view and - King George County Department of Economic

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view and - King George County Department of Economic
Business Pulse
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
JUNE 2015
VOLUME 2. 2015
Welcome!
Want to learn more about the businesses and events that play an
integral role in King George County’s prosperity and quality of life?
Welcome to the second issue of the quarterly e-newsletter from the
Department of Economic Development. In each issue we will feature
King George County businesses of all sizes and types and also
feature tourism related items. The newsletter will also recap important
economic development metrics that help measure the impact of businesses upon our local economy. Recognizing the natural synergy
between economic development, tourism, parks and recreation, each
issue will also highlight upcoming events scheduled through the County Parks and Recreation Department.
The newsletter is free and available online to everyone. If you would
like to receive the newsletter directly into your email, please contact us.
We welcome your suggestions for future articles!
Linwood Thomas
Director,
Department of Economic Development and Tourism
540.775.8524
lthomas@co.kinggeorge.state.va.us
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
JUNE 2015
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Investing in Infrastructure.
Does it make sense?
By Linwood Thomas, Director, King George County Economic Development
In the movie Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner hears a voice
tell him, “If you build it they will come.” The voice he heard was
right and in many cases it is also true in economic development.
Linwood Thomas
Director of
Economic Development
This does not mean that a locality should fund every economic development infrastructure improvement. But it does mean that
each project should be analyzed for the long-term return on investment potential it can bring to the locality and its taxpayers. Over a
30-year window, on average, it is estimated that infrastructure
improvements made to a site or specific area will generate 29
times that return to the tax base. This average is evidenced whether the investment is made by the locality or by private investors.
This potential pay-off is substantial, but it takes time for a
locality to realize the return on its investment because the improvements often involve fiber, water and sewer, rail or gas. The investment can be substantial and the return may not be realized for
years. Citizens and elected officials want to see an immediate return
on money invested. This understandable, but not always realistic.
Sometimes compromise is the best solution. A current example can
be found at the King George County Industrial Park. Overall, the park
is well positioned on the Eastern Seaboard, between two Metropolitan
Statistical Areas, within on day’s drive of 60% of the nation’s population. The park offers low tax rates and a low cost-of-business. One
would think these attributes would make our Industrial Park a prime
location for major corporate investments. However, until recently,
the park did not attract significant interest among potential investors.
This is primarily because the Industrial Park’s lacks infrastructure,
including fiber, gas and rail. These basic necessities must be in place in
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Business Pulse
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
JUNE 2015
VOLUME 2. 2015
order to attract a corporation contemplating a relocation or expansion.
One example of this is fiber. Today, fiber is as important to business
as electricity was in the 1930’s. Without fiber, most corporations will
not consider a locality, moving on to others with site ready properties.
The recent announcement about the relocation of Commercial
Metals Corporation, a Fortune 500 Company, to the King George Industrial Park was a huge win for the County, not only because of the firm’s
name recognition, but also because it validates the Board of Supervisors’ commitment to vital infrastructure improvements. If the Board
can show the return on investment to the tax base for these infrastructure improvements over a shorter window of time, it makes the expense much more palatable. In many cases the infrastructure improvements are just as important as a major new project announcement.
So what does this mean for the future of the Industrial Park? Corporations do not want to wait for promises from a locality to install critical
infrastructure. They will quickly move on to another location. These
critical improvements in fiber, rail, water and sewer and the commitment from Columbia Gas to install gas in the next 18 months will lead
to significantly renewed interest in the King George County Industrial
Park. This interest will evolve over the next two to five years into project announcements for new corporate relocations and expansions in the
County’s Industrial Park. Its success will serve as a model for infrastructure improvements in other parts of King George County and the region.
So, “they will come if you build it.” The key is to make sure the
long-term investment outweighs the initial cost. In most cases, it will.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
JUNE 2015
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Dahlgren bases’s economic impact
remains strong, despite sequestration
Looking at the Dahlgren base as a business, it’s a BIG business,
according to a recent economic impact study. It employs or supports
almost 7,000 employees and one-third of them live in King George
County. Its civilian and military payrolls were almost $500 million and
$33 million, respectively.
These numbers also show that the base’s impact on the local economy, despite sequestration, has remained vibrant.
