An initiative supported by LOCUS Impact Investing and Virginia
Community Capital, Opportunity Virginia’s mission is to facilitate
productive connections between investors, project sponsors, and
communities to drive meaningful activity in Virginia’s Opportunity
Zones. Opportunity Virginia provides the education, tools, and resources
to guide each stakeholder group through the process while maintaining a
pulse on potential and realized impact in communities served.
Opportunity Virginia’s website launched last week to serve as a central location for all of these resources. Learn more about Opportunity Virginia, their mission, and the projects they facilitate on their brand-new website.
Free Family Movie Night will be held July 25th at 8:15 PM. The new location is Brunswick County Conference Center (across from Brown’s Funeral Service). Free Popcorn. Families can arrive as early as 8:00 PM. Can Do Club will be selling drinks and hotdogs.
Brunswick County Announces New Company to Create 8 Jobs
Brunswick County, VA – The Brunswick County
Industrial Development Authority, the Brunswick County Board of
Supervisors, and the Town of Lawrenceville announced today KASS Foods, a
healthy snack food manufacturer, will invest to establish an operation
in Brunswick County, Town of Lawrenceville. Virginia successfully
competed against North Carolina and Maryland for the project, which will
bring eight new jobs to the region.
Mike Dotti, Chair of Brunswick County IDA Board said, “It is an easy
thing to say Brunswick County is open for business. To create an
environment where new business is possible takes the work of a lot of
people. We could not have done this without our team. The Board of
Supervisors, Carthan Currin, Economic Development Director, C. J. Dean
and the Town of Lawrenceville, the Tobacco Commission, the amazing IDA
board all moving forward under the proactive leadership of our County
Administrator, Dr. Woolridge. A special thanks to Ajay and the fine
people of KASS for their investment in our County.”
“We are extremely pleased that KASS Foods chose to locate their
company in Brunswick County,” said Dr. Charlette T. Woolridge, Brunswick
County Administrator. “President Sujanani’s business investment results
in the restoration of the former Southern States facility, the creation
of employment opportunities for Brunswick residents, increased tax
revenues, and even more benefits.” Dr. Woolridge also thanked the
partners who helped to make this project possible. “I am very
appreciative of the collaborative partnership between KASS, the Board of
Supervisors and staff, Brunswick County Industrial Development
Authority Board, Town of Lawrenceville, Virginia Tobacco Region
Revitalization Commission, Virginia Department of Housing and Community
Development, Virginia’s Growth Alliance and Southside Planning District
Commission who were instrumental in making this project a reality.”
“The Town of Lawrenceville would like to welcome KASS Foods (Ajay and
Kareena) to our community. They are bringing much needed jobs to our
Town and putting a vacant building back into productive use. We would
like to thank all of those involved in bringing this manufacturing
facility to Lawrenceville, including the Virginia Tobacco Commission,
Virginia’s Growth Alliance and our partners in Brunswick County.
Lawrenceville looks forward to the future with KASS and assisting with
their future goals and plans,” said CJ Dean, Lawrenceville town manager.
“We are excited to be a part of Brunswick County and the Town of
Lawrenceville. We believe this is the perfect location for our
facility,” said KASS Foods president Ajay Sujanani. “The wide support
and consistent enthusiasm we have received for our project reassures us
that we have made the right choice in selecting Town of Lawrenceville in
Brunswick County for our manufacturing plant.”
KASS Foods focuses on manufacturing of healthy snack products in
various segments including organic, children, adult, as well as sweet
and savory. Their product portfolio will consist of several European
style snacks customized to the American palette. With robust R&D
tie-ups with Universities in Germany and US, KASS has various innovative
products that will be rolled out in phases once they start operations.
Tobacco Commission Vice-Chair, Senator Frank Ruff said, “This is
exciting news for Brunswick County. Attracting an innovative company
like KASS Foods to our region shows that we can compete successfully for
manufacturing jobs in any sector. I’m glad that the Tobacco Commission
chose to support this project through the refurbishment of the former
Southern States building and look forward to the success of KASS Foods
in their new home here in Southern Virginia.”
The Tobacco Commission awarded a $447,000 Southside Economic
Development grant to assist with the renovation of the building located
on the Virginia Tobacco Heritage Trail in historic downtown
Lawrenceville.
With assistance from the Southside Planning District Commission, the
Town of Lawrenceville was able to secure a Community Development Block
Grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
for additional building renovations needed for the project. The
Southside PDC, through Lake Country Development Corporation’s loan pool
program, was also able to assist the client with project financing.
The company will be located in the former Southern States building adjacent to the Tobacco Heritage Trail.
