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Southwest Virginia

Jul 8, 2022

First Va. casino opens in Bristol

Virginia’s first casino, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, held the grand opening for its temporary casino space Friday. “We are excited to open the temporary casino in Bristol,” Hard Rock International Inc. Chief Operating Officer Jon Lucas said in a statement. “Hard Rock’s rich and storied music legacy is a [...]

Jul 6, 2022

Va. receives $22.7M to reclaim abandoned mine lands

The Virginia Department of Energy will receive $22.7 million in federal funding toward redeveloping abandoned mine lands across the commonwealth, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday. The funding is aimed at redeveloping the sites so that they can be used to attract new development and job opportunities to the region. Handled[...]

Hard Rock Bristol’s dealer school prepares students to work in the temporary casino. Photo courtesy Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol
Jun 28, 2022

Training’s in the cards for Hard Rock Bristol

Mike Pauley started learning poker from his grandfather around age 8 and traveled around the nation playing competitively during his early 20s. When he learned that the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol was hiring casino dealers, he applied online. “I had thought about having a career somewhere, but I didn’t want to move [...]

Jun 28, 2022

FOR THE RECORD

Central Virginia  The state’s fiscal 2023-24 budget, approved June 1, contains funding that will benefit future redevelopment of the Central Virginia Training Center site in Madison Heights. Republican Sen. Steve Newman requested $25 million in state money to annul outstanding bonds associated with CVTC, a former state facility for people with intellectual disabilities that closed […]

Jun 2, 2022

Wise County IDA buys vacant office building for $1.2M

The Wise County Industrial Development Authority purchased a vacant office building in the Lonesome Pine Regional Business and Technology Park with a $1.2 million loan from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, officials announced Wednesday. The 10,000-square-foot building sits on approximately 4.63 acres at 595[...]

Jun 1, 2022

Packaging manufacturer to create 75 jobs in Smyth County

Northlake, Illinois-based Scholle IPN, a flexible packaging supplier, will invest $31.1 million to expand in Smyth County, a project expected to create 75 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday. Scholle IPN will expand its Smyth County facility by 73,000 square feet to allow new manufacturing lines for film extrusion and [...]

Troy Wiipongwii, affiliated faculty member with W&M’s Global Research Institute, will teach a blockchain course at Emory & Henry College. Photo by Matthew R.O. Brown
May 29, 2022

E&H course demystifies blockchain for businesses

Business professionals will join Emory & Henry College students this summer for a course that will suggest how blockchain technology can help entrepreneurs, ultimately aiding development in Southwest Virginia. A collaboration between E&H’s School of Business, InvestSWVA and William & Mary’s Global Research Instit[...]

Smyth County Administrator Shawn Utt is working with Bland and Washington counties to develop an industrial park. Photo by Earl Neikirk
Apr 28, 2022

Counties collaborating on industrial park

In the coming months, the rubble of a demolished furniture factory on a roughly 70-acre property in Chilhowie will be hauled away to make room for an industrial park. Smyth County is teaming up with Bland and Washington counties, forming the Pathway Regional Industrial Facilities Authority to create Pathway Park, which will feat[...]

Apr 27, 2022

Va. Lottery Board awards first casino license

The Virginia Lottery Board has issued its first license for a casino in Virginia to Hard Rock Bristol, the board announced Wednesday. With its permanent casino still on track to open at the former Bristol Mall in July 2024, Hard Rock International Inc. is preparing to open a 30,000-square-foot temporary casino with 870 gaming sl[...]

Apr 25, 2022

Judge dismisses Trigiani lawsuit against New Peoples Bank

A federal judge issued a summary judgment last week, dismissing all claims in former executive Mary Y. Trigiani’s lawsuit against Russell County-based New Peoples Bank for discrimination and wrongful termination. Trigiani’s complaints of a “cultlike office culture” did not hold up to judicial scrutiny, U.[...]

The former Bristol Mall is being converted into a Hard Rock casino and resort hotel, slated for completion by late 2022. Rendering courtesy Friedmutter Group
Apr 4, 2022

Bristol temporary casino to open July 8

Hard Rock International Inc. will open its temporary casino in Bristol July 8, the company announced Thursday. The 30,000-square-foot temporary full-service casino featuring 900 gaming slots and 20 tables for gaming operations will open at 500 Gate City Highway, the former Bristol Mall. It is expected to generate 600 jobs. In Fe[...]

Mar 31, 2022

Va. Energy seeks applications for mine reclamation projects

Companies with three or more years of mining and reclamation experience may apply for a chance to bid on the state’s Abandoned Mine Land projects, the Virginia Department of Energy announced this week. Projects involve removing safety hazards and environmental issues resulting from coal mining before 1977. Applicants will [...]

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