REALLY A SHAME.

WELL, WHAT THEY HAD INDICATED IS THAT GOT PULLED OUT.

SO I GUESS THEY HAD A CONTRACT WITH THE TOYOTA, BUT THEY WANTED IT TO BE ON THE BUS LINE.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

SO A LOT OF THEIR PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE MOVING THERE IS BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION.

UM, DID THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT I, THEIR STUDENT VOICE, UH, IS IT 14 STUDENTS? I BELIEVE THAT ARE ACTUALLY ACTIVE IN AND THEN EVERY SO OFTEN THEY'LL DO A CDL, RIGHT? ACTUALLY THAT USED TO BE, THEY USED TO SELL TO BE TRAINED.

SO THE MECHANIC SHOP IS BEING COMPLETELY MOVED TO THE, UM, UH, PAIRING ROAD CAMPUS.

THE ONLY THING THAT IS STILL HERE AS A FULL-TIME PROGRAM IS THE, UM, HORTICULTURE.

EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN RELOCATED TO EITHER DOWNTOWN, ALMOST ALL THEIR MEDICAL STUFF HAS GONE DOWNTOWN AND EVERYTHING ELSE HAS GONE APPARENT ROAD.

AND AGAIN, BOTH OF THEM ARE ACCESS TO A BUS LINE.

SO IT'S OPPORTUNITY.

THERE'S UM, THERE'S NO RIEBER OR RE UH, LOOKING AT CLOSING THE WOMEN'S FIST HOLDING.

YEAH.

THEY, WELL, THEY SAID THEY WILL NEVER SELL THE PROPERTY.

THAT'S THAT'S, THAT'S BOTH.

OKAY.

BOTH STATE AGENCIES.

THAT WAS THE ONLY COMMITMENT THEY WERE BILLING TO GIVE US THAT THEY WERE NEVER SELLING THE PROPERTY BECAUSE THERE WAS A BIG MOVE 5, 6, 7 YEARS AGO, BECAUSE IT'S SO UPDATED.

JUST LIKE ABOUT THAT IS A GOVERNMENT ENTITY WILL NEVER OUTSIDE THE

[00:35:01]

IT'S A WHOLLY, IT'S AN ASSET.

IT'S A POWER BASE.

NEVER IS.

YOU'LL NEVER GET IT BACK.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA GIVE ANYTHING UP TO KEEP YOUR BUDGETS HIGHLY DEVELOPED IN A LAND.

I MEAN, THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY HAD THAT LAND.

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT CAN BE DONE THERE MUCH? UM, IT'S SO THE CONSULTANTS WILL BE GOING OUT WITH A SURVEY.

SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE THAT SURVEY, BUT IT'LL BE OUT LATER AT THE END OF THIS MONTH THROUGH APRIL, UM, TO JUST GAIN MORE FEEDBACK FROM THE CITIZENS.

SO, UM, IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ALREADY, PLEASE TAKE THE SURVEY.

UM, THEY'RE GOING TO BRING BACK SUGGESTIONS, UM, IN THE SUMMER WITH HOPES OF BRINGING IT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND PUBLIC FORMATS AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE FALL.

RIGHT.

SO MORE TO COME ON THAT.

SO THEIR NEXT ROUND OF MEETINGS ARE THE, REALLY THE MEAT OF IT.

SO THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS AND IDEAS AND PEOPLE CAN REACT TO THEM.

WHAT WOULD GO INTO THE FINAL PLAN? SO AS A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT MEETING, UM, I'VE HAD TWO, UM, EGG BASED VISITS, UH, THIS PAST WEEK.

UM, I WENT OUT ON BET WITH A MUSHROOM FARMER.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNEW THAT WE HAD A MUSHROOM FARMER HERE AND IT WAS QUITE INTERESTING.

UM, SO YEAH, SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, UM, FOR A GENE, UM, MUSHROOMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND HE ACTUALLY HAS FOUR GENE EVENTS, SO YOU CAN GO OUT AND HE'LL TEACH YOU LIKE WHICH MUSHROOMS TO LOOK FOR AND NOT LOOK FOR AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT WAS SUPER INTERESTING TOURISM UH, IT'S OFF OF, UM, CARTERSVILLE ROAD, , MULTIPLE TYPES OF MUSHROOMS, TEAS AND , AND THEN HE SELLS THEM, UM, ONLINE AND THROUGH FARMER'S MARKETS, THE STUFF THAT NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT CENTRAL, HE DOESN'T SELL THE RETAIL THERE.

NO, NO.

UM, SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS, THAT'S THE KIND OF FUN STUFF THAT I COULD DO.

UM, BUT I FIND ALL THIS INFORMATION AND, UM, BRING IT BACK IN THE WEEKEND.