This project was developed by Virginia’s Growth Alliance. Brunswick
County, along with Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland,
Greensville, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway and Prince Edward counties
and the city of Emporia comprise the Alliance (http://vagrowth.com).
Brunswick County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) plans to strategically pursue new businesses and industries with the vision of having them locate in the County thus encouraging the growth of existing businesses while providing local entrepreneurs with guidance and resources for their start-up ventures and creating employment opportunities. As many of you already have heard Brunswick County is changing. The Brunswick County Board of Supervisors, under the direction of Chairman Barbara Harris, spent a great deal of time in 2017 to envision the future and to develop a comprehensive plan to move forward. Mrs. Harris realized that without Vision there is no way to see the possibilities available to us in the future. Guided by this vision the Board is moving forward to put the pieces in place to make Vision 2035 a reality.
The IDA Board of Directors is made up of citizens from diverse
backgrounds and experiences. Each member brings his or her own
individual perspective to our work. Our board has embraced Vision 2035
not only with our words but also with our actions. Committees have been
formed, communication has been improved and finances and procedures are
being reviewed. We are pledged to work side by side with Carthin Currin,
Directoår of Economic Development and the County to find good business
partners and to enhance and encourage those that are already here.
County government works for you. We invite public comment and
interaction. You have a say and your opinions matter. You also have a
responsibility to improve our County. Shop local, eat local, brag a lot
about all we have. Our local restaurants have great selections. It is
very hard work to operate an eating establishment. Trust me I know, I
spent 25 years in that business. Encourage and support the folks who
have dedicated their time and money to giving you a place to eat. Get
your hair done locally, we have high quality beauty shops and barbers.
The county has great grocery stores, hardware stores, and some of the
best hot dogs and biscuits available anywhere. When you eat and shop
locally you encourage other business to come to our County. You help
create new jobs. You can help create a climate which will encourage the
growth of new business.
As the newly appointed Business Liaison Director of the Brunswick
County Industrial Development Authority, I thank you for your time and
your help. In the future you will be asked for input, help and guidance
to move the Vision forward. The vision will take time, it will take
cooperation and of course your prayers are most appreciated.
Michael Dotti Brunswick County, Va. IDA Business Liaison Director M_Dotti@bcida.org
– Station’s 1,358 megawatts can power 325,000 homes – During construction more than $824 million in economic benefits was generated – Station uses efficient technology and clean natural gas
RICHMOND, Va., April 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — The newest member of
Dominion Virginia Power’s generation fleet, the 1,358 megawatt,
environmentally clean Brunswick Power Station began producing
electricity for the company’s customers on Monday, April 25, 2016.
The station, located in Brunswick County, uses natural gas and energy
efficient technology to produce enough electricity to power 325,000
homes.
“The Brunswick Power Station is destined to be a workhorse, using
combined-cycle technology that is clean and efficient and will produce
reliable, low-cost energy for our 2.5 million customers,” said Paul
Koonce, CEO of Dominion Generation Group. “I commend the Generation
Construction team on the successful, on-schedule, on-budget completion
of an important project.”
The station was needed to meet growing demand and to replace
electricity from aging coal-fired power stations as Dominion transitions
to a cleaner energy future.
Combined-cycle power stations such as Brunswick use low-cost,
environmentally clean natural gas to produce electricity. Brunswick has
three combustion turbines – essentially large jet engines. The
combustion turbines generate electricity and then the heat is captured
and used to create steam that is used to create even more electricity.
Construction on the station began in August of 2013. At the height of
construction, the station had more than 1,500 workers on site. During
the development and construction, the station was estimated to generate
approximately $824 million in economic benefits for the state. The
station has been estimated to pay about $4 million a year in local
property taxes in 2017 and up to $5 million annually thereafter.
Upon commencement of operations, Brunswick Power Station will have 43
employees and an annual payroll of about $7.5 million. In the first
full year of the station’s operation the fuel savings have been
estimated to be nearly $100 million. Those fuel savings will continue
over time, and the station is expected to save customers between $924
million and $1.5 billion over its expected life.
About Dominion Virginia Power Dominion Virginia Power is a
subsidiary of Dominion (NYSE: D), one of the nation’s largest producers
and transporters of energy. Dominion provides energy or products and
services to more than five million customers in 14 states. It has a
portfolio of approximately 24,300 megawatts of generation and 6,500
miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion also operates one of the
nation’s largest natural gas storage systems with 933 billion cubic feet
of storage capacity. For more information about Dominion, visit the
company’s website at www.dom.com.
