http://www.yesmartinsville.com Martinsville Virginia EDC News Monday, 15 April 2013 01:48:40 +0000 en daily 1 http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/150 Wednesday, 23 January 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Faneuil will invest another $1 million in capital improvements and create 100 new jobs for local residents.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Anna Van BurenCEOFaneuil, Inc.757-262-9600Leon Towarnicki Interim City ManagerCity of Martinsville 276-403-5155 ltowarnicki@ci.martinsville.va.us Mark HeathPresident/CEO Martinsville Henry County Economic Development Corporation 276-403-5940mheath@yesmartinsville.com                                             ~ Faneuil, Inc., Expansion ~Martinsville, VA (January 23, 2013) - Faneuil, Inc., has announced the expansion of its partnership with the City of Martinsville and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation, signified by the company's investment of an additional $1 million in capital improvements and the creation of 100 new jobs for local residents.A nationally recognized leader in technology-enabled in-person and automated service delivery, Faneuil [FAN-yuhl] provides business processing solutions for an extensive client portfolio that includes both commercial and government entities. Utilizing advanced applications and a team of more than 3,300 service professionals, Faneuil delivers broad outsourcing support to several complex, highly regulated industries ranging from transportation, utilities, government services, and healthcare, to technology services, education and financial services. Headquartered in Hampton Roads, Faneuil is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harland Clarke Holdings Corporation, Inc.Faneuil's business operations in Martinsville, which are based in The Clocktower at Commonwealth Centre, were initially established in April 2010 when the company announced the opening of a $2.4 million facility to serve as a virtual "Welcome Center" for customers of Dominion Virginia Power, a Faneuil business client. The Martinsville "Welcome Center" was the first initiative of its kind in the utility industry, assisting customers with utility connections, disconnections and transfers; documenting reports of outages and other emergencies, escalating those notifications when necessary; and responding to inquiries regarding bills, payment plans, e-billing, etc. The world class center incorporates state of the art technology to enhance customer satisfaction, with an emphasis on first call resolution. Faneuil further broadened its presence in Virginia less than a year later by opening a second customer care center on behalf of Dominion Virginia Power in South Boston. Together, the two centers assist 2.4 million customers and process more than 3 million transactions annually.In Phase 2, which is expected to be completed in January 2013, Faneuil is investing an additional $1 million to renovate 12,800 square feet on the Centre's fourth floor in collaboration with the Martinsville-based Lester Group to support new client programs in the transportation, utility, and healthcare industries. The company also anticipates hiring an additional 100 employees to provide customer care for those new client programs."Building on the highly successful partnership we initially began three years ago with Dominion Virginia Power, we are pleased to be able to further expand our relationship with the City of Martinsville and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to provide additional employment opportunities for qualified area residents," noted Faneuil President and CEO Anna M. Van Buren. "Though Faneuil has a national footprint, its corporate offices are here in Virginia, so it's especially exciting for us to be able to expand our presence right here in our home state," she added."Faneuil's success in Martinsville is a great story," said Mark Heath, president of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. "The substantial investment from the Lester Group to renovate the former Tultex facility was used to attract a new business from outside the community. The announcement today is another example of how investments of this type continue to make a difference as local companies expand and grow their businesses in Martinsville-Henry County. We are grateful to the Lester Group for their strong sense of community pride and support, and we appreciate Faneuil's continued commitment and confidence in our area.""Faneuil's decision to expand in the City of Martinsville and hire an additional 100 employees reaffirms that we have a talented workforce and a highly responsive team of professionals in the City and EDC," noted Interim City Manager Leon Towarnicki. "It is exciting to see continued investment in our community, particularly in existing buildings, and to see innovative and adaptive re-uses occurring. Slowly but surely, the combined efforts of both the public and private sectors are making a significant impact in moving our community forward."                                                      ### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/149 Wednesday, 16 January 2013 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. SHINE Systems & Technologies, an SBA-Certified HUBZone Company, intends to open a Solutions Center in MHC, creating 50 or more new jobs over the next three years.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mark HeathPresident/CEOMartinsville Henry County Economic Development Corporation276-403-5940mheath@yesmartinsville.comAmanda WittPresidentMartinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce276-632-6401amanda@mhcchamber.com      ~SHINE Systems & Technologies to establish a new Solutions Center in Martinsville~Martinsville, VA (January 16, 2013) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation and the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce that SHINE Systems & Technologies, an SBA-Certified HUBZone Company, intends to open a Solutions Center in Martinsville-Henry County, creating 50 or more new jobs over the next three years. The project is dependent upon the successful recruitment of qualified employees. An upcoming job fair is scheduled for January 21-22, 2013 SHINE Systems & Technologies is a leading consultancy dedicated to helping customers solve complex problems and fulfill their mission by delivering exceptional solutions in research & development, software engineering, business and military intelligence, biometrics, technical training, and administrative support. SHINE currently has offices in Charlottesville, Tysons Corner, and Shenandoah, Virginia and supports customers throughout the country and internationally. Their new Solutions Center will specialize in biometrics and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), supporting law enforcement initially and then expanding to other areas based on their growing portfolio of needs in the Commonwealth and beyond. The specific location of the Center has not yet been disclosed due to the ongoing lease negotiations. Jeff Thomas, President of SHINE and a local Fieldale-Collinsville HS alumnus said, "Our company is dedicated to helping our customers enable their mission through innovative methodologies, value pricing, and unparalleled delivery; we are not just another consulting services company. Our new Martinsville operation will allow us to grow our service offerings and support our product launches. We see this step as vital to our growth, and I look forward to a growing presence in the area. Personally, I have an opportunity to give back to the area where I grew up.""The potential opening of the SHINE Solutions Center in Martinsville-Henry County will add important business activity and employment opportunities to our area." said Mark Heath, President/CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. "We anticipate that SHINE will find the labor they require and we are committed to assisting them in any way needed." Initial hiring plans for SHINE require 7 to 10 immediate new hires, with at least an additional 25 employees within 2 years. The Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce will be assisting SHINE with a two-day job fair on January 21-22, at the Baymont Inn and Suites (formerly the Jameson Inn) located at 378 Commonwealth Blvd. Job fair hours are: Monday 8 am - 7 pm, and Tuesday from 8 am - 6 pm. Key open positions are: Office Manager, Administrators, Training Developers, Law Enforcement Trainers, Software Engineers, Business Analysts, and IT and Server Specialists. Resumes will be accepted prior to the job fair and should be sent to: careers@ShineSandT.com. For more information about employment opportunities, please contact Kerri Turner at (434) 220-4717."The Chamber is excited to welcome SHINE our newest corporate citizen. Through our business services partnership with the Virginia Workforce Center, we are pleased to assist SHINE with their job fair and employee recruitment efforts which are a critical part of their success in our community" says Chamber President Amanda Witt.                                                                    #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/148 Wednesday, 19 December 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Taxing Authority Consulting Services, P.C., will open an operations center in Martinsville to help state and local governments collect delinquent taxes. It plans to create 17 jobs over the next three

By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer. Taxing Authority Consulting Services, P.C., will open an operations center in Martinsville to help state and local governments collect delinquent taxes. It plans to create 17 jobs over the next three years. The company's plans were announced Tuesday by Martinsville City Council and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. at council chambers in the city municipal building.Taxing Authority Consulting Services (TACS) is based in Richmond. It will open its first branch on the third floor of the BB&T Bank building in uptown Martinsville to serve clients in Southside and Southwest.TACS is a law firm that concentrates on tax collection, bankruptcy services and consulting to local and state governments, according to a news release. It provides government tax collections for real estate, personal property, and state income and sales taxes. It also provides legal services, including litigation, administrative collection programs and bankruptcy representation for government agencies, the release added.John A. Rife, a partner in the firm, said its clients include Henry County, and it recently added real estate work for Danville.The firm has hired a local manager, Angie Alderman, as a result of a job fair held by the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce. She worked for One Main Financial here for 15 years, including eight in management, she said.TACS President Mark K. Ames said the company will have six employees here at the start. The company plans to create 17 jobs here over the next three years, according to a release.Martinsville Mayor Kim Adkins said the majority of the jobs to be created will be full-time customer service representatives with average salaries of around $13 an hour with benefits such as health insurance and 401K with matching contributions."As we are in the holiday season, this announcement is a welcome blessing as we still have too many hard-working individuals without jobs and need merely an opportunity to display their extraordinary talents," Adkins said at the announcement.Rife said the company has résumés collected during the job fair, and is accepting other applications at jobs@taxva.com. Interviews will begin in early January, and the company expects to move into its office here Feb. 4.Applicants need customer service skills, according to Rife and Ames. Computer skills would be helpful, but the company will train employees, Rife said.The office is set up with work stations, and once Internet service is available, "we can get up and running," he added. That service will be provided through the city's MINet system.TACS was founded in 2006, will have 35 employees as of Jan. 1, and is making its first expansion outside Richmond, Ames said. It also considered possible locations in the Richmond area, Scott County and other localities before deciding on Martinsville."Our firm's priority is assisting our government clients (in meeting) their revenue expectations by opening dormant sources of revenue," he stated in the release. "Adding this office and these future positions will serve the twin purpose of increasing revenue for our clients while employing Virginians in the process."During the announcement, Ames called the company's move a "win-win." It brings TACS closer to its clients, and it brings professional sector jobs to an area that has experienced economic setbacks, he added.Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corp. (MBC) gave TACS a $5,000 grant to help offset Internet equipment and telecommunications infrastructure costs, according to Adkins and the release."High-capacity, low-latency network connection and a choice of telecom providers are key economic development benefits that MBC brings to the area," said Tad Deriso, president and CEO of MBC.The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) worked with the city of Martinsville on bringing TACS to the city, the release stated. The firm qualifies for both local and state Enterprise Zone grants offered by the city and the state Department of Housing and Community Development."The opening of the TACS operation in uptown Martinsville adds important business activity and employment to uptown," said Mark Heath, president/CEO of the EDC. "A key ingredient in the economic success of a community is an active, vibrant central business district. This announcement is evidence that uptown is an attractive and competitive retail and office environment that serves Martinsville and Henry County well." http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/147 Tuesday, 18 December 2012 12:00:00 +0000

A Virginia law firm concentrating on tax collection and consulting services, will open an operations center in the City of Martinsville, creating 17 new jobs over the next three years.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMark HeathPresident/CEOMartinsville Henry County Economic Development Corporation276-403-5940mheath@yesmartinsville.comLeon Towarnicki Interim City ManagerCity of Martinsville 276-403-5155 ltowarnicki@ci.martinsville.va.us ~Taxing Authority Consulting Services, P.C. to establish an operations center in Martinsville~Martinsville, VA (December 18, 2012) - The Martinsville City Council and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation are pleased to announce that Taxing Authority Consulting Services, P.C. (TACS), a Virginia law firm concentrating on tax collection and consulting services, will open an operations center in the City of Martinsville, creating 17 new jobs over the next three years. The company will be located on the 3rd floor of the BB&T Bank Building in Uptown Martinsville. They plan to begin operations by the end of this year. This location will serve their southwest and southside clients. TACS is a Virginia law firm concentrating its practice on providing tax collection and bankruptcy services and consulting to state and local governments. Their singular focus is to serve only government entities in managing accounts receivables by providing governmental tax collections for real estate, personal property, state income and sales taxes. In addition, TACS provides legal services including litigation, administrative collection programs, and bankruptcy representation for government agencies.Mark K. Ames, Esq., President of TACS said, "Our firm's priority is assisting our government clients meet their revenue expectations by opening dormant sources of revenue. Adding this office and these future positions will serve the twin purpose of increasing revenue for our clients while employing Virginians in the process"."We are pleased that TACS has decided to expand their business and locate here in Martinsville, particularly in our Uptown area," said City Mayor Kim Adkins. "Adding new jobs and creating employment opportunities for our citizens is something we all work hard to accomplish and it's exciting to see business activity continue to grow in our Uptown area." The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp., worked in partnership with City of Martinsville to secure the project. The project qualifies for both local and state Enterprise Zone Grants offered by the City of Martinsville and the Department of Housing and Community Development. In addition Mid Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation (MBC) supported this project with a $5,000 grant to offset internet equipment and telecommunications infrastructure costs. "We are pleased to assist TACS in their expansion to Martinsville," said Tad Deriso, President and CEO of MBC. "High-capacity, low-latency network connection, and a choice of telecom providers are key economic development benefits that MBC brings to the area"."The opening of the TACS operation in Uptown Martinsville adds important business activity and employment to Uptown," said Mark Heath, President/CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. "A key ingredient in the economic success of a community is an active, vibrant central business district. This announcement is evidence that Uptown is an attractive and competitive retail and office environment that serves Martinsville and Henry County well." The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                       #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/146 Thursday, 29 November 2012 12:00:00 +0000

By Martinsville Bulletin. The Tile Shop, which manufactures and sells stone, ceramic and porcelain tiles and tiling materials in several states, has begun construction on the new building.

By Martinsville Bulletin. A local business is investing $4 million to build a 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at its current location in the Iriswood District of Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) announced Wednesday.The Tile Shop, which manufactures and sells stone, ceramic and porcelain tiles and tiling materials in several states, has begun construction on the new building. A news release stated that the construction should be finished in January.The new facility will allow the company to manufacture mortar, grout and sealers.The expansion is to "accommodate the workforce they already have," Deputy County Administrator Dale Wagoner said Wednesday, so no new jobs are planned at this time. However, due to the scope of the product and its impact on the business, Wagoner said, "it's likely to create jobs."The project is being fully funded by The Tile Shop with no state or local funds, County Administrator Tim Hall said. The business received an $80,000 grant from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission when it opened its facility in 2011, but no commission funds are involved in the new construction, Hall said."This is a fairly sizable expansion number," he said.Hall said Tile Shop site Manager Mike Garrison has frequently expressed his pleasure with the workforce and business community in Henry County when Hall has made site visits. Hall said that was part of the company's decision to build on the existing site."I think a lot of it was driven by their location (proximity) to their relocation facilities," Hall said. The Tile Shop has eight locations in Virginia, as well as stores in Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.Hall said construction on the facility began about two to three months ago."Adding this new manufacturing facility to our current site in Henry County will allow us to better serve our current 20 retail locations," Garrison said in a news release from the EDC. "In addition, the expansion will support future growth as we continue to add new retail locations along the East Coast and Southeast."The Tile Shop opened its warehouse distribution center in January 2011. It began with a staff of 25."That's what we like to hear, small businesses growing on their own and being successful," Wagoner said. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/145 Wednesday, 28 November 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The provider of natural stone, ceramic and porcelain tiles and tiling materials, is building a new 30,000sf building at their current location in Henry County with completion expected in January 2013.

Martinsville, VA (November 28, 2012) -The Henry County Board of Supervisors and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation join together with The Tile Shop to announce their new manufacturing facility. The Tile Shop, a provider of the finest natural stone, ceramic and porcelain tiles and tiling materials, is investing $4 million to build a new 30,000 sf. building at their current location in the Iriswood District of Henry County. The new facility will allow the company to manufacture mortar, grout and sealers. It is expected to be complete in January 2013. "Adding this new manufacturing facility to our current site in Henry County, VA will allow us to better serve our current 20 retail locations," said Mike Garrison, Site Manager, The Tile Shop. "In addition, the expansion will support future growth as we continue to add new retail locations along the East Coast and Southeast." "We are excited to have The Tile Shop in the Iriswood District," said Milton Kendall, Iriswood District representative on the Board of Supervisors. "The company has been a great neighbor and we look forward to continued success.""To see another existing company expand its footprint in Henry County is a thrill for us," said Jim Adams, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. "Whenever a company wants to increase its presence and impact here, it's an indication that Henry County is a great place to do business.""The Tile Shop's expanded operation in Henry County is a positive sign for the home improvement sector," said Mark Heath, President of the Martinsville Henry County Economic Development Corporation. "We are always pleased to see local companies grow their markets. The growth and overall well-being of our existing business base is a key component of our local economy."The Tile Shop was founded on the idea of providing do-it-yourselfers the ability to work with finest natural stone, ceramic and porcelain tile from around the world at a competitive price. In addition their domestic manufacturing operations provide the highest quality line of adhesives, grouts and cleaning materials.                                                                         ###  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/144 Friday, 26 October 2012 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. On November 8th, 2012, the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division will host an interactive workshop on how to manage business cash flow.

                                         Cash Flow Workshop Scheduled for the Area~Guidance to be offered for small business cash management~ Martinsville, VA (October 26, 2012) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting a workshop that will provide guidance on how to manage a business' cash flow.  The free workshop is scheduled on November 8th, from 9-11AM or 2-4PM at New College Institute (30 Franklin Street, Martinsville). Participants can choose from two sessions, 9-11AM or 2-4PM.This workshop will include interactive activities to help small business owners understand the importance of cash flow, how to track it, and hazards to avoid."Cash management is key to business success," says Lisa Fultz, Director of the Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division.  This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking.Registration is required for this free workshop by calling 276.403.5940 or visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/SmallBusiness/Events. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area.  The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.#### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/143 Friday, 12 October 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The titanium plant in the Patriot Centre industrial park held its inaugural Airbus forging ceremony, producing its first certified commercial product.

By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer RTI International Metals Inc. is up and running in Henry County. On Thursday, the titanium plant in the Patriot Centre industrial park held its inaugural Airbus forging ceremony, producing its first certified commercial product.RTI's forging, grinding and hot rolling plant has been in production since January, according to Dawne Hickton, RTI vice chairman, president and chief executive officer. Since then, it has been undergoing testing to meet qualifications of Airbus, the aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Toulouse, France, which will use much of the plant's titanium output in its passenger jets.The testing culminated in Thursday's production.Gov. Bob McDonnell called the milestone "a job well done." He was joined by local and state officials, congressmen and state delegates at the ceremony.RTI has invested $135 million in the plant that now employs 25 people, Hickton said, adding that number is expected to grow with expansion of the plant's operations.According to a news release, further qualifications for the grinding and rolling mill processes will take place in the future. When they are completed, RTI expects the facility to deliver titanium for use in all lines for Airbus and EADS, its parent company.At full capacity, the forging facility can produce up to 14 million pounds of product annually, the release added."The Martinsville plant is a key new addition to RTI's ability to meet the expanding titanium needs of Airbus," Hickton stated in the release. "RTI is the largest North American titanium supplier to Airbus and ... EADS, and this new facility adds an additional link in RTI's ability to meet their needs across the entire supply chain."She thanked McDonnell and other state and local officials for their assistance in reaching the milestone, and also praised RTI's strong relationship with Airbus.Eric Zanin, material procurement senior vice president for EADS and Airbus, returned the compliment, and told the crowd that Thursday, Airbus was ordering 2,500 tons of titanium that will be processed in Martinsville.RTI's plans to construct the Martinsville facility to serve Airbus were announced in January 2008, and the company had hoped to open the plant in 2010. But that was before the global recession hit in 2008, Hickton said Thursday.RTI made other changes, but work on its Martinsville plant continued, she said. Two years ago, she came here to reassure people that the plant would become a reality.Now, "we're not shut down, we're running and producing product," she added."I appreciate your staying the course" and leadership in times of economic uncertainties when shipments leveled off, McDonnell told Hickton.The governor, who said he was here in 2010 for what he called RTI's "mid-term inspection," also noted that the plant now is cutting titanium, creating jobs and tax revenue. All that is good for the quality of life and the rebound of Southside Virginia, he said.He also said the state is becoming known as a hub for the aerospace industry with companies such as Lockheed and Rolls Royce. Now, "RTI is a big piece of that," he said, adding that he hopes more jobs will be created as the economic recovery continues and uncertainties in the defense industry are resolved.In simple terms, the process that occurs at RTI in Martinsville starts with raw materials that are melted into an ingot, which is delivered to the Martinsville plant, according to Gary Urso, general manager of engineering and capital projects for RTI.The ingot is heated - as Hickton put it, into "real cool, red-hot metal" - and a forging press then presses it into shapes, such as circles or squares, Urso said.The surfaces of those pieces are ground in another part of the plant, and in some cases they may go back to the forging area for more processing, he said.The items then are sent to RTI facilities in Ohio for further finishing, some of which eventually may be done at the Martinsville plant as volume grows, Urso said.That growth would be driven by Airbus and the defense industry, he said, adding that the plant was designed to employ as many as 155 people.McDonnell noted that now, when people go to an airport and get on a plane, it may have titanium that came through RTI's Martinsville plant.Hickton said after the presentation that the titanium would be in a plane's structural support, wing supports, fasteners, door frames, seat tracks and other areas.All of the titanium processed in Martinsville will go to Airbus, which is RTI's largest single customer, she said. She added that RTI will ship more than 6 million pounds of titanium, and more than one-third of its mill product business is with Airbus."Our material is on every Airbus (plane) today," she said, noting that RTI has been one of Airbus's key suppliers for more than 30 years.One-third of Airbus's procurement is in the United States, Zanin said, putting the value of that at $12 billion and growing. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/142 Thursday, 23 August 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Thirty-three local high school students are preparing for high-tech careers through a New College Institute (NCI) program focused on high tech manufacturing skills.

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff WriterThirty-three local high school students are preparing for high-tech careers through a New College Institute (NCI) program launched last week. The Academy for Engineering and Technology aims to prepare students to enroll in higher education programs related to those two fields or seek entry-level jobs with manufacturers using advanced technology."We weren't sure what to expect, but the response has been great," said Leanna Blevins, NCI's associate director and chief academic officer. No more students will be accepted into the academy this semester because "we don't want the class to be too large (for instructors) to give students individualized attention," Blevins said. NCI developed the program with help from Virginia State University (VSU). Sophomores, juniors and seniors from Martinsville, Magna Vista and Bassett high schools and the private Carlisle School are eligible to participate in the dual-enrollment program with the university."Parents and students seem to be very excited about the program and the possibilities that come with it," Blevins said. Those possibilities, she said, include learning experiences such as helping to build a race car and paid summer internships with local companies. Modern industries use heavily computerized machines. Employees must be able to interpret and understand data from the machines, such as operating temperatures and fluid pressures, so manufacturing processes run smoothly, hence the need for educational programs to teach them those skills. RTI International Metals and Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, which have plants in the Patriot Centre at Beaver Creek industrial park in Henry County, are examples of such companies, NCI officials have said. Students in the academy toured Commonwealth Laminating on Wednesday. "They were energetic and excited about seeing real-world opportunities for things they are learning in school," said company board member Richard Hall.  In addition to needing technology skills, Hall said, advanced manufacturing workers must know a lot about science and math. And, "the ability to have a solid thought process and think on your feet is something we look for in every employee" that is hired, he said.  In terms of teaching those skills, Hall added, NCI's academy is "one of the biggest single positive steps I've seen in the area in a long time" to prepare students for the modern work force. By developing the academy, NCI and VSU hope to attract other technology-driven companies to the area since people here will have the training needed to do jobs they would provide, according to officials. Internships can be "a pipeline that employers have to hire from" once the students have completed their studies, Blevins said. Hall said that when Commonwealth has job vacancies, it is willing to hire people out of high school who are "sharp, driven people."   Some of the academy's students informally have said they would like to go to college after graduating from high school while some have said they want to go straight to work, Blevins said.  NCI will be coordinating internships for students because many employers, especially industries, do not have experience in working with high-schoolers, Blevins said. The institute will match students' skills with employers' needs and responsibilities of jobs that interns could do, she added. In order to take part in the academy, students must have passed courses in geometry, trigonometry and math analysis. Students now enrolled are taking classes in advanced placement calculus, technology's impact on society and engineering graphics. The calculus class is being taught at high schools by teachers certified to teach dual-enrollment classes. VSU instructors are teaching the other two classes at NCI. Students travel back and forth to the institute by bus. NCI has not yet decided courses to be taught in the spring. That is because "we're building the bicycle as we ride it," Blevins said, using an analogy. The academy is based somewhat on some European industrial apprenticeship programs. However, NCI Executive Director William Wampler has said that to his knowledge, nothing like it exists in America, at least in the Southeast. Students in the academy are considered to be dually enrolled at VSU. After graduating from high school, if they immediately do not go to work, they can pursue a degree from the university or another higher education institution. Because VSU's engineering and technology department is certified by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Blevins said, affiliated courses usually are transferable to other college's engineering programs. NCI is working with Patrick Henry Community College to find a way for students at the college to enroll in the academy, Blevins said http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/141 Wednesday, 15 August 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Governor McDonnell announced 60 new jobs in Henry County. Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, Inc. will invest $5.45 million in second expansion in nine months.

                                     Governor McDonnell Announces 60 New Jobs in Henry County~ Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, Inc. to invest $5.45 million in second expansion in nine months~ RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, Inc. (CLC), a manufacturing company with a strong emphasis on solar-control window films and precision, high-performance coatings, will invest $5.45 million to expand its operation in Henry County. The company will create 60 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against Arizona and North Carolina for the project. Speaking about today's announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "It's always a great day when we're talking about good new jobs coming to Southern Virginia. This project represents CLC's second major expansion in less than one year, speaking volumes about the company's thriving operation in Henry County. CLC has the opportunity to purchase an existing shell building in the same industrial park as its headquarters and manufacturing operation to use immediately as a national distribution center for its high-demand products. This additional property also secures available space for future manufacturing growth, ensuring the company's continued success and commitment to Henry County and Virginia.""The addition of 60 new jobs is particularly welcome news as the region rebounds from a recent closing," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "We are committed to keeping southern Virginia on its upward economic trajectory and will continue to support the effort to bring jobs and investment to the area. Commonwealth Laminating is a valuable corporate partner to Henry County, and we are grateful for its continued commitment to Virginia as the company and its products grow rapidly."CLC combines a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, proprietary and highly technical processes, efficient global distribution capabilities, and a flexible work force to produce a broad range of high-quality products. All CLC products are made at the Henry County facility on the industry's newest, and most advanced manufacturing equipment. Additionally, CLC's technical and responsive team is focused on developing cutting-edge and innovative technology to meet the evolving needs of the industry."The new Martinsville site will provide essential warehouse and office space, establish a world-wide master distribution center and create a world-class facility for anticipated future factory expansions," said Steve Phillips, CEO of CLC. "The support we have received from both Martinsville-Henry County and the State of Virginia continues to make Southern Virginia an excellent environment for a growing manufacturing company that competes on the world stage."The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $175,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Henry County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $325,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the Company's recruitment and training activities."Expansion announcements from Commonwealth Laminating are becoming a habit," said Jim Adams, Chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. "Sixty new jobs and a move into a second building are indicative of the company's potential and its faith in the people of Martinsville and Henry County."Virginia State Delegate and Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission member Danny Marshall said, "Sixty new jobs and $5.45 million investment-this great news could not come at a better time for our area. Thanks to the management of Commonwealth Laminating for selecting our area for this expansion."                                                            ###  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/140 Thursday, 28 June 2012 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. Northwest True Value Hardware, a family-owned hardware store based in Roanoke Virginia, will invest $1.5 million to open a new retail store in Henry County and create 12 new jobs.

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mark HeathPresident/CEOMartinsville Henry County Economic Development Corporation276-403-5940mheath@yesmartinsville.comTim HallDeputy County AdministratorHenry County276-634-4605thall@co.henry.va.us                               Northwest Hardware Coming to Henry County Martinsville, VA (June 28, 2012) - The Henry County Board of Supervisors and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation are pleased to announce that Northwest True Value Hardware, a family-owned hardware store based in Roanoke Virginia, will invest $1.5 million to open a new retail store in Henry County. This project will create 12 new jobs. The company will be constructing a new 20,000 sf. building at the intersection of Main Street and U.S. 220 near the Town of Ridgeway in southern Henry County. The store is expected to open in early 2013. The general contractor will be named soon. Northwest True Value Hardware currently operates six retail stores in and around the Roanoke area. The stores serve the basic needs of homeowners and contractors, as well as modern day customers looking for natural solutions. The company provides extensive product lines in seven major categories - paint, plumbing, lawn & garden, hardware, housewares, tools and electrical. The store will sell quality brands such as Benjamin Moore Paints, Stihl Power tools, Lodge Cast Iron Skillets, Weber Grills, etc. Lee Overstreet, Owner and Vice President of Northwest Hardware said, "There are many fine homes in the Martinsville-Henry County area, and the homeowner is our best customer. We feel this new location is convenient and visible to the thousands of potential customers.""Having Northwest True Value Hardware choose Henry County for its newest venture is a coup for our area," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jim Adams. "We look forward to working with the company." "We are excited to welcome Northwest True Value Hardware to Henry County," says Mark Heath, President/CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. "The company has a tremendous reputation and it will be a great fit for our retail community."  The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                                      #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/139 Wednesday, 09 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Wake Forest Baptist Health AirCare and Air Methods Corporation announced the addition of a third air medical helicopter under the call sign "AirCare 3," based at Blue Ridge Airport in Henry County.

Wake Forest Baptist Health AirCare and Air Methods Corporation are pleased today to announce the addition of a third air medical helicopter under the call sign "AirCare 3," which will be based at Blue Ridge Airport in Henry County. AirCare 3 will complement AirCare 1, which is based at Davidson (NC) Municipal Airport, and AirCare 2, which is based at Elkin (NC) Municipal Airport. The new air medical service will provide immediate, emergency air medical care to North Carolina's and Virginia's most critically ill and injured patients in more than eight counties.The addition of a third base will reduce the flight time to communities in Virginia, including Pittsylvania, Franklin, Henry, Patrick, Floyd, Carroll, and Grayson counties and the cities of Martinsville and Danville, by approximately 15 minutes. This aircraft will also serve communities within North Carolina including Rockingham, Alamance, Guilford, Caswell, Stokes, and Surry counties. "By locating these air ambulances strategically, we are significantly improving our response time to critically ill and injured patients in our 26 county referral area," said Holly Mason, Program Manager for AirCare Critical Care Transport. "The Critical Care Transport system is a vital community asset, and this expansion will ensure that patients in rural areas have access to quality emergency care. Our team is proud to be a part of the EMS system of first responders, paramedics, nurses and physicians who are committed to excellence in emergency services." AirCare flies within a 150-mile radius of its bases and currently transports patients with traumatic, cardiac, neurological, medical, pediatric, and neonatal emergencies. The crew will be based at Blue Ridge Airport and consists of a pilot, registered nurse, paramedic, respiratory therapist, communications specialist and mechanic. AirCare is licensed in North Carolina and Virginia. "We are excited about bringing AirCare 3 to Henry County," said Jim Adams, Chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. "Nothing is more important in an emergency than access to immediate medical care, and our entire region will benefit from this project."When requested by EMS or referring hospitals, the helicopter is immediately dispatched, and the crew is in direct contact with EMS personnel at the scene or the referring physician at the hospital. The medical crew provides immediate, lifesaving interventions and transports patients to facilities in North Carolina and Virginia. "Blue Ridge Airport Authority, serving Henry and Patrick County and the city of Martinsville, is proud to join in this partnership with Air Methods and Air Care," said Jason Davis, Managing Director of Blue Ridge Airport.The helicopter, owned and operated by Air Methods Corporation, the global leader in air medical transportation, flies at a cruising speed of approximately 150 miles per hour and is equipped with sophisticated life support and patient care equipment plus state-of-the-art navigation and communications gear and night vision goggles. About Wake Forest Baptist AirCareWake Forest Baptist AirCare began the air ambulance service 25 years ago and has transported more than 15,000 patients. Wake Forest University Baptist Health is an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest University Physicians, and Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the university's School of Medicine and Piedmont Triad Research Park. The system, which includes Lexington Memorial Hospital, comprises 1,004 acute care and rehabilitation beds and has been ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report since 1993. Wake Forest Baptist Health also holds the Gold Seal of ApprovalTM from The Joint Commission; the nation's esteemed standards-setting and accrediting body for health care quality. Wake Forest Baptist has more than 200 physicians listed in Best Doctors in America®. The institution is in the top third in funding by the National Institutes of Health and fourth in the Southeast in revenues from its licensed intellectual property.###Media Contacts:Tim Hall - Henry County - (276) 634-4605Jason Davis - Blue Ridge Airport - (276) 957-2291Holly Mason - AirCare - (336) 403-0131  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/137 Friday, 20 April 2012 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release - The EDC Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division has received funding to continue its assistance to small businesses for marketing or website development needs.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa FultzDirector of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial DivisionMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lfultz@yesmartinsville.comEDC Continues Marketing Co-op Grant Program~Local small businesses encouraged to apply for co-op grants~Martinsville, VA (April 20, 2012) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division has received funding to continue its assistance to small businesses for marketing or website development needs. Funding was provided by the Anonymous Fund of the Martinsville Area Community Foundation.For-profit, local small businesses with twenty or fewer employees, including affiliate companies, which contribute to the local tax base (Martinsville or Henry County) are encouraged to apply. Awardees must use approved local marketing providers. Awards may be up to $1,200 per business; however, no award shall exceed 50% of the total approved marketing project. Funds may not be used for marketing consulting fees, domain registration or hosting. A detailed marketing plan will be required in addition to a completed application. "Local small businesses are a major part of the economic vitality of our community. We are delighted to be able to provide grant funding to the EDC from our Anonymous Donor-Advised Fund to help these businesses market their goods and services.", said April Haynes, Director of Martinsville Area Community Foundation.Grant guidelines and the application are available by contacting Lisa Fultz, Director of the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division at 276-403-5940 or emailing lfultz@yesmartinsville.com, or online at www.YesMartinsville.com/SmallBusiness.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                                       ####   http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/138 Friday, 20 April 2012 12:00:00 +0000

By Martinsville Bulletin - Drake Extrusion plans to hire more than two dozen employees due to expanding its production capacity for the third time in 18 months.

Drake Extrusion plans to hire more than two dozen employees due to expanding its production capacity for the third time in 18 months. The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) and the Henry County Board of Supervisors made that announcement in a news release Thursday.Drake recently invested $3 million in new machinery to expand its product lines and will hire 25 full-time employees. The new skilled equipment operators will earn an average wage of $14 per hour, the EDC and the board announced.Based in England, Drake makes polypropylene fiber used by the automotive, home furnishings and carpet industries. Its plant in the Martinsville Industrial Park is its only one in the United States."We have expanded six times since opening our facility here in 1995," John Parkinson, Drake's chief executive officer, said in the release. He said the local work force and business climate are factors in Drake's success locally."Drake is committed to Martinsville-Henry County and appreciates the community's commitment to our organization," Parkinson added."It is always exciting to have existing industry expand," Mark Heath, the EDC's president and chief executive officer, said in the release."One of our main focuses," Heath said, "is to help our existing industry grow, and for Drake to have increased their tax base by $6 million within the last 18 months and hire nearly 50 people is rewarding.""Drake is an exceptional corporate citizen and we look forward to future growth," he said in the release.Parkinson could not be reached for further comment Thursday. Heath and Lisa Lyle, the EDC's recruiting and marketing director, did not return phone calls. "Drake Extrusion continues to be one of our best success stories," said Jim Adams, the county board's chairman. "Its growth solidifies the company's commitment to our community, and we appreciate the confidence in our citizens."In assisting Drake, the EDC worked with the Virginia Department of Business Assistance, which offers recruiting and training support through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, according to the release.  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/136 Thursday, 19 April 2012 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. Drake's most recent capital investment is $3 million in new machinery for product line expansion, resulting in the hiring of 25 new full-time employees, with an $14/hr average wage.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mark HeathPresident/CEO Martinsville Henry County Economic Development Corporation 276-403-5940mheath@yesmartinsville.comTim HallDeputy County Administrator276.634.4605thall@co.henry.va.usJohn ParkinsonCEODrake Extrusion276-632-0159jparkinson@drakeextrusion.comDrake Extrusion completes a Third Expansion within Eighteen MonthsMartinsville, VA (April 19, 2012) - The Henry County Board of Supervisors and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation are pleased to announce that Drake Extrusion has expanded its production capacity for the third time within eighteen months. Drake's most recent capital investment was $3 million in new machinery for product line expansion that will result in the hiring of 25 new full-time employees, with an average wage of $14 per hour for skilled operators.The EDC worked with the Virginia Department of Business Assistance, which is providing recruiting and training support through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP)."We have expanded six times since opening our facility here in 1995," says John Parkinson, CEO of Drake Extrusion. "The workforce along with the local business climate has allowed us continued success. Drake is committed to Martinsville-Henry County and appreciates the community's commitment to our organization." "Drake Extrusion continues to be one of our best success stories," said Jim Adams, Chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. "Its growth solidifies the company's commitment to our community and we appreciate the confidence in our citizens." "It is always exciting to have existing industry expand," says Mark Heath, President/CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. "One of our main focuses is to help our existing industry grow and for Drake to have increased their tax base by $6 million within the last 18 months and hire nearly 50 people is rewarding. Drake is an exceptional corporate citizen and we look forward to future growth."Drake manufactures the world's finest quality polypropylene fiber used mostly for automotive, home furnishing and carpet applications. Drake, whose home office is in England, opened its first and only U.S. manufacturing center in the Martinsville Industrial Park in 1995. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                                        ####  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/126 Sunday, 11 March 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Bulletin Editorial. Last week's announcement of the expansion of GSI Commerce in Henry County was more good news for the area.

Martinsville Bulletin Editorial. Last week's announcement of the expansion of GSI Commerce in Henry County was more good news for the area.GSI, an ecommerce and interactive marketing company, will invest $1.5 million and create more than 60 jobs as it leases and improves a facility in the Bowles Industrial Park in Rich Acres. That building formerly was a distribution center for Bassett-Walker, and this expansion will bring it back to life, as Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. President/CEO Mark Heath said.This will be GSI's third facility here, and it already has 240 full-time workers and as many as 1,000 seasonal and part-time employees, officials said. The new facility's employees will fulfill orders for Hanover Direct (called The Company Store), possibly starting in May. Fulfillment center employees pick, pack and ship individual orders to customers, in contrast to distribution centers which generally ship items in bulk to retail outlets.This expansion is noteworthy for two key reasons. First, it creates jobs, and we value each one. Whether they are filled by someone currently out of work or someone working but looking for a change, new jobs mean more people earning paychecks and more money coming into the local economy. The ripple effect of that benefits the entire area.Second, this expansion shows there is a future here in the growing area of ecommerce. As more and more businesses use the Internet to generate sales and fill orders, perhaps more will look to locate in this area, especially with the Fed-Ex hub only 60 miles away in Greensboro.GSI announced its expansion here on Monday, and on Monday, Feb. 20, Laminate Technologies announced it was moving to Martinsville Industrial Park and creating 30 jobs. It appears that Mondays are good days for this area, and we look forward to more of them. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/135 Friday, 09 March 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend as this is a great opportunity to prepare a business plan to submit to the Small Business Investment Forum, a local business plan competition.

The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting a workshop that will provide assistance in writing or perfecting a business plan. The free hands-on workshop will be held in the computer lab of Patrick Henry Community College's J. Burness Frith Economic Development Center on March 22nd. Participants can attend a session from 9AM-11AM or 2PM-4PM."A solid business plan is necessary component to attract investors and to increase chances for success" says Lisa Fultz, Director of the Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend as this is a great opportunity to prepare a business plan to submit to the Small Business Investment Forum, a local business plan competition. Due to limited seating, registration is required and is available online at www.YesMartinsville.com/SmallBusiness/Events or by calling the EDC at 276-403-5940. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/124 Monday, 05 March 2012 12:00:00 +0000

GSI Commerce will expand its Martinsville fulfillment operations by adding more than 60 new jobs and investing approximately $1.5 million in Henry County.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 5, 2012 Office of the GovernorContact: Jeff CaldwellPhone: (804) 225-4260E-mail: Jeff.Caldwell@Governor.Virginia.GovVirginia Economic Development PartnershipContact: Suzanne WestPhone: (804) 545-5806E-mail: swest@yesvirginia.orgGSI CommerceContact: Kelly HenryPhone: (610) 491-7474Email: henryke@gsicommerce.comGovernor McDonnell Announces More than 60 New Jobs for Henry CountyGSI Commerce to expand its Martinsville fulfillment operationsRICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that GSI Commerce, a leading provider of ecommerce and interactive marketing solutions, will invest approximately $1.5 million to expand in Henry County. The leased fulfillment facility will create more than 60 new jobs. Speaking about today's announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "GSI Commerce is a valued corporate citizen in Henry County, employing approximately 1,000 full-time and seasonal workers. It is significant that an existing fulfillment operation in Henry County continues to grow to accommodate this new business.""Going forward, GSI Commerce will be able to expand its product mix that will be distributed out of the fulfillment center in Henry County," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "The operation's strategic location enables GSI to accommodate the service demands of its customer base."GSI operates more than three million square feet of fulfillment space across seven facilities, supported by advanced systems and best practices honed over the years, with the aim to serve customers as quickly and efficiently as possible. GSI has set the industry standard for performance - the ability to process more than 30 million packages annually. "We are proud to be in a partnership with the State of Virginia, Henry County, and the great people of this area. We have grown with the help of the local residents who work here at GSI and the local support from the community and the state," said Tobias Hartmann, head of Global Operations for GSI.The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry Economic Development Corporation and the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $75,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Henry County with the project. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the Company's recruitment and training activities."We are thrilled that GSI has chosen Henry County for this expansion," said Jim Adams, chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. "GSI Commerce has been a great friend of this community for many years, and to have them continue this relationship is great news."About GSI CommerceGSI Commerce® enables ecommerce, multichannel retailing and digital marketing for global enterprises in the U.S. and internationally. GSI's ecommerce services, which include technology, order management, payment processing, fulfillment and customer care, are available on a modular basis or as part of an integrated solution. GSI's marketing services are comprised of innovative digital marketing products and services which include database management and segmentation, marketing distribution channels, a global digital agency to drive strategic and creative direction and an advanced advertising analytics and attribution management platform. GSI is headquartered in King of Prussia, Pa. and its international headquarters is located in Barcelona, Spain. More information can be found at gsicommerce.com. GSI is an eBay Inc. (Nasdaq:EBAY) company.                                                             ### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/133 Wednesday, 29 February 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Local entrepreneurs have a chance to compete for funding, free space and mentoring through the Small Business Investment Forum business plan competition.

