A ceremonial check representing the up to $538,030 loan approved by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) for the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority to assist with the Skyline Fabricating Inc. expansion in Buchanan County was presented recently. Buchanan County Marketing and Tourism Director Matt Fields, left, stands with VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, center, and Kenny Horne, Skyline Fabricating Inc. president, with the new site location pictured on the plateau behind them.
Skyline Fabricating Inc. to Expand, Add 22 New Jobs in Buchanan County
The location of a new business at Southern Gap will bring with it up to 22 new jobs later this year as Skyline Fabricating Inc. expands its Buchanan County, Virginia operations.
VCEDA recently approved a loan of up to $538,030 to the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority to assist with the project which will include the development of a 25,000 square foot steel building on a 7.5-acre site near the new Southern Gap Transportation and Logistics Center (SGTLC). The SGTLC project was another unrelated Southern Gap project on which VCEDA and the Buchanan County IDA worked cooperatively, along with Southwest Virginia Community College.
“VCEDA was pleased to assist the Buchanan County IDA and Skyline Fabricating with the company’s decision to expand its operations to the Southern Gap development in Buchanan County. This will help create good manufacturing jobs that will be a boost to the economy of Buchanan County and the region and we are very excited to see Skyline Fabricating locate at Southern Gap and the continued progress that has been made at that development, of which VCEDA has been a major funder along with the IDA, county and others.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Skyline announcement.
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VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, presents a ceremonial check representing a $50,000 grant from the authority’s tourism capital improvement matching fund to Theatre Guild of Buchanan County representatives, including, from left, Tina Clevinger, Jodi Reynolds and Jessica Savage. The group is pictured on the stage looking back toward where audience seating will be located. Renovations to the building are now in progress.
VCEDA Announces $50,000 Grant for Theatre Guild of Buchanan County
A $50,000 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Tourism Capital Improvement Matching Fund to the Theatre Guild of Buchanan County has been announced.
The funds are being used by the guild to finance building renovations and improvements, for the purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment, stage construction, other improvements and engineering expenses to assist with the location of the Theatre Guild to Vansant to the former Coca-Cola bottling facility, which has been renamed by the group as the Community Arts Mainstage (CAM).
“VCEDA was pleased to assist the Theatre Guild of Buchanan County with its plans to renovate the former Coca-Cola building into a community theatre. The VCEDA funding for the project comes from the Tourism Capital Improvement Matching Fund. According to the Theatre Guild’s application, two full time and three to four part-time jobs will be created within five years.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Theatre Guild project.
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VCEDA Grant to Scott County EDA Will Support Tempur Sealy Expansion
A $100,000 grant to the Scott County Economic Development Authority to be used for workforce development and training needs to support an expansion by Tempur Sealy in that county which is projected to create 25 additional jobs within two years was closed recently by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA).
Tempur Sealy is a global leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of bedding products. The company’s highly recognized brand portfolio includes Tempur-Pedic, Sealy® featuring Posturepedic® Technology, and Stearns & Foster®. Headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, Tempur Sealy operates two manufacturing facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Duffield, Virginia, employing more than 5,000 throughout the United States, with more than 300 employees at its Duffield facility.
The Duffield facility was the first U.S. manufacturing plant for Tempur-Pedic, having been recruited to the area around 20 years ago by VCEDA, Scott County and the LENOWISCO planning district.
“On behalf of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, we would like to congratulate Tempur Sealy on its expansion in Scott County. Since locating in the region two decades ago, this operation has been a tremendous asset for the entire region, providing excellent employment opportunities for the citizens of Scott County and Southwest Virginia. We look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Tempur Sealy expansion.
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Chris Williams saw opportunity to capitalize on a growing tourist industry in Appalachia and opened Black Bear BBQ with assistance in purchasing needed equipment for the restaurant through a VCEDA seed capital matching grant. The restaurant held a ribbon cutting on November 9.
Seed Capital Grant Approved for Black Bear BBQ, LLC
With the growth of tourism through motorcycle tours and others coming to enjoy the beauty of the region and all it has to offer, lifelong Appalachia resident Chris Williams saw opportunity. Seeing that opportunity, he decided to open Black Bear BBQ which will officially celebrate its grand opening on November 9 with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Black Bear BBQ, located on 516 West Main Street in Appalachia, opened earlier this fall and was a recent recipient of a $6,500 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) grant.
“Assisting small businesses like Black Bear BBQ to pursue their business plans of providing services and creating jobs in our communities is what the VCEDA Seed Capital Grant program is all about. Black Bear BBQ projects creating eight full time and six part-time jobs within five years.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about Black Bear BBQ, LLC.
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Connie Allen’s new business, Pinkway, offers boutique-style children’s clothing, as well as unique home décor items. A bakery will open inside the store next month. The business was a recent VCEDA seed capital matching grant recipient.
Pinkway Approved for Seed Capital Grant
Boutique-style children’s clothing and unique home décor are among the products customers visiting Pinkway will find in the new retail store which opened recently in Richlands. Owner Connie Allen is now working to add a bakery within the store, with the bakery set to open later this month.
Pinkway was a recent recipient of a $6,500 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital matching grant.
“VCEDA’s seed capital matching grant program is designed to assist entrepreneurs in pursuing the implementation of their small business plans and in the process creating jobs in the e-Region. The VCEDA grant to Pinkway is assisting with both.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about Pinkway.
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Amber McCulley opened Clear Sight Eyecare in Tazewell earlier this year with the help of a VCEDA seed capital matching grant.
Seed Capital Grant Approved for Clear Sight EyeCare
When Amber Hurley McCulley opened Clear Sight EyeCare earlier this year, her goal was to provide comprehensive eyecare services utilizing state-of-the-art technology and equipment to benefit residents in the region. With the assistance of a $6,500 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital matching grant, she has been able to grow her business, purchasing equipment she said she otherwise would have had to wait to add to her new practice.
The new clinic is located at 284 Ben Bolt Avenue and there, McCulley provides comprehensive vision and medical eyecare and offers full optical shop services featuring more than 500 pairs of glasses frames from which to choose, ranging from budget frames to designer frames. Contacts and sunglasses are also available.
McCulley noted Clear Sight offers eyecare services for the family — for patients as young as six months old to those who are 100 or more in the geriatric community.
“VCEDA was pleased to assist Clear Sight EyeCare in acquiring the equipment it wanted to add to augment its services.Clear Sight EyeCare projects five full time jobs within five years.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about Clear Sight EyeCare.
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Owners Sarah and Joshua Lucas recently received a VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant for their new business, OH Rentals LLC.
OH Rentals LLC Approved for Seed Capital Grant
As tourism opportunities have grown in Southwest Virginia, Sarah and Joshua Lucas saw opportunity – not only to provide outdoor recreation for out of town visitors, but to also cater to local residents. As a result, they opened OH Rentals LLC, which provides bike and kayak rentals and two short-term rental units near the Spearhead Trails.
OH Rentals LLC was a recent recipient of a $6,500 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant.
“As tourism in Southwest Virginia has grown, the demand for additional lodging and activities to keep tourists in the region longer is something OH Rentals LLC perceived and took action to create through their short-stay lodging and bike and kayak rental services. OH Rentals LLC projects one full-time employee to manage the short-term rentals and seasonal outdoor rentals and two part-time employees to help maintain equipment, perform housekeeping duties, manage reservations and provide shuttle service to get their rentals to customers who are renting them as the business continues to grow.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about OH Rentals LLC.
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Lilly Thacker stands in front of Lilly’s Pad, LLC, a new lodging option near the Spearhead Trails opening soon in Haysi. Lilly’s Pad, LLC, was a recent recipient of a VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant.
Lilly’s Pad, LLC Approved for Seed Capital Grant
While materials availability issues have pushed back the planned opening of Lilly’s Pad LLC, owner Lilly Thacker said the project to renovate property at 24390 Dickenson Highway, near Spearhead Trails’ Ridgeview Trail as a short-stay rental option in Dickenson County, is nearing completion.
Lilly’s Pad LLC, was recently approved for a $6,500 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital matching grant.
“Lilly’s Pad LLC is another tourism-related business which seeks to capitalize on its location near the Spearhead Trails system that the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant Fund has assisted. The business projects one full-time and two part-time jobs within five years as it grows.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about Lilly’s Pad, LLC.
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