(Solar) powering the economy
A 700-acre solar farm on a former surface mine outside of Hurley will be more than it appears, according to Adam Edelen. “Buchanan County and the entire region of Southwestern Virginia intends to benefit from the digital economy rather than be a victim of it,” says Edelen, CEO of Edelen Renewables. Based in Lexington, Kentu[...]
SunCoke to invest $50M in Buchanan County plant
SunCoke Energy Inc., the largest independent producer of high-quality coke for blast furnace steel production in the Americas, plans to invest $50 million in its Buchanan County manufacturing operation, Gov. Ralph Northam said in a news release Tuesday. Calling the project “a much-needed boost” for Southwest Virginia, Northam said the project will retain approximately 100 […]
Wytheville apartments, storage facility sells for $4.2M
The Birchwood Apartments and AAA Self Storage properties in Wytheville have sold for $4.2 million, Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer’s Capital Market Groups announced last week. The May 14 transaction includes 60 apartments, 139 self-storage units and an 1,800-square-foot office building on adjoining parcels at 125-195 B[...]
Regional leaders wish upon Starlink
After a pilot program successfully connected 45 Wise County households with SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed satellite internet, regional efforts are underway to broaden access to the service spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk. Scott Kiser, director of technology for Wise County Public Schools, helped shepherd the pilot for fami[...]
Traeger Grills plans $3M facility in Wythe County
Traeger Grills, manufacturer of the world’s top-selling wood pellet grill and signature hardwood pellets product, plans to build a $3 million manufacturing operation in Wythe County, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The company plans to purchase wood products exclusively sourced from Virginia and create 15 jobs in Wythe, the governor’s office said. Salt Lake City, […]
Tazewell metal manufacturer to create 40 jobs in expansion
No comment yet from Ozzy Osbourne or AC/DC, but Tazewell County-based heavy metal manufacturer Lawrence Brothers Inc. is set to expand, creating 40 jobs with a $3.2 million investment, the governor’s office announced Thursday. The family-owned company plans to upgrade and modernize its equipment at the Lawrence Road facili[...]
German auto parts maker to build $38M Wythe County factory
German auto parts manufacturer STS Group AG will invest $39 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation in Wythe County’s Progress Park industrial park, creating 120 jobs, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. Located near Wytheville, the new facility, operating as a subsidiary of STS Group North America, will supply Volvo Trucks in Pulaski […]
Aquaculture proves big catch for region
A Russell County native and a Singapore-based asset management firm are about to turn a corner of Virginia’s coalfields into an aquaculture center. Jake Musick’s Riverbound Trout Farms is building a processing plant in Russell County. Musick expects to begin shipping fish this fall. About a quarter mile away, straddling the [...]
Va. community clinics receive $79M in federal funding
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced Friday that 26 community clinics in Virginia will receive $79 million in funding through the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan federal stimulus package. Warner also introduced legislation this week to support other community clinics — most run by health systems in the state’[...]
Primland resort appoints executive chef
Primland announced Tuesday that Elliot Cunniff has been appointed executive chef of the Meadows of Dan resort. Cunniff comes to Primland from The Soho House, an upscale private club in New York City where he served as executive chef. He got his start working with culinary celebrity Daniel Boulud’s db Bistro Moderne in New York[...]
Va. allocates $20M for broadband infrastructure projects
Seventeen localities statewide are receiving $20.1 million in grants to improve broadband internet infrastructure, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. The funding will support 11 projects that will connect 13,400 customers, the governor’s office said in a news release. The localities — primarily in rural areas — are receiving funding through the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI), […][...]
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[...]