2011-11-17November 17, 2011 (Adjourned Meeting)
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An adjourned meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held on
November 17, 2011, at 8:30 p.m., Lane Auditorium, County Office Building, McIntire Road, Charlottesville,
Virginia. The meeting was adjourned from November 10, 2011.
PRESENT: Mr. Kenneth C. Boyd, Mr. Lindsay G. Dorrier, Jr., Ms. Ann Mallek (arrived at 9:00
a.m.), Mr. Dennis S. Rooker and Mr. Duane E. Snow (arrived at 9:00 a.m.).
ABSENT: Mr. Rodney S. Thomas.
OFFICERS PRESENT: Mr. Thomas C. Foley, County Executive, Ms. Lee Catlin, Assistant to the
County Executive for Community & Business Partnerships and Ms. Susan Stimart, Economic
Development Facilitator.
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The purpose of this meeting was to allow the Board to participate in a SWOT (strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis as part of the regional target industry study that is underway
with the help of Younger Associates. The SWOT analysis is one of the six components of the study and it
was felt that the Board’s participation was important to the thoroughness and overall success of the
regional study and the Albemarle County component of the study. The group meeting will analyze the
economic development strengths and weaknesses of the TJP region and the individual localities. The
plan for that meeting is to bring together a large group of stakeholders to provide input for the finalization
of the SWOT analysis.
The following agenda was used for the meeting:
Welcome Tim O’Brien
Study Overview and Preliminary Findings from Workforce Analysis Sharon Younger
Preliminary Findings of Existing Business Analysis Tom Tveidt
Preliminary Findings of Technology Asset Inventory Catherine Renault
Breakout Sessions — Discussion of Strengths and Weaknesses
Preliminary List of Strengths and Weaknesses
Note that the following list is not intended to be a complete list. This list represents a summary of items
from preliminary meetings and interviews with local economic development influencers and is meant to
serve as a starting point of the strengths and weaknesses discussion today.
TJP Regional Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths:
• Highly desirable location with great natural beauty
-Allows for the attraction and retention of talent
• Proximity to U.S. Capital
• University of Virginia —
-Proven record of business start-ups and tech transfer
-Offers powerful combination of strength in Engineering, Business, Law, Medicine
• Employers report good experience with graduates from PVCC and Germanna
• Good specialized training for workforce
• Good base of major companies and federal agencies located within the region
• Opportunities for small businesses who can contract with federal government operations, such
as Rivanna Station
• Generally good commercial air access and private air service throughout region
• Selective in economic development, want to preserve the quality of life
• Diversity of counties regarding assets and desire for growth creates “a place for most
everything” within the region
Weaknesses:
• Some lack of cohesion among some counties within TJP region
• Desire to limit or tightly control growth in some areas needs to be balanced with the need to
present the region as open for business opportunities
• Amtrak service a plus, but more service would make it a better asset to the region
• Some perception that the region is not interested in new economic opportunities
Albemarle County and City of Charlottesville
Strengths:
• Most of the strengths listed above for the region apply
• Technology transfer opportunities generated by University of Virginia
• Employers report availability of highly skilled and technical workers
November 17, 2011 (Adjourned Meeting)
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Weaknesses:
• Start-up businesses in technical fields would like to have more support on how to manage the
business
• Relocation of start-up companies as they grow larger
• Potential need for light manufacturing space — in the past restrictions in the University parks
have made it too difficult to adapt space to the needs of research companies who are
expanding into production
• Zoning, codes, approval processes can present obstacles to growth
• Not yet perceived as a bio-tech hub ranking with Massachusetts, North Carolina or California
Culpepper County
Strengths:
• Excellent access to trunk line fiber optics
• Redundant electric power sources (Dominion & RAD)
• Location is outside the “blast zone” of Washington D.C.
• Have success stories including Library of Congress, Terramark, Swift Bank that have capitalized
on these strengths
• Recently resolved water and sewer extension conflict
• Long-term program to improve public education is now yielding results
• Vibrancy in the retail/restaurant market
Weaknesses:
• Some examples of companies not retaining expatriate workers due to lack of amenities and
excellent school options
• Many out-commuters who face a long commutes
• Lack of public industrial land
Fluvanna
Strengths:
• Solid, recently adopted comprehensive plan including [conomic Development Plan
-Looking for, and ready to pursue economic targets
• New High School with good technical capabilities and focus on technology
• Direct access to James River
• Significant historic resources and properties
Weaknesses:
• No Infrastructure for Tourism
• Lack of water, sewer and telecommunications infrastructure
Greene
Strengths:
• Available land, with a strategically outlined growth area supported by a comprehensive plan
• Business-friendly environment
• Financially stable local government and low tax rates
• Relatively low cost of living
• 181, l64 and US 29
• Access to numerous colleges
• Water and sewer upgrades in much of the county
Weaknesses:
• Broadband internet access may be lacking
• Some remaining need for water, sewer and recycling capabilities
l.ouisa
Strengths:
• Industrial Park with rail service under development — one of the few rail- served sites available
in the region
• Interstate Access 164
• Pro-economic development board
• Good tax structure for manufacturing and distribution
• Favorable cost of doing business
November 17, 2011 (Adjourned Meeting)
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Weaknesses:
• Need suitable highway access from new industrial park to Interstate
Madison
Strengths:
• 1-29 Corridor good location for retail and tourism-related businesses
• Proximity to National Park supports tourism
• Local residents like the unique shops that exist in the county
• Centrally located so that residents can easily reach major employment centers such as the
National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC)
Weaknesses:
• Limited access to broadband
• Largest business operation, Plough and Hearth, no longer locally owned, which could limit
expansion opportunities
• Aging population
• Limited and costly water and sewer connection limit business growth (by design)
Nelson County
Strengths:
• Tourism is strong -- wineries, micro-breweries, cideries are growing and there seems to be a
consensus that viticulture should be supported to become a full economic cluster
• Land to support wineries and related spin-offs
• Highways 29 and 151
• Have a strong sense of rural place that there is a desire to maintain
Weaknesses:
• Aging population
• Water and sewer availability
Orange County
Strengths:
• Low tax rates, no business professional occupational license fees
• Have available commercial and industrial properties
• Proximity to broadband truck lines
• Good through-traffic and distribution, even without major high-ways
Weaknesses:
• Lack of interstate highway access
• Non-resident landowners opposed to growth
• Minimal infrastructure — broadband, sewer, water
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Adjourn.
At 12:00 noon, the meeting was adjourned.
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Chairman
Approved by Board
Date: 01/04/2012
Initials: EWJ