“Despite ongoing fiscal uncertainty in the Department of Defense
(DoD), Naval Support Facility (NSF Dahlgren remained a major economic contributor to the communities surrounding the installation in
fiscal year 2014 (FY14),” according to a report by Naval Support Activity South Potomac (NSASP).
The purpose of the study was to measure the economic impact
the base had on local communities at minimum; the actual economic
contribution of the base, a complex calculation beyond the scope of
the report, is estimated to be greater.
The report examined several aspects of commands at Dahlgren,
including the number of employees, contractors and service members,
their geographic distribution, military and civilian payroll, budget authorizations, total contracts and local contracts. The latter data point
calculated contract dollars from NSASP-based commands and activities spent in the localities in the immediate vicinity of NSF Dahlgren.
Though the study sought to incorporate the most current data available, in some cases numbers from fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011
were included to provide a more comprehensive summary.
At NSF Dahlgren, employment numbers remained steady in comparison to the FY13 report, with a few measurable but minor decreases
related to attrition. A total of 6,895 federal employees, service members
(Continued)
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JUNE 2015
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and contractors work onboard the installation. Unlike last year’s report,
the figures did not include Dahlgren–or Indian Head-affiliated contractors working off site. More than 34 percent of personnel assigned to
Dahlgren live in King George County, with Spotsylvania County hosting the second most Dahlgren personnel at more than 14 percent.
Total civilian and military payroll at Dahlgren during FY14 was
$493.21 million and $32.79 million, respectively. Total budget authorizations for the commands and activities at NSF Dahlgren totaled more
than $3.5 billion, with total contract expenditures of $2.2 billion. More
than $482 million of those contract dollars were spent locally. The study
defined local contract dollars as those spent in the Virginia counties of
King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Caroline and Westmoreland, and
the city of Fredericksburg, and the Maryland counties of Charles, St
Mary’s and Prince Georges.
The numbers show the installation holding steady in their economic impact on surrounding communities despite the implications of
the Budget Control Act of 2011, more commonly known as the sequester. However, it must be noted that the effects of the sequester were
partially mitigated by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, which raised
the spending limits imposed by the sequester during FY14 and FY15.
The sequester cuts to the DoD will go back into effect at the end of
FY15, though Congress may yet reach a new budget resolution.
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Economic Development Breakfast
leads to business expansion for Paws in Motion
The King George Quarterly Economic Development Breakfasts
have given Dave Zellmer, Co-Owner of Paws in Motion, more than networking opportunities. The gatherings have helped him connect with
regional small business resources that are helping Zellmer secure the
funding to expand his business.
“We’ve had a business plan since we opened Paws in Motion
in 2009. In order to expand, we knew we needed more funding,
but banks and the Small Business Administration want a lot of
information. We were struggling, not knowing what to do next,”
Zellmer said.
Then he attended a quarterly economic development breakfast featuring Mary Purnell, Director of the University of Mary
Washington’s Small Business Development Center.
“Mary not only advised us, she also connected us with
Brenda Billington, Vice President of REDCO. Brenda helped us
expand our business plan and connected us with banks,” he said.
“We would never have been able to figure out all of this on our
own. Mary and Brenda helped us and got us in touch with the
right people.”
Jess and Dave Zellmer with Nyla
(l) and Higgins (r).
Now Zellmer and his wife, Jess, have a loan commitment letter from a local community bank and they are moving ahead with the
expansion.
When the new 7,000 square foot Paws in Motion facility opens
next year adjacent to the current one at 13453 Shiloh Loop, it will mark
a significant accomplishment in Zellmer’s pet care career.
“I’ve wanted to be involved in pet care since I can remember,” he
said. When the Zellmers moved to Fredericksburg in 2004, he started a
pet sitting business. Jess, an audiologist, works as a sales representative
(Continued)
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for a medical device manufacturer. As Co-Owner of Paws in Motion,
she is also very active in the business.
“I saw the pet sitting business as a good
stepping stone to someday operating my own
pet care facility,” Zellmer said.
Their step-by-step approach involved building their first home in a location where the pet
care business could also be established. Paws
in Motion provides daycare for dogs, overnight
boarding for dogs and cats, and extra services
such as grooming and baths.
