K.G. looks for new business and industry

By COREY BYERS

Date published: 8/19/2007

Officials in King George County want to grow business in hot spots throughout the rural locality and attract technologically advanced industries.

Back in the fall, the county's Economic Development Authority implemented a business retention and expansion program to do just that.

"We're trying to get the county's name out into the business community," said County Administrator Bryan David.

David said county staffers want to market the county regionally and nationally, recruit new industries and retain businesses that are already there.

He named the U.S. 301 corridor near the Naval Support Facility at Dahlgren and the courthouse area in the center of the county as the most likely places for growth.

He said it's just a matter of time before the Hopyard subdivision area, near the Stafford County border, sees growth, too.

The county also plans to market the industrial park.

While the expansion plan is just starting, the county's greater development plan seeks to recruit a wide range of industries.

Those include food, pharmaceuticals, financial services, nanotechnology, medical labs and transportation.

David said new business is necessary given the county's quickly expanding population and a need to diversify the tax base.

Deputy County Administrator Theresa O'Quinn said staffers are working with the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance to help market the locality.

In addition, staffers provide information on infrastructure, real estate, tax rates and other services that may attract business owners when they come calling.

"When somebody calls and it's a major prospect I drop what I'm doing to help them," O'Quinn said.

O'Quinn said the county's new Web site, which is still under design, will have an economic development component offering similar information.

Industrial Park Property King George County's Economic Development Authority has been purchasing lots in the industrial park since 2005. Of 18 lots adjacent to the county landfill, the authority now owns eight and is in the process of purchasing two more. County Administrator Bryan David said the county wants more control over the industries moving into the park, established in 2002. The park historically hasn't had the type of overall growth officials wanted. David said third parties between industries and the county tried to sell properties, which hasn't worked out as the county had hoped. "The EDA is in an ownership role," David said. " They in turn determine who is the end user." David said the EDA can focus on attracting industries that create jobs and take environmental concerns into account.

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Date published: 8/19/2007