Boy Scouts look to be bringing some help to Rockbridge County and beyond -- and in a big way.

The Boy Scouts of America announced Wednesday negotiations are under way to move its national jamboree -- typically held every four years and drawing a crowd of more than 240,000 -- to a site near Goshen that is home to a scout camp.

The jamboree would move to the site permanently beginning in 2013, and it could prompt a huge economic development opportunity for more jobs and growing tourism to the county of 31,000 residents. Negotiations are still being finalized, but the Goshen site ranked at the top of 80 proposals from 28 states.

County Administrator Claire Collins said the related National Scouting Center would bring about 80 full-time positions and an unknown number of part-time jobs.

According to a June news release from the Boy Scouts, an initial capital investment was anticipated to be more than $100 million, but Nicole Slater, a spokeswoman for the organization, could not confirm that figure Thursday.

"It is really too early to tell," she said. "Should everything move forward and the Goshen property ends up being the permanent site, I can certainly expect there to be significant economic development around it."

Collins said the center potentially will have a year-round economic impact by boosting tourism and bringing visitors to the county's hotels, museums, restaurants and shops.

Boy Scouts is also negotiating a parcel in Fayette and Raleigh counties in West Virginia for a high-adventure base, which would be part of the National Scouting Center.

Collins said a key factor to Goshen's success is its spectacular natural beauty. That includes Lake Merriweather, for its recreation offerings. Proximity to Interstate 81 and the availability of medical services were other factors.

"Rockbridge County has the perfect combination of natural beauty, outdoor excitement, and economic development for the Jamboree, and we have worked hard to convince the [Boy Scout] Council that Goshen is the best location for them to continue their successful event," Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge County, said in a news release Wednesday.

Last summer the scout camp near Goshen drew attention of another kind when more than 80 people were infected with E. coli, which caused the camp to shut down temporarily. The outbreak was linked to hamburger meat manufactured and sold by S & S Foods of California. The company recalled more than 150,000 pounds of meat. At least one scout filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer.

The next national jamboree will be held in 2010 at Fort A.P. Hill, near Bowling Green, Va. It will celebrate the 100th anniversary of organized scouting.