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Welcome to Virginia's e-Region
We hope you enjoy our electronic newsletter giving you news and business development updates from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority. Don't forget to sign up to be included on our mailing list! |
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Governor Bob McDonnell hosts visitors for regional economic development tour
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, accompanied by First Lady Maureen McDonnell, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, and several members of the Governor's cabinet came to Southwest Virginia Sept. 18-20 and led a tour of Virginia's e-Region for business prospects and site selection consultants to showcase the opportunities the region has to offer. Governor McDonnell joined VCEDA, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, local economic  development allies, business leaders and legislators from throughout the e-Region to welcome the invited guests at a dinner on Sunday, Sept. 18 to kick off the tour. During the tour, the group heard a presentation on the region as well as overviews of each of the counties in the coalfield region, took a bus tour of existing technology and manufacturing businesses and business parks in the region, and held a luncheon meeting at the University of Virginia's College at Wise. Follow-up activity with the tour participants is ongoing. For more details, click here. |
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Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling announces three projects in Wise County
On Nov. 1, Lieutenant Governor Bill Billing announced that Lonesome Pine Components, Inc., a manufacturer of laminated wood products for the recreational vehicle and housing industries, is operating in the Wise County industrial building with 25 employees expected to be hired by year's end and projected growth to more than 150 employees. In cooperation with the Wise County IDA, VCEDA helped develop an assistance package to help bring Lonesome Pine Components to the region.
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Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling announces that NanoQuantics, Inc. is the first occupant of Appalachia America Energy Research Center. He also announced that wood products manufacturer Lonesome Pine Components, Inc. is locating in the Wise County Industrial Park, and that a clean coal technology process is being developed in Wise County by the Carbonite Corporation of Virginia. |
The Lieutenant Governor also announced that NanoQuantics, Inc., a company with two technology focuses, is operating as the first occupant in the Appalachia America Energy Research Center in the Lonesome Pine Regional Business and Technology Park in Wise. NanoQuantics is developing a biotechnology-based product line to enhance soils by retaining water and increasing the availability of nutrients to stabilize soils for dust and erosion control, as well as a clean coal technology to remove sulfur content of coal. VCEDA approved $505,000 in funding to the Wise County IDA for equipment for NanoQuantics and $2 million for the development of the AAERC. The Virginia Tobacco Commission also approved $5 million in funding for the research center.
The third project announced announced by the Lieutenant Governor is a carbonite process developed by the Carbonite Corporation of Virginia. This company is rehabilitating a former coal load-out facility at Blackwood for the production of this product. The process removes 100 percent of the mercury from coal before it is burned, according to the company. The Virginia Tobacco Commission approved $1.5 million in funding for the carbonite plant which is funded largely by local investors.
For more details, click here.
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VCEDA Board holds its August meeting at Appalachian College of Pharmacy
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The VCEDA Board of Directors toured and held its Aug. 3 board meeting at the Appalachian College of Pharmacy in Oakwood. VCEDA has previously approved $3.1 million in funding for the pharmacy school, and since 1988, when VCEDA was created, has approved $56 million in funding for 64 Buchanan County projects, including the pharmacy school, the Appalachian School of Law, the Grundy redevelopment project and Southern Gap Business Park. On Aug. 3, the VCEDA board approved forgiving and converting into a grant the balance of a $1.5 million loan to the IDA of the Town of Grundy, approved in 2000 for the Town of Grundy redevelopment project, and also approved forgiving and converting into a grant the balance on a $1,278,431 loan to the Buchanan County IDA, approved in 2006 to assist with the Appalachian School of Law and the Booth Center building. The board also approved a letter of support concerning the Spearhead Trails multi-use trails initiative. In photo, front left, Gerald Ramsey, VCEDA Executive Director Jonathan Belcher, Jay Rife, and Skip Skinner; on stairs, top to bottom, front row, Robert Raines, Donald Baker, Sue Ella Boatright-Wells, Harry Childress, and Carroll Branham. Back row, stairs, top to bottom, Mike Quillen, Chairman George Cridlin, Dana Kilgore, Steve Greer, Jim Baldwin, and Donnie Rife. For more details, click here. |
