LEBANON, VA – FEBRUARY 18, 2022 — Several projects anticipated to create more than 100 new full-time and part-time jobs in Southwest Virginia’s e-Region were approved Thursday during a meeting of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Board of Directors.
The board welcomed two new members – Scotty Wampler, the new executive director of the Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission (CPPDC); and Andy Hrovatic, representing the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors.
Wise County Industrial Development Authority interim executive director Brian Falin accepts a plaque on behalf of Wise County IDA honoring the life and work of the late Carl Snodgrass, who served for many years as the executive director of the Wise County IDA. On hand for the presentation were VCEDA Chairman Larry Mosley, left and VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, right.
Jim Baldwin, center, was presented with a framed resolution recognizing his long-time service to the VCEDA board and the region during Thursday’s meeting of the board. Baldwin recently announced his retirement as the Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission executive director. At left is VCEDA Chairman Larry Mosley and at right is VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher.
Jim Baldwin, who announced his retirement from the CPPDC earlier this month, but who will stay on as CEO of that organization through June, was recognized with a resolution honoring his long-time service on the VCEDA board and to the region. In addition to serving as a member of the board, Baldwin also served as its secretary. J. P. Richardson was named the new secretary of the board during Thursday’s meeting.
A resolution honoring the life and work of Wise County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) Executive Director Carl Snodgrass, who died earlier this month, was also adopted by the board. Snodgrass, it was noted in the resolution, was instrumental in the economic development and economic diversification of Wise County, having worked on hundreds of projects throughout his career which led to the creation of thousands of jobs for the citizens of Wise County and the coalfield region of Virginia.
In other action at Thursday’s meeting, the board approved:
- up to $4 million as a loan to the Dickenson County IDA to assist with the development of an inpatient substance abuse rehabilitation facility at Red Onion in Dickenson County;
- up to $601,600 as a grant to the Breaks Interstate Park to be used to develop infrastructure and improvements at the park, including lodging renovations and additional funding for the Potter’s Flats Swinging Bridge project;
- up to $500,000 as a grant to the Breaks Interstate Park to be used to help finance the construction of a new swimming pool at the park;
- up to $200,000 as a loan to the Russell County Industrial Development Authority to be used to finance additional renovations and improvements at the former Acme building and site in Lebanon. Previously the VCEDA board approved an up to $500,000 loan for the IDA to assist with the purchase and renovation of the building. The IDA is currently working with a potential tenant for the building;
- up to $1.2 million as a loan to the Wise County IDA to be used to finance the purchase of an approximately 10,000 square foot office building in the Lonesome Pine Regional Business and Technology Park in Wise for future tenant recruitment;
- an earmark of up to $170,000 to the Dickenson County IDA to be used to help finance Phase II of a medical device manufacturing feasibility study, subject to a forgivable loan application from the IDA based upon performance conditions for consideration and approval by the VCEDA board at the next VCEDA board meeting. In November 2020, the VCEDA board approved a $170,000 grant for Phase I of the study; and
- an earmark of up to $200,000 as a grant to the Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to be used to assist with the development of a splash pad recreational area at Clintwood. The matter will be considered further at the VCEDA board’s April meeting as the board looks at amendments to policy language in order to allow counties to request transfers of a limited amount of funds from their VCEDA county accounts to the VCEDA Tourism Capital Improvement Matching Fund to fund specific projects meeting the guidelines for the Tourism Capital Improvement Matching Fund. Previously, the VCEDA board approved a $50,000 grant for the splash pad project from the Tourism Capital Improvement Matching Fund, however as the Dickenson County IDA began receiving proposals on the project, the costs came in higher than anticipated, resulting in the request this week for additional funding.
In other business, the board agreed to forgive a $500,000 loan to the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority (SRRA) and to convert it into a grant. The funds were used for the development of trails in Dickenson County, including the Ridgeview Trail system at Haysi. SRRA drew down $350,936.93 of the original loan amount and requested the amount be converted into a grant after the demonstrated success of the trails.
The board also agreed to extend the disbursement deadlines on three existing loans including an up to $535,000 loan to the Lee County Economic Development Authority for the England Furniture project at Dryden; an up to $150,000 loan to Tazewell Cinema & Entertainment, LLC for the Tazewell Cinema project; and an up to $300,000 loan to the Dickenson County IDA for the acquisition and development of a site in Clintwood.
A disbursement deadline for an up to $433,000 grant to the Breaks Interstate Park for the Potter’s Flats Swinging Bridge and various other infrastructure improvements was also extended.
Lastly, the board agreed to allow the Tazewell County Industrial Development Authority to lease the Bluestone shell building for a pending project. In 2017, VCEDA approved an up to $2,739,700 loan to the IDA for the construction of the shell building.
About Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Southwest Virginia’s e-Region: The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 to enhance and diversify the region’s economy and help create jobs, markets Southwest Virginia’s e-Region and its focus on electronic information technology, energy, education, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurship. VCEDA is a unique economic development organization that manages funds for economic development projects from a percentage of the coal and natural gas severance taxes paid by coal and natural gas companies that operate in the region. Located in southwestern Virginia, the region includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton. www.vceda.us or www.e-Region.org.