2017 Annual Report

Business Attraction & Marketing

The Department actively markets Montgomery County to prospective businesses and site consultants at industry trade shows. The goal of these efforts is to develop leads on newprojects that may have an interest in locating in our community. In 2017, Economic Development staff marketed Montgomery County at several industry trade shows, including: IAMC Spring ForumDinner The Industrial Asset Management Council is the leading trade association for corporate real estate executives. In April, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership held a dinner during the IAMC Spring Forum in Tampa that allowed for its partners, Montgomery County included, to network with corporate real estate executives. AUVSI Xponential Trade Show AUVSI Xponential is where the largest community of leaders in drones, intelligent robotics, and MARKETING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Montgomery County represented at the Virginia booth at the 2017 AUVSI Xponential trade show

Technology Manufacturing Building

unmanned systems come together to shape the future of the unmanned industry. AUVSI showcases unmanned systems in all fields of air, ground, and maritime. The Department partnered with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to attend this year’s trade show held in Dallas. This trade show allowed the Department to interact with the people and businesses who shape the unmanned industry. CoreNet Global Fall Summit CoreNet Global is the world’s leading association and summit for corporate real estate and workplace professionals and service providers. The Department attended this event with allies from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. CoreNet allowed the Department to raise visibility about Montgomery County being a great place to live and conduct business by meeting with influential site selectors and commercial real estate executives. This year’s Fall Summit was held in Seattle. On May 27, 2017, the Economic Development Authority (EDA) of Montgomery County entered into a contract with Cox Family Farms, LLC, to purchase 124 acres of property located directly adjacent to the County-owned Falling Branch Corporate Park at a cost of $2.5 million. Beginning May 27, the EDA had 180 days to preformdue diligence on the property, which included the rezoning request process as well as geotechnical and environmental studies. Rezoning applications with both Montgomery County and the Town of Christiansburg were filed for the property on May 30. Rezonings with both the County and the Town were completed by September 26. Prior to this purchase of land, Falling Branch Corporate Park was comprised of a total of 175 acres, with 146 acres occupied by businesses including Aeroprobe Corporation, Backcountry.com, Dish Network, Ferguson Enterprises, Inc., Inorganic Ventures, Polymer Solutions, Inc., and Prestar Packaging, leaving only 29 acres divided into three separate lots available. After wrapping up the due dilligence process, the EDA closed on the property on November 21, 2017. Marketing the 124 acres of additional property for prospective businesses began immediately. PROPERTY ACQUISITION: FALLING BRANCH PHASE II

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