ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Present: Ms. Emily Pelton, Mr. Erwin Berry, Mr. Greg Kelly, Mr. John
Bruguiere and
Mr. Natt Hall (Staff: Ms. Maureen Kelley)
Absent: Mr. Bennett Saunders and Mr. Alphonso Taylor
THOMAS JEFFERSON PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (TJPED) BUDGET
REQUEST: Ms. Nora Gillespie reported on the past year’s Small Business
Development Center activities, noting 179 Nelson clients served by
counseling in 2010 with 11% of all training attendees coming from the
county. She reported that the economic impact (jobs created and
retained, sales and capital formation) numbers are not yet in for
2010.
Mr. Harvey reviewed the work that TJPED does for the county including
serving as a clearing house for information for businesses searching
for sites and research/data for localities working with those
businesses. He also reviewed the programs offered by the Workforce
Center in Charlottesville to assist Nelson businesses and individuals
seeking training for employment. Mr. Harvey reviewed the TJPED draft
strategic plan.
Members voted unanimously to fund TJPED, SBDC and the Workforce Center
at the same level as last year ($20,000 total for all three).
BUSINESS APPRECIATION EVENT: Ms. Kelley reported that it is time to
begin planning for May. After discussion, members directed staff to
work with Ms. Gillespie to develop an information program with a small
social component after.
OTHER: Ms. Kelley introduced Ms. Cindy Wilson, the new full-time
Economic Development & Tourism Specialist working in the Visitor
Center office on in Lovingston.
With no Public Comment, the meeting was adjourned.