Local entrepreneurs have a chance to compete for funding, free space and mentoring through the Small Business Investment Forum business plan competition. Sponsors for this year's program include City of Martinsville, Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, West Piedmont Business Development Center, MHC EDC Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division, Mervyn and Virginia King and training support from the Workforce Investment Board.The competition consists of two rounds, with Round One being the review of each applicant's business plan by a panel of judges. Round Two of the competition begins after the judges select the best business plans and mentors are assigned to the business owner to assist with refining the business plan and preparing an oral presentation. Judges will then select winners and assign mentors to work with them over the next year. 2011 SBIF winner Bob Tuggle, owner of Tuggle Farms, stated "The SBIF grant process, including the work, training and mentoring that accompanied it provided an important perspective to my business ideas. With the award, I've been able to acquire equipment and services that otherwise wouldn't have been available to me so early in the business cycle."Another winning participant, Walt Shaw of Waltondesign, touted "The SBIF competition helped me with clarity in starting my business. The guidance by the EDC team was very valuable in assisting to structure a business plan."Interested applicants must be located in Martinsville or Henry County and be a for-profit start-up or a business in operation less than three years as of the application deadline, April 12th.Applications for the Small Business Investment Forum are only being accepted online at www.YesMartinsville.com/SBIF.html. Questions may be directed to Lisa Fultz at lfultz@yesmartinsville.com. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/125 Sunday, 26 February 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Bulletin Editorial. Frank Zoeller of LamTech said when he talks with economic development officials in Ohio, he tells them to look to the Martinsville-Henry Co. EDC to see how it should be done.

Martinsville Bulletin Editorial. The day before the Taxpayer Association of Martinsville and Henry County presented a plan to change strategies for economic development in the area, the president of a company moving here gave the local business recruiting agency a resounding endorsement.Frank Zoeller, co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Laminate Technologies (LamTech), said Monday when he talks with economic development officials in Ohio, where LamTech is based, he tells them to look to the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. to see how it should be done.In LamTech's search for an East Coast location, it found the EDC to be "responsive," "aggressive" and "helpful" in seeking to match the company's needs with local resources, Zoeller said."You'd think that would be a given but it's not. In some places, it's like pulling teeth," he said. "That needs to be said."He added, "Everybody's got incentives and buildings. The difference is the people" and their ability to close a deal.That day, Zoeller announced LamTech had bought the former Owens-Corning building in the Martinsville Industrial Park and would spend $2 million to locate its fourth plant there. It will create 30 jobs in its business of manufacturing customized laminated panels and fabricated components. LamTech had searched for a new location for 3 to 3 1/2 years. Before making a final decision, Zoeller said he told his staff to "turn over every stone" to make sure they had the right site. One of the company's customers, MasterBrand Cabinets in Henry County, put LamTech in touch with Jim Frith of Frith Construction. When Frith's facility did not work out, Jim and Jay Frith suggested the company talk to Larry McDorman, who owned the Owens-Corning building, and a deal was struck. That illustrates the community's team approach to making a deal work, according to EDC President/CEO Mark Heath. Is the EDC perfect? Of course not. Are there other ways to approach economic development, as the taxpayers' group suggested? Of course. But comments such as Mr. Zoeller's make us think Heath and his staff are doing many things well.We all would like to see more jobs created in the area and the economy restored to a robust state. Yet considering the jobs lost with closings such as Tultex, VF Imagewear, Pillowtex, DuPont, Sara Lee and others, we are surprised that there has been only a 1,232 net job loss in the area since 1995. The EDC must get credit for some of that.Frank Zoeller said the EDC is "responsive," "aggressive" and "helpful" to prospects. That is a great report card from Zoeller, and he should know. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/123 Monday, 20 February 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Laminate Technologies to invest $2 million in manufacturing operation.

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Laminate Technologies (LamTech), a manufacturer of customized laminated panels and fabricated components, will invest in excess of $2 million to establish an operation in Henry County, creating a minimum of 30 new jobs. The company is a supplier to many area kitchen cabinet manufactures, and the Martinsville - Henry County location is strategically located to better serve its markets. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina for the project.Speaking about today's announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "This project is a great example of established companies attracting potential suppliers and building on an industry. With its first Virginia operation Laminate Technologies will supply regional cabinet manufacturers, while also expanding to reach other Mid-Atlantic markets such as furniture and store fixtures customers. LamTech will add to the already impressive wood products cluster in the Martinsville - Henry County area. The region continues to rebound economically, and I congratulate all involved on 30 jobs and a new corporate partner.""We thank LamTech for choosing Virginia for its new Mid-Atlantic manufacturing operation," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "Henry County was the right choice for the company, as it provides a strategic, convenient location and offers an available facility that meets the company's needs. I have every confidence that Henry County will be a great fit, and look forward to the company thriving in the Commonwealth."Founded as a privately held company in 1985, Laminate Technologies continues today under the same private ownership and leadership. LamTech has risen to become one of the largest, privately held custom laminators/ fabricators in the United States. Its primary mission is to provide creative solutions to the laminating and fabricating needs of its customers, delivering quality products and services that are unparalleled in the industry. "After a careful evaluation of various sites in North Carolina and Virginia, and numerous visits to both regions, it became clear that Virginia was the clear choice," said Fred Zoeller, President & CEO, Laminate Technologies. "The people in the Economic Development Department and the overall attitude from those whom we visited within the state department were all great and very helpful. The overall support that we received from the people of Martinsville - Henry County, along with their continued cooperation in helping us locate an essential rail siding, is fantastic. Again, the choice was overwhelming that Martinsville - Henry County and the Commonwealth of Virginia would be the home for our 4th operation." The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $50,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Henry County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $110,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the Company's recruitment and training activities."We are thrilled that LamTech has chosen to locate in Henry County," said Jim Adams, Chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. "Our citizens have a rich history of hard work and dedication to the craft, and LamTech recognized that. This is a great day for our residents.""Another great day for Henry County-30 new jobs and $2 million investment," said Virginia State Delegate and Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission member Danny Marshall. "We want to thank the management of Laminate Technologies for having the confidence in our people and area. I know that 30 of our people will work hard to make Laminate Technologies' Henry County location a successful business. The Tobacco Commission's goal is to help bring good jobs to our area. We were glad we could be a positive part of this project." http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/134 Friday, 03 February 2012 12:00:00 +0000

This workshop is designed to help small business owners understand the importance of cash flow, how to track it, and hazards to avoid.

The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting a workshop that will provide guidance on how to manage cash flow. The free workshop is scheduled for February 16th from 12 to 1:30 PM at the Virginia Museum of Natural History."This workshop is designed to help small business owners understand the importance of cash flow, how to track it, and hazards to avoid," says Lisa Fultz, Director of the Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. "Gaining financial control by understanding your cash flow is crucial to success," Fultz added. This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking.Registration is required for this free workshop by calling 276.403.5940, emailing VSpencer@YesMartinsville.com or visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/SmallBusiness/Events. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/132 Friday, 13 January 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Business owners and employees need to be aware of the verbal and non-verbal aspects of communication and how it reflects on the professionalism of the business.

The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division will be offering a workshop on Improving Communication Skills in the Workplace on January 26th from 12PM-1:30PM at the Virginia Museum of Natural History located at 21 Starling Avenue, Martinsville. Frank Strickler from the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will be the guest speaker.This highly energetic and interactive workshop is an effort to make participants aware of how conversation, appearance, attitude and behavior in the workplace all play a role in the business's image. Businesses are encouraged to send staff members as a professional development opportunity."Business owners and employees need to be aware of the verbal and non-verbal aspects of communication and how it reflects on the professionalism of the business," says Lisa Fultz, Director of the EDC Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This workshop is free; however, registration is required by January 24th. Registration can be completed by calling 276-403-5940 or by visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/smallbusiness. This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/131 Friday, 02 December 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Workshop to assist businesses with understanding the Enterprise Zone program and its benefits

The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting a workshop to assist businesses with understanding the Enterprise Zone program and its benefits on Thursday, December 8th at the Henry County Administration Building, 3300 Kings Mountain Road, Collinsville.Local representatives will cover the City of Martinsville and Henry County Enterprise Zone benefits from 9AM until 11AM This will include a general overview of the state real property and job creation grants.A separate workshop will be held from 2PM until 4:30PM by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) which will provide detailed instructions on qualifying for the VEZ Real Property Investment Grant (RPIG) and Job Creation Grant (JCG). This information will also include how to apply. This portion would benefit business owners, property owners, controllers, and CPAs who have an interest in Enterprise Zone programs.The Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ) grant program was amended to allow Job Creation Grants (JCG) to receive funding priority. The funds will be allocated to the Real Property Investment Grants (RPIGS) and the amount paid to each RPIG applicant will be pro-rated proportionally should the grant requests exceed the remaining amount of funding. If you have questions with regard to the workshop, please contact Lisa Fultz at 276-403-5940 or by e-mail at lfultz@yesmartinsville.com. The event is free of charge. Registration is required by December 6th and is available online at www.YesMartinsville.com/SmallBusiness/Events or by calling the EDC at 276-403-5940. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/122 Tuesday, 22 November 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, Inc. to invest $16.5 million to expand manufacturing operation.

Commonwealth of VirginiaOffice of Governor Bob McDonnellFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 22, 2011 Office of the GovernorContact: Jeff CaldwellPhone: (804) 225-4260E-mail: Jeff.Caldwell@Governor.Virginia.GovVirginia Economic Development PartnershipContact: Suzanne WestPhone: (804) 545-5806E-mail: Swest@yesvirginia.orgCommonwealth Laminating & Coating, Inc. Contact: Angel M. MartinezPhone: 602-904-2592E-mail: amartinez@windowfilm.net                     Governor McDonnell Announces 40 New Jobs in Henry County~ Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, Inc. to invest $16.5 million to expand manufacturing operation~RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, Inc. (CLC), a manufacturing company with a strong emphasis on solar-control window films and precision, high-performance coatings, will invest $16.5 million to expand its manufacturing operation in Henry County. The company will create 40 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against China for the project. Speaking about today's announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "CLC's operation in Henry County is significant for several reasons, and this major investment is testament to its importance. While the company maintains operations in eight locations and five countries around the world, this facility serves as not only CLC's headquarters, but also the sole manufacturing facility. The company is thriving in Virginia and Henry County, and I look forward to the continued productivity and success this expansion will bring.""As CLC's coatings manufacturing operation, it goes without saying that the equipment at the Henry County facility is extremely high-tech," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "This investment will enable the company to further increase its advanced technological capabilities and strengthen Virginia's position in the polymers sector as a leading film manufacturing location."CLC combines a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, proprietary and highly technical processes, efficient global distribution capabilities, and a flexible work force to produce a broad range of high-quality products. All CLC products are made at the Henry County facility on the industry's newest, and most advanced manufacturing equipment. Additionally, CLC's technical and responsive team is focused on developing cutting-edge and innovative technology to meet the evolving needs of the industry. "This partnership is a testament to how government and industry can cooperate in a manner that gives long-term benefits to all stakeholders: the local community, the workforce, and the investors," said Steve Phillips, CLC President and CEO. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $200,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Henry County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $320,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the Company's recruitment and training activities. "Today's announcement reflects CLC's confidence in its future here," said Debra Buchanan, Henry County Board of Supervisors Chairman. "CLC has been a great corporate friend for a long time, and this expansion reinforces that Henry County is a great place to do business." "Once again, I am very pleased that the Tobacco Commission provided funds to help CLC expand its manufacturing facility and increase employment opportunities for our citizens," said Delegate Donald Merricks, a Commissioner of The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. ### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/130 Friday, 11 November 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Twenty-eight aspiring entrepreneurs in Martinsville-Henry Co. have graduated from the 4th annual FastTrac® NewVentureTM Program offered through MHC EDC Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division.

Twenty-eight aspiring entrepreneurs in Martinsville-Henry County have graduated from the fourth annual FastTrac® NewVentureTM Program offered through Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division.The graduation ceremony was held at the Black Box Theatre on November 3rd to honor those who participated in the ten-week program which focused on preparing a solid business plan for their respective business ventures. Each of the ten sessions explored a different topic related to business planning and implementation, from researching to marketing, and offered participants a chance to learn from business professionals and seasoned entrepreneurs who shared advice and experienced-based information on running a business. Participants worked in small groups to complete segments of their business plans such as executive summaries, marketing plans, competitive analyses and cash flow projections."By the end of the FastTrac® NewVentureTM program, participants are better able to determine the viability of their business concepts and to outline the critical steps to a successful business launch.," said Lisa Fultz, Director of the Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division and certified FastTrac® Facilitator.Graduates of the 2011 FastTrac® NewVentureTM program are Leah Balance, Frankie Balance, Noel Boaz, Michelle Campbell (The Café at Arts & Deli), Tara Dalton (Diverse Beauty & Hair Supply), Sylvia Dupee, Terry Fleming, David Foster (DLF Marketing), Stephanie Green, Walter Hairston (Martinsville Electronics), Ernie Harr (Ernie's Tailgate Grill), Angela Herrero, Chris Jones, Amy Joyce, Zoelinda Main, Shirley Marshall, Kamela Mitchell (K. Mitchell Photography & Artistic Design, LLC), Carolyn Moore, Walt Shaw (Walton Design), Chris Stockton (The WAXX), Bob Tuggle (Tuggle Farms), Debra Turner (Restoration Books & Publishing), Teresa Wall (Teresa Wall, CMT/Healing Valley Spa), Sandy Weaver (Memory Lane Photography/JD Tuxedos), Ella Wickham (Wigs Unlimited), Bonnylee Witt, Chris Wright and Shanna Wright. Business coaches for the 2011 session included Cian Robinson of Robinson Ventures, Beth Deatherage of HD Web Studios, Robbin Hall of West Piedmont Business Development Center, and Ron Ferrill of SCORE. During the final session, participants presented a summary of the marketing portion of their business plans. There have been 95 graduates since the program began in Martinsville-Henry County.For more information on becoming involved in the FastTrac® NewVentureTM program, entrepreneurs may contact (276) 403-5940 or e-mail lfultz@yesmartinsville.com. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/129 Wednesday, 02 November 2011 12:00:00 +0000

The governor's office is partnering with the NFIB to call attention to small businesses who have recently hired additional employees , despite the tough economy and continued economic uncertainty.

In a press release from the office of Governor Bob McDonnell, November has been proclaimed as "Job Creator Appreciation Month". The governor's office is partnering with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) to call attention to small businesses in the Commonwealth who have hired additional employees in recent months, despite the tough economy and continued economic uncertainty."Small business is the engine that powers Virginia's economy," said Nicole Riley, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, the commonwealth's largest small-business association. "If we're going to lead America's economic recovery, we have to remember that small business, not big government, creates jobs. It's critical that we support our small, family businesses."During the month of November, the governor's website will be posting pictures and profiles of Virginia small businesses that are adding employees. Businesses are encouraged to submit photos, along with information about their firms and their recent job additions, by emailing newjobs@governor.virginia.gov or via Twitter to @GovernorVA. The submissions can be viewed throughout November on the governor's webpage at www.governor.virginia.gov. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/121 Friday, 28 October 2011 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. Topics will include basics of web development, and the benefits and risks of e-commerce. Masha Edelen, President and owner of HD Web Studio will be the speaker.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa FultzDirector of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial DivisionMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lfultz@yesmartinsville.com                                              E-Commerce Workshop Scheduled                                          ~Benefits of doing business on internet~Martinsville, VA (October 28, 2011) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting a workshop to assist businesses conducting business on the internet on November 10th from 12PM to 1:30PM at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, 21 Starling Avenue, Martinsville.In addition to explaining the different types of e-commerce, topics will include basics of web development, and the benefits and risks of e-commerce. Masha Edelen, President and owner of HD Web Studio, is the guest speaker.This event is free; however, registration by November 8th is required for lunch. Registration is available by calling 276-403-5940 or by visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/SmallBusiness/Events.This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                        #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/128 Friday, 14 October 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Four emerging small businesses were recently awarded help through the Small Business Investment Forum. They will receive grants, business mentoring and services totaling more than $25,000.

Four emerging small businesses were recently awarded help through the Small Business Investment Forum.Four emerging small businesses were awarded additional help through the Small Business Investment Forum (SBIF.) As winners of the Forum's competition, Rising Sun Breads (Martinsville), L & F Farms (Henry County), Tuggle Farms (Henry County), and Walton Designs (Martinsville), will receive grants, business mentoring and services totaling more than $25,000. The four winners were chosen from an initial pool of fifteen applicants and ultimately six finalists. The six finalists were each assigned a mentor group in preparation for a final presentation where the four companies emerged as winners. "We were very excited about the quantity and variety of this year's applicant pool. The winners, however, excelled in the planning and prospective funding of their business ideas." noted Carolyn Shough, Chair of the SBIF and a local banker."I am thrilled about receiving the SBIF grant to help me secure additional equipment and marketing for my business expansion. I also appreciate the process for competing. It helped me think through my new goals for the business and how I want to manage growth," said Darla Main Schneider, owner of Rising Sun Breads.Funding members of SBIF include City of Martinsville, Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation, Robinson Ventures, Inc., SunTrust Bank, Triangle Electric Corporation and West Piedmont Business Development Center. The SBIF received additional support from the West Piedmont Workforce Investment Board.Members of the forum will continue to mentor each budding company. "As successful entrepreneurs or economic developers, we provide clear direction and sound advice to target success," Shough continued. "Creating an advisory committee for these companies is worthwhile for both entities. SBIF members are rewarded by seeing these entrepreneurs succeed in our community, and the burgeoning companies will be advised on avoiding typical pitfalls for new businesses."The PHCC Small Business Investment Forum looks forward to a fifth competition in Fall 2011. For more information on submitting an idea, or becoming part of the SBIF, contact Lisa Fultz at the EDC at 276-403-5940. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/120 Tuesday, 11 October 2011 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. Participants will learn how QuickBooks can be useful for daily operations in a small business.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa Fultz Director of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation 276.403.5940 lfultz@yesmartinsville.com                          EDC Offers QuickBooks Classes in November                  ~Class available at three levels for small businesses~ Martinsville, VA (October 11, 2011) The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division will be offering three levels of QuickBooks classes in November in PHCC's Frith Building. A beginner class will be held on November 15th from 2-4PM; an intermediate class will be on November 16th from 8:30-10:30AM; and an advanced session will be on November 17th from 2-4PM. Participants should choose the level most appropriate according to their familiarity with QuickBooks. The class will then follow along on computers as they learn how QuickBooks can be useful for daily operations in a small business. The Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is partnering with the accounting firm Sells, Hogg, and Jones, CPAs to offer these workshops. Two of their CPAs, Marsha Frith and Robert Hogg, will lead the class in using the QuickBooks accounting system. "A large number of our clients use QuickBooks, which is a very effective, efficient bookkeeping system for small businesses. It will be my pleasure to encourage users to exploit their system more fully." says Frith. This classes are free; however, registration is required immediately as the classes are expected to fill to capacity. Walk-ins will not be allowed. Registration can be completed by calling Valerie Spencer at 276-403-5940. This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                        #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/127 Thursday, 06 October 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Dr. Martha Walker will give tips on promoting business via the internet, media, & direct sales. We'll also cover marketing trends, competitive marketing,and creating a niche for your product.

The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division will be offering a seminar on The Art of Marketing on October 19th from 12PM-1:30PM in the Frith Building of Patrick Henry Community College. Dr. Martha Walker of the Virginia Cooperative Extension will be the guest speaker.Dr. Walker will cover key elements and give you tips on promoting your business via the internet, media, and direct sales. We'll also cover current marketing trends, competitive marketing strategies, and creating a niche for your product or service."With so many choices available for a particular product or service, creative and aggressive marketing has become essential to any business trying to grow," says Lisa Fultz, Director of the Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This workshop is free; however, registration is required by October 17th. Registration can be completed by visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/SmallBusiness/Events or calling 276-403-5940.This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/119 Thursday, 22 September 2011 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. The EDC has hired Lisa Lyle as its Director of Recruiting and Marketing. She will begin work on October 17th.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Mark Heath President/CEO Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation 276-403-5940 mheath@yesmartinsville.com                           Lyle to join the EDC as Director of Recruiting & MarketingMartinsville, VA (September 22, 2011) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has hired Lisa Lyle as its Director of Recruiting and Marketing. Lyle is currently Director of Advancement at Carlisle School, where she has served in various capacities for the past 11 years. Lyle holds a B.A. from Lynchburg College (1990) and an MBA from Averett University (2007) which was completed through NCI."Lisa is very organized, energetic and resourceful. Her knowledge of our community along with her marketing experience makes her a great fit for the EDC. Her education experience is an added benefit as the EDC looks to further develop the relationship between business and education to create a 21st century workforce for Martinsville-Henry County," said Mark Heath, President/CEO of the EDC."Martinsville and Henry County has so much to offer," said Lyle. " I look forward to showcasing our community to prospective businesses and telling the great story of our reasonable cost, high quality, hard working community."Lyle will begin work with the EDC on October 17.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                              #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/118 Friday, 02 September 2011 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. The EDC's Small, Minority, & Entrepreneurial Division will offer Business Email Etiquette tips on Sept. 13th. Guest speaker will be Beth Deatherage of HD Web Studio.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Lisa FultzDirector of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial DivisionMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lfultz@yesmartinsville.com                                 Business Email Etiquette Workshop Planned                    ~Tips on corresponding by email in a professional environment~Martinsville, VA (September 2, 2011) The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division will be offering a workshop on Business Email Etiquette on September 13th from 12PM-1PM at the Black Box Theatre located at 44 Franklin Street, Martinsville. Beth Deatherage of HD Web Studio will be the guest speaker."Any email correspondence from you or your staff concerning your business reflects your level of professionalism. This workshop would be beneficial for anyone representing your organization via email," Lisa Fultz, Director of the Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This workshop is free; however, registration is required by September 11th. Registration can be completed by calling 276-403-5940 or by visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/smallbusiness. This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                                        #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/117 Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Jennifer Doss, EDC's Director of Tourism has completed the first portion of a three-year professional development program that will lead to certification as a Tourism Marketing Professional (TMP).

TOURISM PROFESSIONALS EXTEND EDUCATION WITH ANNUAL PROGRAM ON GEORGIA CAMPUSJennifer Doss, Director of Tourism for the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation has completed the first portion of a three-year professional development program that will lead to certification as a Tourism Marketing Professional (TMP).Doss was one of 232 tourism professionals enrolled at the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College last month. The week-long program turns the facilities of North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Ga., into a laboratory to teach tourism marketing each summer.There is no other professional development program like STS Marketing College, and it is recognized nationally for its training of tourism leaders. 626 people have earned TMP certification."In the tourism industry, TMP certification carries a lot of weight," said Bill Hardman, president and CEO of the Southeast Tourism Society, a 12-state organization that promotes travel and tourism in the Southeast. The STS Marketing College began in 1992 to provide continuing education for tourism professionals and feted its 20th anniversary this year. Tourism ranks as the first-, second- or third-largest industry in each STS member state. Students come from convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, attractions, hotels and other segments of the tourism industry.The curriculum covers topics such as branding, social media, packaging and sports marketing. Heritage tourism and research are courses that have attracted special interest in recent years."The fundamental concept of STS Marketing College is that the curriculum is practical. What students learn can be put to practice as soon as they get back to their workplaces," Hardman said.Twenty-four senior executives in the travel and tourism industry were the volunteer faculty. The program attracts students from throughout the Southeast and occasionally from other states. This year's program included students from Maryland and Oklahoma."Southeast Tourism Society is recognized nationwide for the cohesiveness and camaraderie it fosters in the region. No other region in the U.S. has a similar organization. STS Marketing College is a major project to build skills and professionalism in the tourism industry," Hardman said.Southeast Tourism Society, created in 1983, is headquartered in Atlanta and has approximately 800 members who represent travel industry businesses, state tourism departments, chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus and travel media. Its activities include cooperative marketing programs, continuing education, professional development and travel industry policy advocacy. More about STS can be found at http://southeasttourism.org. The 12 STS states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. # http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/116 Friday, 05 August 2011 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. Hands-on guidance for creating a social media marketing plan.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa FultzDirector of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial DivisionMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lfultz@yesmartinsville.comInteractive Social Media Marketing Plan Workshop Scheduled~Hands-on guidance for drafting a social media marketing plan~ Martinsville, VA (August 5, 2011) The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting an Interactive Social Media Marketing Plan workshop to assist businesses with internet marketing techniques. The event is scheduled at the Virginia Museum of Natural History located at 21 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, on August 17th from 12:00PM to 1:30PM. "As the popularity of sites such as Facebook and Twitter continues to grow, businesses are now beginning to market using social media outlets. Businesses should be aware of the pros and cons, as well as the time, effort, and money that may be required to effectively use any social media" said Lisa Fultz, Director of the Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This workshop is free; however, registration is required by August 15th. Registration can be completed by calling 276-403-5940 or by visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/smallbusiness. This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                                        #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/114 Tuesday, 02 August 2011 12:00:00 +0000

MHC EDC Press Release. Beth Stinett will join the MHC EDC as the new Visitor Center Associate.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mark HeathPresident/CEOMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation Announces New Visitor Center AssociateMartinsville, VA (August 2, 2011 ) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce the hiring of Beth Stinnett as the new Visitor Center Associate. Stinnett comes to the EDC from the Hampton Inn where she worked as the Front Desk Supervisor. She brings with her over five years of hospitality experience from Daly Seven Inc., where she was named the 2007 Employee of the Year. "The EDC realizes that Tourism is a way to increase the tax base of our community," said Mark Heath, President/CEO of the EDC. "Beth's background and experience make her a perfect fit for the Visitor Center Associate position." The goals for the Tourism Division include increasing the lodging and sales/meals tax revenues in Martinsville-Henry County. Beth will support that effort by assisting visitors to the area at the Martinsville-Henry County State-Certified Visitor Center and providing information to those inquiring about the area.Stinnett began her role with the EDC on August 1, 2011.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/113 Friday, 10 June 2011 12:00:00 +0000

MHC EDC Press Release. June workshop on brochures and press releases will offer tips and guidance to maximize visibility.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa FultzDirector of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial DivisionMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lfultz@yesmartinsville.comWorkshop on Brochures and Press Releases Planned~Tips and guidance offered to maximize visibility~Martinsville, VA (June 10, 2011) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting a workshop that will assist businesses in creating an effective brochure and a newsworthy press release. The workshop is scheduled for June 22nd at the Virginia Museum of Natural History from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM."Brochures and press releases are both important elements in a marketing plan as they can increase the business' visibility and sales. While these marketing tools need to be engaging, they should also come across in an informative and professional manner" said Lisa Fultz, Director of the Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking.Registration is required for this free workshop by Monday, June 20th and can be completed online at www.yesmartinsville.com/smallbusiness or by calling the EDC at 276.403.5940.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                            #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/115 Tuesday, 24 May 2011 12:00:00 +0000

MHC EDC Press Release. For-profit, local small businesses which contribute to the local tax base (Martinsville or Henry County) are encouraged to apply.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa FultzDirector of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial DivisionMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lfultz@yesmartinsville.comEDC Launches Marketing Co-op Grant for Local Small Businesses~Local small businesses encouraged to apply for co-op grant~Martinsville, VA (May 23, 2011) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is launching a marketing co-op grant designed to assist small businesses with marketing needs through funding provided by the Anonymous Fund of the Martinsville Area Community Foundation.For-profit, local small businesses (twenty or fewer employees, including affiliate companies) which contribute to the local tax base (Martinsville or Henry County) are encouraged to apply. Awardees must use approved local marketing providers. Awards may be up to $1,200 per business; however, no award shall exceed 50% of the total approved marketing project. Funds may not be used for marketing consulting fees, domain registration or hosting. A marketing plan will be required in addition to an application. "Local small businesses are a major part of the economic vitality of our community. We are delighted to be able to provide grant funding to the EDC from our Anonymous Donor-Advised Fund to help these businesses market their goods and services.", said April Haynes, Director of Martinsville Area Community Foundation.Grant guidelines and the application are available by contacting Lisa Fultz, Director of the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division at 276-403-5940 or emailing lfultz@yesmartinsville.com, or online at www.YesMartinsville.com/SmallBusiness.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                      ####  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/112 Tuesday, 10 May 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Amanda Witt, a Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) appointee, will fill the seat previously held by Amy Lampe.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mark HeathPresident/CEOMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940mheath@yesmartinsville.comWitt Appointed to Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Board of Directors and Parkinson Named ChairmanMartinsville, VA (May 10, 2011) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is pleased to announce that Amanda Witt, President of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Witt, a Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) appointee, will fill the seat previously held by Amy Lampe.John Parkinson, CEO of Drake Extrusion was nominated to fill the Chairman position previously held by Lampe. Chris Beeler, CEO Virginia Mirror Company, Inc./Virginia Glass Products Corp, was elected Vice Chair/Treasurer, a position held by Parkinson and Benny Summerlin, Henry County Administrator remains as Secretary.The Martinsville-Henry County EDC board consists of eight members; two from each of the EDC's funding partners. Current board members include: Amanda Witt representing the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth, John Parkinson representing the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Clarence Monday and Lance Heater representing the City of Martinsville, Benny Summerlin and Butch Hamlet representing Henry County and Chris Beeler and Dr. Leanna Blevins representing the Harvest Foundation.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                  #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/111 Friday, 22 April 2011 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. The sixth annual conference will give businesses the opportunity to include the federal government as a customer. Training and networking throughout the day will be offered.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Lisa Fultz Director of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial DivisionMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lfultz@yesmartinsville.com            Federal Procurement Conference Scheduled for May 5thMartinsville, VA (April 22, 2011) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting its sixth Annual Federal Procurement Conference on May 5th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Spencer-Penn Centre. The event is free and will focus on assisting small businesses (500 or less employees) and women, minority and Veteran-owned companies.Topics of discussion will include: government contracting basics, set aside programs, loan programs, Veteran entrepreneurial programs, and GSA schedules. Networking opportunities will be provided throughout the day. This conference embodies the values of the Strategic Alliance Memorandum signed in May 2010 between the EDC and the U.S. Small Business Administration. In the memorandum, the two agencies agreed to partner to strengthen and expand small business development in the local area. The SBA has delivered about 24 million loans, loan guaranties, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses. In addition, it advocates on behalf of small business within the government. The keynote speaker will be Julien Patterson, President and CEO of Omni World Services in Chantilly, Virginia. Patterson also serves as the chairman of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP). Other attending agencies include: Department of Veteran Affairs, U.S. Small Business Administration, Crater Procurement Assistance Center, U.S. General Services Administration, Small Business Transportation Resource Center, FEMA, Virginia Department of Business Assistance, and Virginia Tourism. Local procurement officials will participate as well.The registration deadline is May 2nd. Registration is available by calling the EDC at 276-403-5940 or by visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/SmallBusiness.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                         #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/109 Thursday, 21 April 2011 12:00:00 +0000

This investment and expansion creates 40 more valuable employment opportunities in a dynamic region that is on the rebound economically."

Commonwealth of VirginiaOffice of Governor Bob McDonnellFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 21, 2011Office of the GovernorContact: Jeff CaldwellPhone: (804) 225-4260E-mail: Jeff.Caldwell@Governor.Virginia.GovVirginia Economic Development PartnershipContact: Suzanne WestPhone: (804) 545-5806E-mail: swest@yesvirginia.orgApplied FeltsContact: Charlie MattoxPhone: 276-656-1904E-mail: cmattox@appliedfelts.com                     Governor McDonnell Announces 40 New Jobs in Henry County                           Applied Felts to invest $6 million to expand operationRICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Applied Felts, the world's largest independent manufacturer of quality felt liners for the cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) industry, will invest $6 million to expand its operation in Henry County. The project will create 40 new jobs.Speaking about today's announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "Applied Felts is a true Virginia success story. The company established operations in Henry County nearly 15 years ago with nine people, and now employs 128 full-time. This investment and expansion creates 40 more valuable employment opportunities in a dynamic region that is on the rebound economically.""Henry County and the surrounding region are on a great upward trajectory," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "Just last week the Governor announced 539 new jobs for Henry County, and today brings great news of another 40 jobs. Applied Felts has experienced significant success and growth at this location, and I congratulate the company on further expansion."As the world's leading felt liner manufacturer, Applied Felts, a subsidiary of U.K.-based W.E. Rawson Group, has successfully relined more than 35 million linear feet of pipe using the CIPP rehabilitation process. Offering complete end-to-end custom manufacturing capabilities and products that are ISO-9002 certified, Applied Felts has more than three decades of expertise in the industry and is dedicated to ensuring its liners seamlessly integrate into customers' CIPP process. From the selection of the finest fibers and coatings to the finished product, every Applied Felts liner is custom-designed to meet exact specifications. "With the rapid deterioration of our country's underground storm drain and sewer system infrastructure, the demand for rehabilitation processes that are cost-effective and cause minimal disruption to our citizens bodes well for the continued growth of our company," said Charlie Mattox, General Manager for Applied Felts. "As the leading supplier of CIPP products in the U.S., this expansion will insure our competitive edge is maintained within our industry."The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Henry County and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $175,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The company is eligible to receive benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company's recruitment and training activities. "Applied Felts is an old friend that just keeps getting better," said Debra Buchanan, Chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. "Its growth in the past 15 years is remarkable, and we look forward to even more success down the road. The success of Applied Felts is a perfect example of what can be accomplished in Henry County.""I'm glad that the Commission was able to work with Governor McDonnell and VEDP to bring this expansion to our community," said Senator Roscoe Reynolds, a Commissioner of The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. "Investments made by the Commission continue to provide job opportunities in Southside and Southwest Virginia, where the jobs are badly needed."### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/106 Tuesday, 12 April 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced that ICF International, a Fairfax-based firm, will expand to Martinsville - Henry County, hire 539 people within three years and build a $15 million operations center.

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Job fairs will be held Friday and Saturday in the Career Hub at Liberty Fair Mall to fill the first 100 of 539 new jobs announced Monday. Gov. Bob McDonnell announced that ICF International, a Fairfax-based firm, will expand to Martinsville-Henry County, hire 539 people within three years and build a $15 million operations center on Lot 6 in the Patriot Centre industrial park.Job fairs will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the Career Hub and the former Walden Books storefront at the mall, according to Leigh Cockram, vice president of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC).The first wave of employees is expected to begin work by mid-May in leased, temporary space in the Patrick Henry Mall, according to Frank Abramcheck, senior vice president of outsourcing for ICF.The company began converting the former GSI facility at the Patrick Henry Mall to fit its needs Monday afternoon, he added.Construction of an 84,000-square-foot service center at the Patriot Centre is expected to be completed by mid-December, Abramcheck said.Mark Heath, president and CEO of the EDC, said $9 million is to be spent on construction and $6 million on upfitting the operation. The new facility will be built on Lot 6, to the left of RTI Metals' plants, he added."There will be rapid growth in 2012" in terms of the number of employees, Abramcheck said.Al Blankenship, who is moving here and will be the local operations center director for ICF's Business Process Management (BPM), said the company hopes to begin hiring within the next few weeks. Its goal is to have 250 local employees by mid-December, he said. The full-time positions pay a mean of $30,000 annually, Abramcheck said. He added the pay scale will vary, with employees in the outbound calling department earning the least.Heath said employees will earn an average wage of $14 hourly.The company also offers benefits such as health insurance and a matching 401k plan, and employees have access to dental insurance and other benefits, Abramcheck said. Employees will work one of two shifts, Abramcheck said. He added that a college degree is not required for many of the positions.The company's clients include agencies in the federal and state governments as well as commercial businesses, Abramcheck said.The professional services firm provides professional and technology services in the energy, environment and transportation fields; health, education and social programs; and homeland security and defense markets, according to a news release. ICF's outbound call centers are "not sales centers" but rather serve as data collection sites for specific companies or entities, Abramcheck said. The firm also processes rebates for utilities and other companies and processes applications for a number of different companies and sectors, he said.Blankenship elaborated on ICF's work. He said it assesses applications for energy rebates, such as for consumer appliance purchases, and mails the rebate checks to consumers. It also does market research for the federal Centers for Disease Control and NOAH weather service, gathering information used for policy decisions, he said. And recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture asked it to evaluate broadband proposals for federal stimulus funding, he added. "It's interesting work," Abramcheck said."ICF is proud to expand its operations in Virginia and to call the commonwealth its home," said Sudhakar Kesavan, chairman and CEO of ICF. "We are very excited to expand here."The expansion is "an important move because it consolidates critical operations" and will serve as a hub for the collection and dissemination of information, he said.The company has 55 offices in this country, three in Canada, and one each in London, Brussels, Brazil, Russia, India and China, Kesavan saidHis goal is to see the company continue to "grow and expand" both "in Virginia and around the world."The company employs 3,700 people worldwide, 1,100 of whom are in Virginia, where it has operated for 26 years, Kesavan said.McDonnell and Heath recognized several state officials who worked to bring ICF to Henry County, especially Jim Cheng, secretary of commerce and trade; Jim Duffey, secretary of technology; and Mary Rae Carter of Penhook, deputy secretary for rural economic development, all of whom were present at the announcement.Also having roles in sealing the deal were the EDC; the Virginia Economic Development Partnership; the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission; Mid Atlantic Broadband Cooperative; the Henry County Board of Supervisors and chairwoman Debra Buchanan; county staff; city officials and many others, they said."All worked together" to bring ICF to Martinsville-Henry County and away from other states that were highly competitive, McDonnell said of Georgia, Maryland and West Virginia for the project. Tennessee was the chief competitor, he added.An incentive package, coupled with other factors including Virginia's business rating and the area's quality of life, prompted the company to expand in the commonwealth, McDonnell said.The company will receive a $500,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund and $2.1 million from the tobacco commission. ICF also is eligible to receive benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance (VDBA) will provide funding and services to support the company's recruitment and training activities through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, McDonnell said.Judy McClenny, business development manager with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), first brought the company to the attention of local economic developers on Sept. 3, Heath and McDonnell said.McClenny, who attended Monday's announcement, said she considered "the parameters of the project ... the company's needs and the community's assets" before she contacted the EDC."I can't emphasize the amount of work" local officials "put into the project," said Jay A. Langston, a senior project support manager in the research division of the VEDP. Langston said he assisted McClenny."The locality is where the deal happens, and this is a good fit for Martinsville and Henry County," McClenny said.Isabel Reiff, an ICF employee in the corporate growth group, has been with the company for 22 of its 42 years, she said."We say we've grown up together," and the company's local expansion "is a very big deal for us," she said.The project also "is a great sign the economy is bouncing back after a decade-plus of job losses," McDonnell said."Virginia is and has been ranked as the number 1 state" for business in the nation, McDonnell said. "Why would you want to go anywhere else?"McDonnell also recognized 5th District U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt, R-Chatham; state Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Ridgeway; and Dels. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, Don Merricks, R-Pittsylvania County, and Ward Armstrong, D-Collinsville, who attended the event. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/107 Tuesday, 12 April 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Gov. Bob McDonnell called Monday's announcement "the best news in seven years." It will offer residents the "opportunity to be self-sufficient and pursue the American dream."

By BULLETIN STAFF REPORTS - Bulletin Staff Writer. Gov. Bob McDonnell called Monday's announcement of the expansion of ICF International and its creation of 539 jobs in Henry County "the best news in seven years." "It is so great to be here and talk about this," McDonnell said of the project that he anticipates will be "transformational" for the community because it will offer residents the "opportunity to be self-sufficient and pursue the American dream."That is especially true for the 539 families who will be directly impacted by employment, he said.By comparison, a total of 605 jobs were announced in this area last year.Fairfax-based ICF will invest $15 million in an operations center in the Patriot Centre and create 539 jobs over the next 36 months, it announced Monday. McDonnell, whose administration helped bring the company here, joined company officials in making the announcement.With an unemployment rate statewide of 6 percent, McDonnell said the commonwealth is recovering from the recession and remains the best state in the nation to do business. However, he said 250,000 workers across the state still are out of work, which he called "unacceptable.""We know we have got to get aggressive if we are going to see more companies expand" or locate to Virginia, McDonnell said.Martinsville-Henry County and some other communities in Southside have been in "the epicenter of the economic downturn," he said. He praised local residents for enduring the last decade or more of that downturn while continuing to work to make the community a "great place to do business."But, he added, this is not the time to relax. He reiterated that job creation and economic development have been his top priority during his 15 months in office."We've got to get very aggressive this year" as the economy transitions from manufacturing to services and technology, he said. He soon will travel to New York, California and Illinois and also is planning trips abroad to China, Japan and India, McDonnell said.He also said he has probably more economic development tools than ever, such as more money in the Governor's Opportunity Fund, and several of his cabinet officials and appointees are working hands-on to do create jobs.Heath said when the governor called ICF's announcement the "best news in seven years," he was referring to the jobs announcement of MasterBrand Cabinets in 2004 that it would move here and create 745 jobs.However, it did not create that many, making ICF's plans even more significant, Heath said. Heath said hiring will target a 50-mile radius and will include former workers of American Express in the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina, some of whom live in this area. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/105 Monday, 11 April 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Press Release - ICF International will open a $15 million operations center. Virginia successfully competed against GA, MD, TN, and WV for the project.

Commonwealth of VirginiaOffice of Governor Bob McDonnellFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 11, 2011Office of the GovernorContact: Jeff CaldwellPhone: (804) 225-4260E-mail: Jeff.Caldwell@Governor.Virginia.GovVirginia Economic Development PartnershipContact: Suzanne WestPhone: (804) 545-5806E-mail: SWest@yesvirgina.org ICF InternationalContact: Steve AndersonPhone: (703) 934-3847E-mail: sanderson2@icfi.comGovernor McDonnell Announces More than 500 New Jobs in Henry County$15 million operations center to be opened by ICF InternationalVirginia successfully competed against Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee and West Virginia for ProjectRICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that ICF International, a global professional services firm, will establish its first operations center for Business Process Management (BPM) in Henry County. The $15 million center will create 539 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee and West Virginia for the project.Speaking about today's announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "This project is truly transformational for Henry County. ICF International is a Virginia-headquartered company that was seeking a location for its first operations center for BPM. After a highly competitive process, the company determined that Henry County offered the right location in the Patriot Centre Industrial Park and an available workforce eager for the opportunity. An investment of this caliber, as well as more than 500 new jobs, is tremendous news for Southern Virginia.""I would be remiss to not recognize the great teamwork of the Administration, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation and the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative, who all worked together to ensure that ICF International picked Henry County," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "We are thrilled that the company chose the Commonwealth for this operations center."ICF International (NASDAQ:ICFI) partners with government and commercial clients to deliver professional services and technology solutions in the energy, environment, and transportation; health, education, and social programs; and homeland security and defense markets. The firm combines passion for its work with industry expertise and innovative analytics to produce compelling results throughout the entire program life cycle, from research and analysis through implementation and improvement. Since 1969, ICF has been serving government at all levels, major corporations and multilateral institutions. More than 3,700 employees serve these clients worldwide. "ICF is proud to expand its operations in Virginia and to call the Commonwealth its home," said Sudhakar Kesavan, Chairman and CEO of ICF International. "As a professional services firm, ICF International maintains its global headquarters here, which offers the best combination of a robust economy, a pro-business climate, a high-quality workforce, and an outstanding quality of life for ICF employees. We are pleased to open this new operations center in Henry County and to build our workforce from local residents."The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation and the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative to secure the project for Virginia. Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Technology Jim Duffey and Virginia Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade for Rural Economic Development Mary Rae Carter also played an integral role in the project. Governor McDonnell approved a $500,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Henry County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $2.1 million in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The company is eligible to receive benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance (VDBA) will provide funding and services to support the company's recruitment and training activities. "This is an epic day for the people of Henry County and the City of Martinsville," said Debra Buchanan, Chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. "ICF International is the type of company that can transform a community. Adding more than 500 new jobs will have a monumental impact on our citizens, and we all look forward to working with ICF International to make this a success.""What a day for Martinsville and Henry County," said Butch Hamlet, a member of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. "I am so pleased to be a small part of a group that has helped land this tremendous infusion of jobs to our area. A large part of the mission of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission is to revitalize communities, and the Commission has clearly met that mission today, in our community. These 500+ jobs, and the significant capital investment will pay dividends to the community, and many families, for years to come.""We're very proud that our advanced open-access fiber optic network played an important role in ICF's decision to locate at the Patriot Centre GigaPark," says Tad Deriso, President and CEO of the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative (MBC). "High-capacity, low-latency broadband services to key interconnection points and a choice of telecom providers are key economic development benefits that MBC brings to the region."                                                            ### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/104 Thursday, 17 March 2011 12:00:00 +0000

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. The Southern Virginia Regional Alliance is a marketing partnership between Henry, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Halifax counties and Martinsville and Danville.

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer.  Economic developers must think regionally in efforts to lure new businesses and industries, according to state and local officials. Many workers are willing to cross city and county lines to get to their jobs, and companies are attracted to regions - and not necessarily geographical boundaries - that best suit their needs, officials said Wednesday during an announcement of a new regional economic development alliance.The Southern Virginia Regional Alliance (SVRA) is a marketing partnership between Henry, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Halifax counties and the cities of Martinsville and Danville.It will be funded over two years with a total of $600,000 from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, Virginia Economic Development Partnership and participating localities. Each of the three components of the alliance contributed $200,000.If the alliance is successful at helping local economic development agencies attract companies, it likely will receive more funds to continue it well beyond two years, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling said after he announced the venture during a gathering at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville.Such partnerships have been successful elsewhere in the state, he said.Both Bolling and Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC), acknowledged that several previous attempts at regional partnerships in southern Virginia failed.However, they are optimistic that this one will succeed."The time is right," Bolling said, because today's economic climate is forcing people to cooperate to succeed, and current state and local leadership is committed to making the alliance successful."We can't afford to fail," said Heath, because "the world has become more competitive."In a release, Gov. Bob McDonnell said Virginia and the United States often compete with countries such as China, India and Singapore in attracting companies. He said localities "cannot undermine our collective effort as a commonwealth by inadvertently competing against each other."McDonnell was not at Wednesday's announcement. Bolling represented the state because he oversees economic development efforts at that level.The alliance is "an opportunity ... to stop working against each other and start working together," said state Sen. Frank Ruff, D-Mecklenburg County and a member of the tobacco commission.In helping fund SVRA, individual localities' shares of their $200,000 portion were based on their populations. Henry County's and Martinsville's shares totaled about $30,000, and the EDC paid it, Heath said.SVRA will not take the place of the EDC and similar economic development agencies serving the other participating localities. Instead, it will work with those agencies to create a regional economic development marketing plan and find ways to creatively promote the region, officials said.Heath said the EDC still will work to market Henry County and Martinsville specifically.By marketing the southern Virginia region, SVRA's job will be "to get them to us," he said of the EDC. "We'll (still) do the deal-making."The alliance essentially consists of the chief administrators of the agencies such as the EDC who together will act like a board of directors, Heath said.Already, the administrators worked together to host a dozen CEOs and site selection executives from companies nationwide at an October gathering at Primland in Patrick County. The group toured the region, discussed regional economic development assets and went to a race at Martinsville Speedway.An executive director is to be hired by mid-May to oversee the alliance. The director will be based at an office in a small-business incubator in Pittsylvania County, which basically is in the middle of the region, officials said.SVRA also will have its own website.Bolling said that in the 14 months he and McDonnell have been lieutenant governor and governor, respectively, 335 economic development deals have been reached statewide. Of those, about 13 percent have been in southern Virginia, he said, citing as examples projects involving firms such as Kimball Hospitality, Monogram Foods and Drake Extrusion in Henry County.He attributed those deals largely to Virginia developing "the most aggressive economic development plan in the history of our state," Components of that plan, he mentioned, included increasing the Governor's Opportunity Fund and making it more flexible to benefit rural areas, as well as hiring longtime Henry County resident Mary Rae Carter as the state's first deputy secretary of commerce and trade for rural economic development.Yet predominantly rural areas such as southern Virginia - officials at the announcement indicated they prefer that term over Southside - have not been as successful at luring companies as areas with larger populations.SVRA will give the region the "little bit of extra help" it needs, Bolling said. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/103 Friday, 11 March 2011 12:00:00 +0000

The EDC will host an Interactive Marketing Plan Workshop on March 24. Participants will begin creating or refining their own individual plans, personalized for their respective business.

Contact: Lisa FultzDirector of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial DivisionMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lfultz@yesmartinsville.com                 INTERACTIVE MARKETING PLAN WORKSHOP SET FOR MARCH 24                 ~Hands-on assistance with developing business marketing plan~ Martinsville, VA (March 11, 2011) The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division will host an Interactive Marketing Plan Workshop on March 24 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM at the Uptown Southern Bistro located at 124 E. Main Street in Uptown Martinsville. Sandra Tanner with the Virginia Tourism Corporation will lead the class and discuss the components and benefits of a successful marketing plan. The workshop will also allow participants to begin creating or refining their own individual plans, personalized for their respective business. They will leave with a draft of a focused, practical marketing plan that they are fully capable of implementing.This workshop is free; however, registration is required and is available by calling 276-403-5940 or by visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/smallbusiness. This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                   ####  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/101 Friday, 11 February 2011 12:00:00 +0000

The workshop on February 23 will provide small businesses with valuable training and insight on the benefits of partnering with other businesses to secure government contracts.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Lisa FultzDirector of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial DivisionMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lfultz@yesmartinsville.com                   BUSINESS MATCHMAKING WORKSHOP ON FEBRUARY 23               ~Opportunity to create business partnerships for contracts~ Martinsville, VA (February 11, 2011) The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting a Business Matchmaking workshop on February 23 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the West Piedmont Business Development Center located at 22 E. Church Street in Uptown Martinsville. The event will provide small businesses with valuable training and insight on the benefits of partnering with other businesses to secure government contracts. Training topics will include:• Success Tips from Experienced Prime Contractors• How to Respond to Requests for Bids and Proposals• How to Access Federal and Local Markets and Small Business Certifications• Woman Owned Small Business Program• HUBZone OpportunitiesNetworking opportunities will be provided throughout the event. The agenda includes a Speed Business Matchmaking activity in which participants will be able to introduce themselves to government buyers and prime contractors and build valuable business relationships. Individual assistance with state procurement will be available by appointment only.This workshop is free; however, registration is required and is available by calling 276-403-5940 or by visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/smallbusiness. This training opportunity is part of the quarterly procurement training series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training, opportunities to diversify market segmentation to include local, state and federal government and facilitate business networking.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                                 ####  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/102 Friday, 04 February 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Small Business Investment Forum launched as a business competition for small businesses.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa FultzDirector of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lfultz@yesmartinsville.com                                       Small Business Investment Forum Launched                                     ~Business Competition for Small Businesses~Martinsville, VA (February 4, 2011) - Local entrepreneurs have a chance to compete for funding, free space and mentoring through the Small Business Investment Forum 2011 business plan competition. Sponsors for this year's program include City of Martinsville, Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Robinson Ventures, SunTrust, Triangle Electric Corporation, West Piedmont Business Development Center and the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. The competition consists of two rounds, with Round One being the review of each applicant's business plan by a panel of judges. Round Two of the competition begins after the judges select the best business plans and mentors are assigned to the business owner to assist with refining the business plan and preparing an oral presentation. Judges will then select winners and assign mentors to work with them over the next year. Previous SBIF winner Darla Main Schneider, owner and president of Rising Sun Breads, indicated "the Small Business Investment Forum helped me to launch my new business. I was able to use the funding to cover the gap that banks did not want to fund such as leasehold improvements and some additional baking equipment." Amie Teague, owner and president of Piedmont Regional Feeding & Oral-Motor Clinic, used her SBIF award to leverage a loan to buy a new piece of equipment. Teague said, "the Small Business Investment Forum has really helped me to grow my business by helping me purchase Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) Equipment. We have the potential to significantly increase our revenues and serve the community with this investment."Interested applicants must be located in Martinsville or Henry County and be a start-up or a business in operation less than three years as of the application deadline.To apply for the Small Business Investment Forum, please contact Lisa Fultz, visit www.YesMartinsville.com/SmallBusiness to download the application packet or call us at 276-403-5940.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                        ####  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/99 Tuesday, 01 February 2011 12:00:00 +0000

MHC EDC Press Release. The MHC EDC announces that Dr. Leanna Blevins has been appointed to its Board of Directors.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Mark HeathPresident/CEOMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940mheath@yesmartinsville.com    Blevins Appointed to MHC Economic Development Board of DirectorsMartinsville, VA (February 1, 2011) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announces that Dr. Leanna Blevins has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Dr. Blevins, a Harvest Foundation appointee, will fill the seat of Paul Toms. Toms, who served on the EDC Board for the past three years rotated off the EDC Board in December, in connection with the end of his Harvest Foundation Board position.Lampe, Chief Executive Officer of Tacoma Inc. and Chairman of the EDC, applauds the appointment of Dr. Blevins to the board. "Leanna's advocacy for collaboration between education and economic development, her knowledge of education in our community along with her commitment and enthusiasm towards making Martinsville-Henry County a better place makes her a great addition to our board of directors." The Martinsville-Henry County EDC board consists of eight members; two from each of the EDC's funding partners. Current board members include: Amy Lampe representing the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth, John Parkinson representing the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Clarence Monday and Lance Heater representing the City of Martinsville, Benny Summerlin and Butch Hamlet representing Henry County and Chris Beeler and Dr. Blevins representing the Harvest Foundation.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                               #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/100 Friday, 07 January 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Cian Robinson of Robinson Ventures, LLC will provide tips to boost sales through referrals, networking, and various marketing methods. "In today's economy, marketing budgets for many businesses have

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa FultzDirector of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial DivisionMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lfultz@yesmartinsville.comWORKSHOP SCHEDULED FOR BUSINESS NETWORKING AND MARKETING~Techniques and tips for promoting your small business~ Martinsville, VA (January 7, 2011) The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division will be offering a workshop to help businesses with networking and marketing on Thursday, January 20th from 12PM to 1PM at the Uptown Southern Bistro, 124 East Main Street. Cian Robinson of Robinson Ventures, LLC will provide tips to boost sales through referrals, networking, and various marketing methods. "In today's economy, marketing budgets for many businesses have been limited. Networking and referrals or word-of-mouth advertising is not only a good economical resolution, but is also an effective form of marketing," says Lisa Fultz, Director of the EDC's Small, Minority, and Entrepreneurial Division.This event is free; however, registration in advance is required for lunch.Registration for the workshop is available by calling 276-403-5940 or by visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/smallbusiness.This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.#### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/95 Tuesday, 30 November 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Southern Finishing Company to invest $1.7 million to consolidate operations in Virginia

Commonwealth of VirginiaOffice of Governor Bob McDonnell November 30, 2010Office of the GovernorContact: Stacey JohnsonPhone: (804) 225-4260E-mail: Stacey.Johnson@Governor.Virginia.GovVirginia Economic Development PartnershipContact: Christie MillerPhone: (804) 545-5805E-mail: cmiller@yesvirginia.orgSouthern Finishing Company, Inc.Contact: Janet GarrisonPhone: (336) 573-3537Email: janet.garrison@southernfinishing.com                   Governor McDonnell Announces 67 New Jobs in Martinsville  Southern Finishing Co to invest $1.7 million to consolidate operations in VARICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Southern Finishing Company, Inc., a manufacturer of prefinished components for the cabinet industry will invest $1.7 million to consolidate its eastern U.S. operations to the City of Martinsville. The project is a result of the consolidation of the company's North Carolina and Virginia operations as a means of achieving greater efficiency, economies of scale and improving logistics in an effort to reduce costs. The consolidation to Martinsville includes the company's manufacturing and distribution operations that are currently located in North Carolina. The company will occupy the former Hooker Manufacturing building, located across the street from Southern Finishing's existing Martinsville location. The project will save 137 jobs and create 67 new jobs.Speaking about today's announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "Southern Virginia has a rich history in the furniture industry, and Southern Finishing Company has thrived in Martinsville. The fact that a former furniture manufacturing facility was available and equipped to meet the company's needs ensured Martinsville as Southern Finishing's pick for the consolidation of its eastern U.S. operations. I am grateful for 137 saved jobs and 67 new opportunities in a region that is recovering from economic distress.""The retention and expansion of Southern Finishing Company in Martinsville is significant," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "Southern Finishing is able to benefit from the region's history of success in the furniture sector, and I am confident in the trained labor pool available to fill the new jobs."Southern Finishing Company was founded in 1978 and has more than 240 employees. The privately-owned company specializes in prefinished wood mouldings (manufacturing 35 million linear feet per year), accessories, panels, doors, kitchen and bath cabinet components, and bedrails. They offer industry-leading turn-around times and excel in meeting exacting customer specifications for color match and quality. Key partners include American Woodmark, Marsh Furniture, Armstrong Cabinets, Thomasville Furniture, Empire Today, Yorktown, Masco Builders Cabinet Group, Salamander, Hooker Furniture and PlyGem."Southern Finishing has a 32 year history in the wood industry in Virginia, so this is a logical step for us," said Ed Brown, President & CEO, Southern Finishing Company. "Many of our customers and suppliers have facilities in Virginia. We currently have a manufacturing facility here. This background, the availability of affordable space and a labor force with wood industry experience in the area make this an ideal site for Southern Finishing. This move will allow us to consolidate our manufacturing base, reduce overhead, save existing manufacturing jobs and concentrate on future growth. We appreciate the opportunity that the state of Virginia, the City of Martinsville and Henry County is affording us."The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Martinsville and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $135,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Martinsville with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $380,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance (VDBA) will provide funding and services to support the company's recruitment and training activities. "Today's announcement is wonderful for the citizens of Martinsville-Henry County," said Mayor Kim Adkins. "The retention of 137 jobs with an addition of 67 new jobs and a capital investment of $1.7 million is great news. It is extremely rewarding when an existing industry has the confidence in your community to expand their operations. This announcement is a testament to the hard, loyal workers living in our community."                                                               ### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/97 Friday, 26 November 2010 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. Enterprise Zone Workshop to explain job creation and real property grants.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Lisa FultzDirector of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial DivisionMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lfultz@yesmartinsville.com                              ENTERPRISE ZONE WORKSHOP SCHEDULED                       ~Event to Explain Job Creation and Real Property Grants~ Martinsville, VA (November 26, 2010) The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting a workshop to assist businesses with understanding the benefits on Tuesday, December 7th from 9AM to 1PM at the New College Institute, 30 Franklin Street. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will provide detailed instructions on qualifying for the VEZ Real Property Investment Grant (RPIG) and the Job Creation Grant (JCG). Local representatives will cover the City of Martinsville and Henry County Enterprise benefits. This event will also serve as a regional "How to Apply" workshop.The Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ) grant program was amended to allow Job Creation Grants (JCG) to receive funding priority. The amendment charges DHCD with fully funding the JCGs and thus they will not be subject to pro-ration. The remaining funds will be allocated to the Real Property Investment Grants (RPIGS) and the amount paid to each RPIG applicant will be pro-rated proportionally should the grant requests exceed the remaining amount of funding. If you have questions with regard to the workshop, please contact Lisa Fultz at 276-403-5940 or by e-mail at lfultz@yesmartinsville.com. The event is free of charge. Registration in advance is required and is available online at www.YesMartinsville.com/SmallBusiness or by calling the EDC at 276-403-5940.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                                       ####  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/98 Friday, 12 November 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Workshop scheduled to assist businesses with understanding the benefits of electronic marketing and sales

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa WilsonDirector of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial DivisionMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lwilson@yesmartinsville.com                         Marketing with E-Commerce Workshop Scheduled                            ~Workshop to Share Benefits of E-Commerce~Martinsville, VA (November 12, 2010) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting a workshop to assist businesses with understanding the benefits of electronic marketing and sales, Marketing with E-Commerce, on November 18th from 12PM to 1PM at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Topics to be covered will include basics of web development, reasons to consider e-commerce, benefits and risks of e-commerce. Masha Edelen, President and owner of HD Web Studio, is the guest speaker.This event is free; however, registration in advance is required for lunch.Registration for the E-Commerce Workshop is available by calling 276-403-5940 or by visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/smallbusiness.This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                               #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/92 Friday, 05 November 2010 12:00:00 +0000

We will provide multiple scenarios to illustrate how the new changes may affect small business owners. You'll also receive information on determining how the business and employees will be affected.

                 HEALTH CARE REFORM WORKSHOP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES            ~Event to explain how health care reform bill affects small businesses~Martinsville, VA (November 5, 2010) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting a workshop that will assist small businesses with how they will be affected by the Health Care Reform Act. Health Care Reform for Small Businesses is scheduled for Wednesday, November 10th from 12:00PM to 1:30PM at the Virginia Museum of Natural History located at 21 Starling Avenue.Kimble Reynolds, Jr., Regional Director for Congressman Tom Perriello will be the guest speaker. Participants will be provided with multiple scenarios to illustrate how the new changes may affect small business owners. They will also be empowered with information to assist them with determining how the changes may affect employees and their business. Chris Mallard of Mallard and Mallard, CPAs will address related tax issues during the workshop.Topics will include: purpose and major impact areas, requirements for small businesses, thresholds for exemption, available tax credits, effects on self-employed business owners with no employees, and planning for their company's future health care needs and costs.The entrepreneurial training opportunity is sponsored by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division as part of its Small Business Focus Group Series and is a nonpartisan event. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking.Lunch will be provided for those registered by November 8th and can be completed online at www.Yesmartinsville.com/Smallbusiness or by calling the EDC at 276.403.5940.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                                #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/96 Friday, 05 November 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Martinsville-Henry County will receive funding to assist with site planning and improvements to help attract "mega projects".

November 5, 2010Office of the GovernorContact: Stacey JohnsonPhone: (804) 225-4260E-mail: stacey.johnson@governor.virginia.govVirginia Economic Development PartnershipContact: Christie MillerPhone: (804) 545-5805E-mail: cmiller@yesvirginia.org Governor McDonnell Announces $5 Million in Grant Awards for Job Creation in Rural VirginiaVA's First Mega Project Site Planning Grants Aimed at Boosting Regional Economic Development EffortsRICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced Virginia's first Major Employment and Investment (MEI) Project Site Planning Grant Fund program recipients. The Danville-Pittsylvania Regional IDA, Martinsville-Henry County and Wythe County will receive funding to assist with site planning and improvements to help attract "mega projects," or projects that involve more than $250 million in capital investment and the creation of more than 400 new full-time jobs. Speaking about the announcement, Governor McDonnell noted, "We are doing everything we can to recruit high quality jobs and investment to the Commonwealth. To be successful, we must build upon our portfolio of properties to provide larger-scale, shovel-ready sites to attract companies that will have a transformational impact on the Commonwealth of Virginia and the future of our economy.""Our economic development allies across the state have done an excellent job of making sites available for marketing to business prospects," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "The MEI Grant program provides an opportunity for the Commonwealth to lend its support toward enhancing those efforts and continue to expand upon the many reasons why Virginia is the best place to do business." The Danville-Pittsylvania Regional IDA will receive the $500,000 maximum amount established for planning grants. The funding will be used for planning activity associated with Berry Hill Mega Park, which is currently under construction on 3,700 acres in southwestern Pittsylvania County. The grant can be used for conducting environmental and geotechnical reviews and for tackling infrastructure challenges to make the site competitive in the marketplace. Martinsville-Henry County will receive a $1.5 million site improvement grant. The site improvement grant will be used toward enhancing Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre, a planned 730-acre business park on U.S. 220 South at the Virginia-North Carolina border. The grant can be used for a variety of activities, including but not limited to site grading, utilities and transportation improvements. Wythe County will receive a $3 million site improvement grant. The funding will be used to continue development of Progress Park, a 1,210-acre industrial park located at the intersection of Interstates 81 and 77, client-ready. Progress Park is home to PepsiCo's Blue Ridge Gatorade Plant.Because initial funding for the grant program is being provided by the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, grant recipients are limited to communities located in the Tobacco Commission's service area. The program is designed to be statewide should additional funding sources be made available in the future.                                                                      ### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/94 Friday, 05 November 2010 12:00:00 +0000

MHC EDC Press Release. Thirty aspiring entrepreneurs in Martinsville-Henry County have graduated from the third annual FastTrac® NewVentureTM Program.

ENTREPRENEURIAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM PRODUCES LARGEST GRADUATE CLASSMartinsville, VA (November 5, 2010)  Thirty aspiring entrepreneurs in Martinsville-Henry County have graduated from the third annual FastTrac® NewVentureTM Program offered through Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division.  The event was held at the Uptown Southern Bistro on November 3rd to honor those who participated in the ten-week program to prepare a solid business plan for their respective ventures. Each of the ten sessions explored a different topic related to business planning and implementation, from researching to marketing, and offered participants a chance to learn from business professionals and seasoned entrepreneurs who shared advice and experienced-based information on running a business.  "After ten weeks of facilitated, hands-on training all of the FastTrac® NewVentureTM graduates have been exposed to a wealth of timely information, developed invaluable partnerships and networks, and have been the beneficiaries of sound advice from various business leaders and successful entrepreneurs in our community," said Lisa Wilson, Director of the Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division.  "Each graduate is much more prepared to execute his or her well thought out business plan after completing the program."Graduates of the 2010 FastTrac® NewVentureTM program are Carolyn Beale, Lynn Berry, Betty Blessin, Sheila Brewer, Kara Carter-Hundley, Pat Coleman, Agnes Conner, Ricky Dawson, Iris Gillispie, Jeff Hairston, Robbin Hall, Cynthia Helms, Tamayra Holland, Eric Juday, Donald Lovern, Maxine Meyer, Sandra Moore, Jim Mottley, James Patrick, Erin Patterson, Mary Peterson, Valerie Phillips-Martin, Gerie Pinkard, Cornelia Preston, Bob Roetken, Lillie Small, Princess Spencer, Marcus Toney, Matthew Wade and Aleen Wilson.  Business coaches for the 2010 session included Cian Robinson of Robinson Ventures, Chris Cousins of Southside Business Technology Center, Tommy Nance of Piedmont Specialty Products, Susan Perkins, business consultant, and Bob Brown of SCORE.  During the final session, participants presented the Executive Summary portion of their business plans.  There have been 67 graduates since the program began in Martinsville-Henry County.  Thirty-five graduates have either launched a new business or grown or sustained an existing venture.For more information on becoming involved in the FastTrac® NewVentureTM program, entrepreneurs may call (276) 403-5940 or e-mail lwilson@yesmartinsville.com.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area.  The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.#### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/91 Monday, 11 October 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The business park on U.S. 220 south at the NC line is situated near rail, is about 30 miles from the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, NC, and is 40 miles from a FedEx hub.

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Today, the undeveloped Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre property looks more like a forest than the area's future. But area officials see potential, and they can share that with prospects through conceptual drawings.The renderings show the site as it would look divided into four and five lots, depending on the need, Henry County Administrator Benny Summerlin said. A little more than 564 acres in the 730-acre parcel can be used by industries, he added."That is a better ratio than other sites we looked at" for a large industrial park, Summerlin said.The business park on U.S. 220 south at the North Carolina line is situated near rail, is about 30 miles from the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, N.C., and is 40 miles from a FedEx hub, Summerlin said.It also offers four-lane access to the interstate, said Mark Heath, president/CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC). That, he said, will be attractive to businesses."What people want is four-lane access to the interstate," he said. "We have not had a single prospect tell us our transportation system was not adequate."Those all are industrial park features that the area lacked before it bought Commonwealth Crossing. And that cost the area business prospects, officials say.Since 2007, the area has lost 11 prospects in the sectors of plastics, metalworking, bio-fuels/biodiesel, manufacturing, food processing, automotive and data center, according to "The Case for Commonwealth Crossing," a report prepared by the EDC.Commonwealth Crossing attracted the attention of one major company not long after the county bought the land for it in 2007."We were working on a major project before the recession," Summerlin said. More than $10 million in outside funds had been secured to grade the park. When the recession hit, that project and grading funds "just went away," he said.But, "if the county had not bought this tract of land, that company would have never looked at us," Heath said."Remember all the questions about why Martinsville and Henry County did not get Swedwood," Heath said of IKEA's first U.S. plant, which opened in a 930,000-square-foot facility in Danville.Had that company considered locating here, "it would have been a five-minute conversation. We didn't have what they required," Heath said. He added that a 200-acre site with rail access was among the company's requirements.In August 2007, the county agreed to spend $2,174,200 to buy 621 acres near the North Carolina line from Roma Realty LLC. It later bought more property to total 730 acres.Since then, less than $8 million has been invested in the site, including a water project set to be put out for bids in December and a sewer project in the future, according to Heath and Summerlin.Both projects received bipartisan support in the form of an $800,000 grant from the federal Small Business Administration that first was proposed by former 5th District U.S. representative Virgil Goode Jr., a Rocky Mount Republican, Summerlin said.The earmark remained intact through several committees, but the final draft of the federal budget had not been approved when Goode lost his bid for re-election to current U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Albemarle County. Perriello was in office when the final federal budget was approved, Summerlin said.Those funds, combined with a $1.72 million grant from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, $860,000 from the Harvest Foundation, $567,600 from the county, $292,400 from Martinsville and $140,400 in in-kind services from the Henry County Public Service Authority, will pay for the water and sewer project, Summerlin said.Grading and other site work will be done as funds are available."We're casting lines everywhere we can trying to find" grants and other funds for the estimated $15 to $20 million grading project, Heath said.Perriello has submitted a $2.5 million earmark for that work, Heath said, but "we won't know about that until the federal budget" is prepared. Heath also hopes the tobacco commission will help with the grading project."This is a big part of Martinsville and Henry County's future," Heath said. "It is an important part." http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/89 Monday, 27 September 2010 12:00:00 +0000

By FRANKLIN NEWS-POST REPORTS. SleepSafe Beds makes beds for people with special needs, and it recently added Assured Comfort Beds. It markets them throughout the United States and Canada.

By FRANKLIN NEWS-POST REPORTS - SleepSafe Beds is moving to Henry County from Franklin County. The company's owners have signed a lease through December on a 110,000-square-foot vacant building off U.S. 220 north of Martinsville and will complete purchasing it in January, according to CEO Joe Hallock and President Gregg Weinschreider. The building is owned by Ramie Mize."We will begin moving out of here on the first of January, and if everything goes as expected, we should be in operation within 30 days," Weinschreider said."It was exactly what we needed. The new building is also in the country. We love being in a rural setting," he said.SleepSafe Beds makes beds for people with special needs, and it recently added Assured Comfort Beds. It markets them throughout the United States and Canada.According to its web site, the company originally manufactured wood products and custom furniture under its previous company name, English Ave Industries. It began developing the SleepSafe Bed system in September 2000 at the request of the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, which required a bed that would prevent falls and entrapment for people in its group homes.The SleepSafe Beds were approved for that office's facilities, and the company received a patent on the SleepSafe Bed system in 2002. Since then, it has added several other beds to its line, the web site states.For two years in a row, the company was named in INC. magazine's list of the 5,000 private companies with the fastest-growing revenues in America. In December 2009, SleepSafe Beds LLC ranked as No. 1,693 on the INC. 5,000 list, which measures companies by revenue growth from 2005 to 2008. It was named Business of the Year 2009 by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.SleepSafe Beds began operating in Callaway in Franklin County on Aug. 8, 2005. By 2008, after posting a 30 percent increase in business over the year before, the owners began searching for a new location. The company had filled all available space and outgrown a 4,000-square-foot addition at its Franklin County facilities. After a two-year search in Franklin and Bedford counties, the company found the building that suited its needs in Henry County."Lucky for us, this building fell into our laps. If it had been here (in Franklin County), we would have bought it. It's just unfortunate it wasn't in Franklin County," Weinschreider said.Hallock and Weinschreider said 26,000 square feet in the rear of the new building has been separated and has its own electricity and heat. They plan on leasing that section in the near future.Their plans are to divide the remaining 84,000 square feet and section half of it. Hallock said the front will get new offices and air conditioning. The remaining 42,000 square feet will be held for storage and future expansion.The company owners said all 14 employees will make the switch from the present facility to the new one."With the exception of one employee, I don't think anyone will have to drive any longer than 10 additional minutes to work (at the new location)," Weinschreider said.None of the employees, including the owners, plans to move from Franklin County http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/90 Monday, 27 September 2010 12:00:00 +0000

SleepSafe Beds' move will result in a capital investment of more than $1 million and will bring 13 new jobs to Henry County.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mark HeathPresident/CEOMartinsville Henry County Economic Development Corporation276-403-5940mheath@yesmartinsville.comTim HallDeputy County AdministratorHenry County276.634.4605 thall@co.henry.va.us                                  SleepSafe Beds LLC is Moving to Henry CountyMartinsville, VA (September 27, 2010) - The Henry County Board of Supervisors and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation are pleased to announce that SleepSafe Beds LLC is moving to Henry County. SleepSafe Beds' move will result in a capital investment of more than $1 million and will bring 13 new jobs to Henry County.SleepSafe Beds currently operates out of a 40,000 square foot facility in Callaway that the company acquired in August 2005. Due to unforeseen, yet welcome growth, the company quickly outgrew its current facility and began looking for a bigger building or land about a year and half ago. Joe Hallock, President of SleepSafe Beds said, "We looked in Franklin, Bedford and finally Henry County before finding the perfect facility in the former Mize building on Reed Creek Drive. We look forward to starting our operations here the first of 2011 and hiring some local residents to assist our growth." The average wage of new hires will be between $30,000 and $40,000 annually."Obviously, the capital investment and jobs are important, but so is the use of a 110,000 square foot facility," said Debra Buchanan, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. "Henry County is convinced that we are adding a company in SleepSafe Beds that will make a difference in our community, both inside and outside the walls of their facility, and we are excited to have them as our newest corporate citizen.""Today is another great day in Martinsville-Henry County," says Mark Heath, President/CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. "When SleepSafe Beds contacted us the first of August we were thrilled to have an opportunity to work with such an outstanding, growing company. We are happy that the Mize Building fit their needs and that they will be joining our existing industry base."SleepSafe Beds manufactures safety beds designed for children and adults with physical and/or cognitive special needs. In December 2009, the company was rated No. 1,693 on INC. magazine's list of 5,000 private companies with the fastest growing revenues in America. For more information on SleepSafe Beds, please visit www.SleepSafeBed.com.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                               #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/88 Wednesday, 22 September 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Drake has increased its tax base by $3 million and hired more than 30 workers in the past nine months.

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. A local industry has expanded for the second time in nine months. Drake Extrusion, in the Martinsville Industrial Park, recently invested $1.25 million in new machinery, which resulted in the hiring of eight new full-time employees who are being paid $13 an hour, according to the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC).Drake has increased its tax base by $3 million and hired more than 30 workers in the past nine months, said EDC President/Chief Executive Officer Mark Heath.Drake now has 172 employees, said Chief Executive Officer John Parkinson.In the recent expansion as well as one earlier this year, new equipment was installed to enable Drake to expand its fiber product line, Parkinson said.Based in England, Drake produces filament yarns for residential upholstery and polypropylene fibers for automotive trim and indoor/outdoor carpeting. The local plant, which opened in 1995, is the company's only factory in the United States.Parkinson said Drake is regarded as North America's leading manufacturer of filament yarns. He said business is "fairly good" right now, but the company traditionally has seen a slight slowdown at this time of year.Based on the company's experiences in past years, he said he anticipates business will pick up by mid-October.The EDC was involved in Drake's recent expansions by helping the company obtain enterprise zone incentives and state grants for training workers, said Parkinson. He noted that at the company, "it takes almost two years to get people fully trained" - such as by achieving optimum production levels and troubleshooting skills - on production lines.Parkinson said Drake has expanded five times in the past 15 years. He said the company's success is mainly due to the quality of the area's work force and the local business climate."Drake is committed to Martinsville-Henry County and appreciates the community's commitment to our organization," he said.In turn, the community appreciates the company's commitment, according to local officials.Debra Buchanan, chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors, called Drake "one of our best success stories" in the county."Its growth solidifies the company's commitment to our community, and we appreciate the confidence in our citizens" and their job skills, Buchanan said."Drake is an exceptional corporate citizen, and we look forward to future growth" in the company, Heath added.A Swedish company, Bronsstadet, bought Drake's parent firm, Chapelthorpe PLC, last week.Parkinson said Bronsstadet is committed to helping Drake prosper and has indicated further expansions may be needed if demand for Drake's products increases.But the United States is "still in the economic recovery cycle" following the recent recession, Parkinson said. For that reason, he said, Drake is wary of getting "too far ahead" of itself until the economy improves more. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/87 Tuesday, 21 September 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Drake Extrusion's most recent capital investment was $1.25 million in new machinery for product line expansion and resulted in the hiring of eight new full-time employees, with a wage of $13 per hour.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Mark HeathPresident/CEOMartinsville Henry County Economic Development Corporation276-403-5940mheath@yesmartinsville.comJohn ParkinsonCEODrake Extrusion 276-632-0159jparkinson@drakeextrusion.comTim HallDeputy County AdministratorHenry County 276-634-4605thall@co.henry.va.us         Drake Extrusion has completed a Second Expansion within Nine MonthsMartinsville, VA (September 21, 2010) - The Henry County Board of Supervisors and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation are pleased to announce that Drake Extrusion has expanded its production capacity for the second time within nine months. Drake's most recent capital investment was $1.25 million in new machinery for product line expansion and resulted in the hiring of eight new full-time employees, with a wage of $13 per hour."We have expanded five times since opening our facility here in 1995," says John Parkinson, CEO of Drake Extrusion. "The workforce along with the local business climate has allowed us continued success. Drake is committed to Martinsville-Henry County and appreciates the community's commitment to our organization.""Drake Extrusion continues to be one of our best success stories," said Debra Buchanan, Chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. "Its growth solidifies the company's commitment to our community and we appreciate the confidence in our citizens.""It is always exciting to have existing industry expand," says Mark Heath, President/CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. "One of our main focuses is to help our existing industry grow and for Drake to have increased their tax base by $3 million within the last nine months and hire over 30 people is rewarding. Drake is an exceptional corporate citizen and we look forward to future growth."Drake manufactures the world's finest quality polypropylene fiber used mostly for automotive, home furnishing and carpet applications. Drake, whose home office is in England, opened its first and only U.S. manufacturing center in the Martinsville Industrial Park in 1995. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                       #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/86 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 12:00:00 +0000

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. The Tile Shop will make more than $2 million in capital investments and hire 25 employees at its new distribution center in the former Evans Warehouse in Axton.

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. The Tile Shop will make more than $2 million in capital investments and hire 25 employees at its new distribution center in the former Evans Warehouse in Axton. Employees may be hired by the end of the year, but the company plans to hire local contractors immediately to complete some demolition work, retrofit the building and install floor-to-ceiling racks that will hold the packed ceramic and natural stone tile the company sells, according to Joe Kinder, supply chain manager.Pay will begin at about $11 an hour for material handlers, depending on the level of training on various types of equipment, such as fork lifts, Kinder said. After a 90-day probationary period, employees will be eligible for health insurance and other benefits, he said.Hiring will be done through the Virginia Employment Commission, according to Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp.The Tile Shop is a 50-store retail chain based in Rochester, Minn., according to Kinder."It is a 25-year leader in the industry and is known for its quality, innovation and commitment to excellence," said Debra Buchanan, chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. "If you are a do-it-yourself person ... then you know The Tile Shop."Kinder estimated about 98 percent of the company's products - ceramic tile and natural stone - is imported from 14 countries. The company wanted to expand its distribution in areas nearer the East Coast population base and selected Henry County because the warehouse at 9351 Axton Road met its logistical needs. It paid Clarence Evans about $1 million for the property, and the purchase price is included in the $2 million investment, officials said."It's a great site" within easy access of ports in Norfolk, Kinder said. Ceilings and the sides of the building are high, he said, which will enable tile to be stacked higher.The building won out over others under consideration in Rockingham County, N.C., and Pittsylvania County, according to John Moore, first vice president with Greensboro-based CB Richard Ellis, a brokerage firm.The warehouse sits on 10 acres, Kinder said. The company also bought another 16 acres in hopes of expanding "probably within a couple of years" and possibly adding adhesive and grout manufacturing facilities.This distribution center is the only one of its facilities without a manufacturing facility, he said.The company's distribution center in Wisconsin was expanded to include manufacturing and now has a total of six buildings, and there are five buildings at another distribution center in Michigan, Kinder said.He was among the company representatives, local and state officials present Tuesday for the company's announcement. It was the fourth economic development announcement since April."Martinsville and Henry County's economy is on the rebound," Gov. Bob McDonnell said in a news release announcing Tile Shop's new location."It is always a great occasion when we can announce jobs," Heath said. The effort to attract development to the area is strong, he said. "We are producing results. That is a testament to the leadership" in the city and the county, he added.State Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Ridgeway, and Dels. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, and Ward Armstrong, D-Collinsville, also attended the event.Marshall, who is on the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, presented an $80,000 mock check from the commission for the company."It's Christmas again here in September," Marshall said.The Tile Shop also will receive training help through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program of the Virginia Department of Business Assistance, the governor's office's release states.The company, the county and the Henry County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) signed an agreement Tuesday giving the company 36 months to make the $2 million capital investment and create 25 jobs. "This announcement is important on many different levels," Buchanan said. "Obviously, the capital investment and jobs are important. Taking this 100,000-square-foot building off our list of open sites" also is a plus, she said."Just as important is the signal that is being sent today. We often say our team works on economic development every single day," Buchanan said, noting the announcement was the fourth in the last six months.In that time, Faneuil announced it would create 250 jobs and invest $2.4 million; Monogram Snacks announced it would create 150 jobs and invest $4 million; Kimball International announced the creation of 67 jobs and investment of $1 million; "and today, The Tile Shop," Buchanan said."We aren't done, either. We continue to work hard, and I am confident it will continue to pay off," she said. "We are absolutely committed to doing whatever we can to make this community whole again." http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/85 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 12:00:00 +0000

RICHMOND- Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today that The Tile Shop, a provider of the finest natural stone, ceramic and porcelain tiles and tiling materials, will invest $1.1 million in Henry County.

Commonwealth of VirginiaOffice of Governor Bob McDonnell FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 14, 2010Office of the GovernorContact: Stacey JohnsonPhone: (804) 225-4260Virginia Economic Development PartnershipContact: Suzanne WestPhone: (804) 545-5806The Tile ShopContact: James A. BeukelmanPhone: (763) 852-2978               Governor McDonnell Announces 25 New Jobs for Henry County                ~The Tile Shop to invest $1.1 million in distribution operation~RICHMOND- Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that The Tile Shop, a provider of the finest natural stone, ceramic and porcelain tiles and tiling materials, will invest $1.1 million to open a warehouse distribution operation in Henry County. The project will create 25 new jobs. "Martinsville and Henry County's economy is on the rebound," said Governor McDonnell. "This is the fourth announcement I have made for the region just since April. The Tile Shop will be a great corporate addition and I look forward to Southern Virginia's continued economic recovery, which remains a focus of my Administration.""The Tile Shop's new operation in Henry County demonstrates that home construction and improvements are on the rise, as is the economy," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "An additional success for the region is a great sign of more progress to follow."The Tile Shop was founded on the idea of providing do-it-yourselfers the ability to work with the finest natural stone, ceramic and porcelain tile from around the world at a competitive price through The Tile Shop's exclusive international suppliers, supported by the domestic manufacture of the highest quality line of adhesives, grouts and cleaning materials."Henry County Virginia provides an excellent location for The Tile Shop's expanding East Coast retail stores, including the four stores currently in Virginia, because of the unique combination of international container ports and domestic logistics up and down the Eastern seaboard," said Joe Kinder, Supply Chain Manager, The Tile Shop.The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $80,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program."We are excited to welcome The Tile Shop to Henry County," said Debra Buchanan, Chairman, Henry County Board of Supervisors. "The company has a tremendous reputation and it will be a great fit in our community and for our residents." "The Tile Shop LLC is a good fit for Henry County, and is a key part of our mission to bring new jobs and industries to the tobacco region of Virginia," said Senator Roscoe Reynolds, member, the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.                                                                         # # #  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/84 Tuesday, 31 August 2010 12:00:00 +0000

By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer. RTI International Metals now projects its new Henry County plants will be the largest in the company's history - when they go into full production in 2012.

By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer. RTI International Metals now projects its new Henry County plants will be a $120 million investment - the largest in the company's history - when they go into full production in 2012, its vice chair, president and CEO said Tuesday. Dawne Hickton said the $20 million increase in the plants' projected cost is due to new equipment that will be added. The plants, she said, will be on budget but not necessarily on time due to the global economic slowdown. The 2012 opening is about 18 months later than originally planned.Two of RTI's buildings are completed at the Patriot Centre and the third will be finished by the end of the year, according to a release from the office of Gov. Bob McDonnell.RTI has a few management employees in place at the plants in the Patriot Centre at Beaver Creek industrial park, and it expects to begin hiring about half its projected 150-person staff in 2011, she said.Hiring will be done through the Virginia Employment Commission, Hickton added.She toured the Patriot Centre facilities with McDonnell and Allan McArtor, chairman of Airbus Americas Inc., which will purchase titanium from the Martinsville plant for its entire commercial aircraft fleet as well as the EADS C-45 refueling tanker."Without Airbus, we wouldn't be in Martinsville," Hickton said.McArtor, who is based in Reston, said Airbus is "proud to be a customer and partner" of RTI. "I look forward to coming back often," he added.The governor said the RTI facilities are part of Virginia becoming a major international center for the aerospace industry. They also likely will be a "beacon" for further development and job creation in the area, he said.He added that he hopes to have additional business announcements in the region within the next 60 days, but he would not elaborate on those prospects. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/83 Tuesday, 10 August 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The MHC EDC's Tourism & Film Division has become a certified film office. It is one of only three in Virginia certified by the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI).

By Bulletin Writers. "Lights ... camera ... action!" may be heard around the Henry County-Martinsville area now that the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp.'s Tourism & Film Division has become a certified film office. The local division is one of only three in Virginia certified by the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI).To become certified, Felicia Rupert, the EDC's tourism and film assistant, underwent nearly two years of training. She completed the Film Commission Fundamentals and Film Commission Professional courses and then attended a cineposium where she received additional classroom and field instruction.The Tourism & Film Division maintains images of various locations around Henry County-Martinsville in an online database through Reel-Scout, the same database used by the Virginia Tourism Corporation's Film Office and other film offices across the United States. Filmmakers frequently look at Reel-Scout and other online databases when searching for filming locations.The Tourism & Film Division's first project since obtaining the certification was to help Volvo Corp. and Thompson Creative with a print ad photo shoot in Martinsville. Scouts from Blackhorse Studios chose U.S. 220 Business just below the Martinsville hydroelectric dam as the ideal location to shoot still photos of a Volvo tractor trailer that had been manufactured in Dublin, Va.The studio contacted the EDC's Tourism & Film Division for assistance, which included information to find their way around town and arranging for the road to be blocked off for early morning and late afternoon photoshoots.Filmmaking is a proven economic driver in Virginia. A recent study by the Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Public Policy found that more than 8,000 people in Virginia are involved in the film industry, which brought more than $500 million in economic impact to Virginia in 2004.For the Volvo shoot, crews from Blackhorse Studios, Thompson Creative and Volvo stayed at a local hotel and ate at a variety of restaurants.There is even more reason to film commercials and movies in Virginia now thanks to the Film Industry Tax Credit Legislation signed by Gov. Bob McDonnell in June. The incentive provides a refundable credit for any motion picture production company with qualifying expenses of at least $250,000, in an amount equal to 15 percent of the production company's qualifying expenses or 20 percent of such expenses if the production is filmed in an economically distressed area of the commonwealth.The Tourism & Film Division will be launching a film page on the existing tourism website, VisitMartinsville.com, to increase location presence on the web.Local photographers with unique images of sites around Henry County-Martinsville as well as property owners who have homes and businesses with unique architecture and style are encouraged to contact the Tourism & Film Division for inclusion in the Reel-Scout database as potential filming locations. The EDC's Tourism & Film Division can be contacted at 403-5945 or frupert@yesmartinsville.com. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/82 Wednesday, 28 July 2010 12:00:00 +0000

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Kimball "is interested in the work force", Summerlin said, noting that furniture upholstery is a "highly specialized field."

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. An Indiana-based company will make a $1 million capital investment and bring 67 upholstery jobs back to Henry County. "It feels good to bring some" furniture manufacturing jobs back to the area, said Stan Sapp, a native of Walkertown, N.C. He is the president of Kimball Hospitality and vice president of its parent company, Kimball International Inc. Kimball Hospitality will lease a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, formerly known as Oak Level Finishing, in the Patriot Centre industrial park, according to Henry County Administrator Benny Summerlin.Kimball is moving to the area "in response to the American of Martinsville bankruptcy" and the skilled work force that company left behind, which includes upholsterers, Summerlin said. American, which employed 225 people, closed its Redd Level plant in April.Kimball "is interested in the work force", Summerlin said, noting that furniture upholstery is a "highly specialized field".The jobs will pay an average of $14.72 per hour, according to Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp.Jim Thyen, president and chief executive officer of Kimball International, said the pay scale "will certainly be competitive," and benefits will include health insurance, retirement and a profit-sharing plan.Eventually, an incentive system will be added to the company's compensation plan, Thyen said. He did not elaborate on that system but said the company believes "strongly our employees should share in our profits." Thyen and Sapp were among several company executives who attended the announcement Tuesday at the Henry County Administration Building. It followed a joint meeting of the Henry County Industrial Development Authority - a conduit for economic deals - and the Henry County Board of Supervisors.Both boards approved a performance agreement between Kimball, the county and the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.Kimball, a 60-year-old company, will receive $205,000 from the tobacco commission and has 36 months to meet the employment and capital investment requirements outlined in the agreement."This is a great day for Henry County, and it is really a great day for the 67" workers who will get jobs with the company, said Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, a member of the tobacco commission. Marshall made the check presentation on behalf of the commission. He called the 67 jobs and $1 million capital investment "a step" toward rebuilding the local economy. Dels. Don Merricks, R-Danville, and Ward Armstrong, D-Collinsville, also attended the event, along with representatives from the city, county and the EDC."For a company of this magnitude to want to come here speaks volumes" about the work force, the area and the state, Merricks said."Henry County is the perfect fit for Kimball Hospitality," said Mary Rea Carter, deputy secretary of commerce and trade for rural Virginia. "This is a great opportunity to grow jobs here." Kimball Hospitality is a leader in hospitality furniture, Sapp said.It produces hospitality furniture for Marriott, Hilton, Starwood International and others, according to Paul Wahl, director of marketing/quoting.A recent project included furniture for 4,000 rooms in the Aria Hotel and Casino at the MGM Center in Las Vegas, Wahl said.He said upholstery includes chairs but also items such as headboards.Last September, Kimball Hospitality introduced an initial line of upholstered seating products at the Miami Hospitality Design Show, as the company began its expansion into the hospitality seating business, its release stated. While focused on guest room seating, including ottomans, lounge chairs, sofas, and even sleeper sofas, the Kimball Upholstery line also addresses lobby and public space seating, it added.The company will take possession of the Patriot Centre facility on Aug. 2 and hopes to build samples within two weeks, with production beginning as early as September, Thyen said. "We want to move fast," he said.Locally, the company will maintain a finish line and do cutting and sewing work, officials said. There also is a potential for assembly of some imported or locally produced furniture. Thyen, who has been with the company for 43 years, said it originally was known as the Jasper Corp. but changed its name in 1976 to better reflect its products, Kimball Pianos and Organs. Kimball also became publicly traded that year, he said.It is based in Jasper, Ind., across the street from MasterBrand Cabinets, which has a cabinet plant in the Patriot Centre."Our roots are in contract, residential furniture," but Kimball also manufactures electronics, office furniture and hospitality furniture, Thyen said.The company's motto, "We build success," is maintained by knowing its customers well enough to solve their problems before customers realize they have them, Thyen said."We've had a very successful journey for 60 years, but we've had to reinvent ourselves a number of times," Thyen said.Sales this year are anticipated to be $800 million in electronics and $600 million in furniture, Thyen said, adding that the company also has "achieved a significant global footprint" and sells many products abroad. "I feel extremely good about" its local expansion, he said. "We have laid a foundation for growth, and I think the foundation we have laid here will serve us well."Company officials praised Heath, the EDC, the state and local officials for their help on the project.Virginia successfully competed against Indiana and North Carolina for the project, Sapp said.Kimball's stock closed Tuesday atw $6.36 a share, up 6 cents a share or 0.95 percent. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/81 Tuesday, 27 July 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Kimball Hospitality, Inc., a subsidiary of Kimball International, Inc. will invest $1 million to open a hospitality furniture manufacturing plant in Henry C

                                     Commonwealth of Virginia                             Office of Governor Bob McDonnell FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 27, 2010Office of the GovernorContact: Stacey JohnsonPhone: (804) 225-4260E-mail: Stacey.Johnson@Governor.Virginia.GovVirginia Economic Development PartnershipContact: Vince BarnettPhone: (804) 545-5815E-mail: VBarnett@yesvirginia.orgKimball Hospitality, Inc.Contact: Martin VaughtPhone: (812) 482-8255E-mail: Martin.Vaught@Kimball.com                   Governor McDonnell Announces 67 New Jobs in Henry County                 ~Kimball Hospitality, Inc. to open furniture manufacturing plant ~   RICHMOND- Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Kimball Hospitality, Inc., a subsidiary of Kimball International, Inc. will invest $1 million to open a hospitality furniture manufacturing plant in Henry County. The project will create 67 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against Indiana and North Carolina for the project.   Speaking about today's announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "Henry County is the perfect fit for Kimball Hospitality due to its rich history in the furniture manufacturing industry. The region has industry-specific trained employees available, which will ensure an efficient start-up for Kimball and give confidence in a highly skilled workforce. I welcome the company to the Commonwealth and am confident of its future success in Henry County."    Kimball International, Inc. (NASDAQ: KBALB) provides a variety of products from its two business segments: the Electronic Manufacturing Services segment and the Furniture segment. The Electronic Manufacturing Services segment provides engineering and manufacturing services which utilize common production and support capabilities to a variety of industries globally. The Furniture segment provides furniture for the office and hospitality industries, sold under the Company's family of brand names.   Jim Thyen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kimball International said, "This new operation represents our commitment to enhance Kimball Hospitality's capabilities in pursuit of growth and additional market share. We believe this combination of the area's experience and dedication to excellence, along with our existing global presence and financial strength, will not only support our growth strategy but also add increased value to both new and existing customer relationships."   Stan Sapp, President of Kimball Hospitality and Vice President of Kimball International stated, "Our customers demand quality and excellence. We know that focus is shared by the people of the Henry County region. We're opening this new facility with a long-term view, and we're confident in the growth potential for this operation. We look forward to becoming an employer of choice in the Commonwealth."   The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $205,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.   "Henry County's rich history as a furniture community makes this a natural partnership," said Henry County Board of Supervisors Chairman Debra Buchanan. "We are thrilled that Kimball International will be our newest corporate citizen and we look forward to having them with us for many years."   "One of the main goals of the Tobacco Commission is to bring prosperity back to our part of the Commonwealth," said Delegate Danny Marshall, a member of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. "This is why we invested $205,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds. I applaud Kimball International on a $1 million investment and best of all, 67 new jobs for our citizens."                                                                ### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/80 Sunday, 04 July 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Educating residents about those attractions is the goal of a series of quarterly tours built around the "Find Your Pace" slogan.

A new tourism initiative is educating local residents about the area's attractions in order to draw out-of-town visitors. "Whether going 100 miles per hour on the track or floating lazily down the Smith River," there is a local attraction to suit every interest, said Jennifer Doss, director of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp.'s Division of Tourism. Educating residents about those attractions is the goal of a series of quarterly tours built around the "Find Your Pace" slogan, Doss said.The tours essentially are free professional development opportunities that will help expand the knowledge of our residents" about what people can see and do in the area, she said.Hopefully, that expanded knowledge will lead to the area getting a bigger share of what is called "referral marketing," Doss said.She explained that often, someone visiting an area for a specific event may ask a hotel clerk or waitress for information about other attractions. If those people are familiar with what is available, they can offer recommendations.Tourists who then visit the attractions stay in an area longer, and that increases the amount of tourism dollars spent at attractions as well as at motels, restaurants and other services, she said.During the first two-day tour in March, 24 participants toured 25 attractions, including the Smith River Sports Complex, Fieldale Trail, Bassett Historical Center, Philpott Lake and museums, Doss said.Representatives of the hospitality sector, which includes restaurants, campgrounds, hotels, and other attractions, were among the participants."We had another, one-day tour on June 3," Doss said, with nine participants. The smaller group provides "better results because we have more time to spend" discussing the places on the tour.A "sneak peek of a brand new children's facility" at the Virginia Museum of Natural History (VMNH), the Preston Ridge Winery and the newly remodeled Comfort Inn were among the sites visited on the June tour, Doss said.From surveys filled out by tour participants, she said, "It is interesting to see how many people have not been" to places such as Piedmont Arts Association (PAA). Others were not aware that the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Museum exists, she said. Others might not realize that museum exhibits change."I've encountered people who say, ‘Yes I've been to PAA,'" for example, but later in the discussion, Doss said she finds the visit could have been five years ago or more.That is one reason "we are trying to tour different types of venues" on each tour, said Doss, who took over the helm of the tourism division in January.The next tour will be held in September. For more information or to register, call Doss at 403-5949 or e-mail her at jdoss@yesmartinsville.com. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/79 Friday, 02 July 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Participants will utilize computers to add businesses to Google Maps, Twitter, Facebook and Virginia.org. Two sessions will be offered – 10AM to 12PM and 2:30PM.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Lisa WilsonDirector of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial DivisionMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lwilson@yesmartinsville.com     Internet Marketing Workshop Scheduled for July 13th on Mobile Unit  ~Virginia State University Mobile Computer Lab Coming to Martinsville~Martinsville, VA (July 2) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting an Internet Marketing: From Google Maps to Facebook workshop to assist businesses with internet marketing techniques. Participants will utilize computers on board the Virginia State University Mobile Computer Lab to add businesses to Google Maps, Twitter, Facebook and Virginia.org. The event is scheduled on July 13th, and two sessions will be offered - 10AM to 12PM and 2:30PM to 4:30PM in the Liberty Fair Mall parking lot near Belk.This event is free and is being brought to the Martinsville-Henry County community in partnership with Virginia Tourism Corporation, Virginia Cooperative Extension, the EDC's Tourism Division and Virginia State University. "This unique training opportunity is an exciting way to learn how to promote your goods and services through internet marketing", said Lisa Wilson, Director of the Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. "We want to help businesses be more visible and accessible to potential customers so that they can improve chances for success", she added.Registration for the Internet Marketing Workshop is required and is available by calling 276-403-5940 or by visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/smallbusiness.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                                   #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/78 Friday, 25 June 2010 12:00:00 +0000

RICHMOND- Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Monogram Food Solutions, LLC will invest $4 million to expand its operation in Henry County, creating 150 new jobs.

Commonwealth of VirginiaOffice of Governor Bob McDonnell FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 25, 2010Office of the GovernorContact: Stacey JohnsonPhone: (804) 225-4260E-mail: Stacey.Johnson@Governor.Virginia.GovVirginia Economic Development PartnershipContact: Christie MillerPhone: (804) 545-5805E-mail: CMiller@yesvirginia.orgMonogram Food Solutions, LLCContact: Karl SchledwitzPhone: 901-259-6657Governor McDonnell Announces Monogram Food Solutions Expansion in Henry County            ~Company to invest $4 million and create 150 new jobs~RICHMOND- Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Monogram Food Solutions, LLC, a Memphis-based manufacturer of value-added processed meats, will invest $4 million to expand its operation in Henry County, creating 150 new jobs. Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling joined company officials, business and government leaders today on the Governor's behalf to announce the expansion project. Virginia successfully competed against two other states for the project.      In August 2009 the company announced its purchase of the meat snack business of American Foods Group division, Knauss Snack Food Company, in Henry County.     Speaking about today's announcement, Governor McDonnell commented, "This facility has a long history of success, starting with Knauss' relocation from Pennsylvania in 2002. Most recently, Monogram Food Solutions expanded in 2009 and created an additional 120 new jobs. The company is a strong corporate partner to Henry County, and I applaud this additional growth and investment less than one year later. "      "The business expansion and job creation we announce today is good news for Southern Virginia and another indication that our economy is turning the corner," said Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling. "In a short period of time, Monogram Foods has become a job creation leader in Martinsville and Henry County, and we look forward to working with them to achieve even greater successes in the years to come. With this announcement and others like it in recent months, it is clear that we are doing the right things to get our economy growing again. If we keep working hard, I am confident that we will continue to see more positive results like those we announce today."     Founded in 2004 when a group of Memphis investors bought King Cotton and Circle B Brand Meats business from Sara Lee Corporation, Monogram Food Solutions is dedicated to providing innovative and top-quality food products that consumers love to eat. Monogram Meat Snacks, a division of Monogram Food Solutions, is one of the nation's largest manufacturers of quality meat snacks, including jerky, meat and cheese snacks, kippered beef sticks and pickled sausages. Monogram's products, all made in the U.S.A., include King Cotton, Circle B, Wild Bill's, O'Brien's, Trail's Best, Pete's Pride, Hannah's, Bull's, Jeff Foxworthy and Bass Pro Shop's Uncle Buck's Licensed Products. Monogram Food Solutions also produces a wide variety of private label brand meat snacks, smoked meats, corn dogs and fritters for strategic partners across the country. Monogram operates facilities in Tennessee, Minnesota, and Indiana as well as the Martinsville, VA plant.     "We chose Virginia for our business expansion for a variety of key reasons", said Karl Schledwitz, Chairman and CEO of Monogram Food Solutions. "First, we are highly impressed with the Henry County work force. Our employees are talented and dedicated to making high quality meat products efficiently. With Henry County's high unemployment rate, there are many additional fine people in need of a good job, and we are pleased to add them to our family. Second, the Commonwealth of Virginia is blessed to have a Governor, the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission and state and local economic development corporations that worked well with us to make this possible."     The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $100,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $450,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.     "We are thrilled that Monogram Food Solutions once again has chosen to expand its Henry County operations," said Debra Buchanan, Chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. "Monogram is the epitome of a great corporate partner and a great friend of this community, and we look forward to many years of growth."                                                                 ### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/77 Friday, 11 June 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The EDC will offer an introduction to exporting seminar, "Expanding Your Business Through Exporting" on Thursday, June 24th from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the Virginia Museum of Natural History.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Leigh CockramVice PresidentMartinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation276.403.5940lcockram@yesmartinsville.com                                          Exporting Seminar to be Offered                         ~Seminar to provide information about exporting~Martinsville, VA (June 11, 2010) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation will offer an introduction to exporting seminar, "Expanding Your Business Through Exporting" on Thursday, June 24th from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership's International Trade Manager, Ralph Torning, will be discussing the free assistance his office can provide companies with respect to exporting goods. "Our goal is to assist our existing businesses with expanding sales to the international market", said Leigh Cockram, Vice President of the EDC. "Exporting can be a great way to diversify a company's client base, especially in our economy."The event will be appropriate for both large and small companies.The seminar is free, and registration is available online at www.yesmartinsville.com/SmallBusiness/Events or by calling the EDC at 276-403-5940.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                                       #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/108 Tuesday, 25 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The purpose of the memorandum is for the agencies to partner in strengthening and expanding small business development in the local area.

Release Date: May 25, 2010 Contact: Peggy FaJohn (804) 771-2400Email: margaret.fajohn@sba.govFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESBA and Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporationsign Strategic Alliance MemorandumRICHMOND, Va. - Ronald E. Bew, District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Richmond District Office and Mark Heath, Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's President and CEO, signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) intended to develop and foster mutual understanding and a working relationship between the SBA and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) in order to further strengthen and expand small business development in the local area. "This Strategic Alliance Memorandum is part of an ongoing effort by the SBA to reach small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout Virginia with procurement opportunities, financial information and technical assistance. This agreement is a formal acknowledgement of our ongoing support", Ron Bew, district director of SBA's Richmond District Office. Under the SAM, the SBA will provide the EDC with up-to-date information about SBA's programs and services, conduct ongoing training of the EDC's staff and volunteers, offer marketing support, and make available to the EDC select SBA resources such as well-regarded speakers to participate in EDC workshops, conferences, seminars and other activities, web site content, research and other publications. In return, the EDC will disseminate SBA-provided information, participate in SBA-sponsored events, and collaborate with SBA and its other Resource Partners of business development services available to small businesses in the Greater Martinsville-Henry County area."Today we celebrate an exciting milestone that builds upon the current growth and development of startups and existing small businesses in Martinsville and Henry County, Virginia," said Heath. "The strategic alliance memorandum with the EDC and SBA strengthens an existing partnership that will benefit local small businesses," he added.In the Small Business Act of July 30, 1953, Congress created the U.S. Small Business Administration, whose function is to "aid, counsel, assist, and protect, insofar as is possible, the interests of small business concerns." Since its founding more than a half-century ago, the U.S. Small Business Administration has delivered about 24 million loans, loan guaranties, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses; in addition to advocating on behalf of small business within the government. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.Services provided by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division include but are not limited to: business plan writing; business licensing and permitting guidance; education and training; facilitation of loans and capital sources; project management; sales and marketing assistance; e-commerce facilitation; networking opportunities; professional services referrals; connection to international trade; and small business certification guidance.                                                       ### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/74 Monday, 10 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

By ELIZA WINSTON - Bulletin Staff Writer. Motorcyclists from throughout the state have been roaring into Martinsville for about a month, and a local tourism official is rolling out the welcome mat.

By ELIZA WINSTON - Bulletin Staff Writer Motorcyclists from throughout the state have been roaring into Martinsville for about a month, and a local tourism official is rolling out the welcome mat.Martinsville is participating in a program called the Motorcycle Grand Tour of Virginia, said Jennifer Doss, director of tourism for the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC). Managed by the Governor's Motorcycle Council of Virginia, the tour includes more than 80 sites throughout the state.For each site they visit between April and November, enrolled motorcyclists receive a stamp for passports they carry with them, Doss said. The stamps can be redeemed for prizes, including a grand prize vacation package for two to Virginia Beach. In little more than a month, the tour already is drawing visitors to the area, Doss said."Since the program began last month, we have had riders from Powhatan, Warrenton, Natural Bridge, Gladstone, Alton, Virginia Beach, Suffolk and Lynchburg come to the Visitor Center to receive their stamps," she said. "The motorcyclists also got the opportunity to experience the hospitality that the people of Martinsville and Henry have to offer, so they will want to come back and visit again."Doss said the program is creating a positive economic impact for the community because the riders purchase gas and lunch while they are in the area. She added that several of the riders have stayed to see local attractions after learning about them at the Visitor Center.She added that out of all the sites on the tour, Martinsville is the only mandatory stop in southern Virginia.The prizes available also include gift certificates for various restaurants and hotels across Virginia, museum tickets and passes for events. Among the prizes are four tickets to the Martinsville Mustangs and an overnight stay with breakfast for two at Primland in Patrick County.According to the tour's website, "Riders will have a unique opportunity to explore the rich heritage, vibrant culture, and of course, great motorcycling roads that run throughout the commonwealth." According to the website, www.vamotorcycletour.com, the Governor's Motorcycle Council of Virginia promotes motorcycle-related tourism, economic development and motorcycle safety in the commonwealth. The program began April 10, and all official Virginia Grand Tour passports must be submitted by Nov. 1. Those who are interested may register at www.vamotorcycletour.com. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/73 Friday, 07 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. The EDC's Tourism Division is touting the economic impact of visitors to the area as part of National Tourism Week, May 8-16. Tourism is one of Virginia's most powerful industries.

For Immediate Release: May 7, 2010Local Contact Info: Jennifer Doss, 276-403-5949, jdoss@YesMartinsville.comVTC Media Contact:  Tamra Talmadge-Anderson, 804-545-5573, ttanderson@virginia.orgMartinsville-Henry County Touts Economic Impact of Visitors During National Tourism Week          -Tourism Means Business for Virginia - $19.2 billion in revenue and 210,000 jobs-(Martinsville, Va.) The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Tourism Division is touting the economic impact of visitors to the area as part of National Tourism Week, May 8-16. Tourism is one of Virginia's most powerful industries, generating $19.2 billion in revenue, supporting 210,000 jobs and providing $1.28 billion in state and local taxes.Locally, tourism has a significant impact on the area's economy. Data compiled by the U.S. Travel Association shows that tourism in Martinsville-Henry County, Virginia brings in $61.27 million in revenue, supports 780 jobs and generates $1.37 million in local taxes. A number of activities will be held locally during National Tourism Week including the Fieldale Heritage Festival, craft workshops, the Opening of Expressions 2010 at Piedmont Arts, guided tours of Infinity Acres Petting Ranch, a Classic Car Cruise-In in UpTown, a remote control aircraft show, presentations on local history, StadiumCross Racing at Lake Sugar Tree and several musical events. "National Tourism Week kicks off the summer travel season here in Martinsville-Henry County. We are pleased to invite guests to visit our area so that they may discover all that we have to offer" said Jennifer Doss, director of tourism for Martinsville-Henry County. "New marketing strategies paired with a fresh new look for our local Visitor Center will help increase awareness throughout the southeast of Martinsville-Henry County's ability to be a tourist destination. Art & culture, natural resources, motorsports and discount furniture shopping are just some of the many offerings that visitors to our area can enjoy." The Virginia Tourism Corporation, the state agency responsible for marketing Virginia to travelers from across the globe, is partnering with local tourism offices statewide to shine a spotlight on the power of tourism."Tourism is an instant source of revenue for Virginia," said Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. "Our marketing efforts bring visitors to communities across the commonwealth, in turn supporting local businesses and jobs. The state tax revenue alone generated by tourism is enough to educate 78,000 Virginia students or employ 11,500 state police officers." Other facts about tourism in Virginia:• Virginia ranks eighth in the nation for domestic visitor spending. • Every $1 Virginia invests in tourism marketing generates $5 in tax revenue alone.• Virginia is for Lovers is one of the most recognized and celebrated tourism brands in the country.• Virginia is within a day's drive or less of 60 percent of the U.S. population, adding to the state's appeal and value as a destination.• The Virginia Travel Guide is free to anyone by visiting www.VisitMartinsville.com or calling 1-888-PACE-4-YU.For more information about travel and tourism in Virginia and to plan a vacation, go to www.Virginia.org. Information on attractions, events and venues in Martinsville-Henry County, Virginia can be seen at www.VisitMartinsville.com or at the Visitor Center located at 54 West Church Street in Martinsville.                                                                                ### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/75 Friday, 07 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. This free, hands-on workshop will assist entrepreneurs with developing and writing a three-year strategic plan.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa Wilson                Director of Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division                Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation                276.403.5940                lwilson@yesmartinsville.com                                   FastTrac Listening to Your BusinessTM Now Offered                     ~Workshop to provide help with creating a three-year strategic plan~Martinsville, VA (May 7, 2010) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division will offer Listening to Your BusinessTM for the first time in the community on May 13th, from 8:30AM to 12:30PM at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. This free, hands-on workshop will assist entrepreneurs with developing and writing a three-year strategic plan. The four-hour event will help entrepreneurs examine business today, including its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities; visualize business three years out; formulate an internal planning process to establish interim goals and strategies; identify resources to assist reaching business goals, and examine and respond to challenges and transitions."Participants will learn by doing and will leave confident and motivated," says Lisa Wilson, Director of the Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. "The program is appropriate whether you've been in business for twenty years or just getting started," Wilson added. Seating is limited for this event and registration is required to participate. Registration is available online at www.yesmartinsville.com/smallbusiness or by calling the EDC at 276.403.5940.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.                                                                                #### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/72 Thursday, 29 April 2010 12:00:00 +0000

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Faneuil Inc. will hire at least 250 employees during the next three years for a call center it will open in August at The Clock Tower at Commonwealth Centre.

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Faneuil Inc. will hire at least 250 employees during the next three years for a call center it will open in August at The Clock Tower at Commonwealth Centre in Martinsville, state and local officials announced Wednesday. The call center will serve customers of Dominion Virginia Power, a company that supplies electricity to other parts of the state, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling said during an announcement at the Martinsville Municipal Building.A recruitment center will open soon at Commonwealth Centre, said Faneuil President and Chief Executive Officer Anna Van Buren. Hiring is expected to begin in June, she said.Employees of the call center will earn an average wage of $10.78 per hour, according to Leigh Cockram, vice president of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC).Faneuil will invest at least $2.4 million in its Martinsville facility, Bolling said.The firm received $590,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. It also is eligible for state enterprise zone benefits and tax credits, said Bolling.Martinsville Mayor Kathy Lawson called Faneuil's recruitment "one step forward" to a better economy for the Martinsville area, which has the state's highest unemployment rate - 22 percent in March - due to numerous job losses in recent years."Job well done," Lawson told officials with the EDC, which helped to recruit Faneuil in cooperation with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership."Things like this don't happen without a lot of hard work by a lot of people," added state Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Ridgeway."Our No. 1 priority is to get the economy moving again and create jobs," Bolling said of state officials.He said he thinks Southside has major potential for economic growth."You've done everything you can do" to attract businesses and industries, Bolling told local officials. "Just keep your nose to the grindstone."At a special meeting on Wednesday before the recruitment announcement, the Martinsville City Council unanimously approved a performance agreement between Faneuil, the city and the tobacco commission.The agreement shows that if it does not meet hiring and investment quotas in 36 months, Faneuil will repay to the city pro-rated shares of the tobacco commission grant. The city is responsible for repaying the commission.Faneuil must spend at least $1 million toward its required investment before it receives any grant money, the agreement says.Van Buren said Faneuil will hire at least 250 people and aims to eventually employ at least 350 at its local call center. She said the firm plans to be "a long-term corporate citizen" in the Martinsville area.Dominion Virginia is a subsidiary of Richmond-based Dominion Resources, an electricity and natural gas provider with operations in various states.Hampton-based Faneuil operates other call centers in Virginia. Noting that Dominion Virginia is a new client, Van Buren said, "we have not lost a client yet."The Martinsville call center initially will take calls from customers of Dominion Virginia for connections and disconnections of electrical service, officials said.Eventually, the center may take calls from customers about other matters, such as billing, said Dominion Virginia Chief Executive Officer Paul Koonce.The center is expected to eventually handle between 800,000 and 1 million calls per year, said Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, who serves on the tobacco commission.Dominion Virginia was involved with Faneuil in choosing the Martinsville site. Koonce said the company wanted the call center to be in a place with lots of skilled yet trainable workers, as well as in a place away from the coast so the center is not subject to phone service outages due to coastal storms.Martinsville-Henry County "stood out for its business-friendly climate," he said."We have literally fallen in love with the city of Martinsville," Van Buren said of Faneuil."We've opened a lot of call centers, but we've never felt more welcome" anywhere else, she said. "The hospitality here is unbelievable."As an example, she mentioned that when she told an employee at a local hotel that she was considering opening a business locally, the employee became excited and gave her a discount on the price of her room.Bolling presented Van Buren a state flag, and Lawson gave her a flag with Martinsville's city emblem, to fly outside the call center. Lawson also gave Van Buren a wooden bowl made by a local artisan.Commonwealth Centre is the former Tultex Corp. factory off Franklin Street and Commonwealth Boulevard, which now is owned by The Lester Group and has been renovated for commercial and office space.YoungWilliams Child Support Services already operates a call center there that takes calls for the state Division of Child Support Enforcement.At first, Faneuil plans to occupy about 12,000 square feet in the building, Van Buren said. The four-story building covers about 175,000 square feet.George W. Lester II, chief executive officer of The Lester Group, said he hopes Faneuil eventually will "take the whole top floor."Lester, Van Buren and Koonce all said they could not immediately recall how much Faneuil will pay to lease its space in Commonwealth Centre. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/71 Wednesday, 28 April 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Faneuil, Inc. will invest $2.4 million to establish a customer support center in Martinsville to service its Dominion Virginia Power contract.

Commonwealth of VirginiaOffice of Governor Bob McDonnell FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 28, 2010Office of the GovernorContact: Stacey JohnsonPhone: (804) 225-4260E-mail: Stacey.Johnson@Governor.Virginia.GovVirginia Economic Development PartnershipContact: Christie MillerPhone: (804) 545-5805E-mail: CMiller@yesvirginia.orgFaneuil, Inc.Contact: Anna Van BurenPhone: (757) 262-9600Dominion Virginia PowerContact: David BotkinsPhone: (804) 771-4117Governor McDonnell Announces 250 New Jobs in Martinsville~Faneuil, Inc. to establish customer service center for Dominion Virginia Power contract~RICHMOND- Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Faneuil, Inc., a provider of customer support solutions for government and private sector customers, will invest $2.4 million to establish a customer support center in Martinsville to service its Dominion Virginia Power contract. Faneuil will also supplement with additional contract work. Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling joined business and government leaders today on the Governor's behalf to announce the project, which will create 250 new jobs.      Speaking about today's announcement, Governor McDonnell commented, "Dominion Virginia Power's decision to locate its customer service center in Martinsville demonstrates its commitment to the Commonwealth. This locality has been hit hard with job losses in recent years and Dominion felt strongly about assisting the community in its recovery efforts. We welcome Faneuil, a Hampton, Virginia-based company, and the 250 new employment opportunities that will help Southern Virginia continue to rebound."      Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling said, "Governor McDonnell and I have made clear that our number one priority is getting our economy moving again and creating jobs, and we have placed a high priority on creating jobs in Southern Virginia and other economically distressed regions of our state. Today's announcement is proof that those efforts can succeed, and we hope it is just the beginning of many such announcements in the months and years to come. Faneuil and Dominion Virginia Power are key corporate citizens in Virginia, and I applaud them and everyone else involved in this process for securing these 250 new jobs the citizens of the region."     Faneuil, Inc. is a leading outsource provider of multi-channel customer contact services offering solutions with creativity, innovation, and flexibility. As a "boutique" call center provider, the company refines its operations to closely fit the culture of their clients. Faneuil currently has more than 2,800 employees and is responsible for millions of customer transactions each day. Clients include the Virginia Department of Transportation E-ZPass operations, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation, Miami Dade Expressway and Florida's Turnpike Enterprise for whom Faneuil operates the SunPass® Electronic Toll Collection Program and the Revenue Collection Services Program.      Dominion (NYSE:D) is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of more than 27,500 megawatts of generation. Dominion operates the nation's largest natural gas storage system and serves retail energy customers in 12 states.     Faneuil CEO, Anna Van Buren said, "The entire Faneuil team is very excited to expand our presence in Virginia by partnering with Dominion Virginia Power. The combination of an available regional workforce, outstanding training support, and the commitment of the leadership in Martinsville will provide Faneuil with the tools to successfully expand our business while creating employment opportunities in the area. We look forward to joining the community as a long-term corporate citizen in Martinsville."      "Virginia's regulatory and business climate allows Dominion to make this kind of significant investment," said Thomas F. Farrell II, Chairman, President, & CEO of Dominion. "Our new customer care welcome center will add value for our customers. We are extremely pleased about helping create jobs in Martinsville."     The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $590,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. The company is also eligible to receive a Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit as well as state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.     Mayor of Martinsville, Kathy Lawson said, "This is a great day for the city of Martinsville. Over the past decade we have seen monumental losses in the job market. Today we have a new beginning for our community, giving hope and faith that things are about to change. We look forward to a long relationship with Faneuil and welcome them as our new neighbor."     "I am confident that Faneuil and Dominion will be great corporate partners in this significant endeavor," said Senator Roscoe Reynolds, a Commissioner of The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. "I am glad that the Tobacco Commission was able to play a role in ensuring that this customer support center located in Martinsville, and look forward to the positive results that will benefit Southern Virginia."About the Virginia Economic Development PartnershipThe Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), a marketing organization, was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1995 to encourage, stimulate, and support the development and expansion of the economy of the Commonwealth. The Partnership is a state authority, which is governed by a 22-member Board of Directors appointed by the Governor and the Virginia General Assembly. To accomplish its objectives of promoting economic expansion within the Commonwealth, the Partnership focuses its efforts on business recruitment, expansion and international trade. VEDP has offices in Virginia, Belgium, Hong Kong, Mexico and Japan.### http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/70 Tuesday, 27 April 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The skill and work ethic of its employees made the company's meat snacks plant in the Patriot Centre successful, Schledwitz said during a ceremony at which Gov. McDonnell gave them a $2 million check.

