An up to $500,000 grant from the VCEDA Education and Telehealth Access Fund was closed last week with the Appalachian Council for Innovation (ACI) to be used toward the development of space-based broadband service in the VCEDA e-Region. On hand for the presentation were, from left, Senator Jeremy McPike, who patroned legislation in the General Assembly for the project; ACI President Donald Purdie; VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher; Tyler Lester, legislative aide for Sen. Todd Pillion’s office; Tom Lester, chief of staff for Sen. Travis Hackworth; and Cody Mumpower, with Ninth District Rep. Morgan Griffith’s office.
$500,000 VCEDA Grant Approved for Space-Based Broadband Initiative
An up to $500,000 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Education and Telehealth Access Fund was closed last week with the Appalachian Council for Innovation (ACI) to be used toward the development of space-based broadband service in the VCEDA e-Region.
VCEDA was appropriated $500,000 in the Virginia state budget during FY2022 “for initiatives intended to expand education and telehealth access.” A budget amendment for this purpose was patroned in the General Assembly this past session by Senator Jeremy McPike and legislators from the VCEDA region.
The funds will be used to help provide low earth orbit space-based broadband service to unserved and underserved children in the VCEDA region. This followed a successful beta test of Starlink service through the Wise County, Va. public school system.
“VCEDA is pleased to award this grant from the Education and Telehealth Access Fund to the Appalachian Council for Innovation. Expanding access to technology in our region is a critical component of economic development, especially is this time when education, tele-working, healthcare delivery and more have been utilizing technology connectivity through the Internet as a primary means for communication and service delivery.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the ACI grant.
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VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, left, presents Russell County Industrial Development Authority Chairman Ernie McFaddin with a ceremonial check representing an up to $500,000 loan from VCEDA to the IDA to be used for the purchase of and renovations to the former Acme building in Lebanon. The Russell County Courthouse is pictured in the background.
$500,000 Loan Closed for Russell County IDA Purchase and Renovation of Acme Building
An up to $500,000 loan to be used to increase the Russell County Industrial Development Authority’s portfolio of available buildings was closed recently by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA).
The funds will be used to finance the purchase of the former Acme building in Russell County and for site development, building rehabilitation and improvements related to the building and site which is located at 1309 and 1315 East Main Street in Lebanon.
“Having an available inventory of buildings and sites which appeal to businesses looking to locate or expand their operations is critical. The Acme building location has both access and infrastructure needs already met, making it a great building to show to business prospects inquiring about availability of existing buildings in VCEDA’s e-Region. As examples of this, just in the Lebanon area alone, Samuel Pressure Vessel Group, JM Conveyors, Polycap and TDEC all located in existing buildings.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Russell County IDA purchase.
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A ceremonial check representing the $170,000 grant VCEDA approved for the Tazewell County IDA to be used to finance a medical screening convenience kit manufacturing feasibility study and the build-out of a medical incubator site in Tazewell County was presented in mid-July. On hand for the presentation, were, from left, Tazewell County Economic Development Administrative Assistant Denise Harmon; Tazewell County IDA members, Melanie Protti-Lawrence, Curt Breeding and Darrell Addison; Moein Health Project Consultant, Dr. Susan Meacham; Tazewell County IDA Chairman Kyle Hurt; VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher; Tazewell County Board of Supervisors Chairman Tom Lester; Tazewell County IDA member Ann Robinson; Tazewell Economic Development Director Timothy Danielson; and Tazewell County IDA members Mack Payne and Rick Snapp.
$170,000 Grant Closed with Tazewell County IDA for Medical Screening Convenience Kit Manufacturing Study
An up to $170,000 grant to the Tazewell County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to be used to finance a medical screening convenience kit manufacturing feasibility study and the build-out of a medical incubator site in Tazewell County was closed in mid-July by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA).
The Tazewell County IDA is partnering with Moein Health, LLC on the project and will utilize the grant for the renovations and furnishings needed at the incubator site; for equipment; medical kit materials for the pilot study project; assembly of the medical kits; and to deploy the medical kits in the region in association with health partners. According to the project application, a key to the success of the project is collaboration with Clinch Valley Medical Center. The project also seeks to provide the test kits it produces through the Health Wagon and Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinics.
“If the pilot project is successful in the VCEDA region, the hope is that Tazewell County can become the location for mass scale production of the medical screening convenience kits which would lead to significantly more employment. We look forward to seeing the results of the feasibility study when it is complete.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Medical Kit Manufacturing Study.
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Charly’s Approved for Seed Capital Grant
With extensive experience in the food service industry, having been a server, cook, manager and district manager for a chain restaurant, Charly Butcher, of Pennington Gap, decided it was time to open her own business and in the fall of 2020, formed Butcher’s Dining LLC, doing business as Charly’s in Lee County.
Charly’s, located on 41751 E. Morgan Avenue in Pennington Gap, is the recent recipient of a $9,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital grant.
The sit-down family restaurant features homemade soups, biscuits and gravy and everything inbetween, with a focus on down home cooking and comfort food on its menu.
“Assisting local entrepreneurs in their quest to start a business and provide jobs is what the VCEDA seed capital program is all about. Charly’s projects 10 full-time and 15 part-time employees as the business continues to grow.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about Charly’s.
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Amber Owens, of Clintwood, looks forward to opening her new business, Country-fied Café, later this month. The mobile food truck arrived earlier this week. Owens is a recent recipient of a $9,000 VCEDA seed capital grant for the new business.
Seed Capital Grant Approved for Country-fied Café
Amber Owens, of Clintwood, always dreamed of opening her own restaurant, even while she has spent her time as a teacher in the public school system. The opening of Country-fied Café in Dickenson County is the realization of that dream as the food truck in which she will begin operating the business arrived this past week.
Country-fied Café is a recent recipient of a $9,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital matching grant.
“VCEDA was pleased to assist Country-fied Café with a seed capital matching grant. Helping entrepreneurs to realize their dreams while at the same time creating jobs is one of the benefits of the seed capital program.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about Country-fied Café.
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VCEDA Participates in Area Development Consultants Forum
VCEDA was pleased to take part in the Area Development Consultants Forum in Richmond, VA, June 21 – 23, 2021. The program provided an opportunity to hear from and network with leading site consultants and industry experts who headed an agenda focused on the trends influencing corporate location and economic development strategy. VCEDA contributed to snack baskets with e-Region labeled bags of coffee from Lincoln Road Virginia LLC, one of our past seed capital grant recipients. Lincoln Road Virginia LLC is located in Norton, VA.
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Karen Blankenship, owner of Blankenship’s Hunting Supply, Taxidermy & Deer Processing LLC, stands behind the store counter at the new business’ Hurley Road location. Blankenship’s new business was a recent recipient of a $9,000 VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant.
Seed Capital Grant Approved for Blankenship’s Hunting Supply, Taxidermy & Deer Processing LLC
Avid hunters, fishermen and outdoorsmen will find a one-stop shop at Blankenship’s Hunting Supply, Taxidermy & Deer Processing LLC in the Hurley area of Buchanan County. The new business, owned by Karen Blankenship, was a recent recipient of a $9,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital matching grant.
“Creating jobs and helping businesses like Blankenship’s Hunting Supply, Taxidermy & Deer Processing LLC get started is the purpose of the VCEDA seed capital matching grant program. The business projects one full-time and one part-time employee.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about Blankenship’s Hunting Supply.
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