The Brunswick County Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance to
repeal the Merchants’ Capital Tax effective Jan. 1, 2017. The
supervisors held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance amendment on
Wednesday, June 17, and no one spoke in opposition and several people
spoke in favor of repealing the tax.
Scott Martin, chair of the Economic Development Authority of
Lawrenceville, said the authority fully supports the adoption of an
ordinance to amend the merchant’s capital tax in Brunswick County.
“In the view of the EDA, this tax acts as a deterrent to attracting
new industry into our county. It also may become a determining factor
for those present businesses who may be considering whether to remain in
Brunswick County. Brunswick is a prime location for businesses such as
distribution centers, however, considering that many of the surrounding
counties do not have this tax, it leaves Brunswick without much hope of
attracting these facilities,” Martin stated. “Considering the relatively
small revenue garnered from this tax and the future revenue anticipated
with the completion of the Dominion plant and the pipeline, we see this
as the most opportune time to be considering this move. It is our hope
that you will proceed with the elimination of the merchants’ capital tax
at this time.”
FREEMAN – Friday, May 16, 2014 was a great day for Brunswick County
and Southside Virginia. State and county officials joined Dominion
Virginia Power employees to break ground on the Brunswick County Power
Station now under construction on Governor Harrison Parkway.
Dan Genest, Media Relations/ Generation for Dominion, said when
completed in 2016 the Brunswick County Power Station will produce almost
1,360 megawatts of electricity – enough to power nearly 340,000
households. The station will use combined-cycle technology, an energy
efficient method that recaptures waste heat to produce more electricity.
The facility will be powered by clean, economical natural gas, a fuel
with outstanding environmental qualities, including lower carbon
emissions.
Genest said with natural gas as its fuel, the station is expected to
save customers more than $1 billion over its expected life compared with
the next-best option for supplying power
“This is not just a good morning, this is a great morning for
Brunswick County and the region,” said Senator Frank Ruff, 15th
District, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Virginia Tobacco
Commission.
In a light-hearted manner, Ruff said he thought he was the only
person that Dominion Virginia Power told when it decided to locate in
Brunswick County.
The Brunswick County Board of Supervisors and the Industrial
Development Authority welcomes Dominion Virginia Power to Brunswick
County.
Dominion Virginia Power plans to construct a $1.1 billion
combined-cycle, natural gas fired power station in Brunswick County that
will generate electricity for customers by the summer of 2016.
The Brunswick County Industrial Development Authority is working with Fluor Construction to secure business for local contractors and employment for local residents as much as possible during the construction of the Brunswick County Dominion Power Plant. The first step is the creation of an inventory that local businesses/contractors can use to identify themselves as capable of providing the contracting, goods, or services needed by Fluor during construction. As Fluor informs the IDA of additional opportunities that can be met locally, they will be listed on the IDA website.
Businesses and contractors can fill out a Contractor Inventory Form online; click here to access the “Contractor Inventory Form.”
For businesses/contractors not having access to a computer, one will be
available at the IDA’s office, 116 W. Hicks St., Lawrenceville.
The IDA will forward information from the inventory to Fluor
representatives on a regular basis. Fluor will conduct its own review
according to its prequalification standards and directly procure
contractors, goods, and services as needed.
At this time, the IDA is interested in receiving information from businesses/contractors that can provide the following:
Dominion
Virginia Power received permission from the Virginia State Corporation
Commission on Aug. 2, 2013, to construct a 1,358-megawatt, natural gas
fueled power station near Lawrenceville in Brunswick County. The
combined cycle, natural gas-fired power station will serve growing
customer demand and replace electricity from aging coal-fired power
stations that are being retired for economic and environmental reasons.
Dominion plans to start construction immediately with commercial service expected to begin in the summer of 2016.
The total cost of the station is $1.3 billion. During the development
and construction period, the station will generate about $824 million
in economic benefits for the state, according to a study done for
Dominion. Over the course of construction the workforce will average
about 380 workers annually. Once complete, the station will provide
43-full time, permanent jobs and pay about $4 million a year in local
property taxes.
The commission also approved a Certificate of Public Convenience and
Necessity for transmission interconnection facilities needed to tie the
station to the gird and a rate adjustment clause, Rider BW, which will
allow the company to recover costs of the project. The initial increase
in the monthly bill of a typical residential customer using 1,000
kilowatt-hours of electricity would be 81 cents, effective Sept. 1,
2013.
The transmission facilities include a 13.5-mile long
500kv transmission line that will connect the station to an existing
transmission line.
In the first full year of the station’s operation Dominion expects
there will be fuel savings of about $96 million. Those fuel savings will
continue over time. In addition, the station is expected to save
customers an additional $1 billion over its expected life compared with
the next-best option for supplying power.
