VCEDA Closes $1.4 Million Loan to AMR Pemco for 75-Job Expansion at Bluefield, Va. Plant
VCEDA closed on a $1.4 million loan to AMR Pemco today in Bluefield, Va. VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, center, presented the ceremonial check to AMR Pemco President David Graf, second from right. Also pictured are, from left, Curtis Gillespie, Tazewell County Industrial Development Authority; Pam Warden, Tazewell County Economic Development Manager; and far right, Maggie Asbury, VCEDA Board Member and Tazewell County Board of Supervisors Chairperson.
VCEDA closed a $1.4 million loan to AMR Pemco in Tazewell County to be used toward a planned expansion at the Bluefield, Va., facility on Nov. 15.
Proceeds from the loan will be used to finance the purchase of equipment and building improvements at the plant. AMR Pemco manufactures ground check/fault monitors, electronic circuit breakers, speed sensors and tip switches, atmospheric (gas) monitors, wireless communications, personnel/equipment tracking, collision avoidance systems, power centers, substations, dry-type transformers, industrial control buildings and power distribution/PLC panels.
Founded in 1960, Pemco was acquired in November 2016 by American Mine Research, Inc. (AMR) of Rocky Gap, Va. AMR was founded in 1975 by Robert (Bob) Graf.
“Through this growth plan, we hope to add 75 jobs in the next several years,” said Graf, president of AMR Pemco. “These jobs will be a mixture of engineers, test technicians, welders, electrical assemblers and metal fabrication machine operators.”
“We are pleased to assist AMR Pemco in their planned expansion project. VCEDA has a long history of working with the company which has provided good jobs in our region for decades. This expansion by one of the region’s major manufacturing companies will be a significant boost economically to our area.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the AMR Pemco expansion.
VCEDA Awards Seed Capital Matching Grant to White Mountain Cabin Rentals in Buchanan County
White Mountain Cabin Rentals and ATV Park, LLC was the recipient of a $10,000 Seed Capital Matching Grant from VCEDA. Accepting the ceremonial check from VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, right, was White Mountain Cabin Rentals and ATV Park LLC Owner Harold H. (Buddy) Fuller Jr., center. Also pictured is Scotty Wampler, left, Buchanan County tourism director.
Two new cabins are planned to be constructed in the White Mountain area of Buchanan County as a result of VCEDA action to award a $10,000 seed capital matching grant to White Mountain Cabin Rentals and ATV Park, LLC.
The business, owned by Harold H. (Buddy) Fuller Jr., and his wife, Patricia, is located on Buchanan County’s Jewell Valley Trail and is seeking to capitalize on its location and the ability to attract overnight visitors who wish to stay along the trail area. The new cabins, just like four existing cabins already on site, have ride-out access to Buchanan County’s Jewell Valley ATV-Bike Trail.
Fuller said initial plans call for the construction of two 12 by 20 feet cabins to be added to the four existing cabins which currently sleep three to eight. Two of the cabins have efficiency kitchens and two have full kitchens and bathrooms. Additionally, three full-hookup RV sites are located on the property and eight primitive camping sites are also available.
The new cabins, which he hopes to complete by spring 2019, will be capable of sleeping four. They will not have bathrooms, but will have access to a nearby bathhouse.
He noted when he built the initial cabins, he did so as a thought of building a place for his family to stay, but said the family never really utilized it. As he acquired additional property in the area, he said that was what started the idea to build more cabins and to seek to rent them to visitors. With access to both the Jewell Valley Trail in Virginia and the Hatfield-McCoy Trail in West Virginia, he said, the location is conducive to attracting overnight visitors who ride one or both trails. When the Jewell Valley Trail is ultimately linked to Spearhead Trails’ Coal Canyon Trail, he says he expects it will make his location on the mountain even more desirable as a destination.
“Tourism is an economy growth sector VCEDA targeted several years ago and the White Mountain Cabins project was one seeking to grow in that tourism sector. Although VCEDA has funded numerous projects in Buchanan County over the years, this request has the distinction of being the first seed capital grant request we have been asked to fund – and now awarded – in Buchanan County.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about White Mountain Cabin Rentals.
Remote Agri Drone Receives VCEDA Seed Capital Grant
Don Nelson, center, accepts a ceremonial check from VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher representing the seed capital matching grant he his wife, Cheryl Nelson, received for their new business, Remote Agri Drone. Also pictured are, from left, Margie Douglass, director of the Small Business Assistance Center at Southwest Virginia Community College; Cheryl Nelson; Don Nelson; Belcher and Pam Warden, Tazewell County economic development manager.
