NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY
Article date: July 27, 2002

EDA official proposes panels for Avtex, technology in plan

By Mary Jordan

Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority Chairman Ronald L. Mabry hopes to stay focused on the board's strategic plan.

At a meeting Friday, Mabry introduced a board committee structure that would encompass major areas of the strategic plan with the hope of developing a level of expertise to be used for business development and attraction.

It also could be used as a resource for the EDA board and staff, town of Front Royal and Warren County.

The proposed committees for Mabry's plan include Avtex, technology, existing industry, retail, hospitality and new industry. Each EDA director would chair at least one committee.

The strategic plan, which was revised in March, is designed to guide the county's business recruitment efforts through the next five years. The plan establishes the recruitment history of the EDA, identifies the resources available to draw businesses, as well as methods and procedures that need to be in place to attract them, and includes the EDA's vision of an overall successful recruitment strategy for the area.

While the board had already agreed to look at its goals every three months, Mabry said the new plan will allow it to monitor goals more frequently and take quicker action if needed.

"It allows us to monitor those action items on a month to month basis," he said.
The board did not take action on the proposal, but instead agreed to review it and reconvene at its August meeting with comments and suggestions.

Also at Friday's meeting:

• A site work contract for the former Avtex administration building was awarded to Arthur Construction Co. Inc. of Herndon for a price not to exceed $187,211. The project will be partially funded by proceeds of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Economic Development Initiative grant awarded to the EDA for decontamination, demolition and selected rehabilitation.
  
• FMC Corp. Site Manager Doug Bement reported that removal of debris from buildings at the Avtex site continues with an expected demolition date of Aug. 5.
  
• Panel members were told that the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue Department and the Virginia Task Force are seeking to perform education training sessions in the buildings at the Avtex site this November. Representatives from FMC Corp., the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will meet with them to discuss issues within the buildings and determine if training is feasible.

County Attorney Douglas Napier also will examine liability issues.