[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6529876,"mediaKeyId","3741353-0cac00cb40f656b120904f25d41b6ac2","parentId",3741353,"title","EDA approves revenue bond financing for Eastern Mennonite University after public hearing","audioSeconds",547,"startMs",1830000,"endMs",2377000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3741353-0cac00cb40f656b120904f25d41b6ac2&start=1830&end=2377","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3741353-0cac00cb40f656b120904f25d41b6ac2/thumbnail_1830000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6529876/Virginia/EDA-approves-revenue-bond-financing-for-Eastern-Mennonite-University-after-public-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529876-6f5b3c758d539e90a7a18d6079e206f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770944973&Signature=hVxBDBY5Pcs~~cOSkj3UZHNgjhjiCcBSxZzvLLOvhaOIG2LvQxgFBiub~ovZ0CTrmXMrkUv35akHNGCCO0zS9lD2YwIUwUrJxY1bnxWwEP0jMh~c5HsQfJLaiqgG2p4hfJYv~H~u13PZMMyAEsq3CGWNprCh6rNBvjPaaMBjksOQ6m8t2pBgJEzMjBLaLsOi6~0rZG8-o3vD8uS3hB5zBT18x6YBi7bq5xF-r7C49LmwxFk5LSjbNUwJyhQ7pd0JjSKQOe-dU6enNooj7~XCFIkvemc~oKr082Rp7ud0DBrAL9udV0haxCUysY4qQycl3~wMDq8b~91~1lowCnLzMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Harrisonburg","date","2025-06-10T00:00:00Z","article","The Harrisonburg Economic Development Authority on June 10 opened a public hearing and approved two resolutions to permit revenue bond financing for Eastern Mennonite University (EMU): an inducement resolution followed by a bond (parameters) resolution.

The EDA’s city attorney explained the transaction would use the authority as a conduit issuer under the Industrial Development and Revenue Bond Act in the Virginia code to allow a nonprofit to access tax‑exempt financing. Counsel for the issuer (McGuireWoods) and EMU representatives were present for questions. Lisa Williams of McGuireWoods told the board, \"absolutely no EMU funds, no City of Harrisonburg funds, no state funds are being utilized in the issuance of this debt or the repayment of this debt,\" underscoring that the bonds are nonrecourse to the city.

EMU representatives said the financing will refinance prior borrowings the university obtained from a private bank and provide funds for capital maintenance and campus improvements to support a multi‑year plan. Scott Raymer, identified as EMU’s chief operating officer, described the financing as part of a four‑year plan to stabilize the university’s finances and support campus improvements; he noted recent enrollment headwinds in higher education but said EMU projects modest growth in the upcoming year.

Counsel explained the mechanics: a private underwriter will sell the bonds to public investors in a public offering, and because interest may be tax‑exempt for purchasers, EMU may obtain lower interest rates than commercial financing. The documents state explicitly that neither the city nor the Commonwealth pledges their full faith and credit; bondholders will look to EMU’s pledged revenues and the financing structure for repayment.

After the public hearing concluded with no public objections, the EDA voted on the inducement resolution and the bond resolution in sequence. The board conducted roll‑call votes on both resolutions; the record shows aye votes from present members (Dr. Alcindi, Burton, Holland, Macklin, Pipkins) and no recorded no votes. The resolutions authorized the chair or vice chair to execute the necessary documents and appointed McGuireWoods as bond counsel.

The EDA asked staff to forward the matter to City Council for its consideration later the same day as required by local procedures. The board closed the public hearing and adjourned after completing the bond votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Harrisonburg - Economic Development Authority on 2025-06-10 12:00 PM - Jun 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Harrisonburg Economic Development Authority held a public hearing and approved an inducement resolution and a bond resolution to facilitate revenue bond financing for Eastern Mennonite University, authorizing McGuireWoods as bond counsel; EDA emphasized the debt is nonrecourse to the city.","taxTitle","Harrisonburg (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",9561,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6529882,"Harrisonburg approves 29 small-business grants through new entrepreneurship initiative",685,1007000,1692000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3741353-0cac00cb40f656b120904f25d41b6ac2&start=1007&end=1692","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3741353-0cac00cb40f656b120904f25d41b6ac2/thumbnail_1007000.jpg","/articles/6529882/Virginia/Harrisonburg-approves-29-small-business-grants-through-new-entrepreneurship-initiative","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529882-9538096b33cb51da608a251f52feee9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770944973&Signature=icf6SoL6JUJ-pDNAjtCryF8QQHZcG6Xr6qZ4tbFbhZrk7sVyxCfKegCvqFW9QQHHJ6BgjOQXvQ65J3sewpd1sKZkOsolKRfNcZAOqvHfyIrUS~mKS5W-XqJ9QRIzVSwUIzWE-xJDAxihdWk7HeyzQeifwQ3Fo91Jo4JDssbA~Zq7Rnk9wED7n7acLdNYg-1W5laf73FpK0QlTARF-s-xFOONmXf~h1nsGCItaJC~7uEIF~gFTUZjx~rjNUOVo4imQSr9PBHqI7Qid31SqgpDOCuL7zymYjqRuXcLeACGkB6z2RqOZrILhMTcHQM4f~AE20-qa-BpndfqpX2L4JapQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harrisonburg Economic Development Authority on June 10 approved the distribution of 29 small‑business grants under the newly created Harrisonburg Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (HETI).

