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Home My WebLink About12/18/2013 - Minutes The Economic: Authorityof Roanoke County Development Roanoke County Administration Center 5204 Bernard Drive Roanoke,Virginia 24018 Minutes Wednesday,December 18,2013, 9:00.A.M. Members Present Steve Musselwhite, Chairman Billy Branch Greg Apostolou Paul:Henkel Steve Anderson . Jill Loope, Secretary Treasurer Paul Mahoney,Legal Counsel. Members Absent Woody Windley Sunny Shah Kirtesh Patel Leon McGhee Guest Brian Carter, Finance Manager Megan Cronise The.Economic.Development Authority of Roanoke County, Virginia met this day at the Roanoke County:Administration Center,this being their regularly scheduled meeting CALL TO ORDER Mr. Musselwhite called the meeting to order at 9:00-a.m. REQUEST TO POSTPONE, ADD OR CHANGE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA ITEMS Because of the initial lack of a quorum, the order of the agenda was revised allowing the Plantation Road Transportation Enhancement Project update to be heard at the beginning of the meeting. A call was placed to Steve Anderson who indicated he would interrupt a meeting to attend if needed. Mr. Anderson joined the meeting at.9:25 and a quorum was established: BRIEFING Plantation Road Transportation Enhancement Project Update Megan Cronise, Principal Planner with the office of Community Development, gave a PowerPoint presentation reviewing the Plantation Road Transportation Enhancement Project: EDA Minutes Page 2 December 18, 2018 She stated that Whitman, Requardt and Associates are under contract for engineering, design and outreach for the Plantation Road Project. She provided a timeline and reviewed the revised project map. with proposed changes, proposed cross sections, entrance realignments, median width (12 and 16 feet), and reviewed the outreach efforts regarding the existing businesses. Ms. Cronise also reviewed future projects including Friendship Lane Bridge and road improvements, and Lila Drive, Walrond Drive, Hitech Road and Enon Drive. Greg Apostolou asked if there was a possibility of underground electric service in the area. He stated since there would be grading for the project, it would be a prime time for the installation of underground service. Ms. Cronise stated the cost would be prohibitive, probably double the cost of what is budgeted for the project. APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 16, 2013 MINUTES A motion was made by Paul Henkel, second by Greg Apostolou to approve the minutes as written. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. FINANCIAL REPORT Brian Carter presented the financial report for the period ending November 30, 2013. 'He reported the equity in pooled cash to be $644,539. A motion approving the financial report was made by Greg Apostolou, and seconded by Steve Anderson. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. NEW BUSINESS Hypergen Modification Agreement Jill Loope reviewed the Hypergen project and request for a modification to the original Performance Agreement. She stated that Roanoke County entered into a Performance Agreement with HyperGen, Inc. on January 25, 2013,which provided for an economic development grant and certain other considerations to the Company based upon measurable performance goals. The proposed development included the construction of a ten thousand (10,000) sq. ft. corporate office building with an investment of$1.5 million in improvements and personal property. The company also expects to employ at least twenty-three(23)people with high skill level requirements in Management Information Systems, Software Engineering and Computer Science fields with wages forty percent(40%) above the County's median wage rate. HyperGen has been in business in the Roanoke area since 1992 and has grown substantially during this time. . During the past year, the company has completed and received approval for their site plan on Enon Drive. However, due to unexpected increases in project costs related to infrastructure and stormwater improvements, construction of the project will not be complete by the January 1, 2014, deadline. Also, during this time the company purchased an existing building that adjoins their property,resulting in the_following: 1) expedites moving their business into the County EDA Minutes Page 3 December 18,2013 immediately, 2) allows the company more room for future growth and 3) gives the company more time to complete construction of the new facility. Therefore, the company is requesting a twenty-four(24)month extension to January 1, 2016, to grant them the opportunity to fulfill the real estate investment objectives of the agreement. The Board of Supervisors approved the Modification Agreement at their December 10, 2013 meeting. In response to a query by Greg Apostolou, Ms. Loope pointed out if Hypergen terminates this project or fails to complete the construction of this development by March 31, 2017, then the Authority shall be relieved of any obligation to the Company for any Economic Development Incentive Grant. A motion was made by Paul Henkel, seconded by Greg Apostolou to approve the modification agreement as presented. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATES Western Virginia Regional Industrial Development Authority Ms. Loope gave an update on the creation of the Western Virginia Regional Industrial Development Authority. She stated the creation of the Authority was an effort to spur economic activity across the Roanoke Valley. Officials from seven local governments joined the new regional authority in order to share resources to lure new business into the region. The Authority includes Roanoke, Botetourt and Franklin Counties, along with Vinton, and the cities of Salem and Roanoke. Together, the localities will work to identify and create 100-plus acre industrial sites to attract larger businesses in response to growing demand. Ms. Loope stated the Authority was also awarded a $65,000 grant as seed money for engineering studies, etc. AFID Grant Awarded to Roanoke County in the amount of$7,500 Ms. Loope stated that Roanoke County has been awarded a planning grant from the newly established Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund for the Catawba Sustainability Center. The purpose of the grant is to explore strategies to increase the connectivity of the Catawba Sustainability Center with the local food system. Specifically, the grant will support focus groups to identify needs and opportunities for collaboration and market opportunities for locally grown foods. The grant will be implemented in partnership with the Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development, which will deliver the technical assistance required for the project. Project deliverables include the convening of four focus groups for recommendations and best practice scenarios, a final report and a site/infrastructure analysis with drawings for the Catawba property. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2014. EDA Minutes Page 4 December 18, 2013 EXPLORE PARK Ms. Loope stated the Economic Development Office is working with Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism to develop a master plan for Explore Park in 2014. The master plan process will identify areas for passive and active recreation and will serve as the road map for the next 10-15 years of development. Roanoke County sees the value in establishing the Explore Park as a regional outdoor adventure park that creates recreational opportunities in eco-tourism, as well as passive and active leisure activities. Additionally, Explore Park has economic development opportunities that will provide financial benefits to the region. Staff is currently marketing the Park for new business development. Ardagh Metal Packaging Greg Apostolou asked if everything is going as planned with Ardagh. Ms. Loope stated things were moving along as planned. She stated she had actually met with them recently and things were progressing favorably. Ms. Loope thanked the EDA members for their service to the Authority, and wished them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Reports and Inquiries of Board Members None ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m. NEXT MEETING The next regularly scheduled meeting is January 15, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. Respectfully submitted, P c� r - VtaN,'..+�__ .. Ji�� •ope Secretary-Treasurer