Business Leaves Manassas Park After 12 Years, Lawmakers Focus on Business Incentives

 A business headquartered in Manassas Park for more than a decade will cease operations in the city at the end of January and head South to a new facility.

Backyard America, a manufacturer of gazebos, porches, sun decks, awning and outdoor furniture, is planning to leave its Euclid Avenue facility in a matter of weeks and transfer to a newly-renovated building in Spotsylvania County, Ernie Sears, spokesman for Backyard America, said Tuesday. 

 The 21-year-old business has been in several locations around Manassas Park in the last 12 years, Sears said.

 “A number of us will miss working here because we live closer to Manassas Park than we do down near Fredericksburg,” Sears mused. “But we are looking forward to it.”

 Spotsylvania County officials have been very helpful in the transition, Sears added.

Backyard America is moving its 15 Manassas Park employees into a facility built in the 1920s.

The company purchased the property at 3300 Dill Smith Drive in the Spotsylvania Industrial Park for $1.1. million from Robert and Janice Glover, according to a fredricksburg.com article.

 The facility was formerly home to Western Wood Products and is next to the Blue & Gray Brewing Co.

 Backyard’s move comes at a time when Manassas Park City Council is focusing on ways to entice businesses to hang a shingle in the city.

Council members say bringing more businesses to Manassas Park is a way to ease the city's fiancial woes, diversify the city’s tax base and take some of the tax burden off residential property.

Manassas Park Councilman Brian Leeper is heavily invovled in The plan is to give tax incentives to certain businesses that locate in one of the city’s districts.

The Conner Center, where Backyard is currently located, is expected to one of the business districts.

Leeper said he is not familiar with Backyard America, but he is bothered by the news of the company's move.  Still, he is hopeful about the future of the area, Leeper said.

 “The tax incentives will help get that space redeveloped and occupied with another business,” Leeper said.