The former Sykes building at Southern Gap in Buchanan County will be the home of the new Virginia Employment Commission Call Center, bringing with it both existing jobs and up to 110 new jobs when it opens this spring.
110 New Jobs Coming to Southern Gap with VEC Call Center Relocation, Expansion This Spring
Up to 110 new jobs will be coming to the Southern Gap area of Buchanan County, Va., this spring as the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) relocates and expands its customer service call center in Buchanan County and adds new jobs.
Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher noted discussions about relocating and expanding the call center to a larger space began last year as the VEC required additional employees to respond to needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“VEC has been a key partner in our region for many years and Buchanan County and VCEDA were involved in VEC’s initial location to the county around 20 years ago. When we became aware of VEC’s need for additional capacity, Buchanan County and VCEDA reached out to VEC to propose the larger facility at Southern Gap and that VEC expand its workforce in the region.
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the VEC Call Center project.
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VCEDA Approves Seed Capital Grant for Mercantile on Main Inc.
Unique and locally created items are among the goods found at Mercantile on Main Inc. at 215 E. Main Street, Suite B in Wise. Jessee and Ashley DeLoach decided to open the business to help local shop owners find a way to market their goods in an economical way.
Mercantile on Main Inc. is a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital matching grant.
“The Mercantile project is unique in several ways. In addition to creating the Mercantile itself, the business model provides spaces for other small businesses to grow under the same roof. The Mercantile projects one full time and one part-time job within a year which does not take into account the employment created for the other small businesses which also have the opportunity to thrive and grow in the Mercantile setting.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Mercantile on Main.
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Construction at the new Riverbound Trout Farms LLC site is underway utilizing funds in part provided by VCEDA. Once complete, fish production by Riverbound will have been doubled. The plant initially plans to process 3,000 to 4,000 pounds of fish per day.
VCEDA Funds Assist Riverbound Trout Farms, LLC in Construction of New Fish Processing Plant
While fishing and fish farming have been ongoing in the region for years, an up to a $500,000 loan from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) will be assisting in the expansion of Riverbound Trout Farms, LLC as they move forward with plans to construct and operate a new fish processing facility in Russell County, Va.
Riverbound Trout Farms, LLC owner Jake Musick projects employment of 20 full-time employees within five years. Currently, the business has three full-time employees.
In addition to the construction and operation of a new fish processing facility, a workforce development and educational component is also part of the overall project, Musick said, noting he has already been involved in discussions with Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) about the new facility being used as a teaching tool for students enrolled in SWCC’s science and agriculture programs. Future plans include the construction on site of an educational center to offer classes in aquaculture and seminars and non-credit courses in fish farm development and operation. Also included will be a laboratory.
“VCEDA is pleased to be assisting in the expansion and growth of Riverbound Trout Farms, LLC. This project is a prime example of a value-added approach to growing existing industry since Riverbound already operates a fish growing business in the area. By adding a processing facility, which is what the VCEDA loan will be used toward, the business will be adding processing jobs and potentially other jobs for others in the region who choose to get into the fish farming business.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about Riverbound Trout Farms, LLC.
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Seed Capital Grant Approved for Nana’s Country Kitchen, LLC
It was a discussion one day with their grandchildren that led Janice and Taylor Scott, of Pennington Gap, to open Nana’s Country Kitchen, LLC. As their grandchildren talked about their memories of sharing food and fun at “Nana’s house,” the Scotts decided to open their sit-down restaurant in the Lee County community.
Nana’s Country Kitchen is a recent recipient of a $10,000 seed capital matching grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA). The Scotts used the funding to upgrade equipment at the new restaurant located at 191 Industrial Drive in Pennington Gap.
“Helping small business entrepreneurs in our region to grow the economy from within is the primary goal of the seed capital matching grant fund offered by VCEDA. Nana’s Country Kitchen, LLC projects four full-time and seven part-time jobs within three years.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about Nana’s Country Kitchen, LLC.
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$50,000 Grant Closed for Innovative Wise-Norton Land Records Training Project
An up to $50,000 grant to modernize the Wise County and City of Norton Land Records data system and to develop a workforce training program associated with it, was closed recently by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA).
The grant was awarded to the Wise County Industrial Development Authority.
The first component of the project is the development of a software platform enabling the creation of “smart” land records, their indelible and unalterable storage and their indexing for easy and rapid searching.
“Southwest Virginia’s e-Region was named in part due to the continuing focus VCEDA has placed on the benefits of electronic technology in increasing jobs in our region. The land records modernization project not only has the electronic technology component, but also an education workforce development factor, which checks the box for another e-region focus. Not only will this project improve public record availability, but the education component focuses on creating paid internships for students which will also provide them with employable skills for the future.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Land Records Training Project.
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The Historic Crab Orchard Museum.
VCEDA Closes $100,000 Grant for Historic Crab Orchard Museum
An up to a $100,000 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Tourism Capital Improvement Matching Grant Fund was closed recently for the Historic Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park in Tazewell County.
The funds will be used to finance building(s) construction, expansion and rehabilitation, the construction and development of new exhibits and other improvements.
“This project centers on the capital needs of the museum center, according to the application. VCEDA has been a long-time partner with the Historic Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park, assisting this tourism venue in its growth and development through the years. In the process, the tourism industry has been increased in the region and the history of the area has been preserved.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Crab Orchard Museum.
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The former Bush Furniture Industries building in St. Paul will be home to the Rambler Wood Products new manufacturing facility.
Rambler Wood Products Bringing 73 New Jobs to Russell County
Some 73 new jobs will be coming to Russell County soon, with the announcement that Rambler Wood Products will establish a new value-added wood products manufacturing facility in the former Bush Furniture Industries building in St. Paul.
A $2.5 million loan from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) was closed recently with the Russell County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) which was used to acquire the facility for the project.
In addition to the loan funding received for the project, Rambler Wood Products projects making an initial private investment of $7.6 million. Within 12 months, Rambler projects a total private investment in the project of $21.8 million.
“On behalf of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA), we would like to welcome Rambler Wood Products to Southwest Virginia’s e-Region and the jobs and investment that it will create. VCEDA worked with the Russell County IDA to land the project and provided a $2.5 million loan to the IDA to acquire the facility for the project.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about Rambler Wood Products.
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