Tobacco Region Projects Will Help Attract New Businesses and Generate Economy

STATEWIDE – The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission met on Thursday, January 5, in Richmond to approve projects that will generate economic growth in the agriculture and tourism sectors as well as help attract new businesses to Southern and Southwest Virginia. The Commission approved 29 funding requests in addition to various extensions and other business including welcoming Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade and new Tobacco Commission Acting Executive Director, James E. Campos. 

Tobacco Commission Chairman Senator Frank Ruff said, “I’d like to welcome our Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade and new Tobacco Commission Acting Executive Director, James E. Campos, to the Commission. James brings a wealth of experience to the position and I look forward to working with him as we continue to do all that we can to be a catalyst for growth and opportunity in Southern and Southwest Virginia.

“The Commission has always taken a broad view of economic development and you can see that reflected in the projects we approved at this meeting. From helping our local farmers and producers remain competitive, supporting our tourism economy, developing sites for future businesses and more, I’m proud of the work we have done here.”

Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade and Tobacco Commission Acting Executive Director, James E. Campos said, “I am excited to get started here at the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. The Commission does important work and after attending the meetings over the last few days it is clear that it is a critical asset for the communities of Southern and Southwest Virginia as they seek to grow and diversify their economies. I am proud to be a part of this team and look forward to getting to work to help ensure a bright future for our rural communities.”

Talent Attraction Program Update: The Commission’s Education Committee is currently evaluating the Talent Attraction Program (TAP) to ensure it is best meeting the needs of the communities the Commission serves in Southern and Southwest Virginia. While payments and renewals will continue for those currently in the program we encourage those interested in future rounds of the program to check our website for additional information as it becomes available.

The Commission approved a $10 million Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund (TROF) incentive grant for a confidential project. These funds will only be awarded if the project comes to fruition. 

The Commission reviewed and discussed feedback from partners on upcoming revisions to its strategic plan. At the Committee’s direction staff will revise the draft to incorporate that feedback and additional info provided by members at the meeting with the goal of approval of a final strategic plan at the upcoming spring meeting. 

The following Southside Virginia area projects were approved for funding by the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (Please see the meeting packet on our website for full project descriptions, staff comments, grant requirements and other business including project extensions and modifications): 

Southern Virginia Program

#4107, Brunswick County IDA

Brunswick County Produce Project – $500,000 Grant

This project is a public-private partnership between Brunswick County’s IDA and Southside Virginia Vegetable Packing, LLC (SVVP) to construct a produce processing facility at the I-85 Business Park in Alberta, Va. The SVVP is comprised of and owned equally by eight local farms participating in organic produce production, aggregation, and distribution. Demand for their products has led to multiple expansions of their farming operations over the past five years. To accommodate the need for further expansion in production, a large-scale produce processing facility is required. This project will grow to support 60 jobs from an estimated 20 farms across Southern Virginia and the surrounding area by year five of operations. A 45,000 sq. ft. building will include climate-controlled intake areas with forced air-cooling system, industrial ice making equipment, two processing lines, and ample cold storage and loading docks to facilitate final distribution of produce.

#4119, Mecklenburg County

Southside Virginia Beef Producers Increase Efficiency and Their Bottom Line Through Use of Certifiable Livestock Scales – $7,500 Grant

This project will support 50% of equipment purchases, and certification costs, for mobile legal for trade scales to benefit cattle farmers in Mecklenburg, Brunswick and Charlotte Counties. Beef Cattle producers have the opportunity to capture added value by marketing their feeder cattle in uniform lots by weight and sex (truck load of 48,000-50,000 pounds) while minimizing costs for transportation and subsequent shrink. The purchased scales to be utilized from a base location in Mecklenburg County will support producers marketing their feeder cattle in cooperation with other producers, as well as efforts to market finished cattle for direct sales.

#4114, Prince Edward County

Project Clementine – $75,000 Grant

Project Clementine will help expand meat processing by creating a new value-added facility that will source from producers of cattle and small ruminants in the Southern Virginia region. There is currently a shortage of meat processing facilities in Southern Virginia. Operations will center on 1) fee processing of beef, lamb, and goats for local Southside Virginia producers and 2) processing and manufacturing of wholesale and retail cuts for local restaurants, hotels, and grocers as well as retail consumers especially seeking Halal meats. Project Clementine will consist of a 32’X 92’ square foot steel building constructed on a 2.5-acre parcel in the Prince Edward County Business Parle Site.