The Zellmers decided to establish their
home and business in King George County on
Shiloh Loop, just off of Rt. 3, near Rt. 301.
The county not only welcomed them, it also
has proven to be an excellent market.
“Throughout my years as a pet sitter closer to Fredericksburg, I had a lot of requests for
service from people in King George, especially
from those who work in the Dahlgren area,”
Zellmer said. “The move to King George has
allowed us to maintain many of our clients
from the Fredericksburg area, yet also serve
King George clients and expand our market
into Westmoreland County.”
The Zellmer’s currently live on-site at Paws in Motion and offer
very personal and family oriented care for pets. In addition to boarding
and grooming, the facility offers indoor and outdoor areas to provide a
fun, safe atmosphere for pets to spend the day exercising and enjoying
the company of other pets.
The new building will link to and increase the size of the existing
“play yards.” It will also provide additional indoor play areas for the
dogs during extremely hot or cold weather, training space and multiple
suite options for overnight guests.
(Continued)
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“Our business model will continue to provide the dogs with lots of
activity and abundant human interaction during the day, and a comfy
place to snooze at night,” Zellmer said.
They also hope to expand their space for grooming and even offer
a ‘do-it-yourself ’ dog wash. The existing facilities will transition to
offices and a break room for employees. They expect to grow from a
workforce of six to up to 20 after the expansion.
The expanded facility will also support the Paws in Motion
Strategic Vision for exceptional pet care.
According to their Vision, “Our customers become a part of our
family, and we become a part of theirs. We’re not just another stop on
the to-do list. We care and we know them and their dogs, and they
value us for that.”
Their pride in their work is also evidenced in the Vision.
“Paws in Motion is a place where people with a true passion for
pets can flourish… In a world of chaos and frustration, we have the
privilege of spending our days doing something we love and sending
home healthy, happy, well-adjusted dogs that will be the ‘stress busters’ they were meant to be. We are part of a great team bringing ‘good’
and giving back to those who use our services.”
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Business Pulse
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JUNE 2015
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BCI’s new Office Suites and Co-Working Space
provides new opportunity
for cost-conscious contractors
For Ted Hontz, Vice President of BCI Dahlgren, taking over the entire Williams Creek Office Building with its excellent visibility and signage on Dahlgren Road and establishing an office suites venture, just
makes good business sense. He believes it represents an opportunity for
defense contractors trying to establish a cost-effective presence in Dahlgren and for those already located in the market hoping to cut costs.
BCI Dahlgren has been located at the office building since 1997,
along with several other contractors. This April, BCI took over the entire building and is now leasing 16 offices through its new BCI Office
Suites and Co-Working Spaces.
This is a new concept in office leasing for King George, although
it is well established elsewhere through companies like Regus that
already offers facilities throughout Northern Virginia and at
Quantico Corporate Center in Stafford and soon in Central Park in
Fredericksburg.
(Continued)
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BCI’s new enterprise will offer 16 offices within the Williams Creek
Office Building—approximately one-quarter of the space or 5000
square feet—for lease to other firms. BCI will continue to occupy the
remaining three quarters of the space.
Everyone renting the fully furnished, turnkey offices from BCI will
have access to an impressive conference room, a lobby and lounge,
plus a full kitchen.
“Until now, if a contractor wanted to have a presence in the Dahlgren base area, they would probably have to rent more space than
needed and that’s expensive,” Hontz said. “Now companies can establish a presence in Dahlgren at a very reasonable price and get signage
on Dahlgren Road.”
Alion Science and Technology Corporation, the first
new tenant in the office suites,
affirms Hontz’s theory.
“Alion Technologies is a defense contractor headquartered
in McLean, VA. They want to
grow their business in Dahlgren, so they have rented an
office here that will be used by
their business developers and
employees working inside the
base,” Hontz said.
Battelle exemplifies the
second market for the new
office suites—those who wish to
downsize and reduce costs. Until recently, Battelle, a large contractor based in Columbus, Ohio, rented a suite of offices in the Williams
Creek Office Building. The organization does bio-chem work for the
Dahlgren base.
