Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel, right, presents a ceremonial seed capital matching grant check to Matthew Owens, owner of Black Diamond Gym & Spa, LLC in Haysi, left; and Jordan Owens, center.
HAYSI, VA (FEBRUARY 14, 2020) — Helping the community to get healthier is one of the primary goals of Black Diamond Gym & Spa LLC as the new fitness gym and health and wellness facility plans to open in mid-March in downtown Haysi, Va. The new business is a recent recipient of a Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching grant of up to $10,000.
Located at 200 Main Street in Haysi, the facility is owned by Matthew Owens and his wife, Jordan, and will be open 24/7 Monday through Sunday. An electronic entry system will allow members around the clock access.
“VCEDA is pleased to be able to assist Black Diamond Gym & Spa LLC in opening its new business,” said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel. “According to their application, there is a need for such a facility in that area, which along with its 24/7 operation schedule will make it convenient for those who utilize the facility. The application projects two full-time jobs within four years.”
Owens noted the gym is being equipped with traditional cardio equipment like treadmills and elliptical bicycles and also has free weights and heavy weights available, along with other equipment. Yoga classes, nutrition classes and fitness classes will provide gym members with a variety of workouts from which to choose if they want to do exercise in a group setting. Special programs will be offered for senior citizens.
“We want this to be an anchor in the community and a place for people to get together,” Owens said. “We want to help with adding fitness as a habit, helping to create life-changing results in health and wellness for people.”
Day passes are available for $5 and memberships are available for $15 per month. Emergency medical personnel, veterans and students pay $10 for a monthly membership.
Owens noted he plans to use the VCEDA grant to purchase inventory and for the build-out costs of the new gym and spa facility.
“It’s giving us an injection of cash and the ability to buy more equipment,” Owens said of the VCEDA seed capital grant.
Future plans call for the gym to add massage therapy, physical therapy, personal training, Botox, weight loss shots and microderm abrasion treatments.
Owens worked with Margie Douglass, director of the Small Business Development Center at Southwest Virginia Community College in developing the application to VCEDA for the seed capital grant. He also worked with Cindy Fields on the project development. The Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority also provided a letter of support for the project.
For additional information about Black Diamond Gym & Spa LLC, interested persons may call 276-492-3944. The business may also be found on Facebook.
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.
About the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority Seed Capital Matching Grant Fund: VCEDA region for-profit businesses one year and under with less than 10 full-time employees are eligible to apply for dollar-for-dollar matching grants up to $10,000 from the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund. Applicants work with the Small Business Development Centers at Mountain Empire and Southwest Virginia community colleges to prepare the applications to VCEDA that include detailed business and financial plans. Businesses must be located in or plan to operate in the VCEDA region in southwestern Virginia that includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton.