Economy

The $22 million to Henry County’s Commonwealth Crossing Business Park is the second biggest appropriation for site development in this round of state funding.

Developer Ed Walker wants to bring apartments, restaurants, small businesses and artists to the sprawling century-old manufacturing campus at the base of Mill Mountain – without losing sight of its gritty industrial history.

The historic riverfront building will go by a new name once the transformational project is completed.

Construction has begun on the project that will turn the vacant former Dan River Mills site into a mixed-use property with retail, commercial and residential purposes.

AFID was created as a way to boost agriculture and forestry businesses that would otherwise be too small to qualify for state incentives. A decade later, more than $12 million has been awarded, and the governor wants to put more money into the program.

The Launch Place started as a business consulting service, but lack of funding resources for startups inspired a rebranding to provide financial support for Dan River entrepreneurs.

State Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Washington County, says he’ll push for a “substantial” budget amendment to pursue more study of a second inland port.

“Would love for you guys to come take look at our historic riverfront White Mill,” Danville Councilman Vogler tweeted at a developer. Now, after sitting vacant for years, the former mill will be converted into a commercial and residential mixed-use space.

The county is getting a new wool baler. Here’s how a single machine shines light on a growing business in Southwest Virginia.