#4118, Virginia Cattleman’s Association

Inventory Advance Incentive and Cattle Processing Initiative Fund – $330,000 Grant

This project will support expansion of the finished cattle market in Virginia to provide cattlemen with the opportunity to sell their cattle and/or beef locally for a higher return. USDA statistics show a decrease to 36.8% in 2021, for US cattle producer’s share of retail value of beef; down from 51.5% in 2015. An inventory advance purchase incentive fund will be established, providing for an increase in the number of Virginia cattle finished by offering incentive for the advance purchase of cattle processed for USDA certified beef sale.

#4121, Brunswick County IDA

Sledge and Barkley – $437,000 Grant

The Brunswick County Industrial Development Authority (BCIDA) is requesting 50% of the $874,000 costs for essential repairs and stabilization of the lower floor of the Sledge and Barkley building in downtown Lawrenceville. The BCIDA plans to develop the 23,000 square foot building for mixed-use. The top two floors and an adjacent 7,000 square foot storage space will be converted to 24 apartments. The lower level on N. Main Street and the basement will be used for business development and provides equivalent of three commercial spaces. A Market and Feasibility Study funded by a DHCD Industrial Revitalization Fund will determine the best use for the lower level. The TRRC funding request is for an initial $150,000 to cover immediate structural stabilization and water mitigation to prevent deterioration on the lower level. The remaining $287,000 from TRRC will be combined with funding from the DHCD IRF program to provide the necessary funding for the required renovations and buildout of the 1st floor and basement areas of the building.

#4105, SOVA Innovation Hub Corporation

SOVA Innovation Campus Construction – $400,000 Grant

TRRC Grant #3749 was previously funded at $85,300 to support architectural and engineering design for the SOVA Innovation Labs building. The current funding request will be used for hard construction costs for the building, which is anticipated to be completed by 9/1/2024. The facility is projected to more readily enable entrepreneurship, small business development and talent retention in a region that is experiencing population decline and a poverty level of 17%. The proposal was accompanied by letters of support from Southside PDC, Brunswick County, Charlotte County, CodeVA, Danville Science Center, Halifax County, Longwood University, Lunenburg County, Mecklenburg County, the Town of South Boston, the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, and the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance.

#4122, City of Emporia

Extensions of Water and Sewer to Norwood Property – Recommended to Commission’s CBL program for $1,680,000 Loan

The project will provide the water and sewer line extensions connecting the existing water and sewer lines under US Route 58 and to the southern boundary of the Norwood site. The City of Emporia purchased the 38-acre Norwood Estate Property in 2016, with the objective to develop an industrial park strategically located with direct access to US Route 58. The location provides access to a four-lane divided highway and is in close proximity to Interstate 95.

#4124, Halifax County

Virginia International Raceway Water Supply Interconnection – $546,029 Grant

This project will support 50% of the $1,092,058 million estimated costs for final design, permitting, easements and inspections for the water supply system to connect the Virginia International Raceway in southern Halifax County. The long term sustainability of a significant regional asset is a priority of Halifax County and the entire Southside region. Without public water, VIR cannot host events or continue to invest back into its growth. The wells serving the existing public water system at VIR are no longer reliable and at a high risk of being insufficient. The proposed Phase 1 VIR Water Interconnection would connect Pittsylvania County’s Ringgold water system to the VIR water system. The Pittsylvania County Service Authority would convey water supplied from the City of Danville to the VIR water system which is owned and operated by the Halifax County Service Authority.

#4104, Mecklenburg County

Virginia’s Growth Alliance Site Development Project – $602,210 Grant

Commission funds are requested on behalf of five localities who participate in the regional economic alliance, Virginia’s Growth Alliance, to increase the marketability of five smaller and three larger industrial sites to expand diversity of sites being marketed in the region. Engineering due-diligence and final reports/studies will be completed at eight industrial sites with one or more in Brunswick, Charlotte, Lunenburg, and Greensville Counties, and the City of Emporia. This request is based on research undertaken through VEDP’s Virginia Business Ready Sites Program and the assessment completed for identifying sites with the most developability potential in conjunction with priorities of VGA localities. VEDP’s research considered the strengths and weaknesses of each site and how it pertained to the labor shed and developability criteria established for targeted sectors. This project enables participating localities to address the existing deficit in shovel ready sites allowing them to better market the region for attracting targeted industries, The entire scope of work will include the characterization of one site, which is currently uncharacterized, and bring it to a Tier 3, It will also raise the tier level of four sites and provide final design work to allow three sites to advance their tier level.

