Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) met with business owners in Leesburg’s Catoctin Crescent business zone Friday to gain perspective on the town’s economic development plans.
Shortly after 2:30 p.m. several town representatives including Mayor Kristen Umstattd, Vice Mayor David Butler and Economic Development Commission Vice Chairman Don Chapman gathered at Mama Lucci’s restaurant on Industrial Court to join Kaine on the tour.
Councilwoman Kelly Burk said she was excited the senator was taking the time to learn about what she described as critical developments that will help balance retail and residential needs.
After a quick meet and greet with owner Carolina Lucci and her staff at the restaurant the group traveled to Middleburg Bank where Kaine discussed future plans for expansion with President and CEO Gary Shook and other bank executives. The next stop was Leesburg Pharmacy for a lesson in compounding and a tour of the pharmacy’s Compounding Center with President and CEO Cheri Garvin.
The walk came to a close at The Q Company where owners Sara and Mitchell Matzek served up samples of their best BBQ for the senator and his guests. “For a small entrepreneurship just to get attention from someone at his level, we’re very happy about it,” Sara Matzek said. “We talked about the organic growth of our company and the complexity of the funding process when expanding a business.”
When asked what he hoped to accomplish during Friday’s trip, the senator replied that having not visited the small businesses during his previous visits in Leesburg his objective was simply to learn. “It’s a different business feel here than in the downtown area and there’s plenty of room for retailers to grow especially now that the economy is growing,” he said.