Yes, you are good to go. All right. Roll call. Okay. Here we go. Good evening. I'm sorry. Ms. Cornelius cannot be here this evening. She's not feeling well. So I'm going to fill in and it's big shoes to fill in. So hopefully we can do this properly. Mr. Farmer. Here. Mr. O'Brien. Here. Ms. Watkins. Here. Mr. Dishman. Here. Mr. Scari absent. Mr. Zant. Here. Mr. Lewis absent. So we have a quorum. I believe we have a quorum, yes. First thing is adoption of the agenda. Do I hear a motion? I move approval. Second. motion. I move approval. Second. Mr. Farmer. Aye. Mr. O'Brien. Aye. Miss Watkins. Aye. Mr. Dishman. Aye. Mr. Zim. Aye. All eyes. Okay, so next is is there any public comment? I'll take that as a note. So now we're going to move to action items. First is approval of the minutes from the January 18th meeting, which are in your packet? Summered. Second. Oh, I'm supposed to record who was the, who moved. Okay. Thank you, Jack. And then Mr. O'Brien, you seconded, right? Right. Okay, so Mr. Zishman. Mr. Dishman. Mr. Dishman. Mr. Dishman. Mr. Dishman. Mr. Dishman. Mr. Dishman. Mr. to consider and there was a subcommittee meeting in the past week where we went through each of them. So you want each person to talk through it or do you want to provide background because you did an excellent job of writing it up. Thank you. Welcome. I'd be more than happy to give it over to you. Sure. First, I would like to start by saying happy birthday Mr. O'Brien. Thank you. Thank you for spending your evening here with us. First we're going to take a look at Stanley construction. They applied for a Route 1 grant requesting $10,649.68 in grant money to enhance the property with landscaping sidewalks and signage. And you can see in your packet the estimated costs that are listed. The subcommittee met. Mr. Brine, would you like to read the findings of the, or talk about the findings of the subcommittee? How sure would it? do you like to read the findings of the, or talk about the findings of the subcommittee? How sure would. The request was for $21,299.36, which comes under the Route 1 enhancement ground or Stanley construction. Stanley construction, I know very well. They've been in business since 1956. Been in Ashland since 1966, the project involves some new landscaping and removal of an old sidewalk and putting a new sidewalk as well as signage. The actual request amount was 10,649,68, which is 50% of the total cost. The committee reviewed that request and recommended that we approve $9,235 which eliminated some of the costs associated with the new sidewalk which was deemed to be routine maintenance. I would recommend that we approve this. Any questions? Is there a motion to approve? I'll make a motion to approve. We have a second. Second. Okay. Mr. Farrow, are we the second? Yes. Okay, thank you. Okay. Mr. O'Brien? Uh. Ms. Watkins? Aye. Mr. Dishman? Uh. Mr. Zim? Aye. Mr. Farmer? Aye. All eyes. All eyes. All right. So the next one is a grant application from a business and Chris Stem. Sorry. Sorry. On January 16th, Chris Stem, who is a local Ashland business owner, applied for the revitalization grant through our EDA, he has a proposition at located at 105 England Street to do some renovation, revitalization, and turn that current property into a different type of restaurant business. He is requesting these funds, he requested $55,000 to cover the entire build out of 105 England Street, which includes the removal of two walls, upgrading the interior, with adding a new bar, tile painting, lighting, and the installation of a four burner gas cooktop with a double oven, new decor tables and chairs. He is looking to open as soon as March 1, 2024. There is a current business sugar fix, which is there, and they will continue to stay in there, use the kitchen and remain as a pre-order business. The change in increase for the Meals Tax Revenue by, and sorry, the change in use will increase the Meals Tax Revenue by an S, sorry, the change in use will increase the Meals Tax Revenue by an S to the amount of $14,250 annually, and the permanent upgrades will modernize the existing building. With the revitalization of 105 England Street, Mr. Stem will bring in approximately six new jobs and the tangible improvements will remain in place for at least 18 months following the completion of construction. Thank you. So at the same meeting on February 8th the committee met and we scored the application using our score sheet. We found that it meets several requirements and it scored well across or well within the categories. However, not all of the improvements in the application fell under the criteria for the revitalization grant. So after reviewing what we did or what did fit within the framework of the grant, we agreed to a recommendation of $7,100, which is equal to 50% of the estimated increases in meals tax revenues. Therefore I move to approve the revitalization grant