#4112, Brunswick County

Herman Road Lake Gaston Day Use Park – Kayak and Canoe Launch – $230,400 Grant 

This project will contribute $230,400 towards the $1,298,200 estimate from Timmons ($140K engineering services, and $1,158,200 construction cost estimate) for Phase 1 park construction which includes a kayak and canoe launch access, a fishing/ observation pier, parking for 8-12 vehicles, picnic area and pavilion as well as the access road to the facility.

Lake Gaston is a major tourist attraction for the Southern Virginia region, and public access to Lake Gaston is very limited as much of the shoreline is privately owned. Brunswick County acquired roughly 14 acres of waterfront property on Lake Gaston with the intent to develop and maintain a free and safe public outdoor recreation day-use facility. The county’s goal is to provide the community and tourists with free and safe access to the waters of Lake Gaston for an expansion of outdoor recreational opportunities.

#4108, Cumberland County

Operation Connect-The-Dots – Grant – $218,000

The Cumberland Courthouse/Bear Creek Lake State Park Connector Trail Project is currently a local trail that connects Cumberland Courthouse Village to Bear Creek Lake State Park Trail. This 0.7-mile trail is a six-foot-wide grass trail built in 2004 and is maintained by Cumberland County (mowed two to four times a month depending on season and weather). Due to the current condition, the grassed walking path is not easily accessible for visitors and is prone to erosion. The goal of this project is to provide major improvements to the current trail by paving the 6-foot-wide trail in asphalt to enhance the walkability and accessibility for all users. If funded, these much­needed improvements will link the visitor to the nearby Cumberland State Forest which connects to Bear Creek Lake State Park as well as Cumberland Courthouse Historic District. This project will allow for state park and state forest visitors from around the country to access Cumberland Courthouse encouraging them to spend more money supporting the local tourism economy.

#4113, National D-Day Memorial Foundation LTD

National D-Day Memorial Motor Pool Museum and Courtyard – $350,000 Grant

This project will support the construction of an indoor museum space (specifically for the excavation, grading and site preparation work for the museum Motor Pool building and adjacent courtyard to the Motor Pool.) The 1940s inspired Motor Pool building will serve as the Memorial’s first truly indoor museum space featuring armored and transport vehicles and the stories of the Allied armies that battled an entrenched foe to liberate Europe. Additionally, a rare amphibious tank recovered from Omaha Beach in Normandy has been committed to the Foundation once display and curation space is complete. The proposed Motor Pool addition will highlight these unique artifacts and in turn broaden visitation to the Commonwealth while also increasing visitor expenditures in lodging, food, recreation, and other sectors of the regional economy. The Motor Pool will improve visitor experiences to the monument, increase national and international tourism figures to the site (and the Commonwealth), and transform the Memorial into a true year­ round destination.

#4106, Town of Blackstone

Operation Swedish Chef – $581,000 Grant

This project will support the final portion of the $3,781,000 total project costs for rehabilitation and renovations to the Harris Memorial Armory Center. The building will be used as a multi-purpose facility including training programs for hospitality students and an event center. The job training would consist of hospitality training to support the tourism business sector for the new lodging that has opened and that is planned for the area to serve the recently opened Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) facility at Fort Pickett. Part of the building would be used by Virginia State University for job training programs to provide skilled workers for support industries needed for the FASTC facility at Fort Pickett – namely hospitality (four new hotels are planned for the area to service users of FASTC). The other parts of the building would be used as rental space for banquets and receptions. Students in the job training programs would work at these events as part of their hospitality training, to gain experience working in the hospitality industry.

#4099, West Piedmont Planning District Commission

Southern Virginia Regional Branding and Marketing Plan – $50,000 Grant

Commission funds will contribute 50% of the $100,000 consultant services for the development of a Southern Virginia regional branding and marketing plan. This initiative is modeled after the Friends of Southwest Virginia which has successfully branded their region as a distinct cultural area and destination, and expanded microenterprise, tourism and business development opportunities throughout the region. This project, led by the three southern Virginia Planning District Commissions: the Commonwealth Regional Council, Southside PDC, and West Piedmont PDC; will establish a regional brand, inventory the region’s tourism assets, establish key anchor attractions that link the region together, and develop a promotion and marketing plan to implement the regional brand.