Pierce McGill, deputy director of economic development, said the program pairs technical coaching with a modest grant to encourage early‑stage entrepreneurs to complete training. \"We call it HETI because we have to have acronyms in government,\" McGill said during his presentation. The program was seeded with $100,000 allocated in last year’s city budget; the packet before the EDA included grants for 29 businesses (the program budget covered 30 but one participant dropped out).

McGill told members the city issued an RFP and received 33 responses, the largest response the department had seen. Staff selected a firm called EQ All (a Texas‑based provider) to supply a diverse bench of coaches. Participating entrepreneurs meet one‑on‑one with coaches for one to two hours to select a focused subject area (examples given: financial management, marketing, social media) and then receive about five to seven hours of subject‑matter training. Grants were used as an incentive to improve attendance; staff told participants missed meetings could reduce grant amounts by a fixed deduction.

Program results and demographics presented to the EDA: 29 businesses completed the cohort; 19 are women‑owned and 16 are minority‑owned. Most grants are $2,500; three awards were for smaller amounts. McGill said post‑program surveys returned strong positive feedback and the city allocated $62,000 in next year’s budget to continue the initiative. Staff also said Harrisonburg has received a $15,000 planning award from the National League of Cities and could pursue a later $50,000 implementation grant to expand outreach.

Legal context: staff briefed the EDA that, under Virginia law, city council cannot directly make grants or gifts to individual businesses but can allocate funds to an industrial/economic development authority to carry out economic development grants. The EDA’s role in administering the HETI grants was described as the legally appropriate conduit for the city funds.

A motion to approve the dispersal of HETI grants carried by voice vote; the meeting minutes record the motion as approved unanimously. Members asked about outreach, whether staff could provide more information about individual grantees for board members interested in supporting them, and about timing for the next cohort (staff said recruiting would likely begin in the fall with a launch around November–March planning cycle).","The EDA approved distribution of 29 grants (mostly $2,500) from a new entrepreneurship program (HETI) funded by city budget dollars and potentially augmented by National League of Cities grants.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6529886,"Harrisonburg EDA names chair and officers at organizational meeting",86,863000,949000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3741353-0cac00cb40f656b120904f25d41b6ac2&start=863&end=949","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3741353-0cac00cb40f656b120904f25d41b6ac2/thumbnail_863000.jpg","/articles/6529886/Virginia/Harrisonburg-EDA-names-chair-and-officers-at-organizational-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529886-dd37208564bf14adceed7ed8ed588656/orig.mp4?Expires=1770944973&Signature=Ra2mherp3vJnzx3w7nEq08ZkLjDMpeV5i435~H2Cbp6x2i3C88D9u3sqefpdqDvxn~3zSxMeOMgSB-Qyibjc5IeVIfQnS5RaBHwHxgQ~mgsbOamZ~oK9dp88fiHI~fqZJm9RrZkP1xmpCbPQbNK7dn~kL685362I54ReHMmyBiQDyUSfiNKGRCs9GYPDJxKZ8ddr9A4dnghYkhzhdIqOlgW3rFMmEai7NIFFG0zZSISbZIg360akBRSZGAd3hGTejY5ZzImMAEi7C96vo31Hlqtj32m2Atl~9PYGaPqpIxRXR2Sm8Ros4M-~81LZTcZUHIFGiqLXDkUjrJJK6ZEPwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its June 10 special meeting the Harrisonburg Economic Development Authority completed its organizational business by electing leadership and reappointing staff support roles.

