Lynchburg EDA approves first Framatome incentive payment as staff details grant, site and marketing work
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Summary
At its Dec. 19 meeting the Economic Development Authority approved the release of the first annual incentive payment to Framatome after staff said the company met job-creation benchmarks, and staff summarized multiple grant applications and site-development steps underway.
The Economic Development Authority of the City of Lynchburg voted Dec. 19 to release the first annual incentive payment to Framatome after staff said the company met job-creation and retention benchmarks under a performance agreement.
Marjette, a member of the authority’s staff, told the board that Framatome had submitted required documentation on new or retained employees. “I think the number that they gave me, when they sent the information in was 95, but I think it's up to a 130 now,” she said, adding that the payment schedule the board previously approved “really helps them out.” A motion to approve the release was made and seconded; members voiced “aye” and the release was approved on the record.
In a broader staff report Marjette summarized ongoing work across several fronts. She noted distribution of the annual report and a year-end reception for partners, and said a reissued request for proposals is in the board’s drop box and is due “on the 6th” (the transcript does not specify which month). She described a planned walkthrough at BWXT’s building at 109 Ramsey Place to obtain bids and assess what it would take to convert that space back to manufacturing use, pending permission from BWXT.
Marjette also reported completion of a Virginia Brownfields assistance fund grant tied to Palmyra (referred to in the discussion as Palmyra House), saying staff had cut the check after rapid coordination with the state program. She said final reports were submitted for two other EDA grants and that Ivy Creek sites A and B have CIP funds earmarked for utilities and road access, but added that public works returned additional design comments that could increase costs beyond current FY25 CIP allocations. To help fill any potential funding gap, staff pre-applied to the Virginia Brownfields (VBRSP) program and to VBRSP for an airport-related project; both pre-applications were accepted.
On transportation funding, Marjette said staff intend to pursue VDOT industrial-access funds—now labeled Economic Development Access Funds—for road work tied to the Foxley/Dominion Block site. She said the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) expects to see documentation of other grant applications as part of its review. To document site progress, Marjette said staff deployed a drone to photograph cleared areas and show where the road and utilities will go.
Marjette closed by describing an internal assessment of staffing and a branding study intended to guide marketing for economic development and tourism over the next three years, and said city communications staff will help align messaging across departments. The meeting record shows the authority agreed to enter a closed session; no subject matter for that session was recorded in the provided transcript.
Votes at a glance: the board approved the Nov. 7 minutes and approved the release of the first annual payment to Framatome. The transcript records vocal “aye” responses but does not name individual voters in the vote record.
