Caroline County Parks & Recreation

July 15, 2011

Alan Partin, Interim County Administrator  Bowling Green, Virginia

The Caroline County Board of Supervisors in their July 12 meeting adopted an amendment to the County Technology Zone Ordinance making the entire County of Caroline a Technology Zone. Prior to the amendment, all primary and secondary growth zones were designated as Technology Zones; approximately 30,000 acres.

With the ordinance amendment, all of Caroline County's 549 miles now is encompassed within the Technology Zone overlay.  Governor McDonnell recognized the Caroline initiative today by stating:  "Caroline County's designation as a Technology Zone is significant news," said Governor McDonnell. "It is unprecedented for an entire county to claim this advantage, and will give the locality a competitive edge in attracting the type of technology-based businesses that are vital to our economy. This designation is yet another reason that Virginia continues to lead the ranks as the best state in the nation in which to do business."

The ordinance amendment was the innovation of Supervisor Bobby Popowicz of the Port Royal district who also serves as the Economic Development liaison for the Board of Supervisors. The Technology Zone overlay complements the Supervisor's vision of Caroline being a strong contender for Technology business recruitment, and for making Caroline an employment community, not merely a bedroom community for surrounding urban areas.

A Technology Zone is the legal method to offer incentives to specified technology firms considering locating in a Virginia community.  Technology Zones act as an incentive overlay district that has no impact whatsoever on the land use zoning, taxes, or regulations of any kind. Caroline County's first Technology Zone ordinance overlaid all categories of zoned land use since 2009 with no impact on the citizens who lived, farmed, or conducted business under the overlay district. No impact is anticipated to any Caroline resident due to the Technology Zone extension.

The comprehensive Technology Zone overlay enhances the County's business recruitment efforts.  The ordinance amendment and designation of all of Caroline as a Technology Zone is a strong statement to the technology business sector that Caroline is serious about recruiting these industries. Coupled with some of the longest running and most generous incentives in Virginia for technology companies, Caroline is working to be a contender for this type of investment.  Also, the Technology Zone will overlay some properties that may be appropriate for hosting technology firms, but currently reside outside of the previous growth zone definition that applied to Caroline Technology Zones.

An example of a property that benefits from Technology Zone status is Remuda Ranch, a business site situated on 517 acres with a campus consisting of three main buildings with a total of 40,000 sq ft of space. The property is located outside the old Technology Zone designated area, so the new comprehensive definition will include this potential technology company campus.

Caroline County has been marketing the community with the Technology Zone designation since 2009. The program has a logo that is available to real estate brokers and land owners to use in their marketing materials, road side signage, and in County advertising pieces.

McKesson Begins Hiring Process in Caroline 

July 7, 2011

Alan Partin, Interim County Administrator

Bowling Green, VA

 The long awaited hiring process for the new McKesson facility in Carmel Church is beginning with a web link to the McKesson site to be found on the Caroline County home web page: www.visitcaroline.com and also on the Economic Development web page on the same site.

Job seekers need to click on the button for McKesson employment and follow the links at the McKesson web site.

Jobs are also listed now on the Virginia Employment Commission web site: www.vawc.virginia.gov.  Navigate to theFind a Job: Click Herebutton and then navigate to search Caroline, Zip Code 22546.

The hiring process is anticipated to be limited at first to allow for the plant to train key personnel to be followed some months later by hiring a larger group of employees.

McKesson Corporation announced for Caroline County in June of 2010 after a three year recruitment effort by the Caroline County Board of Supervisors and the Department of Economic Development & Tourism. Construction on the 340,000 square foot building has been ongoing since 2010 and is nearing completion. 

McKesson operations are expected to begin in early 2012.

The promise of 150 hires in the first year of operations made the McKesson recruitment one of the best announcements for 2010 in Virginia. 

Caroline County encourages its citizens to apply early for positions as they are announced. The Department of Economic Development & Tourism continues to work with McKesson to get the earliest possible employment information to Caroline residents.

Contact:

Gary R. Wilson

Director, Caroline County

Department of Economic Development & Tourism

804.633.4074

gwilson@co.caroline.va.us

It is with a great deal of excitement that I announce that the LONG awaited Caroline County YMCA will finally become a reality.

After much discussion trying to get my fellow members of the Board of Supervisors to agree, on June 14th the Board, with a 4-1 vote, agreed to provide the interim funding for the new Caroline County YMCA!  This vote helps us to take advantage of favorable construction prices.  The current plan is to have construction and site plans completed by the end of the summer, with ground-breaking and construction to begin this fall.

This is GREAT NEWS for all residents of Caroline County.  As many of you may already know, Newland Communities purchased the land in 2007 for the specific purpose of facilitating the County's construction of the new "Y", and has agreed to donate the property to Caroline County.  The new "Y" will be located on the south side of Durrette Road directly south of the existing Library Boulevard.

A Caroline County "Y" Committee is meeting each month to discuss fundraising evetns, capital campaign opportunities, and special programs.  The Committee would welcome any new members!  If you would like to be part of this group and/or follow the progress of the "Y", please send your name, e-mail address and phone number to wayneacors1@verizon.net  or call (804) 448-2631 adn we will be glad to add you to the "Y" mailing list. 

Again this is GREAT NEWS for Caroline County and for the residents of Ladysmith Village!

Sincerely,

Wayne A. Acors, Board of Supervisors, Madison District

According to Kristen Eichenmuller, Editor ofBuilder and Developer magazine, this is only the second time in the award's history the award has honored a developer.  "Newland was the obvious choice for this award given the company's remarkable performance during one of the most economically challenging years in decades," said Eichenmuller. "Being a national company, they worked and were successful in many different markets, including having five of the top 15-selling communities in 2009," she continued.  

According to Bob McLeod, Newland Communities' chairman and CEO, geographic diversification is the foundation of the company's success.  "Several Newland markets, including Houston, Austin, Raleigh-Durham and Washington, D.C., are experiencing strong positive job growth, healthy inventory levels and significantly lower levels of foreclosures and distressed sales."

Newland boasts relationships with 100-plus production and custom homebuilders including D.R. Horton, Pulte Homes, Lennar Corp., Centex, K. Hovnanian Homes, Ryland Homes, Beazer Homes, and Meritage Homes, among others.   "We consider our homebuilders one of our greatest strengths," said McLeod.  "By partnering with quality homebuilders, we are able to fully focus on our primary expertise - that of community building," he said.  

"Understanding what our customers want is the key to our success," said McLeod, who has led the company since 1987. "Our team consists of dedicated experts in their respective disciplines who have created proven formulas for success in the various markets in which we do business," he said. "While we build on these best practices, we remain flexible as we identify and incorporate ongoing innovations and customer insights that take in regional differences. It's added value that sets a Newland community apart from the competition.

We are celebrating Earth Day at Ladysmith Village on Sunday, April 17th from 2pm - 5pm.  After examining the many beautiful and creative entries, a Logo Art Contest winner was announced! 

Tyler Norris from Mrs. Callahan's 5th grade class!  We are so pleased about the number of students who participated in the Art Contest, and want to thank each and everyone of them for their hard work and wonderful entries.  

Please join us in celebrating Earth Day at the Ladysmith Village Amphitheatre Park.  We will have live entertainment from Oasis Island Sounds, organic food vendors, TV characters and opportunities to donate to Goodwill, Cell Phones for Soldiers and the Caroline County Food Bank.  There will be buyer incentives on new home purchases, "go green" games for kids, recycled crafts, and workshops on topics like 'container gardening', 'composting' and 'saving green by living green'.  Free parking and free admission.   Bring your family and friends!  It will be a great day!

 Remember - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.