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.
Small business owners and marketing professionals from across Virginia gathered in Stafford County on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, for the inaugural Stafford Tourism & Business Marketing Summit at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center.
The one-day, free event focused on digital marketing, branding, and artificial intelligence, providing attendees with insights into how businesses can enhance their outreach and advertising strategies. The summit featured a keynote address by Greg Kihlström, a best-selling author and consultant specializing in marketing technology and digital transformation.
A Day Packed with Insights and Strategy
The summit’s agenda included breakout sessions on social media strategies, branding, and data analytics, giving business owners tools to enhance their marketing efforts. A panel discussion closed the event, allowing industry experts to share their thoughts on the latest trends in digital marketing.
Among the speakers was Jay Owen, CEO of Business Builders, a marketing agency he founded in 1999. Owen, who has spoken at conferences nationwide, emphasized that the challenges businesses face today are increasingly universal rather than region-specific.
“It’s more globalized now than it ever has been because of the internet,” Owen explained. “Back in the day, what a local community needed marketing-wise was much more niche, but now, most people are staring at their phones half the time anyway. The question is: how do we connect with them wherever they are? Even if I’m a local business, I still need to reach people whether they’re at home or on the go.”
AI’s Growing Influence on Marketing
One of the most talked-about topics of the day was artificial intelligence’s impact on marketing and search engine optimization (SEO). Despite the uncertainty surrounding AI’s influence on marketing, Owen believes businesses should embrace the change rather than fear it.
“There aren’t a lot of hard answers on it yet because of all the AI changes in the world,” he said. “It’s just not what it used to be. That said, I always tell people you’ve got two choices: you can be scared about it or excited about it.”
Speakers and Industry Experts
The event brought together a diverse group of marketing professionals, including:
- Zack Flanagan, CEO of Hive Marketing, who emphasized data-driven marketing strategies
- Chris Muldrow, owner of Rambletype, a Fredericksburg-based digital marketing firm
- Lindsey Norment, Brand Director for the Virginia Tourism Corporation, who discussed the role of tourism marketing in economic development
- Annie Plotkin, a paid media strategist specializing in building brand awareness through digital advertising
- Mark Devito, a three-time Emmy Award-winning creative director, who highlighted the power of storytelling in branding
The property, once proposed as the location for a large indoor sports and recreation facility, is now part of a broader development plan. County officials aim to aggregate the land with four adjacent parcels, totaling nearly 50 acres of county- and state-owned land, including existing commuter parking lots. The mission is to transform the area into a community hub that harmonizes living, working, and leisure spaces while generating jobs and tax revenue.
Known colloquially as Prince William Landing, the area was previously considered as a potential site for a new Washington Commanders football stadium alongside another location near Potomac Mills mall. Both sites were discussed as part of efforts to keep the team in Northern Virginia after its lease on FedEx Field expires in 2027. However, those plans did not materialize.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has committed up to $275 million to support Micron Technology’s expansion of its semiconductor facility in Manassas. The move aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing and secure critical supply chains. The funding comes as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Incentives Program, which seeks to revitalize American leadership in chip production.
Micron’s plans call for a $2 billion investment over several years to enhance its production capabilities with 1-alpha technology, a sophisticated process for creating DRAM memory chips used in sectors like automotive and industrial manufacturing. At its peak, the project is expected to create over 400 direct jobs and as many as 2,700 related positions.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
The survey, which sought to measure resident perceptions and identify growth opportunities, underscores the city’s dual identity: a historic landmark with a vibrant, modern beat. North Star conducted the online survey, which garnered responses from 1,520 residents, including 1,118 from Manassas. Nearly 20% of participants identified as Hispanic, Latin American, or Caribbean, reflecting the city’s diverse population. The survey had a margin of error of ±2.51%.
Participants were asked to evaluate the city across several dimensions, including quality of life, economic development, and cultural identity. Key findings included:
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
The Fredericksburg Free Press reports a developer plans to demolish a portion of the Greenbrier Shopping Center and put in mixed-use buildings.
The shopping center was formerly home to Burlington Coat Factory, now in Central Park, and Big Lots, which closed and has not been replaced. Several small businesses, including Taj Indian and Two Times New, still reside there. In March, Taj owner Sandeep Singh said he was not aware of any plans to develop the center that would affect the long-standing restaurant, and as of November 13, he had not been notified of any plans.
The center is located on Plank Road. Metro Diner, Royal Farms, CookOut, and M&T Bank are all located in the parking lot along the road. Decatur’s Crabs also uses some of the parking lot.
The plan would put 173 townhouses of two sizes on just over 16 acres.
In January 2024, the City Council discussed forming a committee to explore revitalizing or encouraging redevelopment of shopping centers. The idea was to explore how to encourage developers to shift one level shopping centers into multi-story, mixed-use developments that would allow more residents and attract more commercial businesses.
Councilman Jason Graham explained in a January email that “Currently [shopping centers] provide retail options, which I want to maintain, but I think there’s an opportunity to make the areas more economically productive. We received a report from our staff that showed us the tax revenue per acre across the city, and downtown outpaced every other area of town, including Central Park, by a wide margin. I’m not saying we can recreate downtown along Routes 1 and 3, but because we’re a city of only 10.4 square miles we need to get creative about how we’re going to fund our growing need for public services.”
Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Fredericksburg area Communications Manager Kelly Hannon said the development was not included in the plans to improve the areas where Route 3 reaches I-95, which was designed and initiated before the development was proposed. The development will not change VDOT’s plan, but Hannon said the improvements were based on traffic projections of what traffic volume may be in 2049.
Hannon explained that, unlike nearby counties where VDOT handles permits for state road projects, in Fredericksburg, the city reviews and approves land development projects and issues permits. The city follows VDOT’s roadway design standards and works with VDOT on major projects, like the proposed Greenbrier development, to evaluate traffic and road impacts.
NVR Inc. submitted the plans to Fredericksburg; the company is the parent company of Ryan Homes and other residential brands, and also offers mortgage banking services. The company is headquartered in Reston and builds homes in 16 states.
Press release:
Dylan Smith and Ester Garrido, who share a passion for fitness, recently opened Training Ed, a private personal training studio in Manassas at 9824 Liberia Avenue. With 10–15 years of experience and multiple certifications, their trainers provide personalized, contract-free sessions in a supportive environment.
The facility is equipped with premium gear and offers both in-person and virtual coaching, focusing on education and tailored programs for lasting results.
Celebrate Training Ed’s opening at their ribbon-cutting event on January 31 at 3:30 p.m., or learn more on their website.
The Pence Group is getting closer to breaking ground on its long-awaited 45-acre mixed-use development on Garrisonville Road in North Stafford.
The Reston-based developer is working with Stafford County to finalize the site plan for The Garrison at Stafford, said Pence Group President Geoff Pence. He is hoping that will be approved by the end of the year. The company will then start announcing firmer plans and timelines for the project.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
The Manassas Economic Development Authority (EDA) will hold a special meeting on Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. in the first-floor conference room of City Hall. The meeting, a joint work session with the Manassas City Council, will focus on the interim operations and potential uses of the Manassas Shopping Center before its scheduled demolition.
The meeting is open to the public.
