Two Va. projects are finalists for $100M U.S. EDA grants
Two Virginia projects — one to make Central Virginia an advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing hub and one to support the transportation and logistics cluster in Southern and Southwest Virginia — are two of 60 finalists for the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge, which will provide awardees with up to $100 million each. […]
Coalfield Expressway could have $12.8B impact, study says
The cumulative economic impact of the Coalfields Expressway (CFX) during a 50-year span is estimated to be $12.8 billion in 2021 dollars, according to a study by Richmond-based Chmura Economics & Analytics presented Tuesday. The CFX is a proposed limited-access highway that would run through Southwest Virginia and southern West Virginia. It is designated as […]
Construction begins on Hard Rock casino in Bristol
Construction has started on the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol’s temporary casino, with opening scheduled in the second quarter of 2022, Hard Rock International Inc. announced Thursday. Before its permanent casino is built, Hard Rock will build a 30,000-square-foot casino at the former Bristol Mall. It will feature 9[...]
Patrick County flooring company announces $9.3M expansion
Ten Oaks LLC, a manufacturer of residential hardwood floors, will invest $9.3 million in a sorting and stacking facility in Patrick County, creating 11 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The company was established in 2004 in the town of Stuart and was acquired in 2019 by Canadian company Boa-Franc. The new facility is located […]
Grant program helps fund rural IT apprenticeships
Jonathon Evans graduated in May with a computer science degree and a desire to stay in his hometown, Abingdon. Fortunately for him, information technology company Wize Solutions LLC was seeking apprentices through a targeted state program that alleviates the cost of hiring and training employees new to the technology field. “I[...]
Roanoke biz to create 30 jobs in Scott County
Roanoke-based VFP Inc. will invest $7.2 million to expand in Scott County, creating 30 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday. The expansion will allow VFP to produce larger concrete shelters. “Great workers live in Southwest Virginia, and companies like VFP recognize that,” Northam said in a statement. “Virginia is adv[...]
Metal fabricator to add 22 jobs in Buchanan
Buchanan County-based metal fabrication company Skyline Fabricating Inc. will spend more than $675,000 to build a 25,000-square-foot production facility in the county’s Southern Gap area, creating 22 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. The facility will help Skyline Fabricating meet increased demand for steel and aluminum fabricated products and its expanded customer base outside Virginia. […][...]
Commercial real estate leasing roundup
The following lease transactions took place in Virginia through Nov. 8: Central Virginia Virginia Insurance Services Inc. leased 1,900 square feet at 1 Park West Circle in Chesterfield County. Tucker Dowdy and Jamie Galanti of Commonwealth Commercial Realty represented the landlord. Kala Brand Music Co. leased 29,342 square feet at 11223 Leadbetter Road in Hanover […]
Damascus sees hike in trail tourism
On a September afternoon, Stuart Wright was trying to persuade a tourist to bring her son back to visit the town of Damascus in Washington County. “Bring that little boy down here and he can play in the river, he can hike, he can bike the trail,” Wright coaxed. “Bring him where he’s got something […]
Scott County Tempur Sealy bedding factory to add 25 jobs
Tempur Sealy International Inc. is expanding its Duffield facility in Scott County, the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority announced Thursday. The bedding company known for its Tempur-Pedic, Posturepedic and Stearns & Foster mattresses, among others, is headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, but has two manufacturing facilities: one in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and one in Southwest Virginia. […][...]
Chilhowie revitalization invites new business
Chilhowie’s once-vibrant Main Street is being restored. Following the completion of street and drainage revamps, the facade improvement phase of its $1.4 million redevelopment project concluded in early September. The project to restore the commercial heart of the 2,100-person town that was once a textile manufacturing hub beg[...]
Medical glove manufacturers to create 2,500 jobs in Wythe County
Connecticut-based Blue Star NBR LLC and Delaware-based American Glove Innovations Inc. will invest $714 million to build a manufacturing facility in Wythe County for producing rubber medical gloves — a joint venture expected to create 2,500 jobs, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday. The operation is expected to produ[...]