VCEDA Board Approves 32 Projects
Loans and grants to assist in new projects and expansions of existing business in six far Southwest Virginia counties were approved by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) during a meeting of the board June 17 in Lebanon. The number of projects approved at the meeting represented the highest number of projects approved in a single meeting in VCEDA’s history.
Included in those approvals were grant awards to 24 new start-ups through the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching grant program.
The meeting began with a report from VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, during which Belcher reported activity remains strong in 2021 with the authority currently working on 59 active projects, with hundreds of companies having been contacted in the preceding year to encourage them to locate facilities and jobs in the region. Belcher noted two important industry expansions had been announced since the April board meeting, including the SunCoke Energy announcement in Buchanan County and Lawrence Brothers Inc. in Tazewell County.
Read more about the VCEDA projects.
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VCEDA Marketing Ambassador Mary Rae Carter, left, is pictured with Virginia Economic Development Partnership Vice President Vince Barnett, who is also a member of the VCEDA board, at the welcoming reception for the Site Selectors Guild Conference.
VCEDA Attends Site Selectors Guild Annual Conference
VCEDA attended the Site Selectors Guild annual conference in Florida earlier this month. The Site Selectors Guild is the only association of the world’s foremost professional site selection consultants. Guild members provide location strategy to corporations across the globe and for every industry, sector and function. The cornerstone of the SSG Annual Conference is knowledge sharing, an interactive exchange of ideas and networking between guild members and economic developers and investment promotion professionals from around the world. VCEDA Marketing Ambassador Mary Rae Carter attend on behalf of VCEDA.
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Moccasin Junction Inc. Approved for Seed Capital Grant
The lack of a convenience store with a deli and fuel are in part what spurred Hunter Lambert, of Gate City, to open Moccasin Junction Inc., a full-service convenience store with a fuel island at the junction of State Routes 71 and 613 in Scott County.
Moccasin Junction Inc. is a recent recipient of a $9,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant.
“VCEDA was pleased to be a part of funding the Moccasin Junction Inc. project. The business projects three full time and two part-time employees.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Moccasin Junction Seed Capital Grant.
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Kevin O’Quinn’s Caney Kennels is a recent recipient of a VCEDA seed capital matching grant. The new business, as it matures, will breed, train and sell American Kennel Club registered Labrador Retrievers, as well as provide dog-related services including breeding, boarding and obedience training.
Caney Kennels Approved for Seed Capital Grant
As Kevin O’Quinn, of Clintwood, looked down the road to retiring after a long career with the department of corrections, he was faced with trying to decide what to do to supplement his retirement income. The decision was easy when he took a skill set he had used for years working with K-9 officers and decided to open Caney Kennels.
Caney Kennels is a recent recipient of a $9,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital matching grant.
The new business, as it matures, will breed, train and sell American Kennel Club registered Labrador Retrievers, as well as provide dog-related services including breeding, boarding and obedience training. Ultimately the goal is to offer training for both therapy dogs and narcotic detection dogs. O’Quinn plans to retire from his career in corrections next year and to devote all his time to growing the new business.
“VCEDA was pleased to assist Caney Kennels in its launch as a new business in Dickenson County. The business projects two full time and three part-time employees within five years.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about Caney Kennels.
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Wyatt Carter’s Adventure E-bikes, Inc. was a recent recipient of a VCEDA seed capital matching grant. In addition to selling e-bikes, the new business also plans to offer e-bike orientation classes which will include a guided ride in the Russell County area.
Seed Capital Grant Approved for Adventure E-bikes, Inc.
With the increased focus on the outdoors and tourism opportunities in Southwest Virginia, Wyatt Carter, of Lebanon, decided the time was right to open a new business. Turning his focus to electric bikes, or “e-bikes,” Carter opened Adventure E-bikes, Inc. in Russell County.
Adventure E-bikes, Inc. is a recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital matching grant.
Initially, Carter planned to offer the bikes for rental, but COVID-19 changed his business model, he said, adding he is focused now more on e-bike sales and soon, will offer an e-bike orientation school of sorts on the weekends where he envisions signing up riders, teaching them about the bikes and how they operate and ultimately, taking them on a short guided tour in the area.
“Adventure E-bikes, Inc. projects one full time and two part-time employees. When COVID-19 came along, it put many small businesses in the position of having to figure out how to respond and many came up with different business models to make things work. We are pleased Adventure E-bikes Inc. found a market niche to pursue.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about Adventure E-bikes, Inc.
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A $1.175 million VCEDA loan to purchase the former Mountain Forest Products chip mill site in Dickenson County was closed recently. On hand for the loan closing were, from left, Mitzi Sykes, Dickenson County IDA director; Ginger Senter, Dickenson County IDA board member and secretary of the board; Larry Yates, Dickenson County IDA chairman; Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel; and Josh Evans, Dickenson County Board of Supervisors chairman.
$1.175 Million Loan to Dickenson County IDA Closed
An up to $1.175 million loan to the Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to be used to finance the purchase of the former Mountain Forest Products chip mill site was closed recently by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA).
The property, located adjacent to the IDA’s Red Onion industrial site, is comprised of some 433.17 acres of real estate located in Dickenson and Wise counties. In addition to the land, the site houses three steel frame structures, which are approximately 22,545, 3,974, and 3,544 square feet in size.
“VCEDA was pleased to make this loan available to the Dickenson County IDA. It provides the county IDA with a significant piece of property to market to potential economic development prospects.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Dickenson County IDA Loan.
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Jonathan and Allison Byerley’s new business, Copper Creek Metal Works LLC is a recent recipient of a VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant. They are pictured here with their daughter, Graycen, and some of the signs which have been made by the business which also cuts and fabricates logos, fire pits, shelving, furniture, privacy walls, custom designs and more.
Copper Creek Metal Works LLC Approved for Seed Grant
If it’s metal, Copper Creek Metal Works LLC in Russell County can make it.
Jonathan and Allison Byerley, of Castlewood, opened their new metal cutting and fabrication business, Copper Creek Metal Works LLC, offering custom designs for businesses and homes – from simple wall décor and signs, to farm entrance decorations, logos, fire pits, shelving, furniture, privacy walls, special designs and more. Copper Creek Metal Works is a recent recipient of a $9,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital matching grant.
“VCEDA was pleased to assist Copper Creek Metal Works LLC with a seed capital matching grant. Copper Creek Metal Works is offering a wide variety of products for both business and residential use, opening several markets for their new business which projects one full time and one part-time job.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about Copper Creek Metal Works, LLC.
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