The VCEDA Board of Directors learned at the final meeting of 2011 that the region saw over a 100 percent increase in the number of businesses and site location consultants visiting and looking at the region, compared to the previous year. "We had 56 prospect visits to the region, over a 100 percent increase over the previous year, and the highest number of prospect visits in any calendar year as far back as 1996. Not only is this a significant increase over 2010, this number also exceeds the second highest number, 41 prospect visits in 2004," VCEDA Executive Director Jonathan Belcher said. 
In other action at the Dec. 15, 2011 meeting, the VCEDA board approved officers for 2012. Donald Baker, Mayor of Clintwood, was elected as chairman of the VCEDA Board of Directors. George Cridlin, Esq. of Lee County was elected vice chairman; Mike Quillen, Chairman of Alpha Natural Resources, treasurer; and R.S. Lewis, Virginia Coal Association, secretary.
For more details, click here. 

Pyott-Boone Electronics announced on March 15 that the company will expand at its Tazewell County facility. The company plans to create 80 new jobs over the next 36 

VCEDA Executive Director Jonathan Belcher, right, presents a $250,000 ceremonial grant check to Stuart Champion de Crespigny, CEO of Pyott-Boone Electronics, during the March 15 ceremony at the Tazewell County facility. VCEDA approved the grant funding from the VCEDA Coalfield Regional Opportunity Fund at its Dec. 15, 2011 meeting.

months in Tazewell County. The Commonwealth of Virginia and Tazewell County successfully competed with Australia for the project.
VCEDA approved up to a $250,000 grant from the VCEDA Coalfield Regional Opportunity Fund at its Dec. 15, 2011 board meeting to be used to assist the expansion project at the company's Tazewell facility. VCEDA has previously assisted with other expansions at the facility. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $600,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project.

The company, founded in 1971, was acquired in April 2011 by Prairie Capital and Vierville Capital.

For more details, click here. 

The Virginia's e-Region team attended the National Farm Machinery Show Feb. 15-16 in Louisville, Ky. Held in the Kentucky Exposition Center, this event is touted as the premier agricultural exposition in the nation with approximately 1.2 million square feet of indoor exhibit space  and more than 850 exhibitors. The e-Region team walked the floor and met with 17 companies in pre-arranged meetings. Attending and representing the region at this event, in photo above, from left, Carl Snodgrass, Wise County; VCEDA Executive Director Jonathan Belcher; Yvonne and Harry Rutherford, Russell County; Joe Gillespie, VCEDA board member and regional representative for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership; Charlotte Mullins, Dickenson County; and Donnie Rife, Dickenson County and VCEDA board member.

VCEDA led a team of economic development allies to Louisville, Ky. March 22-23 to attend the Mid-America Trucking Show, an international show that had nearly 1,100 exhibitors and record-breaking attendance this year with 81,000 attendees from 50 states and 77 countries. The e-Region team walked the show floor and met with exhibitors  in pre-arranged meetings to market the region as an excellent location for business. The team included, in photo below, from left, Harry Rutherford, Russell County; Charlotte Mullins, Dickenson County; Jean Jordan, VCEDA; Yvonne Rutherford, Russell County; Carl Snodgrass, Wise County; and John Kilgore, Scott County.

VCEDA was a sponsor and exhibited at the annual Coalfield Region Legislative Reception on Jan. 26 at The Omni Hotel in Richmond,

Va. Special guest was Governor Bob McDonnell who addressed the audience and referenced his September Governor's Red Carpet Tour of the VCEDA region. In photo, from left, are Governor Bob McDonnell, VCEDA Executive Director Jonathan Belcher, former Lieutenant Governor John Hager, and Tony Dodi, Mayor of Lebanon.

A loan closing ceremony was held Feb. 22 for the up to $500,000 forgivable loan from the Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority to the Breaks Interstate Park Commission for the Breaks aquatics facility project. The loan is being funded from up to $500,000 from VCEDA to the Dickenson County IDA. An additional up to $500,000 is being funded by VCEDA towards the project through the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority, and a ceremonial check was presented by VCEDA to the Buchanan County IDA regarding this on March 13.The new aquatics facility is under construction at the park. In photo, left to right, seated, Ginger Senter, chairperson, Dickenson County IDA, and Matthew O'Quinn, superintendent, Breaks Interstate Park. Standing, l-r, Donald Baker, mayor of Clintwood and VCEDA chairman, and Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director.

VCEDA held a grant closing ceremony Feb. 27 for the up to $500,000 grant to the Russell County Industrial Development Authority to assist with the development of additional sites in the Cumberland Plateau Regional Industrial Park in Lebanon. Participating in the closing, in photo, from left, are VCEDA Executive Director Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Chairman Donald Baker, Harry Rutherford, chairman, Russell County IDA, Sam Whited, Russell County IDA, and Ben Chafin, legal counsel, Russell County IDA.