request. Second. Any discussion before I take a vote? Sorry. In the amount of 7100. Yes. Where is this property? I would like to see. 105 England Street. Right on the corner of it's between artistic fusion and cross from the Walgreens. Valentinos. It's sugar fix. It's currently sugar fix. All wrong place. Sorry. OK. No other discussion. And so, Ms. Watkins, you were the second. No other discussion. Okay. And so, Ms. Watkins, you were the second. I'm going to work here. Okay. It's like right in there. Okay. Ms. Watkins. Hi. Mr. Dishman. Hi. Mr. Zam. Hi. Mr. Farmer. Hi. Mr. O'Brien. Hi. Mr. O'Brien. Hi. Allmer. Aye. Mr. O'Brien. Aye. All right. Okay. Next one is the request from Ashland Garage. On January 22nd, Kelly Lacey, she's a representative for Ashland Garage, applied for the revitalization grant through the EDA. She requested $40,000 in grant money to support the cost of improvements of $44,990 at 111 South Washington Highway. She requested funds to, it's pretty extensive, you can see that, cover degrees level of the floor, installing covering a seam, your, your, yep, cement, silica, and including also the installation of lifts with front arms with quick change height adapters. Ashland Garage believes that this application meets the guidelines of the revitalization grant because both improvements aid in the historic preservation of the building serving as permanent and tangible improvements. Yes. So we didn't designate anyone from the committee to talk about it. So I'll mention that we did not think it would meet the guidelines set forth in the grant application. It wasn't in a historic district and it does not increase the tax revenue in any significant manner. So the recommendation of the committee was to deny the grant application. So I would move put forward a motion to deny the application requests for the 20,000. But would welcome any comments from anybody or questions. And if anybody does not have, I have extra copies of all of the grants and information if you need anything that you'd like to see. So ideally what they were trying to do is to take three bays for their cars and to install these heavy duty lifts. So first of all the floor was not even. They had had some flooding issues. So they were trying to level the floor and then insert this special type of concrete that would keep it from flooding and being waterproof and to bring that up to code, I guess, up to speed. And then they were looking at installing these heavy duty lifts so that they could handle heavier type vehicles, SUVs, and commercial vehicles. All good things, but we didn't feel like it met the required criteria for the grants that we have available for businesses. Was that due to the age of building for instance, or I mean, was some of the distinguishing features which I'll say, where you call them? I mean, it was some of the distinguishing features which all say. You know, the tax revenue wasn't going to see any increase in the meals tax, nothing like that. Seemed to be an investment in the business itself as opposed to something that fit within the confines of the revitalization grant that we have. And it wasn't located in the historic district. of the revitalization grant that we have. And it wasn't located in the historic district. They were also all of these improvements, as Mr. Dishman said, would be internal. Nothing on the outside, which is really proposed and encouraged through the revitalization grant. I see. Great, thank you. Do we vote on that one? I believe we had a motion. I didn't hear a second. We need a motion to deny. Well, I think we have a motion. We don't know that we got a second. I'll second it. Thank you. Excuse me. Mr. Zem. Aye. Mr. Zim. Aye. Mr. Farmer. Aye. Mr. O'Brien. Ms. Watkins. Aye. Mr. Dishman. All eyes. The last grant application is the more complicated one and this is from a business that wants to demolish a building on next to the Taco Bell, the yellow, loan title building and to have a Duncan Donuts replacing. And so they've applied for a demogrant a revitalization grant, and also a grant related to the meals tax. And I need five restaurant corridor. Yeah. Got it. You want to. You can do it. So if you're familiar with this building next to the Taco Bell, it's the, how do I say it? A bit of an outsour, yellow building that's been vacant for quite a long time. Over two years. And so now this is an opportunity to improve the visual aesthetics of the road and install a business that will generate a fairly significant amount of revenue, 1.8 million annually. I don't know if we did. They do a calculation with the meal stacks generally. We've only looked at about a minimum of about $100,000 in meal tax a year, which would only grow if the business grew too. So when the committee met they wanted $40,000 for a demo loan and the committee recommended it. I guess we got to do each one of them separately. The committee wanted to