(Wise, VA) December 11, 2020 – The GO Virginia State Board approved a Per Capita application for the Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority on Monday, December 7, 2020.
The Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority (BRCEDA) Wildwood Natural Gas Extension application, approved at $527,600 will provide gas access to Wildwood Commerce Park. Wildwood is a Virginia “Certified” Tier 4 site adjacent to Exit 19 on Interstate 77 in Carroll County. This natural gas service will allow BRCEDA to competitively market the property for large scale advanced manufacturing projects.
BRCEDA is partnering with the Carroll and Grayson Counties and the City of Galax through a participation agreement for the Wildwood Natural Gas Extension. The site has been jointly developed by the above localities to increase economic diversification and prosperity through new job opportunities. BRCEDA is partnering with member localities, Mount Rogers Planning District Commission, and the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC) to successfully complete the extension of the natural gas line.
Through the five-month life of the project, BRCEDA will work with Appalachian Natural Gas Distribution (ANGD) to design the natural gas line, obtain appropriate easements and/or permits, and construct the natural gas infrastructure. ANGD will install approximately 20,000’ of 6” HDPE gas main along Airport Road in Carroll County, utilizing existing VDOT right-of-way, and a 10” casing pipe across Interstate 77. The completion of the natural gas line will advance the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Tier status of the site from Tier 4 to Tier 5. BRCEDA anticipates 125 new jobs created during the first year of completion and occupation in 2022 with 375 jobs being created at the conclusion of year five, in 2025. The natural gas line extension is expected to be completed by May 2021.
“The Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority thanks the GO Virginia Board for their support in the Wildwood Commerce Park natural gas project. With the extension of natural gas to Wildwood, BRCEDA will be able to competitively market the pad ready sites of Wildwood to attract future businesses and industries. BRCEDA’s member localities, Carroll County, Grayson County, and the City of Galax are committed to the development of Wildwood Commerce Park in order to secure prospective businesses that will create jobs and investment in GO Virginia Region One, Southwest Virginia, and the immediate Carroll, Grayson, Galax region. I do believe we are on the cusp of a successful economic recovery for our region,” said C.M. Mitchell, Board Chairman of the Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority.
“Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority is opening a door for Carroll and Grayson Counties and the City of Galax. The natural gas line extension will create employment opportunities for those in our communities and will allow new businesses to contribute to the long-term economic success of our region. The Regional Council is excited about this partnership with BRCEDA, and we look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of this project,” said Moir Beamer, GO Virginia Region One Chairman and CEO of Virginia Produce Company, Inc.
This project was funded in part by GO Virginia, a state-funded initiative that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of higher wage jobs in strategic industries.
ABOUT GO VIRGINIA REGION ONE
The Virginia Initiative for Growth and Opportunity (GO Virginia) is a bipartisan, business-led economic development initiative that is changing the way Virginia’s diverse regions collaborate on economic and workforce development activities. The GO Virginia initiative is to promote the creation of high wage careers, private-sector job growth, and diversification across the Commonwealth through incentivized regional collaboration.
GO Virginia Region One represents thirteen counties and three cities in Southwest Virginia; including the counties of Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe, and the Cities of Bristol, Galax, and Norton.
For more information about GO Virginia Region One, visit https://www.goswva.org/.
ABOUT BLUE RIDGE CROSSROADS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority (BRCEDA) is a multi-jurisdictional regional economic development authority that was established in 2004. BRCEDA encompasses the localities of Carroll County, the City of Galax, and Grayson County. BRCEDA works to secure funding for many vital water and sewer, infrastructure, and industrial development projects in the Twin Counties Region.
BRCEDA has taken the lead in devoting considerable resources to fostering entrepreneurship as an integral part of their comprehensive economic development plan.
For more information about Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority, visit https://www.brceda.org.