Stafford Supervisors Move Toward Finalizing MOU with EDA

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors is progressing toward finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Economic Development Authority (EDA) and the Department of Economic Development.

The draft MOU aims to clarify the roles and responsibilities of both entities in promoting economic growth and business attraction within the county. However, concerns raised by some Board members suggest that the document may need further refinement before it can be adopted.

During a work session on January 28, 2025, Liz Barber, the county’s Director of Economic Development, presented the draft MOU, highlighting the extensive process that led to its creation. The document was developed over the past year, with input from both county administration and EDA members. Its goal is to establish clear guidelines and expectations for the EDA and the Department of Economic Development, particularly regarding the administrative processes, division of duties, and collaboration between the two bodies.

The EDA has seven members who assist the Board of Supervisors in attracting and financing industry and commerce to the community.

Most recently, the EDA was instrumental in hammering out a performance agreement with Amazon Web Services for the Old Potomac Church Data Center Site. Barber explained that whenever the Board approves an incentive agreement of Supervisors, the EDA serves as the conduit for reimbursing agreed-upon fees after the project completes certain milestones. These milestones ensure the necessary capital and infrastructure improvements are made. Without the EDA, Stafford County could not offer competitive incentives to secure essential projects like the AWS data center.

It was also active in the Stafford Germanna Community College expansion by contributing $750,000 toward the newly opened Stafford location for Germanna Community College.

The MOU outlines key responsibilities, including financial procedures such as access to EDA bank accounts, passwords, and loan underwriting processes. Barber emphasized that the document was designed to provide stability and consistency, ensuring that regardless of staff changes or leadership transitions, the roles and responsibilities of both entities remain clear. As Barber explained in a recent communication, the lack of an MOU to date has created challenges, and this new document will formalize existing operational guidelines that both entities have been following informally.

“There is no MOU in place to date, prompting the need and interest in having one to go forward,” Barber said. “The interest in generating this document is likely driven by the desire to create consistency, which will alleviate confusion as new staff, elected officials, and EDA members come and go through the years.”

However, Board members voiced concerns over the document’s alignment with the county’s strategic goals. Supervisor Pamela Yeung, for instance, questioned whether the MOU sufficiently reflects the county’s vision for economic development, especially in light of the upcoming strategic plan being developed. Yeung noted that the EDA’s strategic plan is waiting to be updated, and she expressed reluctance to move forward with the MOU until there is more clarity about how both entities’ strategic goals will align.

“I just feel that when reading through it, I saw a reference to staff, and I wasn’t sure who the staff was. Was it the county staff, the ED staff, or county administration staff?” Yeung remarked. “Without the strategic plan, it’s hard for me to support this right now.”

Another concern some members, including Supervisor Darrell English, raised was the need for a more robust, long-term strategy to guide the county’s economic development efforts. While the MOU establishes basic administrative procedures, questions remain about the direction of business incentives, the role of the EDA in site development, and how both entities can work together to attract the types of businesses that align with Stafford’s growth goals.

“I feel like we need more than just administrative guidelines,” English said. “We need something that will help define the county’s approach to business development and create clear goals for the EDA.”

Barber responded by explaining that the MOU was intended to be an “evergreen” document capable of evolving with the county’s strategic goals. She emphasized that the Economic Development Department has been working closely with the EDA to ensure that both entities are aligned. However, further changes could be made as the county’s strategic plan is finalized.

Despite the concerns, Barber expressed confidence that the MOU, once approved, will provide a clear framework for the future. “This is about creating guardrails for us to work together effectively,” she explained. “It’s important that we move forward with a solid foundation, even as we continue to refine our goals.”

In the coming weeks, the Board will continue to discuss the MOU’s details and ensure they align with the county’s strategic goals and the evolving role of the EDA. Supervisors also emphasized the importance of revisiting the MOU regularly to adapt to changing economic conditions and ensure the county’s economic development efforts remain dynamic and effective.