FREDA Briefed by Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission Strategic Planner on Membership Advantages

At it’s monthly noon meeting of Monday, June 3, the Front Royal Economic Development Authority (FREDA), also known as the Town’s Business Development Board (BDB), got a wide-ranging statistical report on the Town of Front Royal’s overall economic, employment, workforce, residential, and educational profile, among a few other related factors. That report launched at the meeting’s outset came from Ashley Shickle, a Strategic Planner with the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission (NSVRC).

The meeting was chaired by Vice-Chairman Nick Bass in the absence of Chairman Rick Novak, who noted at last month’s meeting that he would be away on vacation much of this month. All other members were present, including Treasurer Thomas Eshelman, Directors Aiden Miller, David Gedney, Robert Elliott, and Frank Stankiewicz.

Near the end of her presentation when Shickle wondered if she’d perhaps overstayed her welcome with the flood of intertwined statistics she presented, Town Director of Community Development and Tourism Elizabeth “Lizi” Lewis observed: “Rather than drive you out, I think we’ll have you back.”

NSVRC Strategic Planner Ashley Shickle was offered absent Chairman Rick Novak’s seat at the far head of the Town Hall meeting room table. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

The overall reception was positive to Shickle’s description of not only this community, but its relative place statistically in the Northern Shenandoah Valley region. “Thanks for motivating us to have the conversation,” Eschelman told Shickle regarding analysis of housing statistics in the town.

Shickle explained that while not being a direct source of financing for its membership communities economic development projects, it aids in identifying funding sources and in grant preparation to those funding sources. And its background research into regional communities and member municipalities would appear to be an excellent tool for those members in that search for qualifying material in support of grant applications.

Among the interesting statistics mentioned was the relative size and population of the Town of Front Royal and City of Winchester. It was noted that while Winchester is 10.5 square miles smaller than Front Royal, its population is 7,000 more. Town Manager Waltz observed that Front Royal ranks as the seventh largest town in the state, size wise. Of its population and related tax revenue lagging somewhat on average for its square-mileage size, Waltz commented that the currently undeveloped Front Royal Limited Partnership (FRLP) land off Happy Creek Road that was brought into the town limits a decade or more ago to facilitate in-town residential-based development, has an area that can accommodate by right the development of 3,000 tax-revenue-generating homes. The town manager did not elaborate on factors, including between the Town and FRLP, that have held the start of that development up for over a decade.

The FREDA Board listens as Town Director of Community Development and Tourism ‘Lizi’ Lewis, back to camera at near-right of table, summarizes the status of the local business owners survey she and the board are hoping for a maximum response to.

Following Shickle’s departure just over an hour into the meeting, the FREDA Board got updates from Director of Community Development and Tourism Lewis on the status of distribution of the local business owners survey on operational and infrastructure needs and perception of what the community needs to do to improve their relative situations. Lewis reported 26 initial responses in the first phase of distribution, with Chamber of Commerce circulation on the horizon. Circulation and receipt of responses is scheduled to continue through June 14, with a possible extension to June 28. The Town and FREDA are seeking maximum participation of as many respondents as possible to help guide its efforts moving forward on facilitating business retention and expansion inside the town limits. A Royal Examiner/National Media Town Talk video inteview with our publisher Mike McCool was also acknowledged as helping get the word out.

Back from a lingering illness, Town Manager Joe Waltz briefed the BDB on the ongoing search for legal representation of its own. Defined by the State as quasi-governmental independent entities, Economic Development Authorities often need independent legal counsel, as has been illustrated locally during the ongoing aftermath of the FR-WC EDA “financial scandal”.

See the linked Town video for details on the NSVRC and staff reports and BDB discussion of those presentations. NSVRC Strategic Planner Shickle introduces herserlf at the 3:05 mark of the Town video, with her presentation and board discussion ending at the 1:02:37 mark. Staff presentations begin with Lewis’s comments on the local business survey starting at the 1:02:50 mark. The meeting adjourned at 1:22 p.m.

FREDA’s next monthly meeting will be Monday, July 1, at noon, at Town Hall. The board’s tour of the Blue Ridge Technical Center is slated for June 17 at 1:00 p.m.

Click here to watch the FREDA Meeting of June 3, 2024.