WE CAN MARK IT OUT.

SO, UM, OTHER INITIATIVES THAT I'M WORKING ON IS I'M ABOUT HALFWAY DONE WITH OUR GETTING THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER KIND OF LAUNCHED.

UM, SO I'M HOPING TO HAVE THAT DONE BY THE END OF THE MONTH FINGERS CROSSED.

UM, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IT LOOKS GREAT SO FAR.

UM, AND SO I'M HOPING THAT REALLY GET ACTIVITY.

IS THAT THE SAME NEWSLETTER YOU MENTIONED YOU CAN LOOK TOURISM, STRATEGIC PLAN, A MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS.

SO IT'S, IT'S NAMED GOOCHLAND FOR BUSINESS, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM NEWSLETTER.

UM, AND THAT'S THAT FOR ME? SO REMEMBER THE NEWSLETTER GO TO, SO RIGHT NOW I HAVE A LIST IT'S DONE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND I HAVE A LIST OF BUSINESSES THAT I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH, UM, OR HAVE GIVEN ME THEIR BUSINESS CARD, OR I HAVE SOME TYPE OF DEALINGS WITH THEM.

I'M ADDING THEM TO A PRE-APPROVED SUBSCRIBER LIST.

SO IT'LL GO OUT TO THEM.

THEN I HAVE A LIST OF, UM, EMAIL ADDRESSES THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY, I DON'T WANT TO SPAM PEOPLE.

SO WHAT THEY'LL GET IS A, HERE IS A OPTION TO OPT INTO THIS NEWSLETTER.

UM, AND THEN THEY CAN OPT IN AT THAT POINT AND THEN THEY'LL BE ON THE LIST, BUT THERE IS A, UM, ONCE IT GOES LIVE, YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND THERE'LL BE AN OPT-IN BUTTON TO OPT INTO THE NEWSLETTER LIST.

AND THEN AS I MEET WITH PEOPLE, I'M ALWAYS JUST GOING TO ASK, CAN I ADD YOU TO OUR NEWSLETTER AND THEN ADMIN? SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LIKE A PRINTED ONE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT IMPACT DIFFERENT AREAS.

IT'S A BIRD.

IT IS A VIRTUAL EMAIL AND IT WILL BE ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.

OUR CAPTAIN, OUR WEBSITE, YOU CAN GET, UM, A QR CODE ON YOUR MARKETING MATERIALS THAT WHERE SOMEBODY COULD AUTOMATICALLY SIGN UP FOR IT.

[00:40:01]

WE WILL PUT ONE ON OUR FRONT DOOR.

THANK YOU.

OTHER BUSINESSES.

[VI. Other Business]

YOU WERE OUTSTANDING AS ALWAYS.

THAT WAS THE LAW.

AFTER THAT FIRST JOKE FELL FLAT.

WELL, SEE, I, I KNEW THERE WAS SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THERE WE'VE HAD SOME, WELL, MR. PETERSON HORN, WASN'T HITTING THEM EITHER.

SO, OH, I WAS THE ONE ABOUT THE ELECTRON.

THEY LAUGHED AT HOW MANY STUDENTS WERE THERE IN THE JURY.

THIS IS, THIS IS ALWAYS THE ONE WHERE THEY BRING A FRIEND.

SO IT'S ALWAYS DOUBLED.

WE MAXED OUT.

IT'S PRETTY GOOD.

I WILL SAY I PRESENTED TO THEM TWO MONTHS AGO, MONTHS AGO.

UM, AND I JUST GOT NEW.

OH YEAH.

IS THERE A RUSH FIELD? AND THEY'RE LIKE, WE WANT TO GET INVOLVED.

THOUGHT WE PRESENTED A MONTH AGO.

I THOUGHT THIS WAS A REALLY ACTIVE GROUP.

I MEAN, SOME YEARS YOU SORT OF ARE UP THERE AND THEY'RE JUST SORT OF STARING AT YOU.

BUT THIS ONE, THIS GROUP SEEMED VERY ENGAGED AND SUE, WHEN WE WERE THERE, IT WAS TO BRING ME FRIENDS.

SO IT WAS DOUBLE FIND CHAIRS.

NICE.

SOUNDS GOOD.

HAS A GOOD GROUP.

NOW, UH, THE FARM BUREAU MAXED OUT THE FARM BUREAU ROOM.

THAT'S A BIG RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT WAS THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION.

[VII. Closed Session: In accordance with the provisions of Virginia Code Sections 2.2-3711]

FANTASTIC.

WE, OUR

[VIII. Adjournment: Next Regular Meeting of the Authority is April 20, 2022]