The authority nominated and approved its officers by voice vote. The membership elevated Vice Chair Pipkins to chair (motion and voice vote recorded) and elected Doctor Alcindi as vice chair. The board reappointed an existing member to continue as secretary and confirmed City Clerk Ulmer as assistant secretary to handle notices and minutes.

Board members said having a physically present vice chair was useful because documents needed signatures at the meeting. The handoff to the new chair was made during the meeting and the newly seated chair then presided over subsequent items.

Formal actions recorded in the minutes: a motion to approve the nomination of Pipkins for chair carried by voice vote; a motion to elect Dr. Alcindi as vice chair carried by voice vote; a motion to reappoint the secretary carried; and a motion to nominate Miss Ulmer as assistant secretary carried by voice vote. No dissent or abstentions were recorded in the roll calls and officers were installed immediately.

The EDA indicated staff will proceed with administrative duties under the new leadership and prepare any documents for signature as authorized by the board.","At its June 10 organizational meeting the Harrisonburg Economic Development Authority elected leadership and reappointed staff support roles.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6529891,"Harrisonburg EDA adopts electronic participation rules, OKs remote attendance for member on vacation",257,488000,745000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3741353-0cac00cb40f656b120904f25d41b6ac2&start=488&end=745","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3741353-0cac00cb40f656b120904f25d41b6ac2/thumbnail_488000.jpg","/articles/6529891/Virginia/Harrisonburg-EDA-adopts-electronic-participation-rules-OKs-remote-attendance-for-member-on-vacation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529891-6e04d2ce61b5f894ba0d40310a7b37d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770944973&Signature=SaClGewgOi6nqp6mt-JmvWuijsmH7hgtlGMykKQRYr-kUWdP-k~htJVnavnGyg0vxJTYJ5gX1fENUoZ5JyCINtInVcT35hzdHnRuEqHTB1fTl9-U~Ubgop46vtatQEyZWvjZJEXEEtMad~6c-CovDhodLz4HHT3qcvDeWN7mW2EvUZfLmdeRJKVksacUHqlfAYXApVho3iCNPlMMHZy-BfscdJZTATODIpB7jbI4BKHOZO7cIAmGE8PgiV5ugfvEzwcrKbcyGW~JsW10he8sZSjveJ-tQCutu7JhHwUAjy6AWbbRwY-xXIZMSjwIHYNRK6oE57fMJ-yXPEzn9s4GVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harrisonburg Economic Development Authority on June 10 adopted an electronic participation policy and a separate provision allowing up to two all‑virtual meetings per year, and voted to permit a member to attend remotely while on vacation.

The policy, described during the meeting as matching the language Harrisonburg City Council uses, allows members who cannot be physically present to participate by phone or Zoom provided a physical quorum is present and that remote participants and the public can hear each other. The authority also voted to permit member Macklin to participate electronically for the meeting because she was out of town on vacation.

Board members said the rules reflect recent changes in state law and local practice. The EDA’s discussion noted that the General Assembly recently authorized certain local bodies to hold fully virtual meetings up to twice per year, subject to the audio/visibility requirement that remote participants be audible to each other and to the public.

Formal action: a motion to adopt the EDA electronic participation policy was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. The EDA then voted to allow Miss Macklin to participate electronically; that motion also passed unanimously. The board subsequently adopted the ‘all‑virtual meeting’ option for the authority (limited to two meetings per year), again by unanimous voice vote.

The meeting minutes and staff packet state the policy mirrors the City Council policy and requires members to disclose the reason for remote participation (for example, vacation, childcare, or health reasons) and, when required, the clerk will record the stated reason in the public record.

The EDA indicated the new policies are intended for short administrative meetings or occasions when a majority of members will be out of the area; board members said the authority has become comfortable with virtual platforms since the COVID pandemic.

No additional public testimony was received on the item. The motions were approved and recorded in the meeting minutes.","The Harrisonburg Economic Development Authority adopted an electronic participation policy, an 'all-virtual' meeting option (limited to two times per year), and voted to allow one member to participate remotely while on vacation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

EDA approves revenue bond financing for Eastern Mennonite University after public hearing

Harrisonburg approves 29 small-business grants through new entrepreneurship initiative

Harrisonburg EDA names chair and officers at organizational meeting

Harrisonburg EDA adopts electronic participation rules, OKs remote attendance for member on vacation