Crop dusting has taken a step into the 21st Century with the application of drone technology which Don and Cheryl Nelson are bringing to Southwest Virginia through their new business, Remote Agri Drone LLC.
The Nelsons’ new business was recently selected as a recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital matching grant.
Remote Agri Drone, based in Cedar Bluff, in Tazewell County, offers agricultural spraying services for controlling plant and brush vegetation, as well as drone services for plant fertilization and soil analysis. By outfitting the drone with cameras, they can also be used in pipeline inspection, electrical power tower/insulators inspection and bridge and structure inspection. Other aerial photography, mapping, surveying and search and rescue services are also available.
The Nelsons worked with Margie Douglass, director of the Small Business Development Center at Southwest Virginia Community College, to prepare the seed capital matching grant application to VCEDA.
Don Nelson notes the need in Southwest Virginia for agricultural spraying services is present. With a drone versus a helicopter or bi-plane spray, the advantage is the ability to refine, control and better direct the spray to targeted areas since the drone can fly much lower than other aircraft.
“The VCEDA seed capital matching grant will enable me to purchase another drone and camera bundle to enable us to expand our business further,” Nelson says.
Nelson grew up in Tazewell County and opening the business in Tazewell County, he says was important to both him and to his wife. Cheryl works at SWCC and Don is retired from Norfolk Southern Railroad where he was an electronics specialist, signal tester and signal maintainer. He has also operated a metal and fabrication shop post retirement before deciding to expand into the field of drone usage.
The business projects two full-time and two part-time jobs within three years. The company also plans to utilize local college students in search of summer employment.
“Remote Agri Drone’s business model fit perfectly with VCEDA’s emphasis on locating businesses in the emerging technology field in the coalfield region. VCEDA added drones as one of our target industries for development in the region in 2015. Remote Agri Drone is among the first of these type businesses to locate in our region, so VCEDA was pleased to provide this assistance to this new small business.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about the grant and plans for Remote Agri Drone.
The Bloom Farm in Dickenson County Receives Seed Capital Matching Grant
The Bloom Farm, LLC receives a ceremonial check for $10,000 from the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant Fund. In photo, from left, Mitzi Sykes, Economic Development Director, Dickenson County; Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel; Steven Baker, owner, The Bloom Farm; Geena Phipps, The Bloom Farm; and Tim Blankenbecler, Director of the Small Business Development Center, Mountain Empire Community College.
Come spring a commercial greenhouse offering flowers and ornamental and landscape plants for sale is scheduled to open in this Dickenson County community, a new business that is a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital matching grant.
The Bloom Farm, LLC was created in August by Dickenson County native Steven Baker, 32, who hopes his business will become one of the leading greenhouse commercial farm brands in Southwest Virginia and beyond.
“I’ve always wanted to start a business that would be beneficial for our region. Southwest Virginia, is a real treasure consumed by many beautiful homes, properties, and businesses that take pride in our mountains and natural beauty,” said Baker.
Baker worked with Tim Blankenbecler of the Small Business Development Center at Mountain Empire Community College to prepare his business plan for The Bloom Farm and his application to the VCEDA seed capital matching grant program. The VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund is designed to assist VCEDA region for-profit businesses one year and under with less than 10 full-time employees.
The business plans to use the VCEDA seed capital grant to help with the construction of a 24’x32’ main greenhouse, a shade house, supply area, a sales area and a mobile unit on 25 acres at 354 Berry Drive in Clintwood.
“Agriculture and entrepreneurship are two of VCEDA’s targets, and the application from The Bloom Farm, LLC fit nicely into both these strategies. VCEDA is very glad to be able to help this new small business to get started in Dickenson County. One key to growing the economy of our area is to support the growth of new small businesses in our region, and that is what the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund is designed to help do.”
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel
Read more about The Bloom Farm, LLC.
TDEC Announces Locating a New Office for Data Entry Services in Russell County
TDEC, a leading provider of Business Process Outsourcing services, announced on Nov. 13 it will open a new office for its expanding data entry services in Lebanon, Va. “We are excited to set up shop in Lebanon,” TDEC President Dennis DuFour commented.
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel noted, “We are delighted that TDEC has decided to expand to Lebanon, Va. The jobs that TDEC plans to create in our region are very welcome news, and it has been a pleasure working with the TDEC team as their project has progressed.”
Read more about the TDEC announcement.