Good morning, everyone! The Floyd County EDA met Monday evening, so technically I owed you this report yesterday. I went back and forth about whether to even write-up the meeting though, because it was so brief. It only lasted about 30 minutes—an early Christmas gift for the authority members!
Members mostly discussed signage at Floyd Growth Center Building 1 and FY 2022 budget requests. Tonight, the Virginia Department of Health will host a virtual Q&A about the COVID-19 vaccine. I’ll be watching, and provide the low-down on all things coronavirus tomorrow. Then Friday, I’ll have coverage from the Dec. 17 Floyd Town Council meeting.
Still accepting tips of any kind, but especially for holiday-themed stories, at aspinksdugan@gmail.com. Have a great rest of your week.
-Ashley
EDA talks signage, budget at last regular meeting of 2020
Floyd County official Tabitha Hodge kicked off Monday evening’s Economic Development Authority meeting by sharing nearly-complete blueprints for the first building at Floyd’s Growth Center, which will be constructed next fall. She told authority members one of the final decisions to make is how to label the sign on the front of Building 1.
“I was thinking that we wouldn’t name it, and we would just let whatever business…put their sign there,” said EDA member Joy Gardner. In the future, the county intends that the Growth Center will have multiple buildings, each of which can be rented or bought out by a business that comes into Floyd. Garder said naming rights should be retained by those businesses, especially if a sole business occupies an entire building.
“In my opinion, if one company goes in there, the Floyd Growth Center name doesn’t really make a lot of sense,” Gardner continued. “I think if we have an opportunity to rent, lease or sell it to the one company, I wouldn’t invest money in putting up a sign that would be replaced.” Hodge clarified that the building wouldn’t be called the “Floyd Growth Center,” as that name refers to the entire complex. Nonetheless, there seemed to be consensus that for now, Building 1 should remain nameless.
New EDA member Marty Holliday drew a comparison with the Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, and said the Floyd Growth Center should prioritize signage that advertises businesses’ names, rather than Floyd-centric names. “If you’ve ever been out to the CRC…and tried to find a company, it’s like a nightmare,” Holliday said. Signage isn’t clear enough.
Authority member Andy Finn, who also owns Finn Graphics, Inc. in Floyd, pointed out that signage will be the last thing that goes on the building after it’s constructed. So there’s no rush to make a decision. He offered to create a proposal for Growth Center signage and share it with Hodge and Community & Economic Development Director Lydeana Martin in the next couple months.
The EDA also discussed its budget requests for the 2022 fiscal year. It has a fund in its typical budget for maintenance of and improvement to the Commerce Center, so members discussed various efforts that could be supported with that money. Ideas included cleaning the brick column that sports the county seal and Commerce Center sign. The column has white scaling on the outside. Members also suggested further landscaping and lawn-mowing.
In last year’s budget, the EDA received $14,000 for the C4 Business Development Series rather than $10,000, and EDA Chairman Jon Beegle explained how that increase in funding made a big difference. “That program has gotten really popular and I think it’s doing a lot for the community,” Beegle said. C4 provides training for aspiring small business owners on finance, marketing and myriad other topics. At the end of the six-week program, there is a pitch competition where participants can win cash prizes.
In 2020, the program saw a record number of pitches—10, with the top-prize winner being awarded $5,000 for costs associated with their business. Hodge said every pitch was excellent. “It was a very hard decision,” to pick a first place winner, she said, which made her grateful that the program had more prize money to give away than normal. Every participant worked really hard and deserved recognition for their efforts, she said.
Beegle floated the idea of asking the county for $15,000 in funding for the next fiscal year, but EDA member Jim Newlin said doing so is tricky. “I think this year and this time—maybe let’s hold on that,” he said. “It’s successful, I agree, and very good things are coming out of it. But in this day and time, it’d be difficult to go back to the board and ask for more money—it’s just a principle kind of thing.”
The EDA agreed and approved the budget requests as presented, which were largely the same as the prior fiscal year. The authority will meet in January to pick new officers and set its meeting time for 2021.
CORRECTION: A little editor’s note to wrap up today’s edition. I got an email about my story on the Holiday Pottery Market. I referred to 16 Hands as a “studio,” but in fact, it’s an artists collective. Thanks to the folks who read closely and offer kind feedback.