Community Questions On the Dillard Property

A: By owning the property, the EDA can ensure it is developed for its highest and best industrial use rather than being sold for purposes that may not provide the greatest long-term benefit to the community. The goal is to attract quality employers, create jobs, expand the tax base, and strengthen Amherst County’s economy for years to come.

The EDA purchased the Dillard Property as a long-term investment in Amherst County’s economic future. Industrial land is limited (1,658 acres), making up only about 5.5% of the county’s total land area (303,334 acres) with the EDA owning about 2%. The property is zoned industrial and has key infrastructure already in place, including rail access, a transmission line, and natural gas service, making it one of the county’s most marketable industrial sites. It is also the region’s largest site. 

At this time we do not have a contract.

A: Due diligence helps make a property more attractive to prospective businesses by reducing risk, shortening project timelines, and lowering development costs. Completing studies, engineering, environmental reviews, and permitting work in advance allows companies to make investment decisions more quickly and with greater confidence.

To help make Amherst County more competitive for industrial development, the EDA secured grant funding through the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program to complete much of this due diligence. Investing in site readiness positions the County to compete more effectively for quality employers and jobs.

A:Businesses often require a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before sharing confidential information about a potential project. An NDA protects sensitive business information such as expansion plans, financial data, proprietary processes, customer information, or a company’s interest in a particular location.

In economic development, NDAs are standard practice across the industry. They allow companies to evaluate potential sites without prematurely disclosing their plans to competitors, employees, customers, or investors. Maintaining confidentiality helps ensure businesses can make informed decisions without unnecessary speculation or market disruption.

Signing an NDA does not mean a project has been approved or that an agreement has been reached. It simply allows the Economic Development Authority to receive confidential information so it can determine whether Amherst County is a suitable location for the company’s project.

NDAs are a normal part of the site selection process and are intended to protect businesses while allowing the EDA to compete for economic development opportunities.

A: Economic Development Authorities purchase land to prepare sites that are ready for business investment. By completing the planning, engineering, permitting, and infrastructure work in advance, EDAs reduce risk for companies, attract new employers, support local business expansion, create jobs, and grow the local tax base. The goal is to help private businesses succeed, not for the EDA to own land indefinitely.

A: The Amherst County Economic Development Authority (EDA) is an independent public authority created by the Amherst County Board of Supervisors under Virginia law to lead the county’s economic development efforts. The EDA works to retain and grow existing businesses, attract new employers, create quality jobs, and strengthen the local tax base. To accomplish this, the EDA markets Amherst County, develops industrial and commercial sites, administers business incentives, acquires and manages property, and partners with local, regional, and state organizations to support economic growth. While the EDA operates independently, its board members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors, and it works closely with the County to advance shared economic development goals.

A: M-1 zoning is designed for industrial and employment-generating businesses such as manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, research and development, and related business operations. It provides areas where businesses can produce, assemble, store, and distribute products while minimizing impacts on surrounding properties.

The Amherst County Comprehensive Plan can be found here:

Amherst County Comprehensive Plan

  • Economic Development information can be found on pages 139-145

Amherst County has strategically focused future growth in Madison Heights and along the US 29 corridor, where existing transportation infrastructure, public utilities, and available commercial and industrial sites provide exceptional opportunities for business investment, redevelopment, and job creation while preserving the County’s rural heritage.

The County’s planning efforts identify Madison Heights as the focal point for future growth because it offers:

  • Public water and sewer
  • Immediate access to US 29 Business, the US 29 Bypass, and Route 130
  • Proximity to Lynchburg
  • Existing commercial and industrial development
  • Opportunities for redevelopment and infill projects
  • Access to utilities and transportation that reduce development costs.

Examples of permitted uses in Amherst County’s M-1 district include:

  • Manufacturing and processing facilities
  • Warehouses and distribution centers
  • Wholesale businesses
  • Contractor facilities
  • Corporate offices
  • Call centers
  • Research and development facilities
  • Breweries
  • Public utilities