VCEDA Represented at VEDA Conference
VCEDA Marketing Ambassadors Mary Rae Carter and Charlotte Mullins represented VCEDA at the annual Spring Conference of the Virginia Economic Developers Association held April 12-13 in Richmond, VA. The keynote speaker for the event was the Honorable Esther Lee, then Virginia secretary of commerce and trade. From left in photo are, VCEDA Marketing Ambassador Charlotte Mullins, Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade Cassidy Rasnick, and VCEDA Marketing Ambassador Mary Rae Carter.
Stone Mountain Adventures Holds Ribbon Cutting
VCEDA participated in the Wise County/City of Norton Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting April 10 to celebrate the grand opening of Stone Mountain Adventures, LLC in the City of Norton. VCEDA approved a $15,000 seed capital grant to help this new tourism-related small business get started, with five part-time jobs projected.
Read more about Stone Mountain Adventures and the seed capital grant.
VCEDA Markets to Furniture Industry
One of the highlights of the show was visiting the showroom of England, Inc., the company establishing an upholstery-sewing facility in Lee County with 79 new jobs. From left, are John Kilgore, executive director of the Scott County Economic Development Authority; Susan Copeland, VCEDA marketing coordinator; Terry England, president of England, Inc.; and Mat Cantagallo, Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP).
VCEDA joined the Virginia Economic Development Partnership at the High Point Market April 14-17, the world’s largest home furnishings trade show, held in High Point, NC. The massive show includes more than 2,000 exhibitors in more than 180 buildings in High Point and attendance of more than 70,000.
A highlight of the show was a tour of the showroom of England, Inc., a company that announced on March 8 it is establishing an upholstery-sewing facility in Lee County, bringing 79 new jobs to the region. VCEDA has approved up to a $515,000 loan to the Lee County IDA to assist with the England, Inc. project in Lee County, following the VCEDA Board’s approval of an additional up to $165,000 for the project on April 19. Training for the initial employees is under way in anticipation of a summer opening of the new facility. VCEDA Marketing Coordinator Susan Copeland was joined by John Kilgore, executive director of the Scott County Economic Development Authority, at the show.
Read more about the England Furniture announcement.