“There is great pressure for government contractors to reduce their
costs. Many have also reduced personnel and no longer need as much
(Continued)
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
JUNE 2015
VOLUME 2. 2015
space. When their lease expired recently, Battelle took the opportunity to reduce their costs by leasing four offices from us within the
same building, enabling them to maintain their presence at Dahlgren
at a much lower cost. There are probably other companies already in
the Dahlgren area who are also interested in reducing their overhead
costs,” Hontz said.
Kim Lewis, a BCI Program Director, has taken on the additional job as manager of the office suites complex.
“This is a work in progress and with five offices already
rented we’re on track. We’ll be opening the daily co-working
part of our plan as Phase 2 of our rollout” Lewis said. “We are
also looking at providing a VTC capability if it looks like there
will be a demand for that. We’re excited about the early interest
we’re seeing and we really haven’t done much marketing yet.”
BCI’s location in King George has been a decided advantage
for the firm that provides professional engineering to the Navy.
“King George is a great place to do business. It’s rural
character suits my lifestyle and the taxes are lower than in
the Fredericksburg area and Northern Virginia,” he said. “Although
close to one-half of our work is done for clients inside the Beltway,
we have a double advantage over our competitors. There’s at least a
10% salary differential between Northern Virginia
and King George, and our rental costs are significantly
lower.”
“These factors enable BCI Dahlgren to provide
high quality talent to Northern Virginia customers
at prices that are very difficult for our competitors to
match,” Hontz said.
BCI has been successful in recruiting high quality talent, partly because of its supportive work environment. Last year, Virginia Business Magazine
named the company one of the “Virginia Best Places
to Work.”
(Continued)
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“We have a stable, professional work force and I attribute
part of that to our family-friendly, flexible environment,”
Hontz said, noting that BCI was nominated for the award by
their employees.
BCI employs 70 individuals, many former military
and a number with doctorate and master’s degrees. Approximately 50 work at the Dahlgren facility and the rest
support the firm’s contracts elsewhere. BCI Dahlgren
provides the Navy with Human Systems Integration,
Interoperability Engineering, Operational Systems Safety, Systems Engineering, Training and Training Systems
Support, Weapon and Combat Systems Engineering.
It is a division of Basic Commerce and Industries, Inc.
with headquarters in Moorestown, N.J.
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Community college chancellor seeks
business perspective in
training competitive workforce
Dr. Glenn DuBois, Chancellor of
the Virginia Community College
System (VCCS)
Higher education leaders
across the Commonwealth are
taking a new approach to the employability of Virginia’s workforce,
according to Dr. Glenn DuBois,
Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).
“Creating new opportunities
and expanding existing ones won’t
happen without a new perspective
in Virginia’s higher education,”
DuBois told local business leaders
in a recent Town Hall Meeting at
Rappahannock Community College (RCC).
The “bachelor’s or bust”
approach is less important in
terms of employability than certification in a variety of general and specialized skills, according
to DuBois who is holding a series of Town Halls throughout
the state.
Nationally, Virginia ranks fourth as the “best state in which to do
business,” and sixth as an educated workforce. However, this education is very unevenly distributed. Virginia’s urban population ranks
second in the United States in education, while its rural population—particularly within the “Rural Horseshoe,” stretching from the
Eastern Shore across southern and southwest Virginia, then sweeping up and across the western mountains to Virginia’s northernmost
tip—trails in at a shameful fiftieth.
(Continued)
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Pete Mansfield, Middlesex County Board of
Supervisors, speaks with Chancellor DuBois.
Donna Alexander, RCC Vice President of Instruction
and Student Development (back to camera) and
Craig Herndon, VCCS Vice Chancellor for Workforce
Development speak with Chancellor DuBois.
VOLUME 2. 2015
Virginia’s community colleges currently offer 468
certification programs that are affordable, cost-effective
and relatively short-term. DuBois dubbed them “the
fastest way out of poverty.”
The programs train workers to be electricians,
welders, nurses aides industrial technicians plumbers,
pharmacy technicians, truck drivers, Cisco-certified
network engineers, and Microsoft and Oracle database
administrators, among others.
These certifications are obtainable in months, not
years, and they are “stackable,” meaning that about one
third of them can be credited toward a future degree.
