Town Council Updated on Economic Development Task Force

During Tuesday’s Town Council work session consultant Miles Friedman updated the council members on the progress of the town’s recently formed Economic Development Task Force. 

Friedman said he has been conducting initial research to determine ideas for what the task force may do going forward. During his research Friedman said he interviewed 20 business owners throughout the community. He and the members of the task force have also met twice since its inception.

Businesses in Herndon’s town limits don’t feel as if they are engaged in the town, Friedman said. He said that isn’t unusual and he sees it as a pro and a con. He said on the pro side, it allows Herndon a big opportunity to do something to take a positive step toward getting its businesses involved. “You can go from ground zero to a very active business engagement in the community,” he said.

Friedman said some business owners feel isolated and concerned. He said businesses don’t always feel a sense of loyalty or commitment to the community if they don’t feel connected. He said an economic development program would help get and keep them involved in the town.

Area businesses said they feel the timing for an Economic Development initiative is right because of Metro and downtown development that are occurring, Friedman said. He said there is some concern over what the results of those land-use plans might be. 

There is some debate over whether Herndon has a local chamber of commerce, Friedman said. He said he knows there used to be a Herndon Chamber, but it was pulled into the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce. He said if the Town of Herndon commits to an ongoing economic development presence it will get the attention of the business community very quickly.

Friedman said many people enjoy the small-town feel of Herndon and like that they know their neighbors and the people they run into at the grocery store. He said they like the downtown and feel safe in Herndon. He said there is some concern that the town’s small-town feel may limit its abilities.

At this point the town has a good chance to craft its image around its small-town attributes, while also working to attract technology-related businesses, Friedman said. He said it will be a challenge to reconcile the small town with the technology, but it is something that can be done.

“People really like it here,” Friedman said. “They want to live here, they want to work here, they want to play here, they want to raise their children here. That’s a great plus. That’s not true of every community that I’ve been to.” He said it’s now necessary to spread the positive image that Herndon’s own residents have through marketing and branding.

Other things Herndon needs to push are its wide range of restaurants and hotels, Friedman said. He said the restaurants in Herndon are a great asset to the town because you can find so many different types of food in Herndon. He said many people don’t know that though and there should be a marketing initiative for that.

Additionally, events like Friday Night Live and Herndon Festival, which bring many outsiders into the town, need to be publicized. He said people are obviously in town Friday nights in the summer, but what about other nights of the week. He said the town needs complimentary venues to keep people in town when they come to events such as those.

Friedman said Herndon’s residents and businesses like that the government is very close to them and personal, though there is some concern over being taxed by the county and town.

He said very few communities in Northern Virginia have what Herndon does. However, most communities have economic development programs, including Dumfries, he said. Friedman told the Herndon Town Council that at this point the town has a lot of opportunities to create a positive image.