VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, left, presents a ceremonial check to Brooke Owens and Billy Owens, owner of Daisy’s Cabins LLC, representing the seed capital matching grant funding recently approved for the company. Behind them, from left are SWCC Small Business Development Center Director Margie Douglass; and Scotty Wampler, Buchanan County marketing director.
Daisy’s Cabins LLC Awarded VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant
When Billy and Brooke Owens finish the renovations on the Hoot Owl Hideaway cabin and property they recently purchased in Grundy, Va., they have plans to add an additional cabin as they grow their cabin rental business near Spearhead Trails’ Coal Canyon Trail. Owens’ company, Daisy’s Cabins LLC, was recently awarded an up to $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant.
“Assisting small businesses to achieve their individual growth plans while at the same time creating jobs is what the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant fund was set up to do. Daisy’s Cabins has plans to both renovate an existing cabin and to build a new cabin, which further fits with VCEDA’s past support for tourism-related projects in Southwest Virginia’s e-Region.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Daisy’s Cabins Seed Capital Matching Grant.
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VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, second from left, presents a ceremonial check to Fired Up Pottery Owner Krissy Charles, representing the seed capital matching grant funding recently approved for the Grundy business. From left are Scotty Wampler, Buchanan County marketing director; Belcher; Charles; and SWCC Small Business Development Center Director Margie Douglass.
Seed Capital Matching Grant Approved for Fired Up Pottery
A love of pottery and the desire to open her own business combined to lead Krissy Charles to open Fired Up Pottery, a paint-your-own ceramic pottery shop, at the Market Place in the Grundy Plaza in Grundy, Va. Fired Up Pottery was one of 18 businesses recently selected to receive an up to $10,000 Seed Capital Matching Grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA). Fired Up Pottery offers ceramics of all sizes — from Christmas ornaments to large vases; snowmen to santas; pumpkins to animal figurines. Piece prices range from $4 to $55, depending on size. Paints of all colors are available and for a $3 sitting fee, customers can paint the pieces they purchase on site. Charles will apply a drying spray to a customer’s finished product which takes about 30 minutes to set and then customers can take their painted treasures home the same day. Charles does the clean-up.
“Assisting entrepreneurs in growing their new businesses is the primary goal of VCEDA’s Seed Capital Matching Grant program. Fired Up Pottery offers a unique experience activity for its customers with the closest such experience being some 90 miles away. One full-time job is projected in the business application.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Fired Up Pottery Seed Capital Matching Grant.
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Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel, right, presents a ceremonial check to Breaks Interstate Park Superintendent Austin Bradley representing the award of an up to $433,000 grant for improvements at the park, including the construction of a 725-foot pedestrian swinging bridge across the Russell Fork gorge from the Virginia side of the park to the Kentucky side of the park.
VCEDA Awards $433,000 Grant to Breaks Interstate Park
An up to a $433,000 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) to the Breaks Interstate Park to be used for infrastructure and improvements at the park, was closed in mid-December at the park. Among the plans for the grant funds is the construction of an approximately 725-foot pedestrian swinging bridge across the Russell Fork gorge from the Virginia side of the park to the Kentucky side of the park. The bridge, when complete, will be the longest pedestrian swinging bridge in North America, according to park officials, who noted the bridge will also connect the park’s trails to the Pine Mountain Trail.
“VCEDA is pleased to continue to support the growth and expansion of the Breaks Interstate Park. The park is a primary tourism asset in Southwest Virginia’s e-Region and VCEDA is pleased to play a part in this latest project.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Breaks Interstate Park Grant.
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On hand for the VCEDA grant closing and ceremonial check presentation for the Southern Gap Industrial Park Infrastructure project, were from left, Scotty Wampler, Buchanan County marketing director; Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel; Jay Rife, chairman of the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority; and Carroll Branham, chairman of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors.
$2.15 Million Grant Awarded for Southern Gap Industrial Park Infrastructure Needs
An up to $2,154,240 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) to the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority to be used for infrastructure needs at the county’s Southern Gap Industrial Park was awarded in mid-December. The funds will be used to finance site grading, site development, road construction, paving, parking lot construction, storm drainage improvements, utilities installations and extensions, fiber optic installations and extensions and other improvements in the Southern Gap Industrial Park and development area. Included will be the development of two additional project-ready graded sites. One site will be approximately 5.1 acres, and the other will be approximately 4.8 acres. The grant funds will also be used to develop a paved access road from State Route 744 to the shell building now under construction at Southern Gap and to extend the access road to connect to the future Greenbrier Road extension.
“VCEDA is pleased to assist the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority in the continued development of its Southern Gap properties. In November, we were pleased to be involved in the announcement that the county IDA’s new shell building, which is still under construction, already has a tenant committed to move in – Paul’s Fan Company — bringing with it 40 new jobs and retaining 42 others. Planning now ensures the county is ready when future opportunities arise.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Southern Gap Industrial Park.
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On hand for the Russell Theater VCEDA grant closing and ceremonial check presentation, from left, were Mark Mitchell, Lebanon Town Manager; Tony Dodi, Lebanon mayor; Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel; Scott Gilmer, Lebanon Town Council; and Shane Farmer, Cumberland Plateau Planning District.
Russell Theater Project Approved for $150,000 Grant
A $150,000 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) to the Town of Lebanon to be used to finance the renovation and rehabilitation of the historic Russell Theater in downtown Lebanon was closed in late November. The funds are from the VCEDA Tourism Capital Improvement Matching Fund and may also be used in part for architectural and engineering expenses associated with the renovation. The renovation of the old Russell Theater is part of the town of Lebanon’s downtown Main Street revitalization efforts. The old 3,232 square-foot theater is located at 29 West Main Street in Lebanon, near the Russell County Courthouse. The town has plans to renovate the building into a multi-use facility which could become a hub for a variety of events.
“Assisting the growth and creation of jobs through matching funding for capital improvements at strategic tourism venues is one facet of VCEDA’s overall investment program. The town’s plans for the building will serve to preserve an historic aspect of Lebanon’s past, while also renovating it to better accommodate the needs of the future.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Russell Theater Project.
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VCEDA Co-Sponsors Chicago Site Consultants Meeting
VCEDA Marketing Coordinator Susan Copeland and Scott County Economic Development Director John Kilgore were in Chicago in mid-December representing VCEDA in meetings with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and site consultants. VEDP President Stephen Moret kicked off the meetings with site consultants in the Chicago speed networking event, highlighting the Sykes-Intuit operation in Southwest Virginia’s e-Region. VCEDA was a co-sponsor of the Chicago event.