During the discussion, DuBois asked the business
leaders, “How can these skills and competencies help
your business?” “How can they help your region? How
can we help each other in this work?”
“The audience confirmed the need for credentialing employees,” said RCC Vice President for Workforce and Development Jason Perry. “It was interesting
that some of the business and industry participants
did not realize that there are certificate programs
already in place at the college.”
“I think the discussion opened the line of
communication between employers and the college
staff,” Perry added.
Although Virginia has almost 500 certification
programs at various locations, the state’s offerings
constitute only a small fraction of the tens of thousands
of such programs available across the nation.
“Other states already invest in the training that
leads to these credentials, but not Virginia,” DuBois
said. He stressed that change is needed, particularly
in higher education funding. Perennially underfunded community college budgets do not allow for the
(Continued)
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growing need for workforce training. Job openings exist, but employers have difficulty finding
applicants with the right skills to fill them.
Legislation passed in the General Assembly this
year tasked the VCCS to create a plan to make workforce certificate programs a higher priority and expand
course offerings, enabling Virginia to become more
competitive with other states. DuBois is conducting the
Town Hall Tour in order to identify the workforce needs
in each region and bring together business, industry,
legislative and community leaders to pool their knowledge and resources in this area. The plan is scheduled
for completion next fall.
In the meantime, RCC continues to offer award-winning training
for employers. College President, Dr. Sissy Crowther, said, “Even with
limited state funds, we regularly craft custom programs like the training series recently launched for King George County employees.”
According to Crowther, the community colleges are astute at working with employers to identify training needs and partner resources to
deliver it. “State funding specific for workforce training through the
community colleges would hugely enhance the quality of employees
for the commonwealth’s businesses,” she said.
RCC President Elizabeth
“Sissy” Crowther speaks with
Chancellor DuBois.
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At Your Leisure
By Tim Smith, Director of Parks and Recreation
Though Spring is nearly over, ball games are still in full
swing, plants and trees are blossoming and we will be transitioning from comfortable days/cool evenings to the warmer days and
warm evenings of summer. Summer is when the kids are out of
school, vacations are being considered, day trips to Kings Dominion, the water park or the beach (rivers or ocean) are planned,
and Sunday drives and family picnics are common. This summer
consider your backyard (King George County) when planning
your June through August activities.
At the risk of not mentioning every possible venue and business, I offer general information about a King George Parks and
Recreation project that promotes the County’s many tourism assets. As we are nearing completion of the Barnesfield Park ball
field improvements, this initiative focuses on informing tournament participants (through tournament organizers) about the
many lodging accommodations, eating establishments and things
to do (categorically based on special interests) while in King
George County. (The mention of any particular establishment is
not an endorsement by the County or its staff).
Interested in spending the night
or weekend? Consider staying in one
of four chain hotels or an independently owned hotel in the County.
Three hotels are located within a
couple of miles of Barnesfield Park).
Visitors may also enjoy stepping
back in history while staying at Belle
Grove Bed and Breakfast or Rokeby
Bed and Breakfast. What a great way
to learn about the area’s history!
(Continued)
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Everyone has to eat, right? Whether you are in a rush, want
to sit down and enjoy, or prefer a particular cuisine, it can be
found in the County. From fast food to eating on the Potomac
River to seeking out Indian, Italian, Seafood, Chinese, Thai
cuisine and more, it is nearby. Again, many of these establishments are within a few miles of Barnesfield Park. Tournament
participants may want to finish the evening with a treat from
Sweet Frog Yogurt, Polar Bear Den, Ice Cream Nook or a slice
of pie from King George House of Pizza.
Whether staying for a long day or spending the weekend,
during your “down time” between ballgames, there are many places
to visit. Upon completion of this initiative, information will be able
to be found on the parks and recreation website. This article includes
only a few samples.
For history buffs, visit and tour Belle Grove, birth home to James
Madison, 4th President of the United States. Stop by the Dahlgren
Heritage Museum to learn about Dahlgren Naval Base history and the
area. Retrace John Wilkes Booth’s stops in King George, most notably
the Quesenberry home in Dahlgren and Cleydael, home to Dr. Stuart (information on both homes may be found at http://boothiebarn.
com/tag/cleydael). Additionally, there are several sites in King George
listed on the Historical Register of Virginia or stop by the King George
Historical Society located at the historic courthouse. Finish your day
by shopping for historical and collectable items at one of several antique stores such as Unique Antique Mall (www.uniqueantiquesmall.
net) or Memory Lane.
