JULY 2017 | PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY AUGUSTA COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
Our Perspective: Work hard, Play hard
Summer is officially here! This season makes us think of camping, gardens, vacations, s'mores and in the economic development world, wrapping up our year and showcasing the accomplishments of Augusta County. Check out our CY2016/FY2017 Annual Report here, and below are some highlights.
Notable announcements from Hershey, Shamrock Farms, Valley Pike Farm Market and Innovative Refrigeration Systems resulted in:
$104.2 million in Capital Investments
378 jobs created and retained
Check out the recently-unveiled Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Metro area infographic which highlights many reasons this area is a fantastic place to live or visit! Here are a few statistics:
Cost of living index: 93.4
Population: 121,099 (2.0% increase since 2010)
Unemployment rate: 3.7%
The Shenandoah Valley was named One of the Top Ten Emerging U.S. Industrial Markets to Watch in 2017 (Colliers International)
Treat yourself at the 14th annual Sweet Dreams Festival!
Held on Saturday July 22nd at the Stuart's Draft Park, your whole family will enjoy a fun-filled day of entertainment including a Little Debbie look-a-like contest, a zebra cake eating competition, music and a live auction by Enlisted Auctions. The little ones will enjoy a craft tent, rock climbing wall, a visit from Willy Wonka and more. Don't miss the popular 5k race, co-ed softball tournament, and cornhole tournaments!
The Augusta County Tourism Grant Program is live! All tourism partners, please check out the press release here, and email us at [email protected] for an application. Some important notes:
Programs must occur between August 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018.
Projects or initiatives of existing programs must be new.
Applications will be evaluated based on:
Viability of bringing in visitors from outside the region (For the purpose of tourism, visitors are considered individuals who travel more than 50 miles to reach a tourism business or event.)
Possibility of encouraging off-peak travel
Strength of marketing and promotional plan
Creativity and partnerships with and promotion of other Augusta County businesses
The deadline to submit applications is July 17th, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.
Augusta County Economic Development & Tourism 540.245.5619
