The St. Albans property. Courtesy of Waldvogel.

Here’s a round-up of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.

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Former St. Albans hospital sold to healthcare firm

The former St. Albans Psychiatric Hospital in Radford has been sold to Pyramid Healthcare, Inc., which plans to “transition the use back to a healthcare facility,” according to a relase from the Roanoke real estate firm that handled the sale.

Waldvogel Commericial Properties described Pyramid as a “premier provider of behavioral healthcare operating over eighty facilities and six schools across the eastern United States, offering a variety of treatment and recovery services for adults and teens.”

Founded in 1999, Pyramid Healthcare offers behavioral healthcare in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia.

While owned by the Radford University Foundation, the building — which sits on a 46-acre tract — was converted to office space. The property sold for $4,310,417, according to Waldvogel, which represented Pyramid.

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Appalachian again warns water levels may rise rapidly

Appalachian Power wants boaters, kayakers, tubers, and other recreational users downstream of Claytor and Leesville dams to know water levels on the New and Roanoke rivers could rise rapidly starting Thursday, June 30, and continue to fluctuate throughout the week, according to the utility.

The regional grid operator PJM has notified Appalachian Power it may need to increase power generation at its hydroelectric plants to maintain the reliability of the regional electric grid if called upon to do so.

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VCEDA awards grant to Scott County hair salon

Paige Seaver. Courtesy of VCEDA.

The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority has awarded a $10,000 matching seed capital grant to Lavish Hair Design, LLC in Gate City. The business is owned by Paige Seaver and opens Saturday, July 2.

The business projects five full-time and two part-time employees within five years, according to VCEDA.

Seaver worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) in developing her application to VCEDA and received a letter of support from the Scott County Industrial Development Authority.

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.

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New River Valley Giving Day raises $508,531 for nonprofits

The New River Valley’s 9th Annual GiveLocalNRV Giving Day raised $508,531 for 95 nonprofits serving the region on Wednesday, June 22. Run by the Community Foundation of the New River Valley (CFNRV), this event raises money and awareness for a variety of nonprofits serving the New River Valley. This year, 1,996 unique donors made 2,306 donations during the early giving period from June 1 – 22 and during the Giving Day, with dozens of donors giving to more than one organization.

The total was driven in part by 18 incentive grants and prizes sponsored by area businesses, totaling $16,500. This year’s sponsors were: National Bank of Blacksburg, Carter Bank & Trust, Hethwood Apartments by HHHunt, First Bank & Trust Company, Olio Financial Planning, Atlantic Union Bank, The Maroon Door, Member One Federal Credit Union, Brown Edwards, Brown Insurance, and Hurt & Proffitt.

Participating nonprofits competed for the grants and prizes throughout the early giving period and during the Giving Day on June 22. 

Next year, the GiveLocalNRV Giving Day will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Nonprofit registration for the event will open this fall. Businesses interested in learning more about event sponsorships can contact Lindsey Gleason at lindseygleason@cfnrv.org or 540-381-8999. Community members can learn more about the event and continue to make donations to their favorite nonprofit organizations through the platform year-round at givelocalnrv.org

2022 GiveLocalNRV Incentive Grant & Prize Awardees:

Early Giving Superstar Grant ($1,000): Springhouse Community School

Most Money Raised ($1,500 each)
Organization size is determined by the operating budget for that nonprofit as it compares to other participating nonprofits for GiveLocalNRV 2022.

  • Large organization: YMCA at Virginia Tech
  • Medium organization: Floyd Center for the Arts
  • Small organization: New River Valley Leading Lights

Most Unique Donors ($1,500 each)
Organization size is determined by the operating budget for that nonprofit as it compares to other participating nonprofits for GiveLocalNRV 2022.

  • Large organization: St. John Neumann Academy
  • Medium organization: Calfee Community and Cultural Center
  • Small organization: Giles County Christian Service Mission

Power Hours
Most unique donors during a specific hour ($500 each)

  • Early Bird 5 – 6 a.m.: Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley
  • Coffee Break 9 – 10 a.m.: St. John Neumann Academy
  • Lunch Break 12 – 1 p.m.: NRV CARES
  • Happy Hour 5 – 6 p.m.: Calfee Community and Cultural Center
  • Finish Line 11 – 11:59 p.m.: Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke

Golden Tickets
Random drawing during a specific hour ($500 each)

  • 10 – 11 a.m.: Blue Mountain School
  • 2 – 3 p.m.: Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke
  • 8 – 9 p.m.: NRV CARES

Peer to Peer
Most money raised using peer-to-peer fundraising tools – $500): Springhouse Community School

2022 Giving Day Superstars
Awarded to the nonprofits that best embody the spirit of GiveLocalNRV as decided by the CFNRV team ($1,000 each):

  • Montgomery Museum of Art and History
  • Wilderness Road Regional Museum