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Virginia's e-Region team attends
Forest Products Expo in Atlanta
VCEDA led a team of six economic developers to the 31st Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition in Atlanta Aug. 11-12. Team members manned the e-Region exhibit booth at the expo, unveiling a new booth design. The expo included 140 exhibitors showcasing the  latest technology and innovations in products and services for the forest products industry. The VCEDA team also met with nine companies and site location consultants in pre-set appointments. In the photo, from left, are Anne Phillips, Virginia Economic Development Partnership; Craig Horn, Buchanan County; Jean Jordan, VCEDA; John Kilgore, Scott County; Susan Copeland, VCEDA; and Donnie Rife, Dickenson County. |
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e-Region team attends South-Tec Expo for advanced manufacturing in Charlotte
VCEDA led a team of economic development allies to Charlotte, NC Oct. 11-13 for South-Tec, an advanced manufacturing expo that showcased the latest in productivity and manufacturing technologies. The team manned the e-Region booth and met with eight companies in pre-set appointments. The team also visited each exhibitor (359) to make contact and to distribute information about Virginia's e-Region. In photo, from left, are, Charlotte Mullins, Dickenson County; Harry Rutherford, Russell County; Margie Douglass, Tazewell County; Michael James, Lee County; Jean Jordan, VCEDA; Yvonne Rutherford, Russell County; and Carl Snodgrass, Wise County. |
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VCEDA attends and exhibits at 2011 Governor's Conference on Energy
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VCEDA was represented at the 2011 Governor's Conference on Energy held Oct. 17-18 in Richmond, VA. Mike Quillen, Chairman of Alpha Natural Resources and VCEDA treasurer, was a keynote speaker. VCEDA had an exhibit booth and was joined by local economic development allies. In photo, from left, are Donnie Rife, Dickenson County and VCEDA board member; Charlotte Mullins, Dickenson County; John Kilgore, Scott County; Harry Rutherford, Russell County; and Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director. |
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COVITS 2011
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Marketta Horton and Susan Copeland represented VCEDA at the Commonwealth of Virginia's Innovative Technology Symposium(COVITS) Sept. 26-27 in Richmond, VA. Other e-Region representatives also attended and posed for a photo with Virginia Secretary of Technology Jim Duffey. In photo, from left, Harry and Yvonne Rutherford, Russell County; Craig Horn, Buchanan County; Susan Copeland, VCEDA; Secretary Jim Duffey; Marketta Horton, VCEDA; and Sam Wolford, Tazewell County. John Kilgore of Scott County also attended the event. |
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e-Region news briefs...
On Aug. 29-30 VCEDA was host to project managers from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership for a Familiarization Tour of all seven coalfield counties and the City of Norton. Participating in the tour from VEDP were Tim Stuller, Tracy Tynan, Aileen Martz, Albert Maiolino, Mario Camardella, Tim Danielson and Joe Gillespie, VEDP's regional representative in this region and VCEDA board member.
VCEDA was recognized at the Aug. 5 open house and dedication of the Coalfield Regional Agricultural Center in Dickenson County. The Dickenson County IDA held the open house and recognized VCEDA and the Virginia Tobacco Commission for their funding support for the new center. Some uses of the facility included livestock sales, agricultural workshops, Coalfield Beef Cattle and Land Use Association, Agriculture Awareness Day, Envirothon competition and NRCS meetings.
VCEDA participated in several other events recently. Jonathan Belcher attended the Bluefield Coal Show Sept. 14. Marketta Horton manned the VCEDA exhibit booth at the Tazewell County Business-to-Business Showcase Oct. 7, and at the Norton EAC Fall Employer Conference Oct. 24. Jean Jordan and Susan Copeland attended UVA's College at Wise Technology Symposium Oct. 25. VCEDA hosted a meeting with the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority in the VCEDA office Aug. 24.
The VCEDA board held a regular board meeting Sept. 13 and approved an assistance package to the Wise County IDA to be used to help Lonesome Pine Components, Inc., a wood products manufacturer, begin operations in the Wise County Industrial Park. |
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