EDA Board Chairman and Executive Director look back, and to the future

On Wednesday, December 30th this reporter sat down in the Royal Examiner/National Media studio with Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority Board of Directors Chairman Jeff Browne and Executive Director Doug Parsons for a perspective on the long, strange, and productive year they have experienced as a newly aligned board and staff navigate the EDA into the future of economic development in this community, while attorneys focus on recovering from the past financial scandal.

The conversation began with two recent announcements – the landing, literally, of drone manufacturer Silent Falcon UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) in Warren County with the potential of eventually adding as many as 249 quality jobs to the local market; and the EDA’s heading into the final round of consideration, with experienced distributor Parallel LLC, to land the Eastern regional medical marijuana distribution contract. Should Parallel LLC score that contract, it would also entail the purchase of the huge Baugh Drive warehouse the EDA has been marketing for some time.

Hear how Randolph-Macon Academy’s drone program played into Silent Falcon’s decision to locate its manufacturing headquarters here, and how the drone manufacturer and operational services local presence might stimulate similar educational initiatives in Warren County’s Public School system. And learn why Warren County Sheriff Mark Butler got a big smile on his face upon learning Silent Falcon was bringing its operations to Warren County.

Questioned about the controversial Sheetz proposal at the base of Apple Mountain in Linden, they also explained the EDA’s role there – absolutely NONE.

Browne and Parson also noted that a conversation with the Town of Front Royal to finalize the sale of the Afton Inn property to developer 2 East Main LLC is continuing – and where there is conversation, there is hope. And they hope those discussions are just the beginning of continued conversations that will lead to repaired relations with the town government to everyone’s benefit, not only at the intersection of East Main Street and Royal Avenue but countywide on both sides of the municipal boundary line.

Hear Browne and Parsons reflect on 2020 and look toward a productive 2021 for the EDA, Front Royal, and Warren County in this Royal Examiner video interview: