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Caesars wins bid in Danville casino project
After taking bids from several companies, Danville officials announced Monday that the city is in negotiations with Caesars Entertainment to be the preferred operator of a Danville-based casino. Voters will still need to approve the casino in a November local referendum. The $400 million resort is proposed for the former Dan Riv[...]
Plastics company plans 200 jobs, $34M investment in Pittsylvania
An Ohio-based plastics company is planning to invest $34 million in a new plant in Pittsylvania County, a project expected to bring 200 manufacturing jobs to the region over the next four years, local officials announced Friday. The 250,000-square-foot plant will be built on the former site of Burlington Industries in the Southern Virginia Multimodal […]
Executive profiles
We asked leaders in Virginia’s maritime and logistics industry for their thoughts on the Port of Virginia expansion and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on shipping. Click to expand photos. Interviews follow. VB: How will the Port of Virginia expansion impact Virginia’s economy? Adams: The Central Chapter encompasses the area around Richmond and is […]
Danville, Pittsylvania land on top ‘micropolitan’ list
A yin-and-yang approach has led to business success in the city of Danville and Pittsylvania County, which were collectively named the No. 6 micropolitan area in the nation by Site Selection Magazine in April. It’s the third time the region has landed in the top 10 list, which is based on economic development deals in [&he[...]
Cash crop?
Petunias, plants, strawberries, meat, tomatoes and more have been the primary revenue sources for Rolling Meadows Farms during the past 31 years. Tim Belcher took over the 400-acre Martinsville family farm in 1989 after his father retired. Now, the farm has a new product line and Belcher has high hopes that it could run neck [&h[...]
Danville Community College names associate VP of human resources
Danville Community College announced Tuesday it has hired Bruce Cottrill as its associate vice president of human resources, a new position for the college. Cottrill relocated from Charleston, West Virginia, where he was most recently the interim vice chancellor for human resources with the West Virginia Higher Education Pol[...]
Former IKEA warehouse sells for $3.85M in Pittsylvania
A 152,379-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility formerly used by IKEA in Pittsylvania County’s Ringgold area sold for $3.85 million, Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer announced Monday. Rick Barker Properties LLC purchased the facility located at 240 Factory Lane — approximately six miles outside of Danville. [...]
Averett University names new VP and CFO
Averett University announced Thursday that Don Aungst has become the university’s new vice president and chief financial and operating officer. He started at the Danville college this month. Aungst was most recently the CFO at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania. He has more than 30 years of experience in higher educati[...]
‘Talk to your banker today,’ Va. Bankers Assoc. president says
Virginia Business virtually sat down with Virginia Bankers Association President and CEO Bruce Whitehurst and Chairman Jeff Haley, who is also president and CEO of Danville-based American National Bank & Trust Co. This is part of an ongoing series of conversations with Virginians about how their work lives and businesses ha[...]
Regional group forms to bring in manufacturing jobs
Like many rural communities, Mecklenburg County relies on regional cooperation to boost its economy. A newly formed partnership — Virginia’s Manufacturing Region — is a regional coalition to market Southern Virginia as a top destination for manufacturing jobs. It’s a bit like a supergroup, with Virginia’s G[...]
Eggs in several baskets
Southern Virginia ended 2019 with some of the largest investments the region has seen in recent years and strong economic momentum — a far cry from 15 to 20 years ago when the area experienced downfalls in employment and capital investment after the textiles industry moved operations outside the country. Last July, the positiv[...]
The Hail Mary
Football isn’t the only occupation in which a wild, slim-chance pass can deliver a win. Last fall, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and Danville and Pittsylvania County officials launched a Hail Mary economic pitch that landed a $57.89 million expansion project from Michigan-based van manufacturer Morgan Olson[...]