offer them 20,000, which is kind of the limit of what we up to the 20,000 for the demo permit. So that was one that we agreed to want to provide a recommend. And then the other one was we wanted to provide them with the incentive for the meals tax with a rebate capped over the period of time at the $550,000. We did not feel like we did not feel like recommending a revitalization grant, which they also will, because they weren't revitalizing the existing build and they were tearing down the building. So the demo loan forgiveness program is what they applied for asking for money to demolish the entire two story building that has been vacant in order for them to rebuild the one story Duncan. that has been vacant in order for them to rebuild the one story Duncan. With new new signage, new parking and new landscaping. How far along is the deal? I mean, is this a definite deal? They're ready to get started in March. The building, the property is currently under contract. Permits in hand on all that no no no and it rebate works where we expect a hundred thousand dollars in taxes every year but essentially what they don't have to pay that until they hit 550 is that the way it works? Correct. Well, I think Nora might speak better to the restaurant incentive program. So we collect monthly meals tax and they can start their timeline whenever they choose, but they have to within a year meet that 100,000 and then each year they're after meet the 100,000 mark for meals tax, which is approximately 1.8 million in sales annually. And as long as they do that, they get a reimbursement of half of that amount. So they brought in 150, we would give them 75 and they would just get to their mark sooner. And so they have up to six years to get their entire 550,000 back. And so would they get to start determined for the most part when they want their timeline to start? They have also submitted a pro forma suggesting that they will be able to meet those sales revenue, which may not have been included in packet. I mean, I think it came out to this okay. If you need to see it, I have a copy. Do you want to do this? I'm going to do a motion for each separately or? I believe we should go through each grant individually. I'll move to approve the demolition loan. Second. For $20,000. Sorry. Mr. Farmer, okay thank you. Sorry for not a box is here. Mr. Farmer? Aye. Mr. O'Brien? Ms. Watkins? Aye. Mr. Zim? Aye. Mr. Dishman. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. So the second one is we were recommend that we deny the grant for the revitalization funds. So move. Second. the motion. So move. Second. Mr. Farmer. Aye. Mr. O'Brien. Ms. Watkins. Aye. Mr. Zem. Aye. Mr. Dishman. Aye. All eyes. And the last one would be a recommendation from the subcommittee to provide them the I-95 restaurant and center. And then I might just note for all of these, we'll be working with our EDA attorney to get all of the agreements and legal paperwork together. So moved. Second. Sorry. Mr. Zamp. Ms. Watkins. Aye. Mr. O'Brien. Mr. Farmer. Aye. Mr. Dishman. Aye. All right. All right. That's all the grant applications. And I want to thank the subcommittee for meeting and having a very good discussion to go through all this. And thank you Kelly for bringing us a lot of grants for us to consider. Happy to hear. I don't think I've ever seen four in one meeting. So this is great. Treasurer's report, Bonnie's not here. So there is a piece of paper here with the treasure information on it that I probably can speak to as well as she can. Yes, that'd be great. If you'll notice when your treasure is report, the ending balance of January 31st was $4,423,864 and $79.00. I think the most important thing that we need to keep track of and notice on our Treasurer's report is the allocated amount of money that has been confirmed. And so next month you'll get that number will be even bigger with the amounts that the EDA has approved. The only grant that has been expended paid out this year is the San Tucci Route 1 grant. It's $4,085. And we have a budget-mart demo loan forgiveness program that expired on January 26th, 2024, and that was for $20,000. I have that on there this month for you to see it next month that will not be on there, unless the committee would like to see expired funds. It confuses me so I Can if Well those go back to the balance if they've expired since they weren't they have to reapply They will have to read submit a complete application What project was it it was called budget mark? It was before my time, but this is the east of East Ashland convenience store. Yes, sir. Have I managed to understand this graphic basically because it expires since then you're longer allocated. Correct. Yes, it's been moved from the allocated to the expired. And so you can take a look at that we currently have allocated $108,750 with an unallocated balance of $315,000, $114,79. I'm sorry, just to make sure I understand this. The expended. That's paid yes, sir So one of the things as a committee we just now to keep track of is is Kelly keeps bringing more grand applications to us We have to be careful not that we don't use up all our funds On things that may not be as high a priority as the other things she might bring in the future. And I think one of the things that we had originally discussed is looking at some additional sources of income and ways for our board to potentially come together and create some ideas for us to continue to grow that account. Is there a possibility of sort of forecasting out income? Over the course of the year, for instance. Well, I think one of the things, and I'll touch on at the towards the end, it was one of the things that I would like for us to do is I would like for the EDA to come together and create some like a strategic type planning meeting for all of us to sit down and kind of figure out what are the goals, what is the vision, where we headed, where do you want to spend the money, where do you see this, you know, this going and impacting the community, impacting the town, and then also options for finding additional streams of revenue. Yeah, I guess what I'm asking is, I guess I'm under the impression that over the course of the year income will be coming in and various sources anyhow. Correct. So I could take a look at, I'd have to ask Nora or Marnie to see what the bonds account. So I mean, it looks like there was a credit amount for $1,470 and 28 cents. So if that is a monthly amount that comes in, then we can assume that that is times 12. I don't know for how long. So. How many applications and how many dollar amounts were there last year for the grants? That's a great question. And I don't think I have that information in front of me, but I will absolutely get it back to you. But I would just echo, you know, the comment made before where today was an active day relative to the history of you know, you know, last year maybe 6'8", something like that. So just give you some sense of it, some guess. It would be good to have some kind of a forecast just to see what is the next 12 months look like or 18 months look like and money coming in and would it we have going out? Yeah I don't have a great handle on the cycle of funds and how that works. Well I can work with Marnie to get that to see if we can kind of narrow that process down for sure. I will say that as my business visits increase and word gets out, I, yes, I think that this may have been a little bit of a one-off having six applications to review, but I believe that we're going to have some interest coming forward and that people are going to hear and see and, you know, words going to really start to spread. So we'll have to be a little more discriminating. So we'll have to be a little more discriminating. So we. Which leads us to I think a really important strategic discussion I think is. Is going our way? Are we able to have a strategic session closed or does it have to be public? You're saying public. Okay. Just step in there. Do you have an anticipated time frame on that? I don't I can send out Availability if we want to do it in an evening or if we wanted you know carve out a session We're happy to provide dinner for all of us to kind of sit together if if And I think it would be important for all members to be present. I think you would help you too as well knowing that we're to prioritize some efforts as well. Definitely. Okay. Mr. Hepty is that a conversation that you would want to be part of? And the reason I ask is because of your experience with other EDAs, do you have forward thinking in ways that our EDA can continue to grow its funds? I like to think I have forward thinking capabilities, but I just more up to you guys to decide whether I do. I'm happy to participate, but I don't think it's necessary. It's not really a legal issue. It's more of a policy decision on your end, but I'm happy to participate. Give you my two cents. I would, you know, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Heptie as part of that interview process. He did reveal that he does have very good ideas, so I would encourage that thought if he's willing. Sure. And even if perhaps we take him our brainstorm list and see what he has to say about it. So, absolutely. I think we have a consensus that we'd like to do that. You got it. I'll send out some availability options. Oh, you want to, since you want to do the economic development. Yeah. We have had CBO's bookkeeping tie, which is a home occupation, We have a home occupation, tie nail spa, gold one on 1206 by Washington Highway, which unfortunately they had just let me know that they closed on February 12. This is all January and February business, I'm sorry I didn't start with that, or new business licenses in January and February business, I'm sorry I didn't start with that, or new business