Hello Cardinal News readers. Welcome back to Cardinal Commerce Notes, our regular feature catching you up on various recent business news items.
Last week, we covered a major Interstate 81 project, a new Virginia State Police regional headquarters in the works, the reopening of a restaurant and a brewery, and The Lester Group’s new chairman. Check it out here.
I’m always on the lookout for news tips. Please email me at matt@cardinalnews.org or connect with me on LinkedIn and message me there.
Old Dominion Power rate hike would increase average home bill 23%
Old Dominion Power is asking state regulators for permission to raise the average residential customer’s monthly electric bill by about $43.
The company provides electric service to more than 28,000 Virginia customers in Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott and Wise counties. It is a subsidiary of Kentucky Utilities.
Old Dominion Power filed an application late last month with the Virginia State Corporation Commission for regulatory approval to earn about $19 million more in annual revenue.
The company seeks permission for its plan to take effect on June 1 and raise the monthly bill of a typical residential customer using 1,198 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month from $185.07 to $228.39, a 23% increase.
The electric utility’s last Virginia rate increase took effect Feb. 1, 2025, increasing the average residential bill by $17.63.
Old Dominion Power spokesperson Andrew Gardner said in an email that the company needs higher rates because it has made “significant investments to strengthen the grid, reduce outages, speed restoration and improve resilience during severe weather, while also deploying advanced metering infrastructure that helps customers better manage their energy use.”
“We understand that any change in rates impacts our customers, and our focus continues to be on providing safe, reliable and affordable service people can depend on, while continuing to invest in the system and the communities we’re proud to serve,” Gardner said.
Black Dog Salvage, Roanoke Mountain Adventures expand together
Black Dog Salvage, a Roanoke company that sells furniture and architectural pieces that might otherwise have gone to the landfill, will reopen its second warehouse later this year.
That warehouse at 629 Ashlawn St. S.W. will house most of the company’s architectural salvage inventory, such as antique lumber and doors, while the main property will be focused on custom fabrication and a “distinctive mix” of furniture and other products, according to a recent news release.
Mike Whiteside, co-founder of Black Dog Salvage, said in the release that the second warehouse “gives our larger architectural pieces the room they deserve and allows people to experience the scale and possibilities of reclaimed materials firsthand.”
Meanwhile, this fall, Roanoke Mountain Adventures will relocate its retail space currently at The River House, 806 Wasena Ave. S.W., to Black Dog Salvage’s main property at 902 13th St. S.W., where it will expand its bicycle shop and outdoor gear offerings.
“This move will enable RMA to realize its full vision as a unique outdoor retail experience that makes it fun and affordable to get outside,” Jeff Todd, owner of Roanoke Mountain Adventures, said in the release.
The two businesses remain independently owned and operated.
Roanoke to debut ‘Food & Farm Trail’
A new initiative called the Roanoke Region Food & Farm Trail aims to “connect residents and visitors with the farms, food businesses, and people who shape the region’s vibrant local food system.”
That’s according to a news release from the Roanoke Foodshed Network, which formed in 2020 to help create an “equitable and resilient food and farm system that produces health and abundance in the Roanoke region,” according to its website.
The Roanoke Region Food & Farm Trail hopes to encourage people to support and engage with local food producers in the cities of Roanoke and Salem and the counties of Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Montgomery and Roanoke.
The organization plans community events this weekend, including a scavenger hunt bike ride and a farm-to-table dinner. For more information, visit the Food & Farm Trail’s website.
State rail department plans virtual public meeting
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will host a virtual public meeting at 6:30 p.m. June 1 as it works to develop a statewide rail plan.
The plan sets out a vision for the future of Virginia rail with six-year and 20-year investment horizons, according to a news release.
“The June 1 public meeting will provide an overview of the rail planning process, share initial findings from early data collection efforts, and offer participants an opportunity to provide feedback on rail preferences, strategies, and travel habits,” the department said in the release.
Registration is available here. More information about the plan is available on the department’s website.
That’s a wrap for this week. Do you know of a new business expanding or relocating in your town? Excited about a restaurant opening up soon? Maybe you’ve got an update on a story we’ve reported before. Please send me your tips and suggestions: matt@cardinalnews.org or connect with me on LinkedIn.
