Campbell County moves forward on spec industrial building

Campbell County is moving forward with plans to build a $11 million, 100,000-square-foot spec industrial building at Seneca Commerce Park in Rustburg, the county announced on Tuesday.

It’s the largest project the county’s economic development department has tackled in a decade, according to a news release.

The work will include clearing, grading and site preparation of over 7.5 acres at the park, which is located off U.S. 29 in Rustburg. The tenant-ready building is estimated to be complete in spring 2026.

“Site development and industrial projects like this are crucial as they serve as magnets for businesses looking to expand or relocate,” commented Megan Lucas, CEO and chief economic development officer at the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. “By providing ready-to-go facilities, we significantly reduce the lead time for companies to begin operations, making our region more attractive to site selectors and setting the stage for future economic growth and job creation.”

Members of the Campbell County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the development of the spec building in October.

The county had been working to finance the $25 million renovation of Brookville High School when it received a $15 million grant from the Virginia Department of Education’s School Construction Assistance Program. That allowed the supervisors to use the low-interest financing for other capital projects, according to the news release.

The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved a grant for $404,918 in October to prepare the 100,000-square-foot, pad-ready site. The award represents about half of the expected costs for site preparation.

“In today’s competitive landscape, companies looking to relocate or expand want to get started as soon as possible and this investment will allow us to compete for and win those opportunities,” Watt R. Foster, Jr., a member of the tobacco commission, stated in the news release.

In May, Gov. Glenn Youngkin recommended the project for a $202,459 award from the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, a federal-state partnership designed to encourage economic development in areas of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and all of Florida.