licenses in January and February. We have beyond cards at 215 North Washington Highway, C's Bounty, we have a new restaurant, 117 North Washington Highway, Curry events and designs, another home occupation, and MSI or MS International, which is a existing business, but they just recently learned that they needed a business license. So they have applied and been approved. We have a round table committee LLC, which is again another home occupation. And for EDA grants, Dabney Funeral Home, the demolition loan forgiveness has been approved and signed. And I am waiting on the final cost of construction from him so that I can confirm the final cost of the project amount compared to his original submission. The pool in has gone. I noticed that today. It is. I just need to check the numbers to make sure that his estimate it sure does. So as soon as I can get that estimate confirmed and then we'll be able to submit that check request. Our EDA outdoor recreation grant made the Richmond Times dispatch. If you hadn't had a chance to see that click on that link that was sent out in the email and the R&DC revitalization grant for $67,500 and the McDonald's Route 1 grant for $11,250 have both been signed and accepted. Business visits. I went to visit Cawthorn Paper with the EDP and if you're not familiar with Cawthorn Paper, it's a fourth generation business that's been here in town and they do paper. So they, anyway, it's a really cool father-son business that they are, that they have over there. And I went with VEDP to discuss the Economic Gardening Program, which has been offered through VEDP. And VEDP is a, or the Economic Gardening is a statewide program and it provides second-stage companies with these custom resources to identify and resolve their growth challenges. And so they're going to meet with them over a period of about six weeks and they will really get started in just helping them figure out how to grow their business and kind of one of some challenges and obstacles. And this is all free of charge through the VEDP. And I was fortunate enough to be on the discovery call, so my hope is I'll be listening in and just staying in the loop, but just as a kind of a listener and a bystander to be there to help support them when if they need it. In the past month, I have visited Sheehy Ford, auto marketplace, Luxe Verlay, Virginia truck and trailer, Bigfoot trailers, your mom'slet, Virginia truck and trailer, Bigfoot trailers, your mom's cafe, Seas Bounty, remix market, gold one, and corgi fights as of today. I've had a really busy month in business networking. I have been to events at the DEIC, the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, and Market Ashland Partnership. Also several agency partner meetings, which has been great, Randolph-Macon College, and the Career Edge Boot Camp. I've met three or four times with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Downtown Ashland Association, Hanover County Public Schools, and the Hanover County Economic Development. Business prospects, we have a new business owner interested in a bicycle business. So we are really excited about that. It's a former Ashland business owner. They already have their own property here. They're already zoned for business. He has submitted his marketing plan and his pro forma. He and I have met together to discuss this and he will also be applying for the outdoor recreation grant. And I have had three inquiries this month for business rental space in town. And there isn't much. Secretary of well installation and celebration on March 30th. And also if you didn't know, micro transit is coming to Ashland on March 18th. Micro transit is an on-demand, kind of like a Uber, curved curb pickup. Ashland is lucky enough to be one of five localities that's in the pilot program. They have a one-year program, pilot program, and then they have a one-to-three-year program and then a three to five year program. I am tourism is also coming to Ashland and March. We have Virginia Regional Tourism is offering the I am tourism ambassador program right here in Town Hall in March and more information in the specific date will come. Community Leadership Academy that is I believe applications are open and that is something offered through the town of Ashland. Let's get down to business. Our Ashland newsletter went out on Tuesday, February 13th, and we are featuring grant recipients, resources, learning opportunities, and networking for small business. our RMC J-Term internship is completed. And at our next meeting on March 21, Mr. Fera will provide a financial overview of the town as part of the budget process. And then the last thing I have to add is that I'll send out notes for availability for an EDA strategy session. Do you have any questions for me? Thank you. Next on the agenda, Jack, do you want to give a little update on handovers or economic development? Yes. handover