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Lancaster EDA approves funding for Reishi Yoga and Wellness after closed-session review
Summary
The Lancaster County Economic Development Authority approved funding to Reishi Yoga and Wellness for equipment and marketing after hearing the applicant in open session and discussing proposals in a closed session under Virginia FOIA rules.
The Lancaster County Economic Development Authority approved funding for Reishi Yoga and Wellness during its Jan. 16 meeting, voting to award funds to purchase a massage/therapy table and related equipment after a closed-session review.
Reishi Yoga owner Emily (last name not specified in the record) told the EDA she launched the studio with a $5,000 EDA grant two years ago and is now seeking support to expand services, hire local marketing help and improve livestream capability. "The priority would be the table. The table and then marketing and then cameras," Emily said during her presentation.
The nut graf: The board moved the grant after recessing to a closed session under Section 2.2-3711(A)(6) of the Code of Virginia (exempting specific discussion or consideration of the investment of public funds where competition or bargaining is involved). After returning to open session and adopting a certification resolution, the EDA voted in favor of a motion to grant funds for the tangible assets requested.
In open session, Emily described how a $5,000 award from the EDA previously had helped the studio open and pay expenses, and she laid out immediate needs including an adjustable massage/therapy table (she estimated comparable tables start at about $1,500) and cameras for livestreaming (which she described in the presentation as approximately $25,100 for a full setup). Emily said the studio has increased bookings and a need to hire marketing help immediately to grow local reach.
Board members asked about the applicant's priorities. One member asked whether marketing or equipment was the higher priority; Emily replied, "Because marketing feeds itself, whatever we invest in marketing, whatever comes out from that can then be back invested into the cameras." She also said the studio plans volunteer work with the Lancaster County Public School System and other community groups and offered a six-month check-in to report how funds are used.
After a closed session convened under state FOIA exemptions for grant deliberations, the EDA returned to open session and read a certification resolution that the closed meeting complied with law. The board then made a motion to award funding for the tangible assets described. The motion language in the minutes appears in two slightly different forms: one motion recorded on the transcript asked to "approve the $2,500 grant to Reishi Yoga and Wellness for the massage table and the camera and monitor equipment," and a subsequent motion and voice vote in the transcript refers to the EDA "granting $25,100 for the tangible assets only." The board voted in favor of the motion as recorded and the motion carried.
Ending: The EDA did not record additional conditions in the minutes beyond limiting the award to tangible assets in the motion language. The applicant had offered to provide a six-month update to the EDA on how funds were spent; Emily also invited board members to visit the studio. The minutes show no appeals or further motions related to this award at the Jan. 16 meeting.
