EDA reelects officers by acclamation, adopts remote meeting policy and hears staff updates on strategic plan and Rivanna Futures grants

At its annual meeting the Albemarle County Economic Development Authority reelected the existing slate of officers by acclamation and readopted the county’s remote/virtual meeting policy for the coming year. The EDA also approved the meeting minutes and the financial report, and staff delivered several informational updates including the strategic plan kickoff and status of Rivanna Futures grant applications.

Don Long, EDA chair, moved to reelect the current slate of officers when no other nominees were offered; the body adopted the slate “by acclamation.” The EDA then readopted the remote/virtual meeting policy as required by state statute; a motion to adopt the policy was moved, seconded and approved with all in favor. The minutes of the prior meeting were approved with one clarification (noting the prior meeting was virtual). The financial report was presented and adopted; staff said the authority disbursed $100,000 in connection with a previously supported wet‑lab accelerator pilot (referred to in meeting materials as the Biohub project).

Staff reminded members that the annual Statement of Economic Interests forms are due to the clerk by 5 p.m. on February 3 and emphasized that the county attorney’s office expects strict compliance with the filing deadline. IT changes related to EDA director email forwarding were described as delayed while a new cybersecurity solution is finalized.

JT and other staff described the kickoff of the EDA’s five‑year strategic plan update with consultant Resonance; the process will include benchmarking, stakeholder roundtables, and an online engagement portal. Staff also reviewed Rivanna Futures (site readiness) grant activity: the EDA’s office submitted a Virginia Business Ready Sites Program application and a Go Virginia request; staff said Go Virginia Region 9 approved the Rivanna Futures implementation submission to move to the state board and that state‑level awards and Virginia Business Ready Sites selections are expected in the March–June timeframe. Staff also noted two funding bills in the General Assembly and a separate request for state budget line items tied to site readiness work, including road construction that the site‑ready grant programs do not fund.

Finally, staff announced that the Siebel Biohub wet‑lab accelerator (a separate project the EDA previously supported) received final approval from Go Virginia; the project will pilot wet‑lab space for bioscience startups with a multi‑million dollar project budget and a ribbon‑cutting planned in February. Staff circulated upcoming event dates for members and asked members to send questions or requests for additional information to staff ahead of the EDA’s February meeting.