Frederick County EDA outlines workforce strategy and pushes for project-ready sites

Patrick Barber, executive director of the Frederick County Economic Development Authority, told the Board of Supervisors on the EDA's annual briefing that the authority's work centers on two priorities: attracting new companies and helping existing companies expand to create high-quality jobs and grow local tax revenue.

Barber said the EDA's approach combines workforce development and site readiness. He described the county's labor market as a roughly 45-mile draw area with a highly educated base — "over 90% at least have a high school degree; 40% have at least an associate's degree" — but also noted significant underemployment (about 12,000 people) and roughly 25,000 residents who commute out daily for work. The EDA's talent programs include the Widget Cup and Worlds of Work for K-12 students, employer expos (spring and fall), and a regional recruitment brand called Live Love Shenandoah.

On industry targeting, Barber described a multi-step filter the EDA uses: projected jobs, recent project announcements, average occupational wages and alignment with existing local clusters. He said that list informs outreach to site selectors and state project managers and helps prioritize county training and infrastructure work. Supervisors urged the EDA to explicitly recognize agriculture in those targets; Diane Kearns, a Gainsborough resident and farmer, urged attention to land-use setbacks, labor availability and forestry as part of agricultural strategy.

Barber highlighted recent wins, naming DESI Food and HP Hood as projects that brought investment and jobs, and reported a conservative return-on-investment figure: "for every dollar you've given to us, we've come back and returned it with 26," which he presented as evidence of stewarding tax dollars.

But the presentation turned to what Barber and supervisors described as a core constraint: a shortage of sufficiently large, project-ready sites and limited electric capacity. Barber said certified sites typically require zoning in place, advertised availability and utilities either in place or installable within 12 to 18 months. He noted the EDA and county had pursued the Virginia Business Ready Site Program (a state-level site-certification effort) and that Frederick County has an awarded grant in process tied to that program.

Multiple supervisors pressed for concrete next steps on sites. The board discussed tools such as zoning overlays and proffers and asked staff to return with a proposal on a six-month timetable. Barber said the EDA is pursuing several approaches and will bring proposals back for the board's feedback.

On utilities, Barber and the board said electric capacity is often the earliest checklist item that eliminates Frederick County from consideration by prospective companies. Barber said EDA staff are in ongoing conversations with regional power providers but that firm commitments are difficult to obtain; he warned the board directly: "we're losing deals because of that." The supervisors suggested the county consider ways to press utility partners or otherwise help structure solutions when the opportunity arises.

Barber also updated supervisors on grocery-store recruitment, saying one of 12 retailers contacted had plans to announce an Aldi on Route 7 and others remain under consideration. He asked the board to confirm that grocery recruitment remains a priority.

What happens next: the EDA will continue talent-program work, pursue site-readiness options — including overlays, certified-site steps and partnerships with property owners — and return to the Board of Supervisors with more detailed site proposals and a recommended timeline for action.