Finance/Government Operations and Economic Development Committee

meeting

Loudoun County Board of Supervisors 6h 40m 3 speakers 8 agenda items transcribed 4 days ago official recording ↗

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What items are included in the consent agenda and how is it approved?

Matthew F. Letourneau 11:36

Good evening.

Unknown 11:38

Everybody

Matthew F. Letourneau 11:40

good? All right. Welcome to the October meeting of the Finance, Government Operations, and Economic Development Committee. This room has a hearing loop. If you need hearing assistance, switch your hearing aids to telecoil mode. If you need a headset, we have those available as well. Please see the clerk to request one. We'll begin with the adoption of our consent agenda. We have nine items proposed for consent, and they are item two, quarterly report, upcoming contracts, second quarter, FY25, Item six, contract renewal architectural services for building renovations. Item seven, contract award architectural services. Item eight, contract award and FY25 capital improvement program amendment construction of the crisis receiving and stabilization center.

Matthew F. Letourneau 12:23

Item nine, contract award construction engineering inspection services for Route 9 and Route 287 roundabout. Item 10, contract award roadway and civil design services for Route 15 and Braddock Road roundabouts. Item 11, award authority increase 911 equipment and emergency notification software and services. Item 12, award authority increase educational software solutions and services. Item 13, CY25 payment standards and utility allowance for the housing choice voucher program. I will make a motion to approve the consent agenda. Is there a second? Seconded by Supervisor Briskman. Any discussion on the consent agenda? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Motion carries 5-0. We are pleased to be joined by Supervisor Crony for a portion of our meeting tonight.

Matthew F. Letourneau 13:16

We have a really long agenda. This actually may be the longest agenda I have ever seen in the Finance Committee. So we're gonna do our best to try to move it along. We will take a break. at some point in for the board to grab some dinner and improve our moods, hopefully. But we will go ahead and get started with information item number one, which is our monthly Department of Economic Development reports.

What does the Department of Economic Development monthly report cover?

Matthew F. Letourneau 13:39

Good evening, Mr. Reiser. Good evening, Mr. Reiser.

Unknown 13:53

Good evening, everyone. In front of you, you have the DED annual report for FY24. As they have been for much of the last decade, the numbers are really great. 164 wins, $7.8 billion in investment and more than 5,000 jobs. We also had a great year for economic diversity with lifestyle businesses and retail at 36 wins, rural 33 wins. We also saw significant momentum in the clusters such as health, highly specialized manufacturing, ICT and logistics. But what we wanted to highlight this year was the people and the faces of Loudoun. Inside you'll find nine great stories of local business leaders who are leading the way in our community. We'll be delivering hard copies to your office and there's a great digital version too at our website biz.loudoun.gov slash annual report.

Unknown 14:49

August is the most recent month for local unemployment data. The rate was 3.2 for Loudoun compared to 2.7 for Virginia and 4.2 for the U.S. The jobs report released last week showed unemployment was 4.1 for the U.S. in September. Nationally, jobs increased by 254,000 in September, which was above expectations, and supports the notion that the economy is having a soft landing, as was referenced in discussions about the Fed lowering the interest rate. There are currently 15,983 active jobs open in Loudoun County as of September, with 3,220 newly posted jobs in the month. EDAC had Renee Haltom, the Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, at their meeting on Friday. Great, great presentation.

Unknown 15:35

She said that the economy is doing well. Expectations around a 2%. growth rate this year and into 2025. Unless there is a major shock to the economy, there is no recession expected this year or next. Quick reminder that the annual fall farm tour is coming up next weekend, October 19th and 20th. This features one of the largest number of farms participating we've ever had and some really new farms that we're very excited about. which is a great transition for our update on the USDA farm market and local food promotion program. In 2020, the department applied for and was awarded a multi-year $250,000 grant to determine the effectiveness of the Loudoun-Made, Loudoun-Grown marketplace and to increase access to local Loudoun food products with the goal of increasing Loudoun food production.