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The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors, said Natural Bridge member David McDaniel, “[has] been very proactive in economic development over the last four years, and I would set that as a continuing priority for me. We need to support our existing businesses and attract new businesses to the area. More jobs in our area will help our citizens and help to attract new citizens to our community.”
Unopposed for reelection to a second four-year term, Mc-Daniel said he and his fellow supervisors “have been supportive of our school division. The recent approval of the renovation of the Rockbridge Innovation Center will help our students develop skills and trades so that they can become productive members of society. We need these skills in our community. I want to ensure that we continue to support our students to help foster opportunities for them.”
Another priority of his, he said, is to “continue to support our first responders and law enforcement.” Also, “We need to look for opportunities to support additional housing developments for our area.”
Specific capital projects the county needs to fund, according to McDaniel, include updating the 31-yearold Rockbridge County High School, “expanding broadband throughout the county so that every resident has an opportunity to connect for work, school, life” and making improvements to the regional jail. “The jail will need attention over the next five to 10 years as it has become inadequate in size and inefficient as the cost for housing inmates at other locations has increased.”
Economic development has been an emphasis for the supervisors over the past four years, he said. “We created an Economic Development Department for our county. New developments in the area include hotels, retail operations and manufacturing operations. Once all developments are at full operational status, there should be over 300 new jobs in our community.
“We have developed an economic development plan. We are in the process of updating our comprehensive plan. We are in the process of updating our branding. We have worked with the state for a smooth transition of the Natural Bridge State Park. I believe we have worked with all corners of our county to enhance the experience of each unique community – from Natural Bridge to Raphine, from Goshen to South River – we have been focused on our whole community.”
McDaniel is a lifelong Rockbridge County resident and has worked in the banking industry for 26 years. He previously served two terms on Glasgow Town Council and the Rockbridge County School Board. He was a member of the Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department for almost 15 years. He and his wife Casey are the parents of three children and have one granddaughter.
McDaniel said he’s always felt “a need to give back to my community which has been so good to me. My financial background helps me to provide a business aspect to the dealings of the local government. I’m focused on strategic growth for our community – new jobs, new opportunities, enhancements for our citizens while maintaining the rural, beautiful mystique that makes Rockbridge County a great place to live, work and thrive.”
