VCEDA Works with VEDP to Co-Host Rural IT Media Tour
VCEDA was pleased to work with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership last month to assist VEDP in hosting a rural IT media tour for journalists from The Globe & Mail, American City & County, IoT Evolution, FierceElectronics and Technical.ly. While in Southwest Virginia’s e-Region, the group met with UVA-Wise officials to learn more about the IT education pipeline in the region and then traveled to Lebanon for a tour of CGI facilities, where they learned more about CGI’s presence in Southwest Virginia and opportunities for IT throughout the region.
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Loan funds from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission for the Back of the Dragon Welcome Center in Tazewell County were announced in late October. Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel, made the ceremonial award presentation on behalf of VCEDA and Del. Will Morefield, a member of the Tobacco Commission, made the award presentation on behalf of the Tobacco Commission. On hand for the announcement were, from left, Cody Mumpower, Ninth District Rep. Morgan Griffith’s legislative aide; Sara Williams, Tobacco Commission; Kyle Hurt; Jamie Cartwright; Jay Shott; Belcher; Larry Davidson; Danny Addison; Morefield; Pam Warden, Tazewell County economic development manager; and Todd Day, Tazewell town manager.
VCEDA Awards $150,000 Loan to Back of the Dragon Welcome Center
The award of a $150,000 loan from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Tourism Capital Improvement Matching Fund was announced in late October for the Back of the Dragon Welcome Center in Tazewell. An additional $650,000 Southwest Economic Development loan was also awarded to the project by the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. The Tobacco Commission loan is administered through the Virginia Resources Authority. The VCEDA funding will be used to finance site development, building(s) construction, parking lot improvements, other improvements and costs associated with the $1.68 million Back of the Dragon Welcome Center located at 592 Main Street in Tazewell, Va. In addition to the loan funds from VCEDA and the Tobacco Commission, the project also has a significant private investment.
“VCEDA is pleased to assist in the development of the Back of the Dragon Welcome Center project. Already, the ‘Back of the Dragon’ has developed a successful marketing campaign aimed at motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts to promote the winding 32-mile stretch of Highway 16 from Tazewell to Marion. The welcome center will add to the experience and in the process is also projected to create four full-time and two part-time jobs within a year.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Back of the Dragon Welcome Center.
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VCEDA Sponsors Business Resource Fair
VCEDA was a gold sponsor for the Business Resource Fair presented by the Southwest Virginia Small Business Development Centers in October at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, VA. The event was funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. John Maxwell was the featured speaker with his presentation on “Live2Lead.” Workshop topics included tax tips, bookkeeping, financing your business, selling to the government, social media for your business, advertising and marketing tools, point of sale and merchant services. Jean Jordan, VCEDA funds administrator, spoke in two of the workshops on the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund which has assisted 52 small business start-ups in the region since the program was established in 2017. VCEDA also exhibited at the event. Pictured are Jordan and VCEDA Marketing Coordinator Susan Copeland.
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VCEDA Represented at Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission Event
VCEDA Marketing Ambassador Mary Rae Carter, left, is pictured with Del. Terry Kilgore, who also serves as chairman of the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. Carter was in attendance at the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission meeting and reception in early October held in Marion.
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VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, right, presents a ceremonial check representing grant funding awarded by VCEDA for the Haysi Kiwanis Club Mountaintop Campground project to Billy Branham, second from right, chairman of the Haysi Kiwanis Club; and David Yates, second from left, secretary of the Haysi Kiwanis Club. Also pictured is Dickenson County Economic Development Director Mitzi Sykes, left.
Haysi Kiwanis Mountaintop Campground Project Awarded Up to $35,000 Grant
An up to $35,000 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) to be used to finance the installation of a water line and water hook-ups for the Haysi Kiwanis Club Mountaintop Campground was awarded recently to the Haysi club. The Haysi Kiwanis Club is a 501(c)(4) non-profit Virginia corporation. The club is in the process of establishing a campground for ATV and horseback riders who utilize Spearhead Trail’s Ridgeview Trail system and the non-motorized Russell Fork Trail, also part of the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority’s Spearhead Trail System. VCEDA previously approved funding to the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority to help construct the Ridgeview Trail.
“VCEDA is pleased to assist with funding for the Kiwanis Mountaintop Campground project. Their application projects one full-time and two part-time jobs within two years.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the Haysi Kiwanis Mountaintop Campground Project.
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VCEDA Exhibits at SVAM Conference
VCEDA was pleased to be an exhibitor at the Southwest Virginia Manufacturers Association conference in early October. Tempur+Sealy, whose operations are located in Southwest Virginia’s e-Region, won the 2019 manufacturer of the year award. Pete Savage, of West River Conveyors, located in Buchanan County, Va., a previous winner of the award, made the presentation.
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VCEDA Takes Part in SWVA Career Expo
VCEDA Marketing Coordinator Susan Copeland and VCEDA Marketing Ambassador Charlotte Mullins manned the Southwest Virginia’s e-Region booth and talked with seventh graders from throughout SWVA about careers in marketing and economic development at the United Way of Southwest Virginia’s Career Expo for Youth held Sept. 24-25 at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Abingdon, VA. More than 4,500 Southwest Virginia middle schoolers attended the career expo and visited employers’ booths to learn about career options. At the e-Region booth, students shared ideas on promoting the region through social media channels such as YouTube and offered suggestions on taglines and slogans.
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VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, right, presents a ceremonial check representing the grant approved by VCEDA for the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority’s (SRRA) planned sportsman’s complex in Dickenson County to SRRA Executive Director Shawn Lindsey, second from right and Jack McClanahan, SRRA chairman, second from left. Also on hand for the presentation was Mitzi Sykes, left, Dickenson County economic development director.
Grant Approved for SRRA Sportsman’s Complex
An up to $149,945 grant to the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority (SRRA) to be used to construct the first phase of a sportsman’s complex in Dickenson County was awarded by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority. The first phase of the project will focus on construction of an archery complex. The VCEDA funds will be used toward site development, building(s) construction, the installation and/or improvement of trails, roads and utilities, the purchase of equipment, machinery, tools and structures and other improvements, as well as architectural, engineering and permitting costs.
“The growing tourism economy in Southwest Virginia is one of the areas VCEDA has assisted in extensively in the past several years. This new project by the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority will serve to add to the overall tourism economy in Virginia.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the SRRA Sportsman’s Complex.