Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside:
Giles County metal fabrication firm plans expansion
Patrick Enterprises Corporation, a custom metal fabrication company in Pembroke in Giles County, plans to add at least five new positions this spring, and 25 production positions will be filled to meet the needs of future projects that are in the works, according to a release from Giles County.
The company currently employs 25 people.
New machinery investments include a new rolling machine, two HAAS machine centers, a number press machine, and has plans to install a blast room on site at their facility. Trova Commercial Vehicles, a startup company in Pulaski County, is spurring growth for Patrick Enterprises Corporation by choosing to manufacture components of their new products and cabs for Spotter trucks at Patrick Enterprises. Patrick Enterprises are optimistic that future cab assembly will be completed within the Pembroke facility, bringing those new employment opportunities, the statement said.
Teresa Collins is CEO and President of Patrick Enterprises.
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Feds award $1 million for mental health and substance abuse services in Mount Rogers region
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced that it has awarded Mount Rogers Community Services Board a mental health and substance abuse services grant totaling $1,000,000, according to a release from Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem.
Founded in 1972, Mount Rogers serves the communities of Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth and Wythe counties, as well as the City of Galax, in Virginia’s Ninth District.
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VCEDA awards grant to marina and campground in Dickenson County
The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority has awarded a $10,000 Seed Capital Matching Grant to Mountain View Marina & Campground located on the Flannagan Reservoir in Dickenson County.
The business is owned by Sarah and Michael Oquin.
“Mountain View Marina & Campground, LLC has added to the variety of tourism options available in Dickenson County since it opened, expanding to offer not only boat parking and other water sport options for their patrons, but also beginning to develop planning to offer camping on-site as well,” said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel in a statement. “The business projects three full-time and six part-time employees within five years.”
Sarah Oquin noted when they purchased the property, the first thing they did was tear down the old dock and build a new one. Currently, there are 46 boat slips for 24-foot and under boats and seven slips for larger enclosed pontoons and houseboats that have electricity available.
An additional 30-40 new boat slips are planned to be added this spring. Two houseboats docked there are available as rentals and plans for the future include building a campground with full hook-up RV sites and cabins. Some primitive camping is being planned to be added by summer and a swimming pool is also planned as the marina and campground grow.
VCEDA region for-profit businesses, within qualifying business categories, 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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Wise County students plant nearly 1,000 trees on former mine site
Nearly 100 Wise County ninth graders planted over 1,000 trees at the 17th annual Virginia Arbor Day celebration, according to a release from the Virginia Department of Energy. The Eastside Earth Science students planted trees on a site that was mined for coal in the mid 1970s and is now managed by The Nature Conservancy.
In addition to tree planting, students had the opportunity for some hands-on learning at various educational booths. Solar and wind energy demonstrations were available. They could learn more about the coal mining process by viewing a model surface mine. The Virginia Department of Energy’s mine rescue team demonstrated technology used in their roles as emergency responders and the Virginia Department of Transportation had equipment used in their everyday work available for students to test out.