Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Business Outreach topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Leesburg EDC debates sponsored outreach breakfast, sets topic for September work session
Summary
Commissioners discussed staging another business outreach breakfast this fall with sponsor support, brainstormed sponsor types and presentation topics, reviewed available discretionary funds and agreed to revisit scheduling at the September meeting.
Commissioners on the Leesburg Economic Development Commission spent a substantial portion of their Aug. 6 meeting discussing a proposed outreach breakfast to gather local businesses, seek feedback and provide educational presentations.
The proposal, introduced during new business, called for a moderated breakfast event modeled on the June outreach session but with a narrower focus. Commissioners discussed charging an admission fee, recruiting a headline sponsor to cover costs and offering smaller sponsorship slots for multiple local partners.
Commissioner Tony Talent framed the suggestion: “I would like to see if we could do that and maybe narrow the scope a little bit,” he said, citing time limits at the previous breakfast. Commissioners and staff suggested sponsors from banking, insurance, CPA or legal firms and professional employer organizations (PEOs) that assist small businesses with benefits and payroll administration.
Discussion covered logistics, sponsor levels and speaker selection. One model floated was a principal sponsor who would contribute roughly $1,000 and receive recognition and a short speaking slot; commissioners also suggested $500 sponsor slots to expand participation. Melanie Scroggins said the commission’s discretionary fund balance was about $1,200 and she agreed to confirm the exact amount after the meeting.
Commissioners emphasized a preference for locally connected sponsors rather than national representatives flown in for a single appearance. “I’d rather try to use someone that has hometown connections,” a commissioner said, noting local firms can better speak to Leesburg‑specific conditions.
Several potential presentation topics were identified: retirement and benefits options for small employers, commercial and flex office space trends, and professional services that help businesses scale. Commissioner Lindsay Potter offered to identify commercial brokers and staff members volunteered to explore local HR/benefits providers.
The commission did not set a final date but discussed October as a target and agreed to make the outreach breakfast and sponsorship plan a priority topic at the Sept. meeting for a vote on exact timing and format. Commissioners also agreed the intent is to defray costs, not raise funds beyond covering expenses.
Clarifying points recorded during the meeting: commissioners suggested multiple sponsorship tiers (principal and smaller slots), recommended local sponsors (banks, insurance brokers, PEOs, CPA firms) and stated the goal to cover event costs using a combination of sponsorship and the commission’s remaining discretionary funds.