(Continued)
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Water enthusiasts may find comfort by visiting Wayside Park located
by Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge.
Overlooking the Potomac River,
this is a great spot to bring a picnic
basket. If you enjoy looking at boats,
visit Machodoc Creek Marina in
Dahlgren or take a short ride to the
Fairview Beach Yacht Club. While in
Fairview Beach, enjoy a meal at Tim’s
II or Rick’s on the River. Brought
your boat? Put in on the Rappahannock River at Wilmont Landing in
the easternmost part of the County or at the Virginia Department of
Game and Inland Fisheries boat landing in Hopyard Farm.
Looking to spend time outdoors? Whether bird watching or taking a leisurely hike, your visit should include
Caledon State Park. This park is full of history, flora
and fauna. Barnesfield Park and Shiloh Park are also
great places to walk and observe nature. For those who
have pre-planned their trip, the Dahlgren Heritage Railroad
Trail (privately owned, permit required) may be of interest. With any of
the outdoor venues, visitors are encouraged to see if special events or
programs are being offered during their visit to enhance their stay.
For those interested in driving and making frequent stops, consider
the Northern Neck Wine tour starting with Oak Crest Winery. While
on your ride, stop at many of art shops located on the newly created
artisan trail. If history is your thing, visitors may find the Potomac
River Heritage Driving Tour of
interest.
I am reminded each time
these newsletters are due that
tourism begins with our own
citizens. Our citizens are the
best promoters of what King
George County has to offer. So,
take a day to play and check out
what the County has to offer.
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Retail Sales Taxes 4th Quarter 2014
The revenue represents King George County’s 1% share of the
State’s 5% sales tax.
KING GEORGE COUNTY 4TH QUARTER SALES TAX REVENUES
$250,000
$200,000
$150,000
$100,000
$50,000
October ‘14
$190,564.06
November ‘14
$179,884.23
December ‘14
$212,354.94
Fourth Quarter Total: 2014: $582,803.23
Year to Date Totals: 2014: $2,157,371.27
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NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOME BUILDING PERMITS
2014
2015
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
5
11
6
5
6
4
TOTAL:
21
15
COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION PERMITS
January:
Sheetz Convenience Store,
6,489 SQ. FT.
February: Commercial tenant build-out
for Goodwill, 3,000 SQ. FT.
March:
Commercial build-out UPS
store, 1,500 SQ. FT.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES*
King George County: 5.5%
Commonwealth of Virginia: 5.1%
United States: 5.5%
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
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COMMERCIAL VACANCY RATES
KING GEORGE COUNTY
1ST QUARTER 2015
AVERAGE COMMERCIAL
COST PER SF THROUGH
MARCH 2015
2015
2014
2015
RETAIL
4.1%
3.5%
RETAIL
$16.46 NNN
OFFICE
18.0%
16.1%
OFFICE
$19.01 NNN
INDUSTRIAL
21.7%
20.1%
INDUSTRIAL
TOTAL:
43.8%
39.7%
$2.76 NNN
AVERAGE HOTEL ROOM RATES
THROUGH MARCH 2015
2015: $86.79
OCCUPANCY RATE
THROUGH 1ST QUARTER 2015
2015: 53.2%
540.775.8524 ■ lthomas@co.kinggeorge.state.va.us ■ www.YesKingGeorge.com
Business Pulse
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
JUNE 2015
VOLUME 2. 2015
MEALS TAX
2015 1st QUARTER TOTALS
$228,130.46 (Jan., Feb., March)
YEAR TO DATE TOTAL
$228,130.46
LODGING TAX REVENUES
2015 1st QUARTER TOTALS
$36,019.31 (Jan., Feb., March)
YEAR to DATE TOTAL
$36,019.31
540.775.8524 ■ lthomas@co.kinggeorge.state.va.us ■ www.YesKingGeorge.com