In an exclusive interview with Will King, AI Strategist and founder of MF Growth, Potomac Local News uncovers the insights that will take center stage at Stafford County's Beer & Business event on February 7. The event promises a unique exploration of AI's integration into businesses, offering a blend of valuable information and networking opportunities.
King, drawing from his background in psychology and a Master's Degree in human factors, shared perspectives on the transformative power of AI in the workplace, and he emphasized its role in marketing. King underscored the challenges faced by small business owners who may lack professional copywriting skills, stating, "If you're a small business owner, the likelihood that you are a professional copywriter is just really low," said King.
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Punxsutawney Phil saw didn't see his shadow yesterday, and apparently, so neither did his cousin in Virginia, Arthur, who is friendly with Fredericksburg police. Spring is on the way.
Hello and welcome to the Publisher's Post for Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. I hope your weekend is off to a great start. It'll be cold and sunny today. Water's End Brewery has your weekend forecast and your first look at the start of next week.
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The Stafford Best Buy originally opened in 2008, marking a milestone for the county. Residents had long desired additional retail options closer to home, reducing the necessity of traveling to neighboring areas. However, changing consumer habits driven by the prevalence of online shopping have contributed to the store's closure.
The closure is seen as a setback for the county, where residents consistently desire more shopping and entertainment destinations. The news comes amidst ongoing anticipation for developments like The Garrison, a 57-acre property acquired by Reston-based developer Pence Group in 2015. The original plans for The Garrison included 500,000 square feet of commercial space, over 400 residential units, a 12-screen Regal Cinemas, new restaurants, and apartment homes.
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On Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, Manassas City Economic Development Director Patrick Small I presented an overview of the city’s economic indicators and development projects. The presentation covered various metrics, including population growth, median household incomes, housing values, and the labor force.
Small highlighted the city’s success in attracting and retaining businesses, pointing out the positive trends in property values and employment. The unemployment rate, below the state and national averages, indicated a healthy job market in the city.
The economic development team focused on revitalizing vacant commercial and industrial areas, showcasing low vacancy rates, and increasing property values. Small discussed ongoing projects, such as the development around the Cannon branch and the upcoming data center on Route 28 and Dean Drive.
Small highlighted several success stories that he said exemplify the city’s achievements in attracting and retaining businesses.
Rapid Flight – Unmanned Aerial Systems Business
- Rapid Flight, an unmanned aerial systems business, took over the geo radar building, contributing to the city’s reputation as a hub for high-tech industries.
- The company’s presence in Manassas represents a significant addition to the city’s aerospace and technology sector.
Electra Aero
- Electra Aero is another success story, showcasing the city’s ability to attract high-wage, high-tech businesses.
- The company’s relocation to the former chamber building underscores the city’s commitment to fostering innovation and advanced technology sectors.
Prince William Association of Realtors
- PWAR, which stands for Prince William Association of Realtors, moved significantly to the city by relocating to the building formerly known as the chamber building.
- The relocation reinforces the city’s appeal as a desirable location for professional organizations and businesses.
Data Center on Dean Drive
- The upcoming data center on Dean Drive, a project in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), signifies the city’s success in attracting major players in the tech industry.
- Small emphasized the city’s efforts to work closely with Amazon to ensure that the data center, being a high-profile facility, features significant architectural detail beyond minimum code requirements.
Tourism Activity
- The city experienced a successful year in tourism, with almost 400,000 visitors contributing to $60 million in visitor spending.
- This success in tourism showcases the city’s efforts to diversify its economic base and highlights the appeal of Manassas as a destination.
Facade Improvement Projects
- The use of facade grants has facilitated various projects, including the transformation of historically unattractive buildings.
- Collaborations with businesses like Loveless Porter Architects demonstrate the positive impact of the city’s incentive programs on enhancing the overall aesthetics of commercial corridors.
The presentation also touched on citizen satisfaction metrics, emphasizing the need for continuous communication to improve public awareness of positive developments in the community. Despite some decline in satisfaction numbers, Small expressed optimism about future survey results.
Addressing the future of office space in the city, Small acknowledged the challenges posed by regional office space vacancy rates. While the medium and smaller-sized office users remained strong in Manassas, he discussed the limitations on new construction due to the regional office market dynamics.
The city’s Visitor’s Center and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism office are being relocated to modernize Fredericksburg’s tourism industry and make destinations accessible to all.
The new office, at 601 Caroline Street, is across from the current center and one block south. It is a more modern building with more of the infrastructure the city departments need.
The new visitor’s center will be on the first floor, but the new offices for the Department of Economic Development and Tourism will be on the third floor of the building.
The city has begun construction on the third floor, but work on the visitor’s center space is not scheduled to begin in the next few months. A city spokeswoman said both projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
The city plans to partner with Main Street Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg Nationals, University of Mary Washington, National Park Service, Sister Cities, and other tourism sites in the new space, a city spokeswoman said. Previously, the FredNats used the space at 601 Caroline Street for their team store in 2019 before the stadium opened in 2021.
Since the building is relatively new compared to the current visitor center, which dates back to 1824, it will be better equipped for computer hookups and the modernization of electrical equipment that is needed in the commercial world today.
Although construction has begun, the word hasn’t gotten around to everyone on Caroline Street. The current Visitor’s Center brings in a certain number of tourists daily, so the shops and restaurants look forward to foot traffic around that location. “Hayden” at the “Pons Shop,” a few doors down, wasn’t aware of the move. However, the owner said the relocation would affect the business.
Over at the “Pour by Fifth Scents Candle Co.” the manager, Cecily, was aware of the move but didn’t think it was far enough to affect her business since she is a few blocks away.
“I did hear about that,” she said.
The current Visitor’s Center does have some history, like all the old buildings in downtown Fredericksburg. In 1824, the city candy maker Anthony Kale made and sold candy out of the first-floor shop while he lived with his family upstairs.
Stafford Tourism has launched a new marketing campaign, one they hope will stick with visitors. The December Christmas Tree Lighting event marked the beginning of “Stick to Stafford.”
Stick to Stafford is a series of monthly sticker releases. Stickers are available at no cost at county tourism assets – businesses, parks, county buildings, and historical locations. A list of participating locations and released sticker designs can be found at sticktostafford.com. The county also uses social media to share releases and sneak peeks at new stickers.
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The Dumfries Town Council will begin updating the town's comprehensive plan.
The plan includes the vision and goals of the town for the next 20 years and a list of actions and policies to achieve those goals. Topics covered by the comprehensive plan include, but are not limited to, land use, economic growth, transportation, and community services.
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Stafford Economic Development: "Congratulations to 7-Eleven for the grand opening of their newest store in Stafford."
The new store sits at Route 1 and Hospital Center Boulevard, near Stafford Hospital.
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The once-standing Olde Town Inn is no more.
Located in the heart of Old Town Manassas, the Inn originally stood at 9403 Main Street, Manassas City Center. Sitting on a 1-acre lot, the Inn has been a part of Old Town since 1965.
![The current center is full of Fredericksburg maps, hats and sweatshirts. [Photo: Mike Salmon]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/fredericksburg-visitors-center-1-1260x739.jpg){kind=link}
![This building will get a lot more foot traffic after the move.[Photo: Mike Salmon]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Fredericksburg-Visitors-Ctr2-1260x739.jpg){kind=link}