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer Nobody makes beef jerky like people in Henry County and Martinsville, according to Monogram Snacks Chairman and CEO Karl Schledwitz.The skill and work ethic of its employees are what has made the company's meat snacks plant in the Patriot Centre successful, Schledwitz said Monday during a ceremony at which Gov. Bob McDonnell gave Monogram a $2 million check. The money will be used toward expansion at the plant.Having expanded its local work force, Monogram is "really something worth investing in," McDonnell said.Schledwitz said the plant makes Slim Jim products for ConAgra Foods and is the only plant not run by that company that is allowed to make the products.ConAgra executives have said "we make it better here than anywhere else" (one of that company's plants) and they aim to visit the Patriot Centre plant to make observations to improve production at their plants, Schledwitz said.Monogram acquired its local plant from Knauss Snack Food Co. last summer. Since then, the company has invested more than $10 million in the plant and has added more than 200 full-time and temporary jobs since it started operating the facility in September, according to company officials.When Monogram acquired the plant, it already employed more than 100 people, officials said at the time.Sales generated from the plant have more than doubled and the production volume has increased 58 percent since then, company officials said Monday.Schledwitz said Monogram sought to acquire the plant and expand its work force because the plant had "lots of skilled labor" and many area residents who are skilled were "anxious to get back to work" at the time."We're working very hard" to find ways to further expand the plant and its work force in the future, he said.The Virginia Small Business Financing Authority provided the $2 million that McDonnell presented to Monogram on Monday. The money is a loan that will help the company pay for new smokehouses and packaging equipment that will help the plant expand its product lines, Schledwitz said.Some of the equipment already has been installed, he said.The loan will be repaid over 10 years, he added.Leon Moore, chairman of the financing authority, said that for every dollar the authority has invested in loans to businesses, nearly $6 in revenue has been generated for the state.Based on his experience as a banker in Floyd County, "that's pretty good," he said.McDonnell said Southside has suffered from job losses "more than any other region in the state.""One of the things we can do for you at the state," he said, "... is creating working capital" such as the loan to help area companies expand and create jobs, he said."There's nothing like a job" to give a person a sense of satisfaction and self-worth, McDonnell said."You can count on me" to be a governor whose focus is to get jobs created, he said.Amy Lampe, vice chairman of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp., noted that attracting new industries is important."But equally key," she said, ... "is working with and maintaining relationships with existing businesses" such as Monogram to help them grow and prosper.Monogram Snacks is a division of Monogram Food Solutions, a Memphis-based maker of branded processed meats. The company also has plants in Tennessee, Minnesota and Indiana.Debra Buchanan, chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors, called Monogram "one of our terrific corporate leaders.""Your company is very important to us," she told members of Monogram's board of directors. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/69 Monday, 29 March 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Letter to Editor - from Lynn Pritchett. "Our region is very fortunate to have such wonderful leaders and organizations that facilitate and empower citizens who have lost jobs and need guidance."

From VirginiaBusiness.comTo the Editor,The FastTrac class is designed to help participants create a business plan and to test the feasibility of that business before it is launched ["Hope despite hard time," February issue]. I was enrolled in the same FastTrac class with Darla [Main-Schneider, a former manufacturing manager who started a bakery in Martinsville]. Lisa Fultz (now Lisa Wilson) provided wonderful support, encouraging us as we imagined and created our business plans. Darla started the class when we were almost halfway done, and worked extra long hours to catch up with the rest of us.She makes some awesome bagels and delicious artisan breads. I really admire her entrepreneurial spirit!My dream is to create a profitable bed-and-breakfast enterprise that would help support eco-tourism and welcome new residents to our community. I've met some fascinating people, and we actually made a profit last year!Our region is very fortunate to have such wonderful leaders and organizations that facilitate and empower citizens who have lost jobs and need guidance. Thanks, Lisa, for creating such a nurturing environment and introducing us to some great community professionals to support our dreams. And thanks, Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. staff members. I appreciate all of you.Lynn PritchettMartinsville http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/62 Sunday, 28 March 2010 12:00:00 +0000

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. EDC Tourism Director Jennifer Doss thinks Henry County and Martinsville have enough attractions to entice tourists to come here and stay a week or longer.

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Jennifer Doss thinks Henry County and Martinsville have enough attractions to entice tourists to come here and stay a week or longer. Those attractions include historical sites, recreation opportunities, arts and cultural amenities and outlet stores, said Doss, the new director of tourism for the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC).Her personal interests in those types of attractions prompted her to apply for the job, which she started in January. Her duties include finding ways to promote the community and its attractions that entice tourists to visit and spend money, thereby strengthening the local economy."Tourism is a major economic driver for our community," said Doss, formerly rivers and trails project manager for the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA)."Everyone benefits from tourism," even if their jobs do not directly pertain to it, she said. For instance, if a visitor's car breaks down, a local mechanic can fix it, and money the mechanic is paid is then spent in the community.Statistics cited by Doss show that tourism in Virginia last year generated $17.7 billion in revenue and supported 208,000 jobs statewide.She does not yet have figures showing how much revenue and how many jobs tourism supports in Henry County and Martinsville.However, a DRBA study showed that visitors who come to the area to hike along local trails collectively spend thousands of dollars a year on items such as food, gasoline and hiking equipment, she noted.Henry County and Martinsville have things to interest practically anyone, according to Doss.For instance, she said, history lovers can learn about Colonial-era governor Patrick Henry, who lived in the area for part of his life. They can find out about local history at the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Museum, research family history at the Bassett Historical Center and visit the Virginia Museum of Natural History to learn what the Earth was like many centuries ago.Outdoor enthusiasts can walk and hike along local trails or go fishing along the Smith River. Arts and culture lovers can visit Piedmont Arts Association and attend TheatreWorks performances, and shoppers can find bargains at local furniture outlets and the J.C. Penney Outlet store, she said.Managers at those stores have told her that the outlets attract shoppers who live three hours or more away, she added.Also, visitors can buy works of local artists - things "they can't get anywhere else in the world" - at the Southern Virginia Artisan Center uptown, said Doss."All of these (attractions) play a huge role in developing a package (of opportunities) that will entice people to come" to the area, she said.But first they must be made aware of those attractions.Under Doss' leadership, the EDC is launching an advertising campaign to promote the area to visitors. Ads will be published in several publications focusing on the region and southeastern United States, she said.A Web site, www.visitmartinsville.com, has information about area attractions, and Doss is striving to keep it updated daily. She also is using social networking opportunities to tell people about things to see and do.A toll-free phone number, 1-888-PACE4YU, has been set up so people who plan to visit the area can order free packages of information on attractions.Through those venues, information on Henry County and Martinsville is "reaching just about every state in the nation," Doss said.The area already is receiving a lot of tourists. A log at the visitor's center uptown shows that in the past month, tourists have come to Henry County-Martinsville from all over Virginia and as far as California and New York.But the EDC does not know how many tourists actually are visiting the area. Doss said a survey that is being developed for distribution at motels will help officials keep track of tourist numbers.She noted that in a survey conducted by the Martinsville Speedway, race fans rated the community as the friendliest place to watch a NASCAR race."That speaks very highly of us," she said.To motivate race fans to "take a right turn out of the speedway parking lot and go into town," Doss said the EDC and local restaurants are working on a promotion for the fall race at the speedway. When fans receive race tickets they order, they also will get a discount coupon for a restaurant, she said.The EDC also is developing package deals with area motels in which visitors can pay a set fee for lodging, meals and admission to attractions, she said. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/61 Friday, 26 March 2010 12:00:00 +0000

This event is free and will cover the basics in marketing, components of an effective marketing plan, where to obtain marketing research, and creative marketing techniques.

Martinsville, VA (March 26) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting an Effective Marketing Workshop to help participants write a marketing plan for maximum results. The event is scheduled for April 13th from 12 PM to 1 PM at the Virginia Museum of Natural History.This event is free and will cover the basics in marketing, components of an effective marketing plan, where to obtain marketing research, and creative marketing techniques. Sandra Tanner of the Virginia Tourism Corporation will be the guest speaker. This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking during lunch.Registration for the Effective Marketing Workshop is required and is available by calling 276-403-5940 or by visiting www.YesMartinsville.com/smallbusiness.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/67 Friday, 26 March 2010 12:00:00 +0000

By Rick Houston, Special to NASCAR.COM. Owner of the de Spot Art Gallery in Martinsville, Va., Karen Despot offers regular art lessons to those in and around the Martinsville area.

By Rick Houston, Special to NASCAR.COM. You may not be the next Picasso, Rembrandt, Van Gogh or Sam Bass. You may not even be able to draw a stick figure, but that's OK. Karen Despot has your back. Owner of the de Spot Art Gallery in Martinsville, Va., Despot offers regular art lessons to those in and around the Martinsville area. Here's how good she is ... not too long ago, she was tasked with teaching art to a group of middle-school boys (and we all know how serious they are). According to Despot, some were better than others, but they all enjoyed the class and got something out of it.A few of the young men plan to continue the lessons. How about that?"I teach private lessons, just like you would take piano lessons," Despot said. "I teach drawing lessons. I'll do whatever you want to do -- oil painting, acrylic painting, drawing, colored pencil."I love to share art with people who have an interest in it [but] think they can't draw, can't paint. I can get you to do something that you didn't think you could do and just be really, really proud of yourself."I didn't know that I was a good teacher. ... When you're an artist, you are never going to be a teacher because only people that aren't good at art teach. I found out I loved it. They tell me I'm good at it. Maybe it's because I love it so much."Despot has a rather eclectic resume. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Akron in 1980, she worked several years as an art and creative director for ad agencies in Florida and North Carolina. In 1985, she began a career as a freelance artist and wedding/evening gown couturier.Five years later, she moved to Martinsville and picked up additional interests in doll making, portrait painting, mural and scenic furniture painting and fiber art. She also taught middle-school art from 2001-2005."I swear I'm ADD," Despot said with a laugh. "I think all artists have something funky going on there, because you can't do just one thing. People will say, 'Karen, what are you doing this year?'"The de Spot Art Gallery was opened in October 2005, and she now specializes in portraits. Her artwork is exquisite, with an incredible, almost photographic, attention to detail. She did another three-dimensional piece of artwork for Martinsville Speedway in which she scanned an old photograph onto fabric, then painted a modern scene before finally adding actual tire marbles from the track and lug nuts.The original is now on display at the track."That's the way I like to do them," Despot said, referring to the minute details in her paintings. "There are other people that paint very loosely. My background is in graphic design. Back in the 1970s, we didn't have computers. Everything was done with a T-square and a graph pen. You had to be very detailed. You had to be able to do hand lettering. So, I'm detail-oriented. Sewing is detail oriented. You can't sew a wedding gown and sew all those beads on by hand if you're not detail oriented, so my paintings end up being that way also."Both with animals and people [portraits], you start getting a connection. Whether you're doing it from a photograph or doing it from life, you get a connection to that person or to that animal. It's just really satisfying when it's done. It's not like doing a flower. It doesn't speak to you. The eyes once they get done, the gestures of the person, the skin color, the surroundings that they're in -- there's just a life and a vitality to them."Find this article at: http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/business/03/26/small.business.martinsville   http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/65 Wednesday, 24 March 2010 12:00:00 +0000

By CHASE YOUNG - Bulletin Sports Writer. The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. teamed with Martinsville Speedway to give tickets to local fans.

By CHASE YOUNG - Bulletin Sports Writer. The long road into NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series offered Timothy Peters, the man behind the wheel of Red Horse Racing's No. 17 Toyota, a unique opportunity on Tuesday: A chance to give something back to the fans who help fuel his career. Peters took to the road Tuesday, knocking on the doors of local race fans to give them tickets to the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup race scheduled for Sunday at Martinsville Speedway."These folks work hard, and I applaud the EDC tourism, Martinsville Speedway, Toyota and even the Danville Welcome Center for tourism where I live at for taking the initiative ... to give them excitement and enjoyment," said Peters, a Danville native. "I'm just glad and thankful that they allowed me to go do it."One of his many stops took him to Bassett, where he met Anthony and Robin Corriher, a family whose love for racing outweighed their lack of resources in these tough economic times."It's great to be able to give Anthony a gift without having to use his money to buy it," said Robin Corriher jokingly. "It's something fun that we can look forward to going to and enjoying without spending a whole lot of money to go."Anthony Corriher, who spends much of his time on the road as a truck driver, received the gift thanks to his wife, who took the initiative when the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. teamed with Martinsville Speedway to give tickets to local fans.The contest asked fans to refer their Facebook friends to the EDC's Facebook page. Contest winners, such as Robin Corriher, referred more people to the EDC's Facebook page than any others."I think it's real cool," said Anthony Corriher. "Thanks a lot. It means the world to me. I've got an excellent wife. It wouldn't have happened without her."Danville residents Ronnie Durham and Patricia Dudley also won tickets to Sunday's race.Like his fans, Peters is no stranger to the idea of being on the outside looking in."I really enjoyed it. The fans are what it's all about. It's very emotional, and it plays with your heart strings a little bit to come and do it, because I know where these folks are coming from because I've caught myself on the outside looking in," said Peters. The Danville resident got his start in NASCAR's truck circuit in 2005 at Martinsville. Like many careers, Peters' didn't find immediate success, but determination and a love for the sport have allowed him to prosper."I put myself in financial debt to revamp my career," said Peters. "I went to the '08 spring race in Martinsville, and I had $60 to my name to try and get my career back on track. It's just a gamble I took, and it paid off."The risk has paid dividends for Peters, who just last season was half of a two-man crew, struggling to maintain a viable spot in the sport he loves.That season, Peters' grit earned him his first career win as he took the checkered flag in the fall race at Martinsville Speedway.That success, coupled with an eighth place finish last season in the points standings, landed Peters a ride under Red Horse Racing's banner this season, and he didn't wait long to show his thanks.Peters held off Todd Bodine down the stretch to win NCWTS' season opener at Daytona and currently sits second in the standings, four points behind Bodine."I've shown that once you kinda have your mind cleared and you have the equipment for what it takes and all you have to do is concentrate on making that truck go round and round, it eases your mind where you can perform," said Peters. "I like having that feeling. I like being able to come to the race track knowing that when I strap in, that I'm 100 percent focused on trying to make that truck the best I can."While Peters said that his early success this season was due, at least in part, to the fact that he no longer shoulders the burden of being both owner and driver, there is more to it than just having a clearer mind.He added that part of his success is also due to the addition of crew chief Jeff Hensley, who joined Red Horse's No. 17 at the start of this season."Jeff Hensley speaks for himself. When I was told in the middle of December that he was coming on and he was going to be my crew chief, I was ecstatic," said Peters. "He has a very good record. He's well respected."Hensley, a former Nationwide Series driver, won both races at Martinsville in 2007 as the crew chief for Mike Skinner. And as a native of Ridgeway, he is no stranger to short-track racing."Jeff has the preparation down to a science, and I feel like we're going to the track better prepared than we have in the past," said Peters. "That's really the only difference that I see. Other than that, we're moving right along as planned, and it's an awesome feeling."Peters considers Martinsville his "home track," and with Hensley on the box and Red Horse Racing at his back, the mild-mannered driver hopes to continue the momentum that this season's early success has given."I'm very fortunate to have him on the box, and I honestly think that we're going to be in Victory Lane more than just Daytona," said Peters. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/64 Sunday, 21 March 2010 12:00:00 +0000

By JOHNNY BUCK - Bulletin Sports Editor. The Smith River College Showcase featured six men's college soccer teams on Saturday at the Smith River Sports Complex, drawing roughly 1,500 total spectators.

By JOHNNY BUCK - Bulletin Sports Editor. A brand new complex, a beautiful spring day and some live college soccer - it turned out to be a recipe for success. The Smith River College Showcase featured six men's college soccer teams on Saturday at the Smith River Sports Complex, drawing roughly 1,500 total spectators, according to Dennis Toney, SRSC executive director. "The coaches were really very positive about it," said Toney. "They all committed to come back again next year. So our hope would be we'd maybe expand it to eight to 10 teams, add more games, do a night session next year around a high school event. So that would be our way to do it I think.." College teams competing in the event were UNC-Greensboro, Radford, Virginia Tech, High Point, Longwood and Averett. Since college soccer is played in the fall, these games counted as spring scrimmages. Each team played twice on Saturday, meaning coaches had plenty of opportunities to get younger, less experienced team members on the field. "That's a big emphasis, to get those guys playing time and experience. And you know, with young kids it takes time.," said Mike Brizendine, Virginia Tech's head coach. "They've got to adjust and get used to the speed of play. So we've got a little ways to go. Again, I'm happy with some things, but some things are going to have to get better." Virginia Tech lost both of its games by the same 1-0 score. The first defeat came to High Point, while the last came to Radford. Radford forward Anthony Payne volleyed in the game winner against Virginia Tech on a long James Leith assist in the first half. "It's always good to beat Tech, you know?" he said afterward. "The team right next door you don't really like but you respect. It's always good to beat your neighbors." Radford lost to UNC-G 1-0 in an early game, and Longwood beat Averett 3-0. Scores for the High Point/Longwood and UNC-G/Averett games were not available late Saturday night. In addition to another men's showcase next year on the same weekend, Toney said he'd like to add a women's event. He said that showcase might be played on the Saturday of Martinsville Speedway's race weekend. If the reaction of men's coaches is any indication, Toney shouldn't have trouble finding women's teams to fill the bill. "It's wonderful. I'll tell ya, all of us are like, ‘Man, we would love to have a place like this in Blacksburg,'" said Brizendine. "It is really something. ... It was great, and I hope that we can get back down here next year." http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/66 Wednesday, 17 March 2010 12:00:00 +0000

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. The company, a subsidiary of Solutia Inc., unveiled a new laminating machine, known simply as Machine 35, at its Fieldale plant, according to Joe Stultz, plant

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. CPFilms Inc., which makes everything from cake plates to parts for Kindles, on Tuesday commissioned a new machine that it expects will translate into more business. The company, a subsidiary of Solutia Inc., unveiled a new laminating machine, known simply as Machine 35, at its Fieldale plant, according to Joe Stultz, plant manager.The equipment "represents an investment in CPFilms' growth strategy and investment in our community," he said.The company already is considered the largest manufacturer of solar control and safety window film used in everything from cars to engineering and buildings, officials said.It also makes components that are used to make everything from cake plates - cardboard overlaid with a colored film - to "high tech Kindles," which are wireless reading devices, according to Ricky Nelson, a production unit manager.Components made by the company also are used in different types of touch screens, such as those on many cell phones, iPods and Indigo watches, according to Nelson and Brian Wilson, who manages the sputtering area, where up to five metals can be uniformly deposited on film.Company officials said the manufacturing process begins with raw, optically clear polyester film that is dyed and then can be coated with a variety of metals to enhance solar control properties."Each product is custom built" according to customers' preferences, Wilson said. He added the sputtering department runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with 42 employees.In comparison, the laminating and coating unit (which is the next step in the manufacturing process) has a total of 82 employees - including 12 new employees needed to help run the new laminating machine, according to Carl Ratliff, the coating and laminating department manager. The new 80-foot-long equipment required a new room and other support facilities at the Fieldale plant, Nelson said.Company officials declined to say how much the equipment and facilities cost, but Nelson said "it represents a significant investment ... a multi-million dollar investment."The equipment allows different types of film to be coated in tandem (both sides at once), Ratliff said. He added that a scratch-resistant coating can be applied to one side while pressure sensitive coating is applied to the other. Film of various finishes is then cut and stored on different sized rolls for shipment to customers, officials said.The company produces LLumar window films, Vista window films, FormulaOne and Gila window films (for do-it-yourself projects), and has manufacturing space in Martinsville and California, officials said. It is headquartered in St. Louis, Mo.CPFilms began here in the mid-1950s as Martin Processing. Then, dyed yarn was made for use in carpets, officials said. The processing company was acquired by Courtauld's Performance Films in 1989 and a decade later by Solutia.Currently, it employs 3,100 worldwide, and 430 at the local facility, Stultz said http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/68 Sunday, 14 March 2010 12:00:00 +0000

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Jimmy McGarry issued a standing invitation to everyone considering a visit to the Smith River Sports Complex.

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Jimmy McGarry issued a standing invitation to everyone considering a visit to the Smith River Sports Complex. "Come. Just come here," he said during a recent visit there. "Everyone who has come here has been impressed."And don't be surprised to find McGarry there."Grab your soccer ball," said McGarry, a soccer aficionado, recently to another visitor.If the visitor had taken him up on that, no doubt McGarry would have been an eager participant in a pick-up game at the 90-acre multi-use sports complex that is located just off the U.S. 58 east bypass at the Irisburg Road (Virginia 650) exit.McGarry, 46, was elected chairman of the Southern Virginia Recreation Facilities Authority in January. He is a city appointee to the authority board."It was not a difficult decision" to accept the nomination, he said. "The complex is a great facility. It is good for our community."But the job is daunting because "we're a new, start-up organization. I've never started a new company before and basically, that is what we are," McGarry said.He praised the efforts of former chairman Bob Davis, who resigned from the post in January, and other board members who have worked diligently for the last six months to develop a clear vision for the future."Our vision is to be a center for local fitness and sports and also a center for regional sporting activities," McGarry said. "Starting from scratch is the hard part."The Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont paid more than $8 million to build the complex, which has two championship FieldTurf synthetic fields, three lighted full-size grass fields and a practice field.The complex opened last summer and then was turned over to the authority to operate, with the mission of not only providing for recreation but also serving as an economic driver to attract others to the area.It has enjoyed early success on both fronts, with a Piedmont Youth Soccer League tournament and a USA South Tournament last fall, McGarry said.Both attracted people to the area, he said. He added visitors stayed in area motels and ate in local restaurants.McGarry is confident more successes will follow, including a College Showcase, with teams from Virginia Tech, Radford University and several others, to be held Saturday."I think people will come. I think we have shown we can successfully put on these events" based on the two previous tournaments, he said. Each time a new person visits, "we hear nothing but flowing praise."McGarry started playing soccer when he was in middle school, and he is a member of the Old Martins, a local adult league that used to travel to Roanoke to play, Now, the team can play locally."We have a great facility for adult soccer. We've never had adult soccer in Martinsville before, McGarry said.But, he noted, "this is not just a soccer complex ... it's a sports complex."That flexibility likely will help lure visitors, he said, and explained that fields can be rented for tournaments, league games, clinics, camps, practices, band competitions and group outings."The fields can accommodate field hockey, lacrosse, Ultimate Frisbee" and other sports. "The turf fields already have some markers on them" for field hockey and lacrosse, McGarry said. There's even been talk of adding T-ball, he added.Legacy Court, in the center of the facility, includes concessions, rest rooms, meeting space and picnic pavilions, he said.Those amenities also are available for rent to churches, schools, businesses and individuals for birthday parties, family reunions and other events, McGarry said.A series of walking trails - a cement one which circles the complex and several natural surface trails through the woods - eventually will connect to adjacent property along the Smith River, he said."Any evening when the weather is clear," he encouraged visitors to stop and join the numerous people walking on the trails.The facility also includes a playground, a pond and a kayak/canoe launch on the Smith River.The authority continues to work on fulfilling its vision, McGarry said, and added that community support is a key to success. For example, volunteers are needed to help with events."We only have a staff of four. We need a lot of volunteer help" with collecting tickets, selling concessions, helping maintain the grounds, help set up or clean up after events and other tasks, McGarry said.Advertising opportunities also are available for businesses, from helping to sponsor events to naming rights of fields and other facilities at the complex, he said.The authority also is starting a friends group for people who would like to donate to the complex, with the cost beginning at $100, he said. He added that donations of any size are accepted.McGarry grew up in Louisiana and moved his family after earning his law degree at Washington & Lee University."I wanted to be in a small town," said McGarry, an attorney and partner at Young, Haskins, Mann, Gregory, McGarry & Wall, P.C. He lives in Martinsville with his wife, Donna; sons Randall and Ben, and daughter, Lauren."This is a good place. We've always been very happy here," McGarry said. Moving here "absolutely was the right choice." http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/60 Friday, 12 March 2010 12:00:00 +0000

This workshop will focus on how to write or improve an existing business plan, why it is so important to have a business plan, and resources available after completion of the business plan.

Martinsville, VA (March 12, 2010) - The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting a workshop that will provide assistance on how to write or perfect business plans. The free workshop is scheduled for March 18, at Rania's in Uptown Martinsville from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. "This workshop will focus on how to write or improve an existing business plan, why it is so important to have a business plan, and resources available after completion of the business plan," says Lisa Wilson, Director of the Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. "Lack of a written business plan or not following the plan often results in failure for a small business," Wilson added. This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC's Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking.Registration is required for this free workshop and is available online at www.yesmartinsville.com/smallbusiness or by calling the EDC at 276.403.5940.The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play.The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/9 Thursday, 11 February 2010 12:00:00 +0000

By HOLLY KOZELSKY - Bulletin Staff Writer. Martinsville's Nationwide Custom Homes plant will build the first modular home to be featured on the ABC show.

Feb 11, 2010By HOLLY KOZELSKY - Bulletin Staff Writer. How does a company build an entire house for free in nine days, with six weeks notice? The answer will be revealed in May or June on the season finale of the television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Part of the show was being filmed Wednesday in the Nationwide Custom Homes plant in Martinsville. On each episode of the program, which airs on the ABC network, a deserving person or family is provided with a new house donated by volunteers. The winner is notified and immediately sent away on vacation while volunteers build the new house on the recipient’s lot within a week. For the first time, the show will feature a modular home, said the show’s interior designer, Michael Moloney. The materials and time to build the house are being donated by Nationwide and its employees, and its windows are donated by West Window, also of Martinsville. In the plant Wednesday, dozens of Nationwide employees wearing blue Extreme Makeover T-shirts were involved constructing the sections of the house side by side. Among them roved a producer, a camera man, a sound technician and Moloney. “This is the first time we’ve done anything like this,” Moloney said. Previously, each house was built on location. “Seven days on location — it’s chaotic, dealing with the elements, and here it’s controlled. ... It shows America how efficient they (modular houses) are,” he said. Having the house arrive ready to assemble will mean the crew on site “will have much less work to do, and that is a great bonus,” Moloney said. “This house goes up in a matter of four hours, and we come in and do our magic” to finish and decorate it. Modular houses normally are painted and finished in the factory, but this house will be finished on site to suit the style of the family who will live in it, without giving clues beforehand who the family is. To comply with labor laws, employees did not work off the clock. Instead, they participated in a payroll deduction plan in the spirit of donating their time. Most employees volunteered to donate $100 from their pay through four payroll deductions of $25 each, said Tommy Rakes, vice president of operations. Employees have given “phenomenal support” to the project, he said. “It’s been a tough economy and rough weather, and folks are smiling a bit more” as they work on this project, added Vice President of Sales and Marketing Dan Goodin. Nationwide contacted the television show “about a year ago and asked them if they wanted to try a modular,” Goodin said. Extreme Makeover officials called Nationwide in mid-January to say that they would like Nationwide to build the house for the show. The catch was it had to be finished in six weeks. “When the call came in, you have to react quickly,” Goodin said. Employees were called in to a meeting where the proposal to build the house was made, including the payroll-deduction donations, and they reacted with excitement and support, he added. Richard Hodge, a member of the utility crew, said the workers are too focused on their goal now to get excited over being on TV. “It’s a real challenge. ... We have a deadline we have to meet, and we’re determined to get there.” The rapport in the plant is good because the project “was to help someone. As long as we can help someone else who really needs it, we’re working to do as much as we can,” said Hodge, who was building the house’s walls Wednesday. The house’s design is a secret. Goodin would describe it only as “a very complex design. It’s much more complex than we typically do, but not more than we can handle.” The show has narrowed the pool of applicants for the house to five families. The winning family will be notified during a personal visit from a representative of the TV show. While family members go on vacation, their lot will be cleared and the new house will be built, furnished and decorated, and their lot will be landscaped, all by volunteers. Goodin, Nationwide President Andy Miller and associates James Seekford and Andrew Snuggs will coordinate the prepartion in Georgia. They will leave Sunday, and the house components will be brought to the site and put together the week after that. Nationwide is coordinating the Georgia volunteers, especially through its Web site, www.nationwide-homes.com/extreme. So far, about 400 volunteers and 200 groups in the Georgia area have expressed interest in helping. Thirty-nine of the company’s “key builders are donating time and materials,” Goodin said. “It’s a huge production,” Goodin said. As well as construction, Nationwide will coordinate meals, shuttlebuses, tents and more for the volunteers. The show, which will be the season finale, will air in May or June. Nationwide is planning a big viewing party for Nationwide’s 200 employees and other local people associated with the project. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/13 Saturday, 06 February 2010 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. This free workshop will provide guidance on how to manage cash flow. It is scheduled for February 18, at Hugo’s in Uptown Martinsville from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.

Martinsville, VA (February 6, 2010) – The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation’s Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division is hosting a workshop that will provide guidance on how to manage cash flow. The free workshop is scheduled for February 18, at Hugo’s in Uptown Martinsville from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. “This workshop is designed to help small business owners understand the importance of cash flow, how to track it, and hazards to avoid,” says Lisa Wilson, Director of the Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. “Insufficient capital or cash is one of the most common reasons a small business folds. We want to arm business owners with tools for success,” Wilson added. This training opportunity is part of the monthly Small Business Focus Group Meeting series offered by the EDC’s Small, Minority & Entrepreneurial Division. This series is designed to provide entrepreneurs with technical training and business networking. Registration is required for this free workshop by calling 276.403.5940, emailing vspencer@yesmartinsville.com or visiting www.yesmartinsville.com/smallbusiness. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/63 Friday, 29 January 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Bulletin Letter to Editor. Paula Burnette says she "won't hesitate a second to follow through. Keep your eyes open for these free offerings from people who know our community."

Bulletin Letter to Editor. On Jan. 20, there had been an ad in the paper for a workshop on Jan. 22 sponsored by the Small, Minority, and Entrepreneurial Division of the Economic Development Corp. (EDC). Lisa Wilson, the director, was the host. I think I saw the ad a day or two before. Sounded interesting, especially since I was curious about marketing. The subject was "Business Networking & Referral Marketing." Besides, it was free. But it seemed directed at small businesses to learn about creating a contact system, getting quality referrals and more. My interest was about "how-to" market, but for a nonprofit group since I'm working with TheatreWorks Community Players. A friend called to ask if I was interested in going - she was. Well, sure I'll go, now that I'll know someone there. Besides, there would only be a handful of us.I had my doubts because, after all, what could you learn and do in an hour with that topic? Business people would be in and out of there so fast. I couldn't have been more wrong. That program was compact and full to the brim. Lisa Wilson had it so well organized and was knowledgeable about the subject as well. And presenter Cian Robinson's PowerPoint was direct, clear and specific with a handout to match. The room was full; I know there were over 30 attendees. Most of them were small business owners, but we were all trying to improve our message to the local world. After the presentation, most stayed for direct networking that could only benefit us.Next time I see something of interest offered to the public from the Small, Minority and Entrepreneurial Division of the EDC, I won't hesitate a second to follow through. Keep your eyes open for these free offerings from people who know our community. This can only be a good thing.Paula M. BurnetteHenry County http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/14 Thursday, 07 January 2010 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. Drake Extrusion's expansion will create at least 25 new jobs and include an additional capital investment of $1.25 million.

Martinsville, VA (January 7, 2010) – The Henry County Board of Supervisors and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation are pleased to announce that Drake Extrusion is expanding their product line in Martinsville-Henry County, creating at least 25 new full time jobs with an average wage of $12.84/hour along with an excellent benefit package. Drake is also making an additional capital investment of $1.25 million in new machinery for their product line expansion. Drake, which manufactures the world’s finest quality polypropylene fiber, opened its U.S. manufacturing center in the Martinsville Industrial Park in 1995 and has been a strong corporate citizen since. “Martinsville-Henry County has been a great place for us to do business,” says John Parkinson, CEO of Drake Extrusion. “The loyal and dedicated workforce along with the local business climate has allowed us to weather the recession and come out with an expansion at our facility. Drake is committed to Martinsville-Henry County and appreciates the community’s commitment to our organization as well.” “Drake Extrusion has been a loyal member of our industrial base since its inception here in 1995 and Henry County is thrilled by the company’s continued commitment to our area by choosing to expand in both employment numbers and capital investment,” said Debra Buchanan, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “The EDC has been working with Drake since September of last year on its expansion plans,” says Mark Heath, President/CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. “It is rewarding to have existing companies expand and grow in our community. Having a strong, stable existing industry base is appealing to new prospects looking to move into Martinsville-Henry County and this expansion bodes well for our prospecting efforts.” Drake is receiving training assistance from the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and will qualify for local enterprise zone benefits with its new capital investment. Applications for employment will be accepted at the company located at 790 Industrial Park Drive, Ridgeway. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/59 Tuesday, 22 December 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By AMANDA BUCK - Bulletin Staff Writer. The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) has named Jennifer Doss its next director of tourism.

By AMANDA BUCK - Bulletin Staff Writer. The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) has named Jennifer Doss its next director of tourism. Doss, 27, has been Rivers and Trails project manager for the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) for two years. In that role, she has worked to develop trail systems in the area and helped create and promote the Smith River Fest, an annual event that drew kayakers and canoeists from throughout the state and elsewhere. "The EDC realizes that tourism is a way to increase the tax base of our community," Mark Heath, EDC president and CEO, said in a news release. "Jennifer's background and experience in developing and promoting tourism-related assets make her a good fit to implement the goals we have in place for our tourism division." Those goals include continuing to develop furniture and specialty foods clusters; working with the Southern Virginia Recreation Facilities Authority to promote the new soccer complex; and promoting destinations such as the Martinsville Speedway, Virginia Museum of Natural History, Piedmont Arts and Philpott Lake, the release said. Doss said she is looking forward to "working with the entire community" to draw tourists to the area. Wayne Kirkpatrick, president of DRBA's board, said Doss' work to promote recreational opportunities in the area will prepare her well for success in her new job. "The two entities (DRBA and the EDC) work very closely together and have very similar goals and aspirations: To see Martinsville-Henry County and the entire region do better than it has done, to try to get us out of the economic problems that we've got now," Kirkpatrick said. "That's what she was doing at DRBA, from the environmental standpoint, and with the EDC she will continue to do the same." Kirkpatrick said Doss' decision to leave DRBA "was not unexpected, just because she was so good at what she does" that he expected other organizations to seek her out. He said Doss has expanded the association's presence in Henry County and has built relationships with other organizations and people that have helped it thrive. "She draws people to her," Kirkpatrick said. "She really makes you want to be involved with anything she's involved with." Brian Williams, who as DRBA's education, outreach and conservation coordinator has worked closely with Doss, also was full of praise. "So much of what has happened in the last two years with (the) development of our rivers and trails has been directly related to the incredible energy and inventiveness of Jennifer," Williams wrote in an e-mail. "Her desire and exuberance is boundless." Doss said leaving DRBA is bittersweet. "I have thoroughly enjoyed working with DRBA and all the volunteers and members," she said. The new job "is just a good opportunity for me." She cited creating the Richard P. Gravely Jr. Nature Preserve, the area's first interpretive park, and her work with the Adopt-A-Trail program as two of her proudest accomplishments with DRBA. The nature preserve, located in Ridgeway, combines trails with stations that explain history and plant life, and the Adopt-A-Trail program now includes more than 40 volunteers who help maintain the area's trail systems. Kirkpatrick said it will be up to DRBA's executive director, Katherine Mull, to decide whether Doss' position is filled. However, both he and Williams said she cannot be replaced. Doss, who graduated from Longwood University in 2007, will finish her work at DRBA on Jan. 8 and begin her new job on Jan. 11. She said her first task will be to become familiar with the EDC's tourism initiatives and begin to develop ways to promote the region. Doss fills a position last held by Deborah Robinson, who held the job for less than a year. Leigh Cockram, the EDC's vice president, declined Monday to say how much the position pays. Heath could not be reached for comment. Also on Monday, the EDC announced that it has hired Melissa Craig as its new visitor center associate. Craig is a clerk in the Henry County Circuit Court Clerk's Office, the release said. She will begin her job at the uptown center on Jan. 11.  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/15 Monday, 21 December 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. The EDC is pleased to announce the hiring of Jennifer Doss as Director of Tourism and Melissa Craig as Visitor Center Associate.

Martinsville, VA (December 21, 2009) – The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce the hiring of Jennifer Doss as Director of Tourism, as well as the hiring of Melissa Craig as the new Visitor Center Associate. Doss comes to the EDC from her current position as the Rivers and Trails Project Manager with the Dan River Basin Association. In her current role, Doss facilitates meetings and develops partnerships for the Martinsville-Henry County Rivers and Trails Group. She has been responsible for developing and promoting recreational facilities such as the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve, as well as assisting in the creation and promotion of Smith River Fest. “The EDC realizes that Tourism is a way to increase the tax base of our community,” said Mark Heath, President/CEO of the EDC. “Jennifer’s background and experience in developing and promoting tourism related assets make her a good fit to implement the goals we have in place for our Tourism division.” The goals for the Tourism Division include increasing the lodging and sales/meals tax revenues in Martinsville-Henry County. Tourism is working to reach these goals by continuing to develop the furniture and specialty foods clusters, working with the Southern Virginia Sports Authority to promote the soccer complex, as well as continuing to promote our existing assets such as the Martinsville Speedway, Virginia Museum of Natural History, Piedmont Arts, Philpott Lake, and the Southern Virginia Artisan Center. “I am thrilled about joining the EDC and promoting the vast tourism attractions Martinsville-Henry County is home to,” said Jennifer Doss. “Our community has so much to offer, from the rivers and trails to the museums to the speedway. I look forward to working with the entire community to promote our area as a desirable destination for people to visit. “ Craig comes to the EDC from a position with the Henry County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office where she worked as a clerk serving the public on a daily basis. “Melissa’s experience with the public makes her a great fit for operating our Visitor Center,” said Heath. “We are confident she will excel in her duties to make those that visit our center welcome to our community.” Both Doss and Craig will assume their roles with the EDC on January 11, 2010. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/16 Tuesday, 17 November 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. Seventeen aspiring entrepreneurs have graduated from the second FastTrac® NewVenture™ Program offered through the EDC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa Fultz Director of Small and Minority Business Development Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation 276.403.5940 lfultz@yesmartinsville.com PROGRAM TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS IMPROVE CHANCES FOR SUCCESS GRADUATES SECOND CLASS Martinsville, VA (November 17, 2009) Seventeen aspiring entrepreneurs in Martinsville-Henry County have graduated from the second FastTrac® NewVenture™ Program offered through Martinsville-Henry County’s Small and Minority Business Development Division. The event was held at the Artisan Center on Tuesday, November 3rdth to honor those participants who attended weekly training sessions for ten weeks in order to prepare a solid business plan for their new venture. Each of the ten sessions explored a different topic related to business planning and implementation, from researching to marketing, and each session offered participants a chance to learn from business professionals and seasoned entrepreneurs who offered advice and information on running a business. “After ten weeks of facilitated, hands-on training all of the FastTrac® NewVenture™ graduates have been exposed to timely information, developed invaluable partnerships and networks, and have been the beneficiaries of sound advice from various business leaders and other entrepreneurs in our community,” said Lisa Fultz, Director of Small and Minority Business Development. “Each graduate is well prepared to execute his or her thought out business plan after completing the program.” Graduates of the 2009 FastTrac® program are LeAnne Bray, Monica Dari, Donald Draper, Ashley Eanes, Nancy Eastridge, Samantha Evans, Theresa Foster, Pandora Gill, Yonnie Hairston, Max Hall, Tonja Martin, Tommy Nance, Joey Pigg, Lisa Roberson, Myron Smith, Vivian Wilson and Amanda Witt. During the final session, participants presented the Executive Summary portion of their business plans. For more information on becoming involved in the FastTrac® NewVenture™ program, entrepreneurs may call (276) 403-5940 or e-mail lfultz@yesmartinsville.com. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/17 Friday, 30 October 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. Significant changes at the state level make this important for those who have attended a previous session.

Martinsville, VA (October 30, 2009) – The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation’s Small and Minority Business Development Division is hosting its annual state and local enterprise zone workshop on November 5, at the New College Institute with two sessions, one beginning at 9:00 AM and the other at 1:00 PM. “This year’s workshop is especially important to continue to bring awareness to the recently expanded enterprise zones including parts of Collinsville, Commonwealth Blvd., E. Church Street, Brookdale Street, Cabell Street and Business 220 South”, says Lisa Fultz, Director of the Small and Minority Business Development Division. “It is the workshop’s goal to make sure both business and property owners, located within new and existing zones, fully understand the state and local Enterprise Zone benefits including requirements for capital investment and job creation, benefit schedules and timelines for submitting applications. Significant changes at the state level make this important for those who have attended a previous session as the benefit is now calculated differently.” The workshop, which targets business owners, property owners, developers, real estate professionals, property managers, and Certified Public Accountants, will address the basics for grant qualification, permit fee waivers, technology zones and more. To register for this free workshop, call 276.403.5940, email vspencer@yesmartinsville.com or visit www.yesmartinsville.com/smallbusiness. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/10 Wednesday, 14 October 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. New and expanding businesses during the past five years have created almost 2,400 jobs and invested nearly $204 million in their facilities.

