VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, second from left, presents a ceremonial check to Travis Logan, representing the seed capital matching grant funding recently approved for JAG Service, LLC. From left are Penny Horton, Scott County Economic Development; Belcher; Logan; Jessica Logan; Grace White; Angela White, JAG Service co-owner; and Small Business Development Center Director Tim Blankenbecler.
DUFFIELD, VA – SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 — The need for maintenance and repair services for diesel equipment is something Angela White, of Scott County, has long understood as she has operated a trucking company since 2005. When a local garage facility in the area became available, White partnered with Travis Logan and purchased the garage they opened as JAG Service, LLC to provide those services to area businesses which rely on heavy equipment.
JAG Service, LLC was recently approved for a $10,000 seed capital matching grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA).
“VCEDA was pleased to assist JAG Service, LLC with a seed capital matching grant,” said VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher. “The service they are providing at JAG Service, LLC is valuable to many other Southwest Virginia businesses and in addition, it creates jobs. Their application projected four full-time and three part-time jobs within three years.”
The new business, owned 50/50 by White and Logan, offers medium and heavy-duty equipment service and repair for trucks, heavy equipment and agricultural equipment in the area. Logan serves as the garage manager and head technician and White handles the administration side of the business.
The garage is located at 4314 Daniel Boone Road, midway between Duffield and Gate City in Scott County. JAG Service, LLC focuses on the equipment service and repair needs of local trucking companies, loggers, farmers and other local businesses.
“The VCEDA grant has helped us with improvements at the garage and the biggest help has been in the purchase of a diagnostic computer – technology that is critical to our business,” White said. “It’s the only way you can work on newer model equipment and gives us a whole new array of service capabilities.”
Not only will it work on trucks, but on bulldozers, excavators and logging equipment, White added. She noted Logan traveled to South Carolina for training on the new diagnostic equipment.
The garage is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. The garage is on call 24 hours a day for service needs and may be reached at 276-452-0300.
White and Logan worked with Tim Blankenbecler, of the Small Business Development Center at Mountain Empire Community College, in the development of the JAG Service, LLC business plan and application to VCEDA.
About Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Southwest Virginia’s e-Region: The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 to enhance and diversify the region’s economy and help create jobs, markets Southwest Virginia’s e-Region and its focus on electronic information technology, energy, education, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurship. VCEDA is a unique economic development organization that manages funds for economic development projects from a percentage of the coal and natural gas severance taxes paid by coal and natural gas companies that operate in the region. Located in southwestern Virginia, the region includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton. www.vceda.us or www.e-Region.org.
About the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority Seed Capital Matching Grant Fund: VCEDA region for-profit businesses one year and under with less than 10 full-time employees are eligible to apply for dollar-for-dollar matching grants up to $10,000 from the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund. Applicants work with the Small Business Development Centers at Mountain Empire and Southwest Virginia community colleges to prepare the applications to VCEDA that include detailed business and financial plans. Businesses must be located in or plan to operate in the VCEDA region in southwestern Virginia that includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton.