United Way of SW Va. names marketing, communications director
The United Way of Southwest Virginia named Scott Robertson as its director of marketing and communications. He will assume the role on Aug. 9, according to the Abingdon-based nonprofit. Robertson will direct strategic marketing and promotions, provide communications project management and oversee digital services. President and CEO Travis Staton said in a statement, “The work […]
Virginia to spend $700M on universal broadband by 2024
Ahead of the General Assembly’s August special session, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday he wants to spend $700 million of Virginia’s federal relief funding on expanding broadband access to all of Virginia. Virginia received $4.3 billion in federal funds through the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed in March. Joined by U.S. Sen. Mark Warner at […]
Health Wagon receives COVID-19 vaccine doses after wait
A little more than a month after The Health Wagon’s director went on national television and said the Wise County-based free clinic system hadn’t received COVID-19 vaccine doses, it has now vaccinated 325 people in the past two weeks. In a news release Thursday, The Health Wagon President and CEO Teresa Tyson thanked the Virginia […]
SW Va. aims to attract data centers via regional tax pact
As part of an effort to entice data centers to locate in the region, Southwest Virginia leaders announced Tuesday a joint agreement to set what will be Virginia’s lowest regional property tax rate on data center equipment. The localities comprising the Lonesome Pine Regional Industrial Facilities Authority — Dickenson, Lee, Scott and Wise counties and […]
$10M to be disbursed among mine land reclamation projects
A $10 million round of federal Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Pilot Program funding is available for Southwest Virginia projects focused on reclaiming abandoned mine land and promoting regional economic diversity, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. This is the fourth round of AML funding, which is administered by the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. Projects […]
Mohawk Industries to invest $22.5M in Carroll County operation
Flooring manufacturing giant Mohawk Industries Inc. will invest $22.5 million to expand its Carroll County operation, creating 35 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. Mohawk, which currently employs more than 900 Virginians, will add 19,000 square feet to its 351 Floyd Pike facility in Hillsville and install new equipment to increase its production speed. “We […]
Thalhimer employee named CCIM Mid-Atlantic board secretary/treasurer
Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer announced Friday that Jessica Johnson, a certified commercial investment member (CCIM) with its Southwest Virginia office, has been appointed as the secretary/treasurer of the CCIM Mid-Atlantic Board of Directors for 2021 through 2022. There are more than 13,000 members worldwide in 50 CCIM chapters — each focused on networking and […]
eHealth Technologies creating 160 jobs in Scott County
eHealth Technologies Inc., a provider of medical record and image retrieval and clinical intelligence services, is investing $375,000 to establish a customer support center in Scott County that will create 160 jobs, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. Based in Rochester, New York, eHealth Technologies is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fairfax County-based private equity […]
Grayson County food manufacturer announces $1.5M expansion
Organic meat snack brand Grayson Natural Farms LLC will expand its Grayson County operation by 35,000 square feet through a $1.5 million investment, creating 40 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. Grayson Natural Farms produces Landcrafted Food, which are grass-fed, organic meat snacks. Its smokehouse and production operation is currently located at 226 Industrial Lane. […]
Vinton, Warsaw, Wytheville receive industrial revitalization funding
The towns of Vinton, Warsaw and Wytheville will receive a total of more than $1.4 million in state industrial revitalization fund (IRF) grants, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. IRF funding provides gap financing for redevelopment projects that can lead to long-term employment opportunities. “This funding will not only help transform deteriorating or unused structures, it […]
Va. Coalfield Economic Development Authority establishes $1M Renewable Energy Fund
The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) announced Thursday it has established a $1 million Renewable Energy Fund from coal tax credit funds. “With the establishment of the Renewable Energy Fund, VCEDA is poised to readily assist in the development of renewable energy projects, which will add new jobs and investment to the region and […]
Report: Half of SWVA households earned less than basic living cost in 2018
More than 50% of Southwest Virginia households in 2018 lived in poverty or earned less than the basic cost of living, according to a report released Thursday by the United Ways of Virginia. Using the “ALICE” acronym — asset-limited, income-constrained and employed — the United Ways of Virginia reported that 51% of Southwest households were […]