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. New and expanding businesses in Henry County and Martinsville during the past five years have created almost 2,400 jobs and invested nearly $204 million in their facilities, the Martinsville City Council learned Tuesday. Mark Heath, president and chief executive officer of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC), told the council that the firms created 2,388 jobs, and their investments totaled $203.54 million. Manufacturing represented the largest share of those figures at 1,060 jobs and $172.19 million in investments, Heath said. Although the community has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs in the past decade, Heath said the numbers prove that “manufacturing still is very important in our community.” Office operations created 873 new jobs and investments totaling $10.55 million, while distribution businesses created 263 jobs and $11.2 million in investments. Small businesses created 192 new jobs and $9.6 million in investments, a document provided to the council shows. Among the companies that created the new jobs and investments were RTI International Metals, Monogram Food Solutions, American of Martinsville, CPFilms and StarTek, the document shows. Heath said that although the EDC helped secure the jobs and investments, it cannot take full credit. He indicated that some of the credit goes to the companies themselves as well as community support. The EDC is funded by the county and city, The Harvest Foundation and the Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth. The latter organization is an affiliate of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce. Since 2004, the EDC has received a total of $8.5 million from those funding sources, the document shows. For every dollar, the return on the investment has amounted to more than $23.88, Heath said. He did not explain the figure. The EDC continues to aggressively pursue new businesses and industries. Heath said that EDC employees were out of town for three of the past five weeks, calling on executives at various companies and discussing with them the benefits of operating in Henry County and Martinsville. He emphasized that to attract companies, the EDC cannot just send them information about the community. Rather, staff must visit those companies, convince their executives to visit the community and host them when they visit, he said. Currently, the EDC has eight or nine “active prospects” — companies that have sent executives to visit the community, Heath said. The shell building recently constructed in the county’s Patriot Centre at Beaver Creek industrial park helped lure some of them here, he said. In addition, the EDC recently has had about 20 leads on other companies that might be interested in locating here and is making contact with them, Heath added. Councilman Danny Turner asked Heath whether the EDC, through its tourism office, is positioning the community to lure visitors among people traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway as part of the road’s 75th anniversary. Turner said that information on the area is provided at attractions along the parkway, but he admitted that is “something we need to do a better job of.” That could be among responsibilities of the EDC’s next director of tourism. Heath said he hopes the position can be filled by mid-November. The EDC’s previous tourism director, Debbie Robinson, recently resigned. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/11 Wednesday, 30 September 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. The first cribs in the Stanley Furniture Co. Young America line to be made in Stanleytown were produced this week.

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. The first cribs in the Stanley Furniture Co. Young America line to be made in Stanleytown were produced this week. “This is phase one of the production,” Steve Bullock, executive vice president of operations, said Tuesday. Stanley announced Sept. 14 that it was moving some Young America production to Stanleytown as part of its commitment to produce the entire line in this country. Previously, 70 percent of the line was made in Robbinsville, N.C., and the rest was imported or bought from other U.S. vendors. It planned to add a total of 99 employees at the Stanleytown plant, and reopened an area of the plant for the crib and youth bed production, Bullock said Tuesday during a tour of the facility. “This is only the start-up” of the operation, he said. About 75 of the 99 new employees have been hired, said Charles Cooley, production manager. “Turn out has been great. We’ve had plenty of applicants,” he said. Stanley also has invested $1.3 million in equipment for the new production, Bullock said. As it is being delivered, “we’re putting things in place.” By November when the equipment is installed and the plant is certified by the Green Guard Environmental Institute for meeting rigorous chemical emissions standards, Bullock said finishing will be completed in Stanleytown. The company began cutting the line last week. By Monday, new cribs were assembled and packaged, Bullock said. By the end of the week, the first shipment of cribs will be ready to ship to the company’s plant in Robbinsville for finishing, he said. About 80 percent of the cribs will be pre-finished and shipped to retailers, Bullock said. The type of finish selected depends on sales projections of “common colors,” such as white, he said. The remaining 20 percent will be custom finished according to customer’s wishes, he said. There are more than 60 finishes to choose from. “You name it, we’ve got it,” said Cooley of the rainbow of colors available. “Everything from tangerine to sky blue” and most hues in between is available. The cribs differ from many models in several ways. For one, there is no adjustable side. Bullock said that style crib was dropped from the company’s line when it moved the production to Stanleytown due to safety concerns with all models that had an adjustable side. The cribs and youth beds produced locally are designed to fit into “the environment a child lives in,” according to Doug Bohlinger, superintendent. The platform — basically the bottom of the crib, which holds the mattress — is adjustable, he said. The cribs also can be reconfigured to accommodate growing youngsters, Bohlinger said. The basic five components — headboard (one side), footboard (a second side), two ends and platform — can be reconfigured to make a daybed or a twin bed as the child grows. Youth “slat beds” also are being made in Stanleytown, Cooley said. “It’s more of the production we’re bringing back from overseas.” Stanley has made a commitment that children’s furniture shipped after Nov. 16 will be domestically manufactured, company officials have said. Employees and applicants alike often comment the decision to “bring jobs back to the United States and our commitment to domestic manufacturing says a lot about the company,” Bohlinger said. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/35 Monday, 21 September 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. The grand opening of the $8.7 million Smith River Sports Complex is the end of its building phase and beginning of its role as an economic development engine.

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Sunday’s official grand opening of the $8.7 million Smith River Sports Complex is the end of its building phase and the beginning of its role as an economic development engine. The free event will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the complex off Irisburg Road (Virginia 650) on Sportsplex Way. It also represents a celebration for the Harvest Foundation, which paid to build the facility, according to Allyson Rothrock, executive director of Harvest. Sunday “is our last opportunity to officially hand over the keys” to the Southern Virginia Recreation Facilities Authority (SVRFA) board, which will manage the complex, Rothrock said. After that, the foundation’s involvement “will still obviously be funding, but we won’t be out there” as often as when overseeing the construction of the project. The job of sparking economic development through the complex now will fall on its board and staff, who will work to bring out-of-town and travel teams here for tournaments, along with players and spectators from other areas. When the project was announced in the fall of 2006, the cost to develop the sports complex on 91 acres near the U.S. 58 Bypass/Virginia 650 was estimated at $4.5 to $5 million. Construction costs increased after Rothrock; Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County EDC and a sports authority board member; Bob Davis, chairman of the authority board; and Dennis Toney, executive director of the authority, toured 20 “top quality” complexes around the country, Rothrock said. “We saw so many things we wanted” to incorporate into the sports complex here to make it the best it could be, she said. Those recommendations were presented to the Harvest board and approved. The final cost was $8.7 million. That covered all design, engineering, construction and other costs except the land. Henry County donated the 91 acres for the project. Groundbreaking was held in the spring of 2008, and the complex opened to the public on July 1. Rothrock said she is pleased that the community has embraced the facility, which includes five soccer fields and one practice field; an electronic scoreboard; fixed seating for 250 spectators; a pavilion with concessions, restrooms, office and meeting space; two picnic pavilions; a playground; a canoe launch; and walking trails that lead to the Smith River. “I don’t think anybody else can compete with what we have,” Rothrock said. Manchester Meadows, a soccer complex in Rock Hill, S.C., may come the closest, she said. However, it lacks river access points and walking trails. It does not have room to expand, “and I don’t know if their focus is as broad as ours,” Rothrock said. The sports authority board hopes the complex will attract not only soccer, but also sporting events such as lacrosse, certain types of football and other activities. When the sports complex first was announced, it was in conjunction with a $16 million, 80,000-square-foot fieldhouse envisioned in uptown Martinsville. That project has been delayed. The fieldhouse project “absolutely has not been ruled out,” Rothrock said Wednesday. She explained that “cluster groups” of area residents have been meeting and collecting data on options for uptown. They are focusing on a half dozen topics — such as recreation, housing, arts and culture — and their findings will be reviewed and future projects, such as the fieldhouse, will be determined based on “what makes the most sense” and “what is the best investment,” Rothrock said. The sports authority board recently held a planning retreat to develop a strategic plan that includes fundraising, communications and other requirements requested by Rothrock before Harvest approves additional funding over the $1 million it previously committed for the complex’s operating expenses. The retreat “was a giant step forward” and helped the authority board outline policy measures needed to ensure future success and become self-sustainable, Rothrock said. The authority board approved a six-month budget on Aug. 6, with revenues of $362,064 and expenses totaling $344,597. According to goals outlined during the retreat, the authority hopes to become at least 50 percent self-sustaining within two years. That will be accomplished through fundraising efforts, sponsorships and revenue from other sources such as concessions and usage fees, according to information from board meetings. Rothrock said pursuing a combination of public and private fundraising efforts may be necessary for the complex’s success, especially in the first few years of operation. However, “I think that’s really yet to be determined” because the strategic plan has not yet been completed or presented, she said. Rothrock also said she cannot predict when the complex may become self-sustaining. “You really kind of have to walk before you run,” she said. She plans to meet with the authority board after the strategic plan is complete, Rothrock said, speculating that meeting might take place in October. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/30 Sunday, 20 September 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. A big chair that traveled all around the country now is at home in uptown Martinsville, where it symbolizes the area’s past, present and future.

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. A big chair that traveled all around the country now is at home in uptown Martinsville, where it symbolizes the area’s past, present and future. Bassett Furniture Industries President and CEO Rob Spilman said it is fitting that the chair’s “final resting place is right here in the seat of the furniture industry.” Spilman was among several speakers at a dedication ceremony/ribbon cutting Friday. About 150 people heard him say the chair was built to mark Bassett Furniture’s 100th anniversary in 2002, and then it was used to open Bassett Furniture stores across the U.S. The company donated it for use as an icon in the local Deep Roots campaign, which will use the area’s furniture, textile and motorsports legacies as a springboard for tourism and revitalization efforts, according to www.visitmartinsville.com. The project would not have been possible if not for a donation from Mrs. Dudley Walker, according to Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp., which spearheaded the big chair effort and Deep Roots drive. “What began as Mrs. Walker’s gift has been continued with the efforts of many,” Heath said. In all, more than 20 partners helped with the project, he said, adding that the EDC appreciated all their contributions. The project, he said, “is not about the big chair, but rather what it represents.” Forty-four percent of area residents who are employed in manufacturing — about 3,000 people — work in furniture, Heath said. “Let’s consider what the chair is and what it is not,” he said. “The chair is not the focus” of the Deep Roots initiative, Heath said. “It is a symbol of our effort to fight back and rebuild” the local economy. It is not intended to draw thousands of tourists, but it will be a centerpiece for the thousands of customers patronizing businesses in Martinsville, he said. It is symbolic of the past, present and future, according to Spilman, Heath and many other speakers, including Debra Buchanan, chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. “This Big Chair represents all three eras,” Buchanan said at Friday’s ceremony. It represents the past because so many residents were employed in the furniture industry, Buchanan said. She added that those jobs put food on the table for many families and “put us on the map.” The furniture legacy instilled “an incredible work ethic to get the job done,” she said. Although there have been changes, furniture-related work “still plays a big role” in the present, she said. It also outlines a vision for the future, Buchanan said, recalling when the area dominated the marketplace. “I’m confident we will find” that dominance again, she said. Martinsville Mayor Kathy Lawson said the chair “honors all the men and women whose labor created the legacy we celebrate. ... Every piece of furniture made over the decades stands as a part of history.” Furniture employees have a “love and compassion for what they” did and continue to do, Lawson said. “Each piece of furniture was not JUST a piece of furniture, it was their art. “To those of the furniture industry who have passed on, this is in their memory. To those who in the past worked in the furniture industry, this chair represents memories. “To the current furniture worker, this represents decades of those before you whose labor established the beginning of a rich heritage,” Lawson added. Debbie Robinson, outgoing tourism director for the EDC, organized the big chair effort and worked with the Deep Roots campaign. She told those gathered that tourism, especially when related to an area’s culture, is playing a key role in economic development today, and this area is poised to take advantage of that trend. The chair is located in a brick landscaped area on the Church Street side of the Broad Street Parking Lot. The site was donated by Fred Martin and Associates. Bassett employees such as David Compton were responsible for “the outstanding craftsmanship” evident in the chair that was made over several months in 2002, Spilman said. “You don’t just whip one of these things into shape overnight,” he quipped. Weighing nearly three tons, the chair towers at more than 20 feet tall and spans more than 8 feet across. For Friday’s grand opening, a similar but normal-sized chair was placed underneath to put the big chair’s size in perspective. It was a popular spot for photographs after the dedication. “You can’t talk about this without talking about the many people who worked so hard” to build the area’s furniture legacy, Spilman said. That legacy endures, he said. “Are we as big as we once were? No, but we’re here today,” Spilman said. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/31 Friday, 18 September 2009 12:00:00 +0000

“It is our hope these events will be the kick-off to future activities that will generate foot traffic and stimulate economic development” uptown, Debbie Robinson said in the EDC release.

By BULLETIN Staff. A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. today to celebrate the big chair’s move to uptown Martinsville. The chair will leave Bassett at 8:30 this morning, transported by Bassett Furniture, according to a release from Debbie Robinson, director of tourism with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. The chair is expected to arrive at the parking lot in uptown Martinsville at 9 a.m., with a chair raising and anchoring between 9:30 and noon, the release stated. Guy M. Turner Crane Service, with assistance from Martinsville crews, will raise the chair. It will be anchored in place at its permanent location by Bowles Construction, the release stated. A Build A Chair workshop to be held Saturday at the Southern Virginia Artisan Center is filled to capacity. However, local furniture builder Eric Gilbert of Wood Creations will offer Build A Chair kits for those interested in building their own small chairs, the release stated. “It is our hope these events will be the kick-off to future activities that will generate foot traffic and stimulate economic development” uptown, Robinson said in the EDC release. EDC President and CEO Mark Heath said the Big Chair’s move to uptown Martinsville started with a request. City officials asked the EDC to explore ways of redeveloping Martinsville, Heath said. The EDC recommended creating “Martinsville’s Industrial Park” uptown by building on an existing retail foundation, because uptown is “the heart and soul” of the city, he said. With several businesses in place, uptown had potential for even more commercial and retail development, Heath said. That new development combined with existing businesses would drive both tourism and economic development by attracting visitors and more traffic uptown while attracting more supporting businesses such as restaurants, businesses selling drapery and/or accessories and others, Heath said. A new eatery and an antique business are expected to open soon, while other organizations/businesses, such as Studio 107, already have moved into uptown, he said. From those early indications, the effort to revitalize and reinvigorate uptown is reaping dividends, Heath said. When he first moved to Martinsville, Heath said, traffic was so light uptown that he often crossed Church and Main streets without checking for oncoming vehicles. “I look twice before I cross the road now,” he said. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/1 Tuesday, 15 September 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. A big chair soon to be located in uptown Martinsville will be the centerpiece of a grander plan aimed at redevelopment and showcasing the area's unique assets.

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. A big chair soon to be located in uptown Martinsville will be the centerpiece of a grander plan aimed at redevelopment and showcasing the area's unique assets.The chair, built of layers of solid ash and protected with a boat-like finish for Bassett Furniture's 100th anniversary in 2002, will be moved to Martinsville on Friday morning, with a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony planned at 4 p.m. that day.A documentary titled "With These Hands, The Story of An American Furniture Industry" will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Rives Theatre. Admission is free, but tickets are required because of limited seating. They are available at the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC).The chair has not arrived yet, but it already is accomplishing part of its mission: creating a renewed focus uptown, according to Mark Heath, EDC president and CEO.Previous reports stated the chair weighs nearly 5,000 pounds, is more than 20 feet high and spans more than 8 feet.It is "a smaller part of a bigger effort to reinvigorate uptown," Heath said.The chair is part of the "Deep Roots/Legacy" initiative, which is a promotional campaign aimed at highlighting "unique assets and rich legacies" in furniture as well as motorsports, outdoor recreation and cultural arts, according to Heath.Furniture stores and manufacturers in both the city and county will be included in promotions of the furniture legacy, Heath said. Several located in the county already are being promoted on www.visitmartinsville.com."Why would you want to celebrate the past?" Heath said he has been asked by some. The answer is two-fold, he said.Many areas embrace their pasts as part of tourism efforts, Heath said, citing re-enactments and preservation efforts. "You don't forget where you came from," he said. "Furniture was critical" to the area's history, Heath said. Secondly, it remains important today, he said.A 2008 census showed that Henry County and Martinsville have a combined labor force of 27,600, Heath said. Of that total, 6,700, or 24.3 percent, worked in the manufacturing sector.Nearly 3,000 people, or 44 percent, of that total were employed in furniture manufacturing, Heath said. He concluded, "Furniture still is important to this community."Stanley Furniture is "still the largest manufacturing employer," Heath said. Hooker Furniture sells much of its products online but maintains administrative and other facilities here, and American of Martinsville recently expanded after joining forces with Barcalounger, he said. Bassett Furniture has facilities in the Patriot Centre industrial park and in Bassett.Uptown is home to a number of furniture retailers that offer both outlet and first-quality pieces, and there are several retail furniture stores in Henry County as well, Heath said."So to say there's no basis to continue to build on our furniture legacy is not accurate," he said. "Furniture is still being made here today." Although the manufacturing sector "may not look like it used to and it may be more specialty, we think it is as important or even more important now" to the economic climate, Heath said.The big chair "is an icon of the roots effort," Heath said. "We don't expect it to bring thousands of people uptown." What it will do, Heath said, is "show where we come from and what's important to us now."  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/32 Monday, 14 September 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer. Stanley Furniture Co. announced today that it will make all its Young America products in this country and is adding 99 employees in Stanleytown.

By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer. Stanley Furniture Co. announced today that it will make all its Young America products in this country, and it is adding 99 employees in Stanleytown to accomplish that. Stanley has added 39 full-time employees at its Stanleytown facility and expects to add 60 more over the next few months, said Christy Landon, Stanley’s corporate human resources manager. Before the additions, more than 800 of Stanley’s 1,300 employees worked in Stanleytown. Stanley has bucked the industry trend of moving most production offshore, instead maintaining that there is a place for a viable domestic furniture manufacturer. It produces 70 percent of its furniture in this country and the rest — generally accent and labor-intensive pieces — is imported, according to a Stanley news release and previous company interviews. Young America products — Stanley’s youth furniture lines — have been made in Robbinsville, N.C., with some items made off-shore or purchased from other U.S. vendors. The Stanleytown plant has produced adult bedroom, dining room, home office and home entertainment lines. The decision to have all the Young America products made in Robbinsville and Stanleytown is part of the company’s “commitment to consumers and retailers to be the most trusted name in infant and youth furniture,” the company stated in a release that coincided with this year’s ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas. “Today’s infant and youth furniture consumer is looking for more than style, quality and service,” said Glenn Prillaman, Stanley president and chief operating officer. “She wants to be able to justify her investment in a premium brand. That’s what the new Young America intends to do.” According to Prillaman, the goal is to differentiate the Young America brand and redefine it as one that pulls consumers into retailers’ stores. “We want Young America — the brand and the products — to stand for something that you can only get here. That’s our promise. And we’re asking retailers and consumers to trust Young America to deliver on our promise,” he added. That promise has four components — choice, safety, green and quality, the release states. Choice: Young America will be available in a total of 60 finish options, which is 70 percent more than before. That will be done without “significant price premiums” or delivery delays, the release states. Safety: Young America adheres to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards, and Stanley has worked with that commission and others on product safety. The company also plans to implement safety standards into its manufacturing and engineering process before they become law, and it will create and publish its own branded set of safety standards to surpass the most stringent mandatory and voluntary product safety guidelines, its release stated.  Green: Stanley has taken steps to improve indoor air quality for children by having all its cribs GREENGUARD Environmental Institute-certified. Products that receive the GREENGUARD Children and SchoolsSM certified mark have been independently tested and meet the most rigorous chemical emissions standards in the world, the release stated. According to Cristina Loth, Stanley’s vice president of engineering services, Young America intends to obtain GREENGUARD Children and Schools certification for all of the products it manufactures. Quality: The company said it is striving to ensure that every product will be delivered to its customer ready to be used. “If you’re asking for a premium price, you have to deliver a premium product,” said Steve Bullock, Stanley executive vice president of operations. Young America products will be guaranteed against manufacturing defects for five years. In the end, Prillaman said, the only way Young America could make good on these promises was to regain control of the entire production process. That is why it decided to bring everything back to the company’s facilities in Robbinsville and Stanleytown — from sourcing raw materials to finishing and shipping furniture. “By taking advantage of our 85-year heritage as an American manufacturer, we can offer more than the products we make. We feel confident that the entire package will position Young America as a powerful consumer brand and enable us to lead the industry for years to come,” Prillaman said. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/33 Tuesday, 01 September 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. EDC, county and city officials are optimistic the building, capable of being expanded to more than 195,000 square feet, will attract a buyer soon.

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. The new shell building in the Patriot Centre at Beaver Creek industrial park shows Henry County and Martinsville take economic development seriously, according to county Board of Supervisors Chairman Debra Buchanan. During a dedication ceremony for the building Monday, Buchanan called the building “a jewel.” However, “It is not a magic pill,” said Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC). “It will not guarantee success” at attracting new businesses and industries, Heath said. “But without things like this, we’re guaranteed to fail.” The basic construction of the 101,741-square-foot building is completed. The interior is mostly a large empty space with 3,900 square feet of office space, shaped like an L, at its front. Interior walls are still bare, and the floor has not yet been installed — dirt and gravel still cover the surface. When a company eventually buys it, the building will be finished based on the company’s specifications, as is typical with shell buildings, according to economic developers. EDC, county and city officials are optimistic the building will attract a buyer soon. Heath said his perspective is that “we do have a client for this building. We just don’t know who it is right now.” He noted that soon after a previous shell building was erected in the Patriot Centre, RTI International Metals bought it. Equipment is being installed in that building, and RTI plans to open in late 2010 or early 2011. The new shell building is near the RTI building. “We look forward to giving them a new neighbor,” Buchanan said. Heath said the EDC is willing to talk with companies that work closely with RTI, such as suppliers of materials, about acquiring the new shell building. But “it is probably much too big for a supplier,” he said, adding that the building was constructed for manufacturing purposes. The building, located on Lot 10 in the Patriot Centre, is capable of being expanded to more than 195,000 square feet. It has a ceiling height of 30 feet and connections to water, sewer, electricity and natural gas. In December, the Henry County Industrial Development Authority awarded Clark Construction of Bassett a $3,256,000 contract to erect the building. The IDA issued $3.5 million in lease revenue bonds to help design, construct and equip the building, and Carter Bank & Trust is buying the bonds. Henry County and Martinsville have agreed to share revenues from utilities and taxes paid by the company that eventually acquires the building. “Some may say there is too much divisiveness between” the two localities, said Martinsville Mayor Kathy Lawson. But joint projects such as agreements to share revenues from firms locating in the Patriot Centre and moving Henry-Martinsville Social Services to Clearview Business Park show the localities are working together, she said. Lawson said there are “no distinctions” between the localities for visitors, and more and more residents are seeing the community that way. When executives from a prospective company visit, Heath said, “they don’t know, and they don’t care, where the county and city lines are.” He added that EDC, county and city officials are “a great team of public servants working as hard as they can” to improve the local economy. In a joint meeting after the shell building dedication, Martinsville City Council and the Henry County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted in separate votes a revenue sharing agreement for sites in the Patriot Centre. A memorandum of understanding that the localities entered into on April 15 stated that the county agreed to turn the balance of buildable tracts in the industrial park — about 153 acres — into revenue-sharing lots with the city. In the agreement adopted Wednesday, that has been changed to “all land developable in the Patriot Centre,” said County Attorney George Lyle. Lyle said the change was made in case some original determination of lot sizes ever are found not to be exact based on current figures. He said the change would not mean a large change in the amount of developable land. The county IDA must still approve the agreement. Officials did not say when that will take place. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/18 Tuesday, 25 August 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. The EDC Tourism Division in collaboration with The Spencer-Penn Centre is bringing an outstanding bluegrass and old time music program to the region on August 28, 2009.

Martinsville, VA (August 25, 2009) - The Martinsville Henry County Economic Development Office of Tourism in collaboration with The Spencer-Penn Centre is bringing an outstanding bluegrass and old time music program to the region on August 28, 2009. The concert will start at 7 p.m. and feature, award winning artists Wayne Henderson and Jeff Little. Wayne Henderson was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship in 1995 in honor of both his fine playing and his exquisitely handcrafted steel-string guitars. Born, raised in Rugby, Virginia, Henderson is an accomplished guitarist who has toured internationally with the United States Information Agency, performed at Carnegie Hall, the Smithsonian Institution and for “America’s Reunion,” during the 1992 Presidential inauguration. Jeff Little, a remarkable musician and esteemed pianist, steeped in the tradition of his native Blue Ridge, yet also a virtuosic and eclectic innovator. Little’s involvement with fiddle tunes, old time country, and rockabilly dates to his growing up in Boone, North Carolina, where his father, owned a music shop. The shop was a regular gathering place for musicians. Little started playing at the age of five and has played professionally since the age of fourteen. Little has performed his traditional roots music, around the world, including performances in Sri Lanka, Oman, France, and Tanzania. Other notable performances include The Smithsonian Institution, National Public Radio, Folk Masters, and The National Council for the Traditional Arts “American Piano Masters. “This will be a first class show with first class performers”, says Debbie Robinson, Director of Tourism for the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. “I have listened to both perform live and am confident that those who attend will be pleased with the level of energy and skill both will display. I encourage all bluegrass and old time music enthusiasts to join us on August 28th.” Jeff and Wayne have performed as a duo in numerous venues throughout the nation. The two have just returned from a performance in Butte Montana’s National Folk Festival. Advance tickets are available for $10 and $12 at the door at Spencer-Penn Centre located in Spencer, Virginia. Tickets may be ordered by phone at 276-957-5757. For more information on upcoming events visit online at www.TheCentreatSpencerPenn.com or www.VisitMartinsville.com.    The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/19 Monday, 24 August 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. The VisitMartinsville.com website contains information pertinent to those interested in visiting Martinsville-Henry County.

Martinsville, VA (August 24, 2009) – The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation (M-HCEDC) has completed a redesign of its tourism website www.VisitMartinsville.com. The website, launched last week, was designed and developed by HD Web Studio, a graphic design and web development company located in UpTown Martinsville. The VisitMartinsville.com website contains information pertinent to those interested in visiting Martinsville-Henry County. Topics include where to stay, what to do, where to eat, transportation along with information on the Deep Roots initiative. “In an effort to make the website easier to find and navigate, our office decided a complete redesign was most effective,” says Debbie Robinson, Director of Tourism for the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. “We also wanted to add a prominent place on the site for the Deep Roots initiatives for our furniture legacy, as well as the motorsports, outdoor recreation and cultural heritage aspects of our community. We are very pleased with the website’s new and dynamic look. One great addition includes video capability which highlights our unique array of arts and cultural assets featuring testimonials from local residents. This offers visitors to the site an invitation to come and experience first hand the great things to see and do here.” To visit the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation’s Tourism website go to www.VisitMartinsville.com. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/34 Monday, 24 August 2009 12:00:00 +0000

The Harvest Foundation threw a party Sunday, treating more than 3,000 visitors to a celebration of the grand opening of the Smith River Sports Complex.

By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer. Among area residents’ reactions to the Smith River Sports Complex at Sunday’s grand opening were: Henry County Supervisor Paula Burnette: “The real birthing (of the complex) is having it full of people.” The area, she said, has outdoor and indoor activities, such as Piedmont Arts Association and the Virginia Museum of Natural History, but “this is a different venue for different activities. ... I think they will find it will have optimum use in a short time.”  Gary Collins, long-time local sports supporter and father of Bryson Collins, who plays on an under-16 soccer team: The complex is “one of the best things to happen to Martinsville-Henry County.” For the past decade, he has taken Bryson and his other son, Blake, to regional games in Statesville, Winston-Salem and Greensboro in North Carolina, Roanoke and other areas, and none has a facility comparable to the Smith River complex, he said. “It’s the Cadillac of soccer complexes.” Jason Muehleck of Martinsville, who played on a Piedmont Youth Soccer League team as a youth and has coached soccer: “It’s absolutely gorgeous. If it’s run properly, it will be a huge benefit to the area.” He said it will take time to build support for the complex, but events such as Sunday’s help more people see what is there. Lucy Moore of Martinsville, whose daughter, Liza, a ninth-grader at Carlisle School, was playing field hockey at the complex Sunday: “It’s a tremendous opportunity for the community. Her husband, Peyton Moore, said the complex is first-class and needs to be marketed as such to let everyone know what is here. Carlisle soccer players Corey Gaylor, a ninth-grader, and seniors Blake Thomas and Josh Kwaji, will play their first game at the complex Thursday against Westover Christian Academy: The complex is “awesome,” they said, and added that the fields’ artificial turf will help the ball move faster. Henry County Supervisor Jim Adams: The complex is first-class, and offers more than soccer. He noted that the Philpott Lake area and Jack Dalton Park serve walkers in their areas, and the complex will do the same in the eastern end of Henry County. With children playing sports there and older people walking, the facility will have “lifelong participation,” he said. “Harvest (which paid for the complex) accomplished something the public sector couldn’t do” because of the price tag of $8.7 million, he said, adding that the complex has the potential to grow even bigger and spark development in the county. Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Collinsville: “It’s impressive. It’s the kind of facility you see in major Virginia cities.” He added it can help attract businesses to the area’s quality of life. Pete Scouras, Martinsville High School soccer coach: The complex would be good for local jamborees and tournaments. “Soccer is big here; this is a shot in the arm.” He added that it was good to see the city, county and other entities working together and people having fun. Katie Connelly of Piedmont Community Services, whose son, Rob, played soccer with Piedmont Youth Soccer League and Martinsville High School: She traveled to soccer matches throughout the region and never saw anything comparable to the new complex. “We now have the capability of bringing teams here,” and they likely will want to return because of the facility. Lynn Ward, of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Blue Ridge and the mother of former soccer players: “My biggest regret is my daughter (Jennifer) will not have the opportunity to play here. Having raised kids and seen the difference sports makes in their lives, I don’t think we can have enough facilities. I hope they have the funds to keep it up like this.” Jeff Mansour, a project director with the Harvest Foundation: “It’s wonderful. It’s incredibly important to the community” to help it develop a sense of pride and confidence. He noted that the space is flexible so it can hold a variety of events. “It’s limited only by the imagination.” Don Hodges, former Harvest board president: “We were blessed to have Bob Davis” to guide the complex’s development and construction. “We (the Harvest board) depended on him.” Hodges added that the people who have used the complex so far have loved it. That included the British soccer coaches who ran a camp there and said it was the best facility they had seen, he said. When they tell others of that, word of the complex will spread. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/20 Friday, 21 August 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. FastTrac®, a series of workshops and programs aimed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills they need to create, manage and grow successful businesses.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa Fultz Director, Small and Minority Business Division Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation 276.403.5940 lfultz@yesmartinsville.com PROGRAM TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS SUCCEED Second year program is offered in Martinsville-Henry County Martinsville, VA (August 21, 2009) Entrepreneurs in Martinsville-Henry County have another opportunity to participate in a program that will increase their chances for success: FastTrac®, a series of workshops and programs aimed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills they need to create, manage and grow successful businesses. The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation’s Small and Minority Business Division will offer the FastTrac® NewVenture™ Program beginning September 1, 2009. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays, 2:30PM to 5:30PM through November 3, 2009, at the Economic Development Corporation. Pre-registration is required. The cost of the program to participants is $75; however, funding assistance is available for those who qualify. FastTrac® NewVenture™ connects entrepreneurs to the best resources available to help them pursue and realize their entrepreneurial dreams. The program provides small business owners with business insights, strategic visioning guidance, professional networking connections and other resources, preparing them to create a new business or expand an existing enterprise. “Our inaugural FastTrac® Program had 20 graduates last year, three of whom have launched new businesses, and five were able to use the knowledge to further develop existing businesses,” said Lisa Fultz, director of the Small and Minority Business Division. “We are looking forward to having a new crop of start-up and growing business successes.” A typical FastTrac® session includes facilitated discussions and activities, networking, small peer groups, a guest speaker and coaching sessions. Participants work on their own businesses to create an actionable business plan by the end of the 10-week program. Nearly 300,000 entrepreneurs have participated in FastTrac® programs. FastTrac® is a program of the Kansas City-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the largest organization in the nation solely focused on entrepreneurial success at all levels. For more information on becoming involved in the FastTrac® NewVenture™ program, entrepreneurs may call (276) 403-5940 or e-mail lfultz@yesmartinsville.com. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/36 Friday, 14 August 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By AMANDA BUCK - Bulletin Staff Writer. A local meat snacks plant will double production and add 120 jobs as it becomes part of a Tennessee company called Monogram Food Solutions.

By AMANDA BUCK - Bulletin Staff Writer. A local meat snacks plant will double production and add 120 jobs as it becomes part of a Tennessee company called Monogram Food Solutions, officials announced Thursday. Monogram, based in Memphis, makes processed meat snacks, such as meat sticks, beef jerky and pickled sausages, at plants in Muncie, Ind., and Chandler, Minn. Ches Jackson, president of the company’s Monogram Meat Snacks division, said Monogram will invest $3 million in the Knauss Foods plant at the Patriot Centre and add 120 jobs there by the end of the year. Knauss was part of American Foods Group’s meat snack business, which includes the brand names Bull’s, Hannah’s, O’Brien’s and Dakota. Monogram is buying the rights to those brand names as well, according to a news release. “We could not be more excited” about the Henry County plant, Jackson said during a news conference at the Henry County Administration Building. He declined to say what Monogram is paying for the plant but said the deal is expected to close around the first of September. Although the area’s high unemployment rates — 15.4 percent in Henry County and 21.6 percent in Martinsville in June — are unfortunate, they do mean Monogram shouldn’t have trouble finding workers, Jackson said. The company already has hired and is training about 50 new employees, and the remaining 70 should be on by the end of the year, he said. He encouraged job-seekers to contact the plant if they are interested. “We are a great place to work,” he said. “Tell your friends and neighbors to come and see us. We need to hire some employees.” The jobs pay from about $8.50 to about $13 an hour, Jackson said. When benefits are added, the pay tops out at just under $15 an hour, he said, calling the wages “competitive in the marketplace.” There are no specific education or skills requirements for most positions, Jackson said, adding that the company is looking for “energetic, passionate people who are not afraid of hard work” and who want to learn. In addition to expanding its work force, Monogram will add new equipment to the 86,000-square-foot facility and will more than double the amount of product it produces, Jackson said. A new, 2,200-square-foot employee welfare area, with a locker room and cafeteria, also will be built, said George Roden, vice president of operations. Local businesses, such as Schlueter Electric and Nichols Construction, among others, already are doing work at the plant, Jackson said. That is part of Monogram’s commitment to hire locally whenever possible, he said. “We have said by strategy that we will invest every dollar we can in the local economy,” Jackson said. When the new equipment is up and running, the plant will add 50 SKUs (stock-keeping units), or individual products, to the 250 it already produces, Roden said. Among them will be Jeff Foxworthy, Bass Pro Shops and NASCAR brands of beef jerky, as well as private labels sold at stores such as 7-Eleven. Monogram is a private company that formed in 2004 with brands purchased from Sara Lee Corp. of Chicago. American Foods Group, which Roden said was “looking to divest,” is a large family of companies that sell meat products. The plant here will change its name to Monogram, Roden said. The sale is good news for employees here, he said, adding that they have “done a lot of work in this plant to create this opportunity for ourselves.” The company considered sites in several states before deciding on Henry County, Jackson said. “It was a very easy decision at the end of the day,” he said. He pointed to support from the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) and the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Revitalization Commission, as well as the quality of employees at Knauss and the potential to recruit new ones, as factors in the area’s favor. “The reality is there is no single one deciding factor,” he said. For every area the company considered, it had a checklist of requirements. “A lot of places fell out pretty quick,” Jackson said. “Henry County/Martinsville checked all the boxes, and then some.” Monogram had its first talks with American Foods Group about acquiring the plant 11 months ago, Jackson said. Talks with local officials began in January. According to Roden, the meat snacks business has not been as hard-hit by the economic downturn as some other industries. Knauss still has experienced modest growth, he said, and under Monogram, part of the strategy will be to target private label business. Those brands often are less expensive for consumers than name brands, he said. Although no further expansion is planned at this point, Jackson said the company hopes to continue growing in the future. That sounded great to local officials. “This is a tough economy, and you don’t see a lot of expansions occurring,” said County Administrator Benny Summerlin. “We’re pleased we’re able to retain 130 jobs and actually get an expansion and another 120.” Debra Buchanan, chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors, called the announcement “a confidence boost for everyone in Martinsville and Henry County,” saying she hopes area residents will see it “as a sign that everyone involved in economic development continues to work feverishly for new opportunities.” Tommy Slaughter, who represents the Reed Creek District on the board of supervisors, said he is happy that the jobs will be available quickly, which should help local job-seekers. “This is filling right now,” he said. “It can put someone to work immediately.” Martinsville Vice Mayor Kimble Reynolds Jr., who also attended the news conference, praised the cooperation that went into attracting Monogram. “This is a great announcement, one at a time when our community really needed to have a shot of confidence in our economic development corporation and also a little bit more hope that things are going to turn around,” he said. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/37 Friday, 14 August 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By BULLETIN STAFF. Ches Jackson, president of Monogram’s meat snacks division, praised Heath and other EDC officials, saying the group was “a first-class organization from day one.

By BULLETIN STAFF. Monogram Food Solutions could receive up to $963,148 in incentives for coming to Henry County, said Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC). Monogram announced Thursday that it is buying the Knauss Snack Foods plant in the Patriot Centre industrial park. The company plans to invest $3 million there and add 120 jobs. The largest share of the incentive package is $400,000 from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Revitalization Commission. During a news conference Thursday at the Henry County Administration Building, Sen. Roscoe Reynolds and Del. Danny Marshall presented Monogram with a check for $400,000 on behalf of the commission, which promotes economic development. “Any time we can save jobs, we always want to do that,” Marshall said as he presented the ceremonial check. “Any time we can create jobs, it’s a great day.” Reynolds added that he hopes the investment will pay dividends for a long time to come. All of the incentives, including the tobacco commission money, are performance-based, Heath stressed. That means that if the company does not meet its performance agreement, which says it will invest $3 million and create 120 jobs within 36 months, it will not receive all the money. Only the tobacco commission money is provided upfront, and that would be pro-rated if Monogram did not meet the agreement’s terms, Heath said. As part of the agreement, which was approved Thursday morning by the board of supervisors, Henry County will give Monogram 5.842 acres, assessed at $127,400, said County Administrator Benny Summerlin. The land will be used to expand parking at the plant in the Patriot Centre industrial park, officials said. Other available incentives include tax credits, enterprise zone funding, state and local contributions and funds available through the Workforce Investment Board, Heath said. Some of those incentives are optional. In addition, the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority will provide up to $2 million in financing, Heath said. Bringing packages like that together is the EDC’s goal, he said. “That’s really what our role is, to get everyone around the table who can help win the day,” he said. Ches Jackson, president of Monogram’s meat snacks division, praised Heath and other EDC officials, saying the group was “a first-class organization from day one. ... That is one of the reasons we are here.” http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/21 Thursday, 13 August 2009 12:00:00 +0000

MEMPHIS, TN. (August 13, 2009) – All employees of the Martinsville facility will be retained and they plan to hire up to an additional 120 employees.

  COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA Office of the Governor Timothy M. Kaine, Governor FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 13, 2009 Contact: Gordon Hickey Phone: (804) 225-4260 Cell Phone: (804) 291-8977 Internet: www.governor.virginia.gov Carmen Inman Christie Miller Monogram Food Solutions VEDP (901) 259-6657 804-545-5805 www.monogramfoods.com www.YesVirginia.org GOVERNOR KAINE ANNOUNCES MONOGRAM FOOD SOLUTIONS PURCHASE OF AMERICAN FOODS GROUP DIVISION IN MARTINSVILLE ~Company to invest $3 million and create 120 jobs~ RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Monogram Food Solutions, LLC, a Memphis-based manufacturer of value-added processed meats, will purchase the meat snack business of American Foods Group, LLC, which includes the Martinsville production facility, and the rights to the Bull’s, Hannah’s, O’Brien’s and Dakota brand names. Monogram will invest $3 million to expand production capacity, retaining all current positions at the American Foods Group production facility and creating 120 new jobs. “This contract between Monogram Food Solutions and American Foods Group is great news for Martinsville and Henry County,” Governor Kaine said. “Not only will all of the American Foods Group employees retain jobs, the project will create 120 new positions in a region that is rebounding from economic downturn. I congratulate both companies on this venture.” Founded in 2004 when a group of Memphis investors bought King Cotton and Circle B Brand foods from Sara Lee Corporation, Monogram Food Solutions is dedicated to providing innovative and top-quality food products that consumers love to eat. Monogram Meat Snacks, a division of Monogram Food Solutions, is one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of quality meat snacks, including jerky, meat and cheese snacks, kippered beef sticks and pickled sausages. Monogram’s meat products, all made in the U.S., include King Cotton, Circle B, Jeff Foxworthy Jerky, Bass Pro Shop’s Uncle Buck’s Licensed Products, Trail’s Best Meat Snacks, Pete’s Pride Meats and the Intimidator/NASCAR Jerky and Steak Strips. Monogram Food Solutions also uses its production capabilities for meat snacks, smoked meats, corn dogs and fritters to manufacture private label brands for strategic partners across the country. Monogram also operates facilities in Tennessee, Minnesota, and Indiana. “The Martinsville production facility will be a good addition to our current production facilities located in Minnesota and Indiana,” said Karl Schledwitz, Chairman and CEO of Monogram. “This purchase, like our other acquisitions this year, will enhance both our production capacity and our leadership in offering top-quality regional and nationally distributed meat products and brands that retailers and customers know and trust. Virginia was a great fit for the project and we look forward to success in the Commonwealth.” The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $400,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. “Today’s announcement is a confidence boost for everyone in Martinsville and Henry County,” said Henry County Board of Supervisors’ Chairman Debra Buchanan. “To see the addition of 120 new jobs and a capital investment of $3 million means that our citizens will have more opportunity for employment and for personal growth. A citizen’s opportunity equals the same for the entire community, and for that we are thankful.” “On behalf of the Virginia Tobacco Commission we congratulate Martinsville on a great win for the region,” said Charles R. Hawkins, Chairman, Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. “We are pleased that the Tobacco Commission could offer assistance to ensure that Monogram Food Solutions will build on the success of American Foods Group and thrive in Martinsville, Virginia.” http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/22 Wednesday, 12 August 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release – The Martinsville Henry County Economic Development Corporation has announced the resignation of Deborah Robinson, Director of Tourism.

Martinsville, VA (August 12, 2009) – The Martinsville Henry County Economic Development Corporation has announced the resignation of Deborah Robinson, Director of Tourism. Robinson’s resignation will be effective September 1, 2009. Robinson is leaving due to family matters needing attention in Galax, Virginia. Mark Heath, President/CEO said “it is with reluctance that the EDC accepts Robinson’s resignation. Debbie has done an outstanding job for Martinsville-Henry County’s Tourism effort and in a short time has reorganized the division leaving it in great shape with a solid plan and framework for the future. Our next Tourism Director will benefit greatly from the work Debbie has done in her eight months here. “It is with regret that I feel the need to return to Galax, but family is our primary priority, especially at this time in our life with aging parents,” said Robinson. “I appreciate the opportunity Martinsville-Henry county has afforded me and will continue to be supportive of the Tourism efforts in any way possible.” Robinson’s last official day will be August 31, but will consult with the EDC through the completion of the Uptown Furniture Initiative and beyond as needed until a replacement is hired. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/38 Thursday, 30 July 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By BULLETIN STAFF. People of all ages can bring home their own piece of Martinsville-Henry County’s furniture heritage at “Build-A-Chair” workshops planned for August and September.

By BULLETIN STAFF. People of all ages can bring home their own piece of Martinsville-Henry County’s furniture heritage at “Build-A-Chair” workshops planned for August and September. The first workshop will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Southern Virginia Artisan Center at 54 W. Church St. Other sessions will be held at the same times Saturday, Aug. 29, and Saturday, Sept. 19, and more will be scheduled if there is a big response, said Tourism Director Debbie Robinson of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. The $22 cost includes a kit to make a child-sized wooden chair. Workshops are open to everyone, and children aged 5 to 14 must be accompanied by an adult. “We want folks to know they’re going to have fun building these chairs, and all the while they’ll be learning about the history of the furniture industry here in Martinsville and Henry County,” Robinson said. Meanwhile, Robinson said she is hoping for assistance from area furniture companies to create more chair kits to meet the potential demand. Wood has been donated by Bassett Furniture Industries, but the pieces need to be cut, she said. Robinson said the Boys & Girls Clubs are “very interested” in participating, but this would require about 250 more kits. “We would like to find a way to offer this class to the Boys & Girls Club and anybody who wants to take it,” she said. “We would like to fulfill the interest and display these all over town.” The Build-A-Chair workshops will lead up to the installation of Bassett Furniture Industries’ Big Chair in Martin Plaza parking lot uptown in September. The design of the small chairs may change, Robinson said. “We had some requests to make a replica of the Big Chair,” but “we have to make sure it’s feasible.” Participants will be given decorative painting instructions to personalize the chairs they build, which will be temporarily displayed uptown. “We want folks to get creative,” Robinson said. “We hope to decorate the whole uptown with these beautiful pieces of artwork.” Volunteers still are needed to assist with the workshops, as well, she said. The Big Chair will be dedicated as part of a weekend-long “Furniture Revival” Sept. 18-19 that will mark the official opening of the newly renovated furniture outlet uptown. Events will include a concert by musicians from The Crooked Road, free showings of “With These Hands: The Story of an American Furniture Factory” at the Rives Theatre, and a day of music and artisan demos. Piedmont Arts Association will be making imprints of the hands of local dignitaries and furniture industry workers to be included with the big chair display. The logistics of the hand imprints still are being worked out, Robinson said, but the goal is “to immortalize the work and dedication” of people involved with the area’s furniture heritage, Robinson said. The Big Chair will be “a very special landmark for years to come and a reminder of what the furniture industry did for this community,” she said. The project “shows our resilience” and hopefully will be “a renewal and a revival.” It is meant to “show we’re not going to give up,” Robinson said. “We’re going to shake off the dust, stand up and move forward.” The help and participation of numerous institutions, businesses and community groups have “turned it into a community project,” she said. To learn more or to register for the workshops, call 656-5461, 632-0066 or 632-8006. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/39 Sunday, 26 July 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By HOLLY KOZELSKY - Bulletin Accent Editor. A day-long seminar for people interested in starting a food-based business was held at Spencer-Penn Centre.

By HOLLY KOZELSKY - Bulletin Accent Editor. One could expect to be fed well at a day-long seminar for people interested in starting a food-based business. Wednesday at Spencer-Penn Centre, the tables in back were laden with muffins, bagels, candies and other delights as about 40 participants watched the speakers on stage at “Starting a Food-Based Business.” The food being offered (and quickly disappearing) was the creation of many of the workshop’s attendees — many who were there to learn how to turn those creations into businesses, and some who already had. They also toured Spencer-Penn’s new Community Kitchen. A community kitchen is a certified facility, which means that the food products prepared there can legally be offered for sale, whether at a farmers market or a grocery store. The workshop was sponsored by the center, the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). Speakers and topics included: “An Entrepreneur’s Perspective” by Paul Hooper of Hooper Foods; “VDACS: Helping Small Business” by Bud Anderson, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; health department regulations by Sharon Ortiz-Garcia of the West Piedmont Health Department; business planning by Lisa Fultz of the EDC’s FastTrac Entrepreneurship Program, Tiffani Underwood, executive director of West Piedmont Business Development Center, Ben Bowman, director of the culinary arts program at Patrick Henry Community College and community development consultant Robert Donnan; “Taking a Product from Recipe to Retail” by Laboratory Specialist Senior Joell Eifert of Virginia Tech Food Science and Technology; marketing resources for Small and micro food ventures by marketing and agribusiness extension specialist Theresa Nartea of the Virginia Cooperative Extension. The final session featured new business owners Derrick Beverly of The Cake Pantry and Darla Main Schneider of Rising Sun Breads. Consultant Robert Donnan has been working with the EDC on a project having to do with “assessing the possibilities that some specialty food product manufacturer could assist in promoting Martinsville as a destination and be displayed in restaurants in uptown and the farmers market,” he said. “As part of this overall effort, we wanted to find a public kitchen to use as a starting-off place ... to start food businesses.” Average business start-up costs can be $25,000 to $100,000 for the first three to five years, according to materials provided by Nartea. “Instead of investing in a space and equipment,” Spencer-Penn Centre Director Mary Jordan said, new professional cooks “can rent our kitchen to start it (a business) and save their money to buy their own place.” The kitchen is equipped with two commercial, double-door refrigerators, two convection ovens, a six-burner electric stove with an oven, a proofing cabinet (which keeps food warm), a dishwasher, an ice maker, a triple sink and stainless steel tables. People would have to bring their own pots, pans and utensils. The cost to rent the kitchen is $25 an hour. Jordan told attendees that it would be useful to rent for catering and for making specialty food products to sell. Carlisle School literature teacher Becki Vasquez asked if teachers would be able to bring their classes to use the kitchen. Jordan replied that the idea had not come up before, but it probably would work out. Anderson gave his take on children in a commercial kitchen: “If they’re old enough to help, fine. If they’ve got their fingers in the bowl instead, maybe not.” Jordan said she hoped the kitchen also would be used for classes and workshops. A canning class will be offered by the Virginia Cooperative Extension Saturday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Community Kitchen. Agents will teach how to can vegetables, tomato products, meat, jelly and more. Before renting the kitchen, a person must be certified in food safety and sanitation from a Spencer-Penn workshop or provide proof of such training within the past three years. The workshop will be held Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 1-5 p.m. It will be taught by the Virginia Cooperative Extension. To rent the kitchen, a person would have to turn in an application form, proof of food safety training and a signed copy of Spencer-Penn’s policies. “We’re gonna kill a lot of trees (from paperwork), but that’s government, isn’t it,” Jordan said, chuckling, then suddenly turned to Anderson, a state employee, and said, “Excuse me, excuse me,” as the tour’s audience laughed. The kitchen originally was used to prepare meals for students when the Spencer-Penn Centre still was a school, but when the school was closed, it was stripped of equipment, Jordan said. New equipment was bought for it and the kitchen was finished in January. Jordan said that the kitchen had been used for making the concessions sold at Spencer-Penn music shows, “but we wanted to maximize the use of the space. We hope the community can have a need for it.” Jordan said that she would like ideas and suggestions from the community and would act on them if possible, so that the kitchen would suit local needs: “We want it used.” http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/40 Sunday, 19 July 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Two of three sections of a massive forging press now are on site at the RTI International Metals site in Henry County.

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Two sections of a massive forging press now are on site at the RTI International Metals site in Henry County, with the third and final section scheduled to arrive later this week. When the second section rolled in early Friday, a member of the work crew in the lead trailer said that along the route from Newport News to Henry County, the 16 1/2-foot tall press section snared and snapped an electric wire that ran from a utility pole to a house. A bucket truck — the type used by electrical crews — traveled with the convoy, as did the Virginia State Police and other escort vehicles. The equipment was so tall that hauler/work crew members said there was not enough clearance to get the piece through underpasses. When the press section arrived at the RTI site around 4:15 a.m. Thursday, crews spent half an hour adjusting the load and backing the trailer into the VF Corp. drive in an effort to get into position to enter the RTI site. A crane was used to hoist the section after the trailer backed into Building 1. It will be stored there until construction of Building 2 is complete, officials have said. Rich Lidstone, general manager of the RTI facility in the Patriot Centre at Beaver Creek industrial park, said he does not know when construction of that building will be completed, but “every day, we’re making progress.” Lidstone also said he is “thrilled” at the amount of interest shown in the delivery of the press, which will be an integral part of the titanium-making process. Hauled in sections from the marina in Newport News, the forging press will be a first step when the facility is operational. Raw material, called ingots, will arrive in Martinsville from RTI facilities in Ohio, Lidstone said. While the length and weight of the ingots varies from 8 to 11 feet long and between 15,000 to 20,000 pounds, Lidstone said their 3-foot diameter is more consistent. The ingots then go through a series of furnaces, where they are heated at temperatures ranging from 1,500 to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, he said. The heat “primarily changes the configuration” of the ingot, Lidstone said. An unprocessed ingot is weak, but “when you do hot or cold work” to the material, it “changes the shape and the internal characteristics of the metal.” After that, the ingots go into the forge press and emerge as thick slabs, he said. Those slabs will go through a grinder during the second stage of the process, Lidstone said. The grinder, which will be housed in a third building that has not yet been constructed, “cleans up the surface and takes out any cracks created during the forging process,” Lidstone said. Some product will be ready to ship out of the Martinsville site after the grinding process, but most will continue to a rolling mill and the third step of the process, he said. The mill will create thinner slabs, Lidstone said. The mill is not on-site yet, but it will be located in Building 1, he added. Any vibration from the operation “is not anything anyone will notice,” Lidstone said. “We’ll be pretty inert” when the operation gets underway. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/41 Friday, 17 July 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. RTI International’s forging press is arriving in Henry County in sections, attracting onlookers who want to see the massive equipment and its hauler.

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. RTI International’s forging press is arriving in Henry County in sections, attracting onlookers who want to see the massive equipment and the hauler that is delivering it. The equipment was imported from Italy and will be used at RTI’s titanium-making operation in the Patriot Centre industrial park. The first section of the press arrived late Wednesday, and the second was delivered late Thursday. The final piece is due next week, company officials said. Joseph Norman and Kayah Draper pulled in the parking lot at Walgreens drugstore around 10:50 p.m. Wednesday, just moments after the convoy of flashing lights associated with the hauler became visible on U.S. 220. Norman said he and Draper first passed the convoy on U.S. 58. He then detoured and took a route through town in hopes of beating it to the intersection of U.S. 220 and Kings Mountain Road. “Fortunately, we did,” he said. Surveying what he called the “caravan behind it,” Norman speculated that the haulers were attracting so much interest among onlookers in adjacent parking lots because of “RTI moving into the area. It has been the biggest piece of economic news we’ve had in a while.” When RTI initially announced plans to locate in the industrial park, company officials announced a mid-2010 start-up date. They have since said market conditions may have some impact on beginning operations, but construction is continuing on RTI’s former shell building and a second building that will house the forging press. The section of the press delivered late Thursday is 16.2 feet high and 15 feet wide, and it is the “most impressive” of the three in terms of size, according to Rick Kay, heavy haul operations manager for Miller Transport, the company hauling the press. The portion of the press that arrived Wednesday was 14.11 feet high, he said of the section transported by a 19-axle hauler. A push truck connected to the rear brought the total number of axles to 22, Kay said. A train of blue and yellow flashing lights could be seen in front of and behind the hauler from Virginia State troopers, the Virginia Department of Transportation and other vehicles that escorted the massive hauler from the Newport News Marine Terminal to RTI. Several other vehicles followed the hauler to its destination. The hauler’s driver blew the horn as it made its way through the intersection of U.S. 220 and turned onto Kings Mountain Road. The hauler seemed to crawl while traveling in the center of Kings Mountain Road for much of the 20-minute trip to RTI. Speeds varied, from 10-14 mph to about 20 mph. On several occasions, the hauler nearly stopped. Company officials have said the hauler can reach a speed of about 40 mph on the interstate. When going through intersections, troopers first pulled into the turn lane and then into the middle of the intersection to make sure other vehicles did not get in the hauler’s path. Another crowd had gathered at the corner of Kings Mountain Road and Beaver Creek Drive to watch as the hauler prepared to turn left into the industrial park. After passing the drive to the RTI site, the push truck was disconnected, and the hauler backed into VF Corp. Drive near another crowd of onlookers. A little before midnight, it moved out of sight, behind the shell building at the RTI site. Miller Transport does not remove the equipment from the hauler, Kay said. Generally in similar operations, a gantry, which is a portable overhead crane, is used to do that. When the crane lifts the load, the trailer then pulls out from under it, and the crane sets it back down, Kay said. While the offloading is an interesting side note, most of the spectators Wednesday night wanted to see the hauler in action. “I just wanted to see something that big come through Martinsville,” said Betty Smith, who along with her husband, Carl Smith, parked on Beaver Creek Drive to watch the spectacle. Mesmerized as the hauler backed up, Eddie Frazier of Martinsville said, “I just wanted to see what I’m looking at. I would have loved to have tried” to drive the hauler. “I wouldn’t have got anywhere, but I would have loved to try it,” Frazier said. Danny Smallwood brought two of his grandchildren, Jeremy Barnett and Haley Hunt, along with his brother, Orien Smallwood, out to watch. Jeremy, 15-year-old son of Lottie and Billy Branch, marveled at the hauler. “That was incredible. It was so big,” he said. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You don’t get to see this very often.” His sister, Haley, was equally impressed. “It was amazing. I’ve never in my life,” she said. A former truck driver, Orien Smallwood said he wanted to see the hauler in action and quickly added he never drove anything so massive. The drivers “made it look easy,” Danny Smallwood said. It does take a “special breed of person” to be a driver, because patience and safety are priorities, Kay said. The final piece of the forging press will be loaded in Newport News Tuesday, July 21, Kay said, and is expected to be in Martinsville by Thursday, July 23. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/42 Sunday, 12 July 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. A massive piece of equipment bound for RTI International Metals in Henry County solidifies the company’s commitment to the local operation.

By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer. A massive piece of equipment bound for RTI International Metals in Henry County solidifies the company’s commitment to the local operation, but it may create traffic delays en route. “This is good news for Martinsville and Henry County,” said Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp., of plans to transport a forging press used in making titanium to the company’s facility at Beaver Creek industrial park. RTI bought the press in Italy, Heath said, adding that he did not know its cost. Heath said the delivery confirms RTI’s commitment to its $100 million, 150-job titanium operation under construction in Henry County and puts the company on track for a mid-2010 projected opening. “This is real. This is happening and it is going to benefit Martinsville and Henry County,” Heath said. An oversized tractor-trailer will haul parts of the press from the Newport News Marine Terminal to the RTI facilities in the Patriot Centre in three trips, according to Heath and a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) release. Each trip, about 300 miles in each direction, is expected to take two to three days, according to Heath and the release. The first transport is scheduled to begin Monday and run through Wednesday; a second begins Tuesday through Thursday, and the final trip will be July 21 through July 23, VDOT stated. Haulers will be on the roads between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., and they will make pre-determined stops along the route, according to VDOT. The tractor-trailers are 225 feet long and 16 feet, 5 inches wide, according to Heath and VDOT. They are about the size of three normal tractor-trailers and have a combined gross weight of up to 551,000 pounds, they said. Officials warn that traffic delays are possible during the moves. At various intervals along the route, bridges will be shut down to other traffic and “there are actually some electric power lines that will have to be taken down” to make way for the haulers, according to Heath and VDOT. VDOT and the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) coordinated with Miller Transfer — the company hauling the press — to develop a roundabout route that will minimize the impact on traffic, local businesses and residents, according to the VDOT release and local officials. After leaving the terminal in Newport News, haulers will travel through Hampton Roads, Richmond, Charlottesville, Lynchburg and other areas. The route will continue through Danville to U.S. 29 business south, to the U.S. 58 bypass and then U.S. 58 west, VDOT stated. The route will include a portion of U.S. 220 as the press makes its way to Virginia 174 (Kings Mountain Road) in Henry County, according to VDOT’s release. VDOT will place message signs along the route to advise drivers of potential traffic delays. Maintenance vehicles as well as state and local law enforcement will accompany the haulers to help with traffic control, according to the release. Initially, the press will be housed in the shell building on RTI’s property in the Patriot Centre, Heath said. Eventually, it will be moved into a new building that is being constructed on the property. Information about the transport operation will be posted on the state’s travel information system that can be accessed by dialing 511 on any phone in Virginia and on the Web site www.511Virginia.org. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/23 Friday, 10 July 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. The EDC's Office of Small & Minority Business Development is hosting an Increasing Sales Seminar on July 23 at 8:30 a.m. at the New College Institute.

Martinsville, VA (July 10, 2009) – The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation’s Office of Small and Minority Business Development is hosting an Increasing Sales Seminar on Thursday, July 23, 2009, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the New College Institute. The event is free and will be tailored to small businesses (500 or less employees) and women, minority or veteran owned companies. Activities for the day will conclude with a networking luncheon. Topics of discussion will include: how to turn sales into leads, explore other methods of business growth, increasing sales through local, state and federal government markets and credit issues impacting ability to grow. Participants will able to network with a variety of buyers and business resources.“This event will focus on helping businesses increase sales through private and government sectors”, said Lisa Fultz, director of small and minority business development. “We invite all local businesses to participate.” To register for event, please visit www.YesMartinsville.com/smallbusiness or call 276-403-5940. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/43 Tuesday, 23 June 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By KIM BARTO - Bulletin Staff Writer. 16 year old Montana Young plans to reveal some additions to her repertoire of bluegrass fiddling at Saturday night's concert.

By KIM BARTO - Bulletin Staff Writer. After years of wowing crowds and winning contests with her bluegrass fiddle skills, Montana Young is ready to mix things up. Playing traditional bluegrass put the Patrick County musician on the map before she reached middle school. Now at age 16, Montana said she plans to reveal some additions to her repertoire when she takes the stage Saturday night in a concert at Martinsville High School auditorium. “I’ve done the same thing for so long, I wanted to do something different,” she said. Not only will she perform some old-timey tunes, Montana said, “I’m going to try to do some things kind of out of the ordinary for me,” such as playing Janis Joplin songs on the fiddle. Also, she said, “I’m trying to improvise on guitar. That’s hard.” Montana has been taking guitar lessons from music teacher Dean Smith at Woodall’s Music Shop. Smith will perform with her and Amy Stuart at 6 p.m. Saturday. They will open for Whitetop Mountain Band in a performance presented by the Martinsville Lions Club and Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp.’s tourism office. Tickets are $5 and are available in advance at Woodall’s Music and the Martinsville-Henry County Visitor Center. “Montana’s well-versed in all types of music. She is very capable in other areas,” Smith said. In 11 years since she first picked up the violin, Montana has toured as far as New York and Scotland, opened shows for bluegrass legends and entertained the Queen of England when the monarch visited Richmond. On her trip to Scotland in May 2006, Montana played 14 shows with a troupe of Crooked Road musicians as ambassadors of Appalachian music. “That was a lot of fun,” she said. “I liked seeing all the castles, and I liked the way people talked. The food was a little weird, though.” At one memorable show in Scotland, she said, “this lady came up to the stage, and she had tears in her eyes. She took her jewelry off and gave it to me,” saying she was touched by Montana’s playing. “I want to move people the way other musicians have moved me,” Montana said. “It’s crazy how powerful a song is, how it can make you feel different things.” However, she put down her fiddle for three years “because I was just so burned out,” she said. Looking back on her career so far, Montana shook her head and exclaimed, “Man, I’m getting old!” Her interest in playing music was piqued at age 5, when she was mesmerized by a girl performing at the Galax Old Fiddlers Convention. “The crowd was going wild for her,” Montana recalled. “I just knew I had to do that. I wanted the crowd to go wild for me, too.” She “kept asking for lessons” from her parents, Janet Foley of Woolwine and Jeffery Young of Bassett, who finally relented and bought her a violin. “Violin” and “fiddle” refer to the same instrument, just with different types of music. Montana began classical violin lessons and took up bluegrass shortly after. Soon, she was taking home prizes of her own at Galax and other fiddle competitions. “I always loved Galax,” she said. “I like those times when the crowd goes wild. It’s great to have a crowd that’s hot.” Galax was where Montana met Debbie Robinson, now the EDC tourism director, who called her “a very gifted musician.” “She’s fascinated me with being able to listen to a tune and play it immediately,” Robinson said of Montana. Not only did her performances please the crowds at Galax, Robinson added, “she was so embraced by the other musicians there.” At age 10, Montana studied with fiddler Buddy Pendleton of Woolwine, who has played with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, through the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program. “It was a nice experience. I was glad to get some time with Buddy,” Montana said. “He taught me some of his best tunes.” The last time she competed at Galax, Montana said she was amazed to place fifth, while Pendleton placed fourth. It was her second time participating in the adult competition. “I like it ’cause it’s a challenge,” she said. Some of the songs Montana learned as Pendleton’s apprentice are featured on her first and only CD, “Fiddling Up a Storm,” released when she was “12 or 13, maybe.” “I did the whole thing in two days. I was exhausted,” she said. “It was a good experience, but not one of my best.” As for releasing a second CD, she said, “I’d really like that, but I don’t know when I’ll get to it.” Montana said she feels more at ease playing in front of a large crowd than in front of a few people. “I don’t know why,” she said. She said she does not have a favorite song, but added, “I really like songs in minor keys.” Some of her favorites to perform are “Florida Blues” and “Say, Old Man, Can You Play the Fiddle?” Montana also started listening to rock ’n’ roll in recent years, “and I can’t get enough of it,” she said, naming Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and “just about any classic rock band” among her favorites. “Music seemed to be so much better back then,” she said. “Now, you turn on the radio, and it all sounds the same.” In her music, Montana said she wants to “take a little bit from everyone ... kind of incorporate it and make a new style.” “I’m just trying to play all the different kinds of music I can,” she said, including learning guitar licks on her Gibson Les Paul, but “fiddle is my main priority.” In years past, Montana performed every weekend in the spring and summer, but she will be cutting back on her schedule to focus on school. “I really want to be able to balance it. I really want to get my schooling, but I really want to get out there and play,” she said. When she enters her junior year at Patrick County High School this fall, she will participate in the D-Squared program, earning her high school diploma and an associate degree from Patrick Henry Community College at the same time. Montana practices her music every day, but when not playing the fiddle or guitar, she likes creating other forms of art. She will attend the Governor’s School in theater for three weeks this summer at U.Va.-Wise, and she also draws, mainly in pencil. “I like to draw people,” she said. A portrait she drew of Janis Joplin recently placed in the top 15 entries in a National Beta Club art contest. In the future, Montana is setting her sights on studying music in college. “I definitely want to go to college, but I think I’d be the happiest I’d ever be touring,” she said. “I want to play with awesome musicians. I want to meet the craziest, artsiest people I can.” http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/44 Friday, 29 May 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Two new planned business parks will accommodate companies of various sizes.

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Two new business parks planned in Henry County should be able to meet the site needs of 90 percent of prospective industries, a local economic developer said Thursday when master plans for the parks were released. Property will be available to accommodate companies of various sizes. And, there will be tracts large enough to accommodate extremely large industries for which the area lacks adequate sites, said Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC). That should give Henry County-Martinsville an advantage at attracting businesses and industries over many other communities, Heath said. Master plans for Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre and an expansion of the Patriot Centre at Beaver Creek were unveiled Thursday night during a joint meeting of county, city and EDC officials. At the meeting were members of the Henry County Board of Supervisors, Martinsville City Council, Henry County Industrial Development Authority, Patriot Centre Advisory Board and EDC Board of Directors. Commonwealth Crossing will be developed on a 720-acre parcel — formerly known as the Roma property — next to U.S. 220 near the North Carolina line. Due to traffic patterns, the main entrance is to be in that state on Spencer Road, which becomes Horsepasture-Price Road when it crosses into Virginia, the plan shows. The Patriot Centre expansion will be on a 1,200-acre site — formerly known as the Bryant property — along Barrows Mill Road behind the existing park. Nautica Way is to be extended across Barrows Mill to Terry’s Mountain Road to serve most lots in the expanded park, the master plan reveals. In 2007, the county bought the two properties for a total of more than $4.4 million. Wiley & Wilson of Lynchburg developed the Commonwealth Crossing plan. The Timmons Group of Richmond prepared the Patriot Centre plan. The plans will show prospective industries that “we can accommodate their needs today, tomorrow and in the future ... in a very crowded, competitive world” of economic development, Heath said. Two options were developed for Commonwealth Crossing’s master plan. One option shows five lots that can be built upon, comprising 400 acres of “pad” — the area suitable for construction. The other option shows four lots comprising 414 acres of pad. On the latter option, two of the lots have been combined along with a small strip of land between them. The largest pad on the first option is 125 acres. The largest pad on the second option is 177 acres. Twelve lots are shown on the master plan for the Patriot Centre expansion. The lots cover a total of 318 pad acres. Lot 10 has the most pad acres at 99.4, and two of the lots — referred to as 1A and 1B — could be combined for a total of 78.7 acres of pad, the plan indicates. County and EDC officials said lots in either park can be reconfigured to meet the needs of companies interested in locating there. “As the needs of industry change over time, you need flexibility” in plans for development, said Tim Wagner, project engineer for Wiley & Wilson. Heath said Commonwealth Crossing could be reconfigured to house only one extremely large company if officials determined that was appropriate. The Patriot Centre expansion has enough land to accommodate more than 12 companies, said County Engineer Tim Pace. Plans show both Commonwealth Crossing and the Patriot Centre expansion would be done in three phases. At Commonwealth Crossing, the first phase involves the lots closest to U.S. 220 and the railroad. Phases 2 and 3 would cover smaller lots on the other side of Patterson Branch, which basically divides the property. The first phase of development at the Patriot Centre expansion, its master plan shows, would be on tracts along Barrows Mill Road, followed by Phase II which includes much of the Bryant property, and Phase 3 which includes land not actually specified by the plan for lots. Officials said, though, that Phases 1, 2 and 3 may not be developed in that order, depending on where a company wants to locate in the parks. Master plans, Heath said, are intended to show “the best use of the land.” The county and EDC do not yet have firm estimates on how much it will cost to develop Commonwealth Crossing and the Patriot Centre expansion. But it will take “tens of millions of dollars” during the next 10 to 15 years, Heath said. Funding from sources such as the Virginia Tobacco Commission, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and U.S. Economic Development Administration might can be obtained to use with local funds in developing the parks, officials said. “Obviously, we want to go after as much grant money as we can get,” said County Administrator Benny Summerlin. Commonwealth Crossing’s location near the North Carolina line should lure companies needing relatively quick access to Interstates 40 and 85 and the Piedmont Triad International Airport, as well as the planned Interstate 73 which would run through Henry County, according to officials. By not making the Patriot Centre extension a separate industrial park, the county will “build on ... the momentum” of the companies now in the park’s section between Barrows Mill and Kings Mountain roads, said Rick Thomas, a principal executive with the Timmons Group. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/24 Friday, 15 May 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. The EDC's Tourism Department is partnering with The Martinsville Lions Club to bring Deep Roots music to the area on Saturday, June 27, 2009.

EDC Press Release. The Martinsville Henry County Economic Development Corporation’s Department of Tourism is partnering with The Martinsville Lions Club to bring Deep Roots music to Martinsville High School on Saturday, June 27, 2009. The collaboration between the Lions Club and the Tourism office developed through a mutual interest of Lions Club Chairman Jim Clark and Director of Tourism Debbie Robinson. Both have experience in promoting bluegrass and old-time music and share a passion to see this cultural heritage art form continue for generations to come. The concert benefits are two-fold, as proceeds will support the work of the local non-profit Lions Club and the program will appeal to visitors from neighboring communities as well as draw tourists from bordering states. The show promises to be versatile and entertaining, from fiddle/banjo instrumentals to powerful solos and harmony vocals on blues, classic country, honky tonk, traditional bluegrass numbers, old timey ballads, originals, and four-part mountain gospel songs. The show will also include traditional flat-foot dancing. White Top Mountain Band is known for their high energy and charisma on stage. They have a tremendous following in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky. Traveling to Henry County from the highest point in the Commonwealth, Whitetop Mountain Band is a family-based band from Grayson County’s Whitetop, Virginia. The members of the band have contributed much to preserve the Whitetop region’s style of old-time fiddling and banjo picking and are legendary musicians and teachers of the style. The band recently participated in the Crooked Road West Coast Tour to sell-out crowds at performance halls in Montana, Oregon, California and Washington State. Members also toured the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2007, and most recently were featured at the Milleara Folk Festival and Tamworth Country Music Festival in New South Wales, Australia. The Lions Club and Tourism Office have teamed up to bring an additional outstanding musician who was also featured in numerous Crooked Road Music Tours. With family roots in Henry County, Montana Young raised in Bassett, Virginia is no stranger to Appalachian Mountain Music. Montana began playing at the tender age of five after becoming mesmerized by the fiddle, when her parents took her to the Galax Old Fiddlers Convention. With the help of early instructors including classical violin lessons and lessons from local bluegrass and old-time musicians Montana’s parents and grandparents have provided her with tremendous support and encouragement. Montana has enjoyed success with classical violin, earning first chair in the Roanoke Junior Strings, but her true love has been bluegrass. At the age of 10, Montana participated in the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship program and studied with bluegrass legend Buddy Pendleton, also a Henry County native who now resides in Patrick County. Patrick County is named for a fiddler named Patrick Henry, who also happens to be a famous orator of the American Revolution. The county was not given Henry’s last name, as that already belonged to the county to its east. Henry County is also named for the revolutionary fiddler, and his legacy is clearly evident in the capable hands of 16 year-old Bassett native, Montana Young. During their apprenticeship, Buddy taught Montana his signature bowing style, as well as a number of fiddle tunes. Montana is a famously quick learner. Legend has it that she learns most fiddle tunes in about 10 to 15 minutes. She’s won over 50 blue ribbons for her fiddling. She has won every youth fiddle competition in her path, and has won first prize in numerous adult fiddling categories. At her young age music has already opened many doors, as she’s toured regionally, throughout the state of Virginia and also globally with a troupe of master musicians from the Crooked Road including a tour to Scotland in 2006. She entertained the Queen of England with these same musicians during her visit to Richmond, Virginia. “Montana is indeed a very gifted musician, who has captured the hearts of many, including mine,” says Martinsville Henry County Director of Tourism, Debbie Robinson, who traveled with Montana as manager and coordinator of numerous Crooked Road Music Tours. “I’ve had the pleasure of traveling and working with Montana as well as Whitetop Mountain Band, and must say that they have inspired countless young people to take up music, and have been tremendous ambassadors for the Commonwealth of Virginia as well as the local communities of this region”. “Anyone who may have concerns that this traditional cultural art form will not be passed on to the next generation, need only see and hear the masterful playing of these artists. They continue to delight audiences with their incredible craft, and we are very proud to collaborate with the Martinsville Lions Club in presenting this outstanding show.” Concert Info: Date of Show: Saturday, June 27, 2009 Location: Martinsville High School Time: 6:00 p.m. Show opens with Montana Young, 7:00 p.m. White Top Mountain Band Tickets: $5.00- Available in advance at Woodall’s Music Shop and MHC Visitor Center Phone: 276-632-8006 or 888-722-3498 www.VisitMartinsville.com http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/45 Wednesday, 13 May 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell credited others for his success upon receiving the Chamber's Business Person of the Year award.

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell credited others for his success upon receiving the Business Person of the Year award from the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. The award was one of many presented during a Business Appreciation Luncheon at Bassett Country Club, co-sponsored by the chamber and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC). “It’s truly an honor” to receive the award, Campbell said. He credited his staff and the many thousands of NASCAR fans for the speedway’s — and ultimately his — success. Jay Edelen, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, said studies show the speedway generates more than $170 million each year to benefit the local economy and affects more than 2,800 jobs statewide. He also noted that “the speedway has continued to be a good corporate citizen” by hosting events such as Christmas toy drives for children, blood drives for the American Red Cross and other events for charities. Campbell serves on the boards of many community organizations and is a past chairman of the chamber’s board, Edelen said. But one of the things that impresses him most about the speedway, Edelen said, is that it remains a major tourist draw in a small community, considering that most NASCAR races now are held at tracks in areas with larger populations. Henry County and Martinsville are “incredibly lucky” to still have the speedway, which opened in 1947, Edelen emphasized. The EDC presented its Ambassador of the Year award to Tim Pace, director of engineering for Henry County. EDC President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Heath called Pace “an exceptional advocate of the Martinsville-Henry County community over the past several years.” Pace has “made himself available at any time to meet with ... prospects, especially regarding the shell buildings and industrial parks,” Heath said. Pace also was instrumental in designing the new shell building being constructed in the Patriot Centre industrial park and planning new industrial parks to be developed near the Patriot Centre and on U.S. 220 South, according to Heath. Pace could not attend the luncheon due to a previous commitment. OTHER AWARDS The annual Business Appreciation Luncheon is “a time for the community to acknowledge businesses and their economic contributions,” Edelen said. Along with Business Person of the Year and Ambassador of the Year, other awards presented by the chamber were:  The Small Business of the Year Award for Service, given to Avery Mills and Martinizing Dry Cleaners. The firm has been in business for 51 years and has sponsored an annual coat drive for the needy, said Edelen. It also has made donations to many schools, churches and charities, as well as to organizations such as Piedmont Arts Association and the Virginia Museum of Natural History, he said. The Small Business of the Year Award for Retail, presented to Deborah Barker and Buck Davis with Simply the Best Flowers and Gifts. They have donated to many local organizations, and their sales have risen 40 percent during the past year due to their belief in quality work, Edelen said. And, “their creativity never goes unnoticed,” he said, adding that they have received awards for their creativity during the past three “Fast Track” annual trade shows. The Small Business of the Year Award for Manufacturing, presented to Charles Craddock of Boxley. Edelen said the company, which has been in business for more than 53 years, increased its work force by more than 14 percent and its sales by more than 15 percent during the past year. Its community involvement includes donating labor and materials to build a walking track at Carver Elementary School, donating stone for the Piedmont Youth Soccer League’s facility and the historic Rock Run School’s driveway, donating concrete to refurbish the Fieldale Community Center’s pool and sponsoring Feed the Children events, he said.The Small Business of the Year Award for Distribution, presented to Rick Martin of American Distribution and Warehousing Services. In business locally for six years, the company’s staff has grown from two to 25, and its sales were more than $2 million in 2008, Edelen said. This year, American plans to expand into light manufacturing, which is an “example of how they are growing in this economic climate,” he said. Along with Ambassador of the Year, other awards presented by the EDC were: The Cutting Edge Award, given to the Martinsville Information Network (MINet) and city Telecommunications Coordinator Mike Scaffidi. The high-speed network provides video, voice and data streams that have helped Martinsville lure new businesses, according to Heath. “MINet provides a local communication system that matches or exceeds the speed, reliability and cost effectiveness” of similar private services, he said. The Keystone Award, presented to SPARTA-Martinsville and its deputy director, Jerry Pucket. The firm created the most jobs during the previous year among local companies, said Heath. SPARTA-Martinsville is a data analysis firm serving the military. It opened in December and has 16 full-time employees. It is seeking new business opportunities and hopes to hire more people, Heath said. The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, presented to Koger Air and its executive vice president, Donna Koger, for its tenacity and perseverance since opening in 1954. It is a family-owned and family-operated business. Heath said the company has become a recognized leader in dust collection and pneumatic material conveying systems, custom metal fabrication and heavy gauge ductwork design and layout. He mentioned that Koger has contracts with some of the nation’s largest manufacturers.  The Tourism Achievement Award, given to Martinsville-Henry County Rivers and Trails Group Educational Outreach Director Brian Williams and Project Manager Jennifer Doss. The pair, Heath said, has helped the organization improve opportunities for outdoor recreation in the area, such as by creating walking trails along rivers and abandoned railway lines and planning additional river access points. The Small and Minority Business Development Award, presented to both Solid Stone Fabrics and Town Police Supply. Owner David Stone accepted for Solid Stone, which was launched locally in 2003 and sells and distributes fabric products. Heath said the company recently bought and renovated a 24,000-square-foot building on Fayette Street and has expanded to include cutting and sewing operations. During the past year, Solid Stone added 14 positions and increased its sales by 31 percent, he added. Mark Tosh, president of Town Police, accepted the firm’s award. Heath said that despite the economic downturn, Town Police has increased its sales by more than $1 million and created three jobs in recent months. Customers of the firm, which sells police equipment and safety and rescue devices, include governmental agencies, said Heath. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/46 Wednesday, 29 April 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. More than 100 jobs are coming to Henry County and Martinsville as a local furniture manufacturer consolidates with its sister company.

By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer. More than 100 jobs are coming to Henry County and Martinsville as a local furniture manufacturer consolidates with its sister company. County and Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) officials announced Tuesday that American of Martinsville and Barcalounger Home have entered into a “shared services agreement” which will bring 94 new full-time production jobs to American’s Redd Level plant. The new manufacturing jobs will pay an average of $12.29 per hour, plus a benefits package, officials said. Also, Barcalounger’s corporate offices will move to American’s headquarters in uptown Martinsville, bringing another 14 jobs to the community. American employs 40 people at that office. Staff at Barcalounger’s current headquarters in Rocky Mount, N.C., will have to reapply for their jobs if they are interested in relocating, according to Noel Chitwood, American’s president. He said the companies will be consolidated here this summer, probably by the week after the July 4 holiday. The consolidation saves 121 manufacturing jobs at the Redd Level plant off Rives Road, Chitwood emphasized. He indicated that is just as important — if not more important — than the new jobs being created. “It is our privilege and honor” to remain part of a community that has been “wonderfully supportive of our company for many, many years,” he said. Henry County Board of Supervisors Chairman Debra Buchanan commended American for demonstrating faith in local workers, considering the “steady stream” of local manufacturing jobs that have moved overseas in recent years. “Hopefully, here’s to another 103 years” that American will operate locally, Buchanan said. The company was founded in 1906. American manufactures furniture for the lodging industry. Barcalounger, which is known for its reclining chairs, makes furniture for home use. Both companies are owned by Hancock Park Associates, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm. Basically, the economy was forcing the two companies to consolidate their operations either here or in Rocky Mount, officials said. State and local officials in North Carolina wooed them heavily, according to EDC President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Heath. For example, he said the city of Rocky Mount offered Barcalounger free use of a facility there. However, the Henry County-Martinsville area’s extensive history of making furniture and the numerous people with furniture-making skills in the local labor force convinced the companies to consolidate here, officials said. During the past year, American laid off more than 400 workers. Chitwood said he hopes some of those workers now can be rehired. Anyone interested in working at American can call Personnel Director Bobby Mims at 634-2940, send an e-mail to bmims@americanofmartinsville.com or contact the Virginia Employment Commission, said Chitwood. American will get $280,000 in economic incentive funds from the Virginia Tobacco Commission. No local funds will be provided, but if American does not meet the requirements of a performance agreement, the county will be expected to recoup the money from the company on the state’s behalf, according to County Administrator Benny Summerlin. Before the consolidation announcement, both the board of supervisors and the Henry County Industrial Development Authority gave their unanimous approvals to the performance agreement during a joint meeting. To get the money, American must hire at least 94 new employees with a quarterly payroll of at least $599,757.60 and make taxable investments at its Henry County facilities amounting to at least $1.4 million during a three-year period that was effective at the end of March, the agreement shows. The company also has to keep the 121 jobs it currently has. If the company was to default on the agreement, the entire tobacco commission grant must be refunded, the agreement states. Calling the EDC a “world class” organization, Chitwood commended its staff for their professionalism and assistance. Heath said the EDC exists not only to lure companies to the community, but also to help existing ones grow and prosper. “Service really begins after the sale,” he told American executives, referring to their decision to move Barcalounger operations here. “We’re not going to forget you.” Martinsville officials attended Tuesday’s announcement but did not participate in it. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/25 Tuesday, 28 April 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. This agreement will result in 94 new full time jobs with an average wage of $12.29/hour.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mark Heath President/CEO Martinsville Henry County Economic Development Corporation 276-403-5940 mheath@yesmartinsville.com Tim Hall Deputy County Administrator Henry County 276.634.4605 thall@co.henry.va.us American of Martinsville to Consolidate with Barcalounger Home at Redd Level Plant Martinsville, VA (April 28, 2009) – The Henry County Board of Supervisors and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation are pleased to announce that American of Martinsville has entered into a shared services agreement with Barcalounger Home that will result in the creation of 94 new full time jobs with an average wage of $12.29/hour along with an excellent benefit package. This announcement also secures 121 existing positions at the Redd Level facility. American of Martinsville plans to make an additional capital investment of $1.4 million in equipment at Redd Level confirming their commitment to building furniture in the United States. In addition to the manufacturing consolidation, Barcalounger’s corporate headquarters will also move to American of Martinsville’s Headquarters in UpTown Martinsville. American currently employs 40 people at this office and an additional 14 will be added to handle the Barcalounger line. “We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Barcalounger Home, one that has been operationally and financially designed to successfully position both our companies to move forward with future growth as the economy recovers,” says Noel Chitwood, President of American of Martinsville. “Given the fact that both American of Martinsville and Barcalounger Home each have a company heritage that spans over 100 years, we intend to protect these carefully nurtured brands and build upon the strengths of both, collaboratively.” “We are absolutely thrilled about this announcement,” says Debra Buchanan, Chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. “American of Martinsville has been a vital part of this community’s fabric for decades, and we look forward to many great years down the road.” “We have been working with American of Martinsville since February and it is great to announce their plans for Martinsville-Henry County,” says Mark Heath, President/CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. “We are sensitive to the global changes in the furniture industry and to assist a long standing member of Martinsville-Henry County’s corporate community in their repositioning for future growth is exciting.” “This project also exemplifies what can be done to assist existing companies in their struggle to make smart decisions about where to expand. Our staff worked with various agencies on this project and special thanks are due to Ned Stephenson of the Virginia Tobacco Commission, Kim Adkins of our local Workforce Investment Board, Frank Strickler of the Virginia Department of Business Assistance, Rhonda Hodges of Patrick Henry Community College and Benny Summerlin, Henry County Administrator. Without the efforts of these individuals Martinsville-Henry County would not have won this project,” comments Heath. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/26 Thursday, 23 April 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Blue Ridge PBS Press Release. Blue Ridge PBS is bringing back “On the Road” this spring, reviving this award-winning, viewer favorite with a new look and fresh local stories.

For Immediate Release April 23, 2009 Contact: Stephen Grieco, Foundation and Marketing Director sgrieco@blueridgepbs.org 540.344.0991 ext 1781 888.332.7788 Blue Ridge PBS brings back “On the Road” with new look, stories (ROANOKE, VA)—Blue Ridge PBS is bringing back “On the Road” this spring, reviving this award-winning, viewer favorite with a new look and fresh local stories. “On the Road” is a collection of stories from across the region, broadcast at various times throughout each day. The stories, each just a few minutes long, highlight local personalities, businesses, organizations and events, all interesting subjects and cultural treasures from our own communities. “We are the region’s story teller and community square,” said James Baum, Blue Ridge PBS President and CEO. “With “On the Road,” we will share stories about our local history, arts and culture—stories that truly make this region special.” By airing “On the Road” stories multiple times on a daily basis, Blue Ridge PBS is able to add significant local content to its programming schedule. It also helps the featured subjects, giving them a voice and reach that magnifies their effectiveness. For example, a piece about Henry County custom furniture maker Eric Gilbert began airing April 21. All “On the Road” stories will air during station breaks, in between longer-format shows like “American Experience” or “History Detectives.” When possible, the stories will be strategically paired with shows of similar content, making “On the Road” an oasis of quality local programming among many well-know national programs. Broadcasting these regional stories will also make station breaks more interesting on Blue Ridge PBS. “I’m excited that Blue Ridge PBS is beginning ‘On the Road’ with stories from Martinsville and Henry County,” said Debbie Robinson, Director of Tourism for the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation (EDC). “The EDC is eager to help Blue Ridge PBS in highlighting stories about the area’s vibrant cultural offerings. We’re sharing the sights and sounds of Martinsville-Henry County which increases awareness and offers viewers more reasons to visit our area.” “On the Road” is made possible, in part, with a grant from The Harvest Foundation, supporting expanded coverage of Martinsville and Henry County as a place where everyone has the opportunity to live, work, and play. About Blue Ridge PBS Blue Ridge PBS, founded in 1967, is the sole public multimedia enterprise serving 4 million individuals in portions of five states. The station’s 26,000 square-mile coverage area includes southwestern Virginia and bordering counties in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and North Carolina. As the region’s storyteller, Blue Ridge PBS offers outstanding informational, educational and cultural programming, along with an award-winning local production team devoted to regional issues and interests. Further, over 200,000 schoolchildren and their teachers benefit from the station’s education services that provide a safe, trusted environment for innovative on-air and online learning. Blue Ridge PBS is comprised of WBRA-TV/DT in Roanoke, WSBN-TV/DT in Norton, and WMSY-TV/DT in Marion, Va. www.blueridgepbs.org  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/47 Friday, 17 April 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. The EDC's Office of Small and Minority Business Development is hosting its third Annual Federal Procurement Conference on Wednesday, April 22nd.

Martinsville, VA (April 17, 2009) – The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation’s Office of Small and Minority Business Development is hosting its third Annual Federal Procurement Conference on Wednesday, April 22nd from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Bassett High School in the auditorium. The event is free and will be tailored to small businesses (500 or less employees) and women, minority or Veteran-owned companies.The EDC’s Office of Small and Minority Business Development has partnered with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Southwest Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) to organize this event for community businesses. Topics of discussion will include: government contracting basics, set aside programs, loan programs, Stimulus Program opportunities, Veteran entrepreneurial programs, and GSA schedules. Networking opportunities will be provided throughout the day. Participating federal agencies include: U.S. Department of Defense Energy Support Center from Fort Belvoir, U.S. Department of Defense Supply Center out of Richmond, U.S. Department of Air Force from Langley AFB, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs from Washington, D.C., General Services Administration (GSA), U.S. Department of Navy, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from Norfolk, and U.S. Department of Transportation out of Greensboro, N.C. Local procurement officials from the City of Martinsville and Henry County will participate as well as prime contractor Sparta, Inc. “This type of conference is timely as there have been numerous questions with regard to opportunities at the federal level, especially those created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus),” says Lisa Fultz, Director of the EDC’s Small and Minority Business Development Office. Fultz also says that “it is a great time to maximize the advantages of being a small, woman-owned, minority-owned, or Veteran-owned company. Even the smallest companies have leverage as subcontractors.” HUBZone certification, however, is needed in order to be more competitive with prime or subcontractors at the federal level. Companies may be eligible for other special designations. Assistance with HUBZone certification or other special designations can be obtained at no cost by contacting Fultz at the Office of Small and Minority Business Development. Mark Tosh, president of Town Police Supply, said “all small business owners should make attending this event a priority on April 22nd as it is a priceless opportunity to increase sales. We have paid hundreds of dollars to attend conferences like this to network with procurement officials of this caliber.” http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/27 Wednesday, 15 April 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. Hopkins Lumber Contractors, Inc. will expand into Martinsville-Henry County, creating at least 10 new full time jobs.

Martinsville, VA (April 15, 2009) – The Henry County Board of Supervisors and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation, are pleased to announce that Hopkins Lumber Contractors, Inc. will expand into Martinsville-Henry County, creating at least 10 new full time jobs with an excellent benefits package. Hopkins Lumber has purchased the former Century Park Building from American of Martinsville and plans to make an additional capital investment of at least $1.5 million. Hopkins Lumber Contractors, Inc. has been in business since 1980 in Patrick County and company officials view this as an opportunity for both the consolidation and expansion of current operations. “The location of the Century Park Building, along with its size and availability of acreage will afford our company the opportunity to create new production lines and further expand our customer base,” says John Hopkins, Sr., CEO of Hopkins Lumber Contractors. Hopkins Lumber currently produces industrial lumber in their Patrick County facilities and has 65 full-time employees. “Currently we are selling dimensional cut stock material to companies in 19 states. We purchase logs from over 50 logging contractors. We also purchase lumber cants from more than 30 sawmills. Being able to consolidate our manufacturing should help us to better serve our customers and the extra storage should allow us to simplify handling and shipping,” says John Hopkins, Jr., President of Hopkins Lumber. “Henry County is excited about Hopkins Lumber coming here,” says Debra Buchanan, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “Hopkins will be a terrific addition to our corporate community, and we look forward to working with them to make this new venture a success.” “We have been working with Hopkins since August of last year and it is great to announce their plans for Martinsville-Henry County,” says Mark Heath, President/CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. “We look forward to continuing to work with them as they grow in our community. It is especially fulfilling to see a former manufacturing facility readapted for a new use.” The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/48 Tuesday, 31 March 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By KATIE THOMAS - NY Times. Motorsports is now just one of several niche industries that the EDC hopes to promote.

By KATIE THOMAS - NY Times — After he won at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, Jimmie Johnson, the three-time defending Nascar champion, received a trophy symbolizing both the heritage and the heartache of Martinsville: a grandfather clock. When it was first awarded in 1964, the clock was manufactured at a factory in neighboring Ridgeway, the small town where the speedway is situated, and it was among the bounty of furniture and textile factories dotting the hillsides here in southern Virginia. Over the past decade, however, most of those factories closed or shrank, and 10,000 manufacturing jobs disappeared from the area. As those industries faded, Martinsville turned its hopes toward the increasingly profitable motorsports industry. With a track beloved by drivers and fans alike, community leaders sought to transform Martinsville into a miniature Charlotte, the hub of the racing industry. But despite the creation of two educational programs and statewide economic incentives for the motorsports industry, the effort has largely failed. Economic development officials say that they have shifted their attention to other pursuits and that motorsports are no longer a priority. Martinsville residents are given an economic reprieve two weekends a year, when the Sprint Cup series comes to town and visitors with license plates from states as far away as Wisconsin fill hotels, pump gas and stock up on beer and potato chips. But when the crowds leave, the reality remains: the recession has only hastened Martinsville’s decline. In surrounding Henry County, 13 percent of the 55,000 residents do not have work. In Martinsville, home to 15,000 people, unemployment has hit 18 percent. “There’s really no sugarcoating it,” said Mark Heath, president of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. “We’re rebuilding an economy here.” As the oldest track in the current Sprint Cup series, Martinsville is viewed by many as a link to the earliest days of the sport, when races were run on short dirt tracks and drivers were not afraid to lose a little paint as they scraped and bumped one another on the way to the finish line. The speedway, which opened in 1947, has persisted even as other small tracks, like Rockingham and North Wilkesboro in North Carolina, have been dropped from the Nascar schedule in favor of flashier sites in bigger cities. At a shade over a half-mile, the paper-clip-shaped track is the shortest in the series and seats just 65,000 people, less than half the capacity of a speedway like Daytona, which accommodates 168,000 spectators. Although Martinsville could lose one of its races if its parent company, International Speedway Corporation, builds a track in a bigger market like New York, W. Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway, said that was unlikely. “I have no concern about losing a date,” he said. Losing a race would be a blow to the local and state economy. A study paid for by Martinsville Speedway and released last week estimates that the track generates $170 million a year in statewide revenue and contributes to the creation of close to 3,000 full-time jobs in Virginia. Ramsey Poston, Nascar’s managing director for corporate communications, described Martinsville as special to the sport and its fans. “They don’t play professional baseball in Cooperstown or at the Polo Grounds, but we’re still racing at Martinsville,” he said. “It’s a place that’s treated with reverence, like any great historic sporting facility.” It was that heritage that economic development officials hoped to build on about six years ago. In Charlotte, less than 150 miles away, the motorsports industry was exploding as racing teams converged on the area, quickly followed by suppliers and other related companies. In 2003, Virginia’s governor at the time, Mark R. Warner, held a news conference at Martinsville Speedway to kick off a statewide initiative aimed at promoting the industry’s growth in southern Virginia through grants and low-interest loans. A local college, the Patrick Henry Community College, opened a two-year motorsports program with the goal of creating a pool of skilled workers. About 50 students are enrolled in the program, and the effort has attracted instructors with extensive Nascar experience, including Lou LaRosa, a former engine builder for Dale Earnhardt. Several graduates have landed coveted jobs in Nascar and on racing teams, according to Talmage Thomas, one of the instructors. Many of those students, however, must leave the area because few motorsports companies have taken advantage of the incentives to relocate. An exception is HT Motorsports, a truck racing team that moved to Martinsville in 2004 from North Carolina. In January, it added a second driver, David Starr, to its team. John Connaughton, a professor of economics at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, said Martinsville faced a challenge because the motorsports industry had increasingly consolidated around Charlotte. “There is a specialized labor pool here that you cannot replicate anyplace,” Connaughton said of Charlotte. He studied Charlotte’s racing industry after Virginia and other states created motorsports initiatives. “Our conclusion was that while they may be able to pick here and there, it’s extremely unlikely that there’s going to be any kind of functional shift in where racing cars are built,” he said. In 2003, the Martinsville area lost an anchor of its small motorsports industry when Wood Brothers Racing moved from Stuart, a small town nearby, to the Charlotte area. And late last year, the truck team Bobby Hamilton Racing, which was based in the same complex as the community college program, closed after it reportedly could not attract enough sponsors. Thomas and other instructors said their students graduated from the motorsports program with skills that translated beyond a job in Nascar. The Martinsville area is home to several other types of racing. Eight short tracks and four drag strips are less than two hours away. “You’re teaching a skill,” said Danny Glad, an instructor who also works as the head of research and development for Dodge engines at Arrington Manufacturing, a Martinsville company that transforms factory-issue engine blocks into racing-level machines. The company employs about 20 people. “You teach them critical thinking, working with your hands. It will apply to other aspects of their lives.” But several students said they planned to pursue their dreams in Nascar racing, even if it meant leaving the area. “I know for sure I’m going to go out of town,” said Michael Hunley, 35, who enrolled in the program after being laid off from Stanley Furniture in 2007. “You just can’t find it around here.” Although their efforts have borne little fruit, officials continue to invest in motorsports. In 2008, the Virginia state legislature approved the issuance of more than $8 million in bonds to build a 30,000-square-foot instructional facility at Patrick Henry Community College. A four-year program at New College Institute, created in partnership with Old Dominion University, will focus on motorsports engineering and is just getting under way. President Obama visited Martinsville in August, holding a town hall meeting at Patrick Henry’s motorsports facility. But state and local economic development officials said in interviews that they had recently shifted strategies. “Building a new economic development strategy solely around the racetrack is probably not doable,” said Liz Povar, director of business development for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. “We’ve got to have an integrated strategy.” Heath said that motorsports was now just one of several niche industries that his office hoped to promote. He points instead to a deal reached last year with RTI International Metals, a titanium producer, to build a $100 million factory in Martinsville. The facility is scheduled to open in 2010 and provide 150 jobs, Heath said. Compared with the furniture and textiles factories that once employed thousands, the victory may seem minor. “It’s been a little hard here because everybody wants the good old days,” Heath said. “And those jobs went away, and they’re not coming back in the way they were when they left.” He and others said local governments were making progress by transforming old factories into office spaces and upgrading the area’s infrastructure. Change isn’t coming quickly enough for many residents, though. Steve Hagwood was laid off two weeks ago from his job as a machine technician at CP Films, a maker of window-tinting film. He was one of 90 people let go by the company this year. “They gave us some training, but now, how the economy is, we really don’t have nowhere to go,” said Hagwood, who is married, owns a home and is father to a 9-year-old girl. As for Jimmie Johnson’s new grandfather clock, it will soon take its place alongside the five others he has won. He keeps one in his office and the rest in a warehouse, he said on Friday. “I’ve built a special spot for them and have lights shining on them, and they look really good,” he said. Other than its tie to the speedway, the clock no longer has much to do with Martinsville. In 2004, the Howard Miller Clock Company purchased the company that made the clocks locally. A year later, it moved production to its headquarters in Michigan. In 2007, the company closed its Ridgeway factory and laid off the 70 remaining employees. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/49 Wednesday, 25 March 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By DUSTIN LONG & MICHAEL SLUSS - Roanoke Times. Get through the numbers, formulas and prose and you get the point of the report: Racing is good. Good for cities, states, jobs and tourism.

By DUSTIN LONG & MICHAEL SLUSS - Roanoke Times. Get through the numbers, formulas and prose and you get the point of the report: Racing is good. Good for cities, states, jobs and tourism. That's the message the parent company of three NASCAR tracks is trying to send to residents, fans and even politicians this week as the Martinsville area gears up for one of its two big annual weekends of racing. International Speedway Corp., which owns Martinsville Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Darlington Raceway, launched a three-day public relations trip -- starting Tuesday in Martinsville -- to trumpet the tracks' value to their communities based on reports commissioned by ISC. Martinsville's economic impact in Virginia is valued at $170 million. The track, according to the report, provides 2,824 jobs either directly or indirectly. Darlington's figures will be released today and Richmond's on Thursday. Martinsville's figures will rank second to Richmond. "It's a way, for us to show our communities how large a partner we are locally," Lenny Santiago, an ISC spokesman, said of the studies. "It demonstrates the power of motorsports and NASCAR in stimulating an economy." The company has had such studies done since 2007. The results have led to mind-boggling totals. Daytona International Speedway has an overall economic impact of more than $1 billion. Talladega Superspeedway's impact in Alabama is more than $400 million. Kansas Speedway, which has only one Sprint Cup race, has an economic impact of $243 million. All those studies were done by the same firm, The Washington Economics Group, that did this week's reports. More such studies are being done with results likely coming next year. Such numbers could lead one to believe the roads in those communities should be paved with gold. While 60,000 or so fans coming to Martinsville for a race are beneficial, some skeptics remain. Dennis Coates, an economics professor at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, has done similar economic impact studies and questions studies not academically driven. "The first thing I would do is caution them to think about who did this study," Coates said of what to take from such reports. "You have to be a little bit suspicious of the numbers because they have an interest in the number being big." Coates and another colleague looked at how either a NASCAR track or NASCAR-sanctioned event influenced monthly rents on residential units from 1993 to 2005. His report found that the "mere presence of a [NASCAR-sanctioned] track is statistically significant and positive in several specifications. This impact, however, may be limited' based on a track's location. While the elements of the economic impact studies can be debated, any money flowing into the Martinsville area could be meaningful. Martinsville's unemployment rate for January was 18 percent, among the state's highest. Del. Ward Armstrong and state Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, both of whom represent the area in the General Assembly and attended Tuesday's announcement at Martinsville Speedway, say that such reports should remind those in the capital about the speedway's value. While International Speedway Corp., officials have never said that they would take away a race date from Martinsville, such a move often has been speculated because the track has among the smallest seating capacities on the circuit. Armstrong suggested that the Virginia Department of Tourism could play a greater role in elevating the track's status. "I do think it's important when we talk about tourism that we talk about venues outside of Eastern Virginia," said Armstrong, the minority leader in the House of Delegates. The state in recent years has stepped up efforts to promote Southwest Virginia's music heritage and outdoor attractions, and motorsports venues should be part of that mix, officials said. Moreover, regional and state economic development officials said the report underscores the economic significance of the broader motorsports industry in the state. "Motorsports has long been an economic engine in Virginia, and this study certainly does validate not only Virginia's competitive standing in the industry but also the importance that motorsports plays on the local and state economy," said Christie Miller, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Barry Dorsey, the executive director of the New College Institute in Martinsville, said the report may understate the speedway's overall impact. Dorsey, who serves as vice chairman for economic development of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, said the speedway's impact can be measured by more than the activity its NASCAR-related events generate. Motorsports degree programs have been developed at Patrick Henry Community College and by a partnership between the New College Institute and Old Dominion University. Neither likely would exist without the speedway's presence, he said. Transportation improvements, such as completing the widening of U.S. 58 in Southwest Virginia, also could provide a boost to the speedway and the region's economy, officials said. Armstrong said that, while driving to Patrick County earlier this week, he counted at least a dozen motor homes heading east along U.S. 58. He guessed that most, if not all, were carrying NASCAR fans. Armstrong said the study's overall findings should come as no surprise, particularly to those accustomed to the activity of race weekends. "You don't have to do anything to verify it but go out to dinner or try to find a hotel room," he said. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/50 Wednesday, 25 March 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By JOHNNY BUCK - Bulletin Staff Writer. An economic study has shown that the Martinsville Speedway is helping to drive the area’s economy to the tune of more than $170 million each year.

By JOHNNY BUCK - Bulletin Staff Writer. An economic study has shown that the Martinsville Speedway is helping to drive the area’s economy to the tune of more than $170 million each year. Conducted by the Washington Economics Group (WEG), the study was released Tuesday morning at the speedway. “For years and years, people asked us, ‘What impact does the speedway have on the local economy,’ and we really didn’t know,” said Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway. “We had an idea, and believe me, the idea that we had was nowhere close to the number we see today. So we’re real pleased. We’re excited. We’re proud to be that significant of a driver in the economic arena.” Campbell said the $170 million figure proves his staff is doing things the right way. “It validates what we have here. It validates all the hard work and effort and everything our staff puts in to making this a destination for race fans,” he said of the study’s findings. “And it gives proof to anyone who cares to look at it that, hey, what we’re doing is working. We are a force to be reckoned with, and obviously we’re doing something right.” The study, which took several months to compete and used data from 2007, quantified the direct and indirect benefits of economic activity related to the speedway on the Martinsville/Henry County area and beyond. The study revealed that the equivalent of 2,824 permanent jobs for Virginia residents resulted directly from speedway operations in 2007. In addition, speedway operations and visitor expenditures combined to create more than $68.2 million of worker income each year, the study said. The study did not account for money spent by area residents, focusing instead on out-of-town dollars. The study also found the speedway creates $31 million in federal, state and local tax revenues ($17.7 million in federal tax revenues and $13.3 million in state and local revenues). “Our community has long been known for its textiles and furniture, but as indicated today, racing is perhaps our biggest industry,” said Gene Teague, a member of the Martinsville City Council. “For over 60 years, Martinsville Speedway has provided the best racing experience for the fans. (Speedway founder) Clay Earles’ vision, and its continuation and expansion through Clay Campbell, has brought our community an industry of significant economic impact which benefits the entire region.” In addition to Teague, dignitaries who spoke at the event included Debra Buchanan, chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors; Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Collinsville; Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Ridgeway; and Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. The speedway has 19 full-time staff members and adds more than 2,000 part-time employees when major NASCAR events come to Martinsville, according to Campbell. The study totaled the number of hours, full-time and part-time, worked throughout the area in connection with the speedway and divided that sum by the number of full-time work hours in a year — 2,080 — to create the permanent-jobs total of more than 2,800, according to Chuck Yaros, associate consulting economist at WEG. The study also used a concept called “visitor days” to determine the amount of money introduced into the economy, which in turn indicated job creation. “... We figured that close to 584,000 out-of-town visitor days are directly related to track activity,” said Yaros. “Those range from (NASCAR employees) to the fans who come here, the campers who come here. And as they come here, they all spend money in the community. And those expenditures translate into jobs.” Of those jobs, the study found that activities at the speedway directly created a total of 2,218 jobs in the knowledge-based services, visitor industry and retail trade sectors. An additional 245 jobs were supported through indirect economic effects — mainly suppliers to the speedway — while 361 jobs were created through induced spending effects, the release stated. Yaros defined “direct” jobs as those at places such as the speedway or area restaurants. Examples given of “indirect” jobs included suppliers to area restaurants or hotels, while examples of “induced spending” included purchases made by workers whose jobs have some tie to the speedway. “Without question, the Martinsville Speedway is the single-greatest economic engine, or economic driver, that this community has,” said Heath, who added that exposure generated for the area by national media coverage of the speedway’s races could not be purchased with $10 million. “Tourism and tourism dollars are vital to this community, and without question, the Martinsville Speedway is our single-greatest selling tool,” Heath said. “Whether you’re a race fan or not, you have heard of the Martinsville Speedway, and that helps us so much in our work with companies around the country, and even around the world.” Despite the track’s proximity to the Virginia/North Carolina border, figures from the study did not reflect the track’s economic impact on North Carolina. Yaros said the track’s economic impact could be 10-15 percent larger if the Tar Heel state had been included. “To some extent, this study confirms what we already knew: that this speedway was, and is, a wonderful economic engine for this area. What was surprising to me, though, was the magnitude — $170 million and all of these jobs that are created,” said Armstrong. Added Reynolds: “It is very important that this community do all it can to support the activities here at the speedway. ... We want to make sure that it remains here, that it remains viable, that it remains an active part of NASCAR and that it continues to be what it is and just gets better.” The speedway hosts two NASCAR Sprint Cup races each year, along with several other NASCAR-sanctioned racing events. The Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 Sprint Cup race will take place Sunday, while the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Series race will be run Saturday. The speedway was founded in 1947 by the late H. Clay Earles. It is the only track that has hosted NASCAR Sprint Cup races every year since the division’s inception in 1949. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/51 Sunday, 22 March 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer. The $100 million, 150-job titanium plant remains on schedule to be operating in late 2010 or early 2011, Vandegrift said.

By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer. RTI International Metals has a message for Henry County and Martinsville: The company still is coming. That was the message of Richard Vandegrift, vice president-capital projects for RTI. He spoke Friday during his fifth visit to the area, where he checked on the progress of the company’s plant being constructed at the Patriot Centre industrial park. That $100 million, 150-job titanium plant remains on schedule to be operating in late 2010 or early 2011, Vandegrift said. So far, “tens of millions (of dollars) already have been invested in the project,” he said. “Obviously that’s something that wouldn’t have been done if they had any thought of not building the project,” said Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. Heath and Henry County Administrator Benny Summerlin both said they constantly hear rumors that RTI is not coming. The rumors, Summerlin said, include that the project has been cancelled. “Not true,” Vandegrift responded. Another rumor is that it has been delayed five years, Summerlin said. “Not true,” Vandegrift repeated. The rumors are sparked by uncertainties about the nation’s economy, Vandegrift, Heath and Summerlin agreed. “There is general concern throughout the country, not just one industry” or one project, Vandegrift said. “People are looking for guarantees when spending their money. That’s very hard to come by, particularly these days.” RTI is no different. It announced in January 2008 that it planned to open a plant in the Patriot Centre in three years. Eleven months later it announced that its plans were being pushed back six months due to economic uncertainties and a decline in demand for titanium. Those concerns continue, but so does work at the site. “We will continue to monitor market conditions and will match that,” Vandegrift said. “Any slowdown or delay has not been caused because RTI is in any kind of economic problems. We do not have cash problems. It is related to matching market demand.” Heath asked Vandegrift to emphasize the fact that the company’s plans are intact so people could “hear it from the expert.” They also can see it for themselves if they drive by the RTI site in the industrial park where titanium will be forged, ground and conditioned before going to a rolling mill which will finish the plate product. The former shell building is being expanded, and steel framework shows that addition. Summerlin added that local subcontractors are being used when possible. The existing building will handle plate finishing and the addition will house the rolling mill and heat treating facilities, Vandegrift said. Two more buildings will be constructed at the site. The first is a forging building that will house a 5,000 ton forging press, heating furnaces, manipulators and other equipment. The foundation for that building is in place and workers will begin digging a pit for the press soon, Vandegrift said. “We have authorized construction for that (building). It’s authorized and moving,” he said. The third building will house a large grinder, Vandegrift said, adding that hiring likely will begin a year from now. Demand for titanium is slower now than in 2008, he said. However, RTI has about $5 billion in long-term contracts with Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Bell Helicopter and for a joint strike fight program, he and other company officials have said. Also, Vandegrift said, changes in the aerospace industry will boost the use of titanium. “Short term, there are bumps in the aerospace industry. Long-term, new materials, fuel efficiency (and) noise reductions” all will mean more titanium use, he added. Heath said the area is lucky to have RTI coming, and the EDC hopes to leverage its presence to attract other companies. “In today’s world economy, to have a company of RTI’s stature and strength, with its capital investment and the number of high-paying jobs it is bringing, it doesn’t get any better than this,” he said. “How many $100 million plants have just stopped? We’re fortunate to have it and hope we can leverage it to other businesses as it becomes operational.” http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/52 Friday, 20 March 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By Bulletin STAFF. The EDC unveiled plans Thursday to turn part of the Broad Street parking lot into a park centered around a 25-foot-tall monument to the area’s furniture heritage.

By Bulletin STAFF. Economic development leaders are hoping a big chair will draw big crowds to uptown Martinsville. The head of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) unveiled plans Thursday to turn part of the Broad Street parking lot into a park centered around a 25-foot-tall monument to the area’s furniture heritage: The big chair was made by Bassett Furniture Industries for its 100th anniversary in 2002. In a presentation to the city Planning Commission, EDC President and CEO Mark Heath described the Big Chair Project as an attraction to drive tourist traffic — and dollars — to Martinsville and build on the furniture shopping cluster that is in the works uptown. Martin Plaza is being converted into a furniture outlet. All three floors of the building will have furniture and household accessories from many companies available in one spot. The big chair would stand across the street in the lot at the corner of Church and Broad streets. An artist rendering shows the chair surrounded by a small landscaped area with a fence, and preliminary designs suggest it would take up about 12 parking spaces. The Fred Martin family, which owns Martin Plaza and the parking lot, would provide the land for the park as an easement. “It will be a great thing for the uptown area,” Martin said. “People will come and visit just to see the chair” and hopefully “stop and shop” while they’re uptown, he said, fueling retail and restaurant business. Debbie Robinson, EDC tourism director, will make a presentation on the Big Chair Project at the Martinsville City Council meeting Tuesday. The Planning Commission also will hold a public hearing April 16 on establishing the park. The project’s cost is not yet known, Heath said, but the EDC plans to have the chair weatherized and maintain it. The city has offered to do the initial excavation work, he said, which “would be a big help for us” to bring irrigation to the site. Also, he said, local garden clubs have offered to do the landscaping around the chair. “We have envisioned this as a community project a lot of people have input into,” Heath said, adding that the EDC has been in discussions with Patrick Henry Community College, Piedmont Arts Association, Martinsville Uptown Revitalization Association, The Harvest Foundation and others. The EDC has been working for more than a year to brand Henry County and Martinsville as a destination for furniture shopping and history. Eventually, Heath said, the organization hopes to create a “furniture trail” that will start in uptown and include Stanleytown and Bassett. The idea is to “think outside the box a little bit and do something to differentiate ourselves from other communities,” he said. “We believe as an organization that uptown is really the heart and soul of Martinsville and Henry County,” Heath said. “We realized we already had this furniture outlet cluster ... and that would be a good platform for us to build off of.” The tourism initiative is called Deep Roots, Heath said, and its logo also will be presented to the council Tuesday. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/53 Monday, 23 February 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By KIM BARTO - Bulletin Staff Writer. The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) has announced new developments in plans for a “furniture cluster” uptown.

By KIM BARTO - Bulletin Staff Writer. The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) has announced new developments in plans for a “furniture cluster” uptown. “We are very proud to announce that the old Globman’s building (now Martin Plaza) is going to be a one-stop furniture galleria or outlet,” said EDC Tourism Director Debbie Robinson. Event details still are being planned, but the furniture cluster is scheduled to be unveiled May 28-31 during a weekend of celebrations. “We want to involve the entire community and county” and “hope the citizens will really embrace this,” Robinson said. Tim Martin, whose family owns the plaza, said the cluster will encompass all three floors of the building. Mainly outlet furniture will be sold, with a center gallery of goods that can be ordered through The Showroom across Church Street. The Hooker Furniture and Lane Furniture outlets already located near Martin Plaza will be part of the cluster, and “Bassett Furniture is moving in with us” this week, Martin said. Other companies that also have agreed to sell there include Leathertrend, Taylor King, Century Furniture and KAS Oriental rugs. Seven other companies still are in the works. The existing businesses on the Main Street side of the Martin Plaza building will stay, Martin said, along with the As Is Outlet on Church Street. The EDC is in discussions with other potential partners, Robinson said. “The door is open” to other furniture manufacturers that want to join in, Robinson said. Organizers also want the cluster to offer rugs, lamps and other accessories that will complement home furnishings. With “tremendous cooperation” from the Martin family, Robinson said renovations are starting to prepare the three-story building to become an anchor store for uptown. The Martinsville Uptown Revitalization Association (MURA) also is involved with the plans, as are city officials. The EDC has been working on the furniture initiative for more than a year and a half, said EDC Marketing and Recruiting Director Leigh Cockram, and the group hopes it will be a “sparkplug” for revitalizing uptown. “Really, the goal of this whole furniture initiative is just to drive more traffic to the uptown area,” Cockram said. “We realized Martinsville and Henry County needed to find something that makes us unique,” and officials decided to focus on furniture because of the area’s manufacturing legacy, Cockram said. Once the furniture cluster is established, other businesses hopefully will locate around it, Robinson said. “We feel like if we can get these anchor locations up and going, that will spark the interest of other entrepreneurs,” she said. The EDC is working with the Southern Virginia Artisan Center to showcase the art of woodworking and furniture making, she said. Other partners include local historians, who are “working with us on development of some interpretive panels focusing on furniture history” that could be displayed at the furniture outlet or other uptown locations, Robinson said. Also in the works from the EDC tourism department is a strategic marketing campaign, Robinson said, including a revamping of the www.visitmartinsville.com Web site to include photo galleries and fact sheets. Representatives of the Virginia Tourism Corp. visited the area recently and are “helping us fine-tune our marketing,” she said. “We hope to eventually put together day trip itineraries and weekend trip itineraries” of area attractions, tying together cultural arts, racing, hiking trails and more. Also, an advisory committee dealing with marketing the area is being formed with local public relations staff and representatives from various businesses, she said. The first meeting is scheduled for next week. “We want to find out who our target audience is ... and find out ways of leveraging our dollars” to collaborate and save money, Robinson said. The committee hopes to include “anybody impacted by tourism,” she said, such as the Virginia Museum of Natural History, Piedmont Arts Association, the Artisan Center, Patrick Henry Community College, Philpott Lake, Martinsville Speedway, restaurants and lodging establishments. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/54 Sunday, 22 February 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer. Listen closely and you can hear the sounds of sewing machines back in uptown Martinsville.

By GINNY WRAY- Bulletin Staff Writer. Listen closely and you can hear the sounds of sewing machines back in uptown Martinsville. Some people have stopped at the storefront at 25 Fayette St., drawn by the once-familiar sights and sounds of a textile operation. Others have wondered if the machines are part of a museum there. The sewing is being done at Solid Stone Fabrics, a 6-year-old company that is trying to revive the textile industry in Martinsville. Its latest step is adding a cut-and-sew operation to its contract fabric company, which essentially is a middle man to supply specialty fabrics to companies in the swimwear, activewear, costume/dance apparel and other fields. Solid Stone has four full-time and one part-time sewing operators and is seeking to bring that number to 10 or more to handle the growing demand. The company recently ran an advertisement in the Martinsville Bulletin for sewing operators and had 60 applicants for the jobs. David Stone, president and CEO of Solid Stone Fabrics, knew some of those people from his 12 years at Tultex Corp. In addition to sewing operators, the ad attracted other former textile industry employees who hope to be part of its revival. Stone believes that can happen. “The sweatshirt started in Martinsville; why not keep it here?” he said. Stone’s vision is to “be a domestic textile and apparel resource” for fabric that is made here or that his company finds for a customer, and for garments that are made or processed here. And because he admits that fleece is in his blood following his years at Tultex, the company also is “dabbling” in its own line of fleece and T-shirts, he said. No company is doing the same work in this area, Stone said. “We are bucking the trend,” he added, noting that Solid Stone has posted a 30 percent sales increase each year since its beginning in 2003. It has grown from three employees to 15. The company has several reasons to believe it can thrive where others have not, Stone said. For one thing, it can react quickly to a customer’s needs, and it can serve specialty markets, he said. Stone said the company ships fabric in stock the same day it is ordered. Decorated fabric is shipped within 24 hours, although larger orders may take longer, he said. Fabric that Solid Stone prints or adds foil to or both is shipped in two weeks. Also, foreign textile companies are geared to big orders, but Solid Stone can help small and medium-size customers quickly, Stone said. Stone thinks the timing is right for a resurgence in “made in America” textiles. There is more interest in domestic products now, he said, adding that people have to weigh the higher cost of a domestic product against the loss of jobs and domestic manufacturing from an imported one. “If I can put 20 women to work doing what they were used to doing, at competitive pay and benefits, my job is to convince stores to put it (the textiles they produce) on the shelves,” even if the items cost a dollar or two more than imported textiles, Stone said. Eighty percent of the company’s sewing operations so far have been for its fabric customers, Stone said, adding that he does not want to compete with those customers. Some send Solid Stone the fabric to cut and sew; others use Solid Stone’s fabrics. On a recent day, the sewing operators were producing men’s jumpsuits, dancewear and sample garments for a company that has a license for Virginia Tech apparel, Stone said. “We make the garment; they do the printing,” he added. That same afternoon, he was contacted by a swimwear company and an activewear company that were interested in having Solid Stone do work for them, and he expected to meet with other customers at a trade show in Las Vegas last week. “We’ve only stuck our toe in the water” in terms of finding cut and sew customers, Stone added. “If we can keep the ball rolling, I’d love to have a couple of hundred sewing machine operators” in other buildings in the area, he said. Solid Stone has about 20 sewing machines in one room of the former Troxler Furniture building, 65 sewing machines in all, and another truckload of machines was on the way. It has a computerized pattern operation, among other equipment. Stone said he has been able to buy a lot of equipment in great condition at low costs that became available as the domestic industry moved offshore over the past decade. Everything about the operation speaks of revitalization. Stone wanted to locate the company in a building with character in uptown Martinsville, and the Troxler building fit the bill. The building was renovated but retained its hardwood floors and high ceilings. The counter that once served customers now frames an employee break area. Some of the company’s employees’ résumés also speak to the area’s textile history. Mike Williams formerly worked at Sara Lee, Pluma and Liberty Screen Print in Madison, N.C.; Donna Napier worked with Stone at Tultex; and sewing operators Gail Martin had worked at Fieldcrest and Chase Line in Reidsville and Doris Reynolds had worked at VF Imagewear. Stone is starting the sewing operators at $7.50 an hour. When they are trained and working full time, he said he hopes they will make $9 to $11 an hour with benefits and possibly bonuses. Piece rates may be instituted if they would benefit the workers and company, he said. Solid Stone began in the basement of Stone’s home in Martinsville. It had 3,000 square feet of space when it moved into the West Piedmont Business Development Center six months later. Now, it has 24,000 square feet of space. Solid Stone gets about half the fabric it sells from companies in China, Korea and Italy. The other half is in its Martinsville site, where it is sold by the roll or in cut pieces. Its fabrics can be seen at SeaWorld and Disney China, in band flags and gymnastics uniforms. Its color cards have everything from neon oranges and greens to tie-dye velvets, camouflage, zebra stripes and Tricots for bathing suits. The company recently added a stamping machine that can put the glitter of foil on fabric, and it has bought a $220,000 Klieverik transfer machine that puts patterns on both sides of fabrics, similar to screenprinting. The transfer is a “green,” or environmentally friendly, process, according to Stone’s business partner, Luke Harris. He said it uses heat, not water, to transfer a design from paper onto both sides of the fabric. The result on one recent day was a bright orange and yellow print fabric that a customer planned to make into flags. Stone said the business has been low-key for now, despite its move into the uptown building. But he is planning an open house this spring to show the public Solid Stone’s progress. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/28 Friday, 20 February 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. Participants will also be able to network and will be engaged in activities to help them build marketing strategies.

Martinsville, VA (February 20, 2009) – The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation’s Office of Small and Minority Business Development is hosting its next Small Business Focus Group Meeting on Thursday, February 26, 2009, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the New College Institute. The event is free, and the topic will be Communicating with Your Customers. Topics of discussion will include: identifying your target audience, determining your communications objectives, designing your message, selecting communications channels, establishing a marketing budget, developing word-of-mouth referral sources, and promotional tools (advertising, sales promotion, personal selling). John Anstey of Anstey Hodge Advertising Group will be the guest speaker. Participants will also be able to network and will be engaged in activities to help them build marketing strategies. To register for the please visit www.YesMartinsville.com/smallbusiness or call us at 276-403-5940. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/55 Thursday, 19 February 2009 12:00:00 +0000

By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer. RTI International Metals’ plant in the Patriot Centre industrial park remains on schedule to be operating in late 2010 or early 2011.

By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer. RTI International Metals’ plant in the Patriot Centre industrial park remains