In a first for Virginia, Pulaski County has created a new agency to manage strategic assets and promote sports tourism and recreation.
The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors, by resolution, has formally created a new political division to promote sports tourism and encourage recreation pursuant to the Public Recreation Facilities Act, Chapter 56, Article 15.2, Code of Virginia. The newly created agency will be titled the Pulaski County Sports Tourism and Recreation Authority and will serve as an extension of the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors to assist in the management of the county’s sports tourism and recreation facilities and assets and to favorably promote sports tourism and recreation events within Pulaski County.
“This is a historic move by the Board of Supervisors to strategically establish a unique agency dedicated to achieving our vision for sports tourism and entertainment, and we believe it will fulfill its original purpose of promoting sports tourism and entertainment for the benefit of our county, residents and businesses,” said County Administrator Jonathan D. Sweet. “Sports tourism is one of the greatest opportunities in Southwest Virginia for Pulaski County to capture potential market share. With the potential addition of world-class sports and entertainment venues, plus one of the largest indoor sports complexes and expo centers in Virginia, it makes sense to establish a sports tourism and entertainment agency to commercialize and optimize these assets to benefit our local economy and the entire community.”
The Pulaski County Sports Tourism and Recreation Authority will serve as the primary point of contact for sports tourism, events and entertainment venues in Pulaski County, provide management services and oversight for sports, recreation, entertainment and event assets in Pulaski County, and oversee and promote future public and private investment in this area. STEA’s venue portfolio could include Randolph Park, New River Valley Fairgrounds, Pulaski County Motorsports Park and Events Center, Historic Calfee Park and components of the proposed Pulaski County Indoor Sportsplex and Expo Center, with a total estimated value of over $80,000,000.
“The rapid growth of our sports and entertainment assets, as well as the variety and size of our facilities, requires a specialized and strategic focus on optimizing these assets to provide the greatest benefit to both our citizens and business community,” said Laura Walters, Chair of the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors. “This approach to commercializing these public assets will provide greater benefits to our county coffers and make our county more sustainable, while providing a better experience for our citizens, increasing demand for our hospitality, tourism and service industries, and strengthening our small business and retail businesses.”
The Authority’s initial mission is to significantly strengthen the local economy and enhance the quality of life by optimizing Pulaski County’s sports tourism, entertainment and recreation assets for the benefit of both the business community and residents and by attracting and hosting enhanced sports tourism and entertainment events within the confines of the Pulaski County Sports Tourism and Recreation Authority’s facilities and assets.
The Authority will initially be composed of six members appointed by the Supervisory Board for two-year terms. They will implement the Authority’s mission, ensure that the Supervisory Board’s vision for sports tourism and entertainment is pursued and its intent and purpose is achieved, and that the Authority’s objectives are achieved in accordance with the adopted Articles of Association.
The first appointees to the Pulaski County Sports, Tourism and Entertainment Authority are:
⦁ Bud Foster, Draper, Virginia – Virginia Tech
⦁ Dr. Angela Joyner, Fair Lawn, Virginia (Radford University)
⦁ Kevin Meredith, Snowville, Virginia – New Roads Mindset, LLC
⦁ Ashley Koch, CFP, EA, Draper, VA – Cultivate Financial, LLC
⦁ Amber Clark, Fair Lawn, Virginia – New River Community College
⦁ Missy Gentry, Dublin, Virginia – Scherer Group
The initial goals the Board of Supervisors identified for the Authority and its dedicated staff to pursue are: developing a budget for the Sports Tourism and Entertainment Authority; establishing all necessary operating structures, SOPs, MOUs, partnership agreements, lease agreements, internal service structures, etc.; obtaining necessary licenses and certifications; preparing a business plan; branding the Pulaski County Sports Tourism and Entertainment Authority; branding/rebranding the Authority’s specific facilities, assets, and events; developing marketing plans and being directly involved in marketing the Authority’s facilities, assets, and events; appropriately scoping and sizing the Authority, its operations, its staff, and its assets; and effectively communicating and regularly reporting to the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors on the Authority’s projects, progress, operations, and activities.
