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A 99-room Home2 Suites by Hilton is planned for Ridgeway, with construction expected to finish in spring 2028. Shamin Hotels bought two acres on Old Sands Road for $800,000 and plans to invest $20 million in the 63,000-square-foot hotel. A groundbreaking is set for December. The site sits near the U.S. 58 bypass and U.S. 220 Business, next to the Wendy’s, and is currently used by @martinsvilleswy visitors camping in RVs. Shamin says the nearby Smith River Sports Complex was the biggest factor in choosing the location. County leaders say the hotel could help the complex host larger tournaments and provide lodging for visitors attending race weekend and Rooster Walk. The development comes as Churchill Downs plans to buy nearby land for a relocated Rosie’s Gaming Room. The Islamic Leadership Institute of America has closed on the $300,000 purchase of a former Bank of America building in downtown Norton, its founder says. The planned community center will include a worship space for local Muslims, who currently pray at home, along with classrooms and programs focused on youth development, workforce training and food security. The first-floor programs are expected to begin after preparatory work over the next several months. Norton’s building official says a change-of-use permit will be required if the institute plans to alter the building’s layout; no application or renovation plans had been submitted as of Wednesday. The property is assessed at $499,500 and is zoned for several uses, including churches, schools and offices. 🚨 BREAKING: @carilionclinic will pay Christiansburg $5 million for more than five acres at the front of Huckleberry Park, near Peppers Ferry Road. Town Council approved the sale 6-0 on Tuesday. Mayor Mike Barber said the town had hoped to sell one or more parcels to offset the park’s estimated $18 million cost. What Carilion will build has not been announced, and the company says plans for the property are not finalized. Its future use, the clinic said, would align with its mission to improve community health and expand access to care. Virginia ranks 42nd nationally for total nursing home staffing and 50th for certified nursing assistant staffing, according to a report presented to lawmakers. The state ranks 38th for registered nurse staffing. Virginia has no specific staffing requirements in state code; current guidance says facilities must have enough staff to care for residents. The Joint Commission on Health Care has proposed an initial 2029 deadline for nursing homes to meet minimum standards, with policy options for lawmakers to consider in 2027. LeadingAge Virginia supports standards, but says they must be paired with investment in the workforce pipeline. More than 75% of Virginia nursing homes are for-profit, and the study found staffing was lowest at for-profit facilities and those accepting both Medicare and Medicaid. The Local has opened at 414 North Main Street in downtown Blacksburg, turning the former Cook’s Cleaners into a retail incubator with a café, five small storefronts and five wall-display spaces. Moon Hollow Coffee serves drinks and handmade pastries, while the stalls feature businesses selling walking shoes, Southwest Virginia-themed clothing, cat stickers, lifestyle goods and men’s apparel. The town bought the building for $900,000 a decade ago and used $2.6 million in pandemic relief funds to renovate it. Downtown Blacksburg Inc. leases the space for $1 a year over five years. For emerging retailers, stall fees start at $300 a month, with short-term licensing options designed to let businesses test an idea without taking on a long lease.

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