The Southern Virginia Regional Alliance (SVRA) received funding from the GO Virginia Region 3 Council and the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC) in support of a business site development program, paralleling that of the Virginia Economic Development’s Partnership’s (VEDP) site characterization program. Ten publicly-owned sites have been identified across the region which include sites in the City of Danville and the counties of Halifax, Patrick, and Pittsylvania. These sites will undergo due diligence and engineering studies to elevate their tier levels to a higher ranking while reducing risks for future business prospects. SVRA will manage the project with assistance from each locality’s economic development offices. The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research will serve as the fiscal agent and administrator for these grants.
Elevating the VEDP tier designation for these sites is made possible with funding from GO Virginia Region 3 in the amount of $1,534,900 and the TRRC in the amount of $454,100. Together these grants will strengthen the competitive advantage for the region by having business-ready sites to attract companies and create jobs.
“A long-standing priority of the Region 3 Council supports having more sites ready to recruit business investment and create new high-wage jobs, and the project undertaken by SVRA and its member localities serves to advance this priority in an unprecedented way”, said Randy Lail, Chair, GO Virginia Region 3 Council. He added, “With a demonstrated focus on collaboration by localities, this project stands as a clear example of successful economic development.”
“SVRA’s member localities worked hard to develop a competitive project, and we’re thankful that the GO Virginia Region 3 Council, the GO Virginia State Board, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission recognized and endorsed their efforts”, said Linda Green, Executive Director, Southern Virginia Region Alliance.