economic development? Yes, so we had our meeting yesterday, the handover economic development authority. And it was sort of interesting because they raised a lot of the same sort of thoughts and approaches as we have discussed. They're looking for sources of revenue. And the thing about hiring a financial advisor to find a new bond revenues, so I wasn't sure if there might be a conversation to be had between us and them and so far as sort of how we've approached that. And maybe there might be an opportunity there. approach that and maybe there might be an opportunity there. There's lots of prospects and sites and projects around and about. It's sort of interesting, you know, with the Tyson factory, which meaning you might be familiar with on 33. Of course, that's vacant. You know, it was sort of described in the meeting as sort of a diamond property, between its location. And now, everyone sort of myths that the factor itself might not be in great shape. And you know, it may not necessarily be ready to go for, you know, a modern manufacturing sort of situation, but the property is adjacent to another property and as a track, it's a fairly large track, which is based upon sort of amenities in location is considered a very sort of, should be a desirable track. So for industrial purposes? Yeah, interesting. I think they've, I think they've, the other track has been considered for, or has been thought about for, say residential, but they're really trying to aim for industrial manufacturing. What else? There's a lot of buzz around the truck data center and trying to, you know, gin up support for a February 28th meeting at the county's board of supervisors. As a precursor to that, I and a couple of other members of the EDA over a span of time and supervisors have been doing a tour of the Pixel Factory, and I did a tour today of the Pixel Factory. It really is quite amazing how much these very unassuming businesses are out there basically handling for companies like Netflix and Amazon. So it walks through the halls down these stacks of technology boxes. Let's just call that, I'm not sure what the technical name would be. And you know, he looks at, he points out a little box, he says, you know, a little box right there, so he says, so that basically drives the self-driving components of a text test law, you know, how they can self-drive themselves for a like a 75 mile radius around here. And that box, you know, looks like a set player. That, you know, there's 40,000 people watching Netflix so that little box right now. And, you know, and so it's, you know, so, and I think there's a main line of data, sort of data line, I guess, you'd call it sort of coming up from, I suppose, is the transit, maybe an all-translantic cable sort of coming through it, sort of coming up, 64, and sort of taking a right onto 95. And so, this particular area has just become very, very ideal for these types of businesses. And so there is some opposition out there. I think the opposition is based upon ideas like, how much sound will the backup generators produce or, you know, and other things like that. But frankly, my impression was compared to a lot of other types of businesses that we could have. You know, it's a very, very low impact business. And so all that is to say, you know, if anyone cares to attend the meeting on February 28th, certainly highly encouraged to do so, I think it's going to be, it could be a lively meeting with opposition. I think the folks who are certainly in support of this idea are looking for all the support they can get. Did you make it through planning? I don't know the answer to that. It has. So now- 29 is the border supervisor, so they've recommended it on to them? Yeah. Yeah. So I think it's going to be, you know, I think it's going to be a meeting where there could be, you know, lots of voices in the room. And so I think, you know, anyone who may be interested to go out and support it, I certainly would encourage that. I went to the citizen meeting they had at the Ann Overtavvern and it was lively. But I asked the questions today for instances, and I won't get this exactly right, but we know that a lot of warehouses sort of facilities are going up there. So, well, if you could produce a chart that showed how much one of those warehouses produces the tax revenues and traffic, versus how much of one of these data center produces in revenues and traffic, I mean, I think it's 20 fold, you know, and so far as the revenues. And so you would have to have 20 of those big old warehouse buildings for every little little data building you have. And as far as traffic is concerned, obviously the trucks that support this warehouse is relative to, frankly, the cars and then parking lot for their handling in the data center. It's obviously big difference. All right, thank you. Any more announcements? We're good. Meeting adjourned. Thank you. Music