Goochland economic authority meets, then enters closed session for business prospect

Goochland County’s Economic Development Authority met June 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Business Center Conference Room at 2931 River Road West, then moved into closed session to discuss a prospective business or industry with no prior public announcement. The open agenda showed the authority handling routine work before the closed-door discussion: a treasurer’s report, bills for April and May, a VAcorp FY27 insurance proposal, and updates on new business, tourism and existing business.

That sequence gives residents a clear picture of what the authority is doing now and what stays behind closed doors. The public can see the financial housekeeping, insurance planning and general business updates, but the identity of the prospect, the site under consideration and any negotiating details remain confidential under Virginia’s open meetings law until the county chooses to make them public. The authority also certified the closed meeting and set its next regular meeting for July 22.

The June 24 meeting fit into a broader push by county leaders to make Goochland less dependent on residential property taxes. At a Feb. 25 joint meeting, county materials said the county was pursuing a more diversified tax base and a 70/30 residential-to-commercial goal. Those same materials said Goochland lacks enough commercial, industrial and retail land and buildings, and needs investment in infrastructure and business-ready sites.

County presentations have tied that strategy to real spending. Officials said the Board of Supervisors appropriated $500,000 to the EDA and later approved another $60,000 for small-business and LOGO/TOD ideas. A regional economic development concept has also been discussed with Amelia County and Powhatan County, reflecting a push to share marketing muscle across counties that face similar limits on ready sites and industrial infrastructure.

The county’s 2025 economic development recap shows how Goochland is trying to market itself. It reported three dedicated business attraction campaigns, 6,075 views on the Discover Goochland landing page in 2025, up 9.5% from 2024, along with 34,691 outbound link clicks and 1,519,043 paid social ad impressions. County economic development and tourism staff also promote Explore Goochland, which includes an events calendar, day-trip itineraries and a business directory, and they partner with the Goochland Farmer’s Market and Manakin Market on a tourism grant for a Farmers Market Trail map.

The recruitment effort has become more visible since the county approved a Technology Overlay District and Technology Zone on Nov. 6, 2025, after six months of community engagement. County materials also say a West Creek Markel site due-diligence effort was intended to support recruitment of Eli Lilly. With a $170,997,815 proposed FY2027 budget behind the tax-rate decisions adopted April 14, Goochland’s leaders are still chasing projects that could bring jobs and broaden the tax base, even as the details stay sealed until the next public step.