Development Panel Pursued
Posted: March 9, 2013
HARRISONBURG — City Council members are still piecing together what was identified early this year as a major goal: an economic development committee.
Councilmen Charles Chenault and Abe Shearer have taken the lead in maintaining momentum for the panel, which would complement the efforts of Economic Development Director Brian Shull by focusing on attracting large companies to the city.
Elected officials say the call for a committee is not a critique of Shull’s job performance, and Shull says he does not feel slighted by the idea.
“We want to make all the tools we need available to him to attract larger businesses [that would] employ our high school graduates and college kids,” Chenault said. “Brian’s done a great job. We’re lucky to have him. We just want to give him more.”
At a work session in January, council members discussed creating a comprehensive economic development plan that would help draw high-tech and large manufacturing companies to the area.
Chenault and Shearer expressed a desire to get moving on the plan at a council meeting last month, and they hope to meet Monday to talk about the structure and goals of the committee that will develop it.
Both of them want to tap residents with business contacts throughout the state and East Coast to serve on the body.
“There’s all kinds of great resources in the community,” Shull said, adding that the city already informally networks with residents.
Also, the city’s plan will coincide with economic development efforts from Rockingham County and the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, he said. The partnership works with local governments to bring companies to the area.
Shearer said Shull’s time is “scarce,” noting his job requires keeping in contact with current businesses as much as it pertains to recruiting new ones.
“This [committee] I see as a complement to that,” Shearer said. “It’s something that we don’t do. It creates an opportunity to bring many more minds to the table. … The more people you have at the table provides more perspective.”
The city can gain some ideas, and find partners, in Startup Weekend, scheduled for April 5-7 at James Madison University’s Showker Hall.
The city is among the co-sponsors of the event, which will give area entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their ideas and receive feedback.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Shull said.
Contact Preston Knight at 574-6272 or pknight@dnronline.com
Councilmen Charles Chenault and Abe Shearer have taken the lead in maintaining momentum for the panel, which would complement the efforts of Economic Development Director Brian Shull by focusing on attracting large companies to the city.
Elected officials say the call for a committee is not a critique of Shull’s job performance, and Shull says he does not feel slighted by the idea.
“We want to make all the tools we need available to him to attract larger businesses [that would] employ our high school graduates and college kids,” Chenault said. “Brian’s done a great job. We’re lucky to have him. We just want to give him more.”
At a work session in January, council members discussed creating a comprehensive economic development plan that would help draw high-tech and large manufacturing companies to the area.
Chenault and Shearer expressed a desire to get moving on the plan at a council meeting last month, and they hope to meet Monday to talk about the structure and goals of the committee that will develop it.
Both of them want to tap residents with business contacts throughout the state and East Coast to serve on the body.
“There’s all kinds of great resources in the community,” Shull said, adding that the city already informally networks with residents.
Also, the city’s plan will coincide with economic development efforts from Rockingham County and the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, he said. The partnership works with local governments to bring companies to the area.
Shearer said Shull’s time is “scarce,” noting his job requires keeping in contact with current businesses as much as it pertains to recruiting new ones.
“This [committee] I see as a complement to that,” Shearer said. “It’s something that we don’t do. It creates an opportunity to bring many more minds to the table. … The more people you have at the table provides more perspective.”
The city can gain some ideas, and find partners, in Startup Weekend, scheduled for April 5-7 at James Madison University’s Showker Hall.
The city is among the co-sponsors of the event, which will give area entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their ideas and receive feedback.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Shull said.
Contact Preston Knight at 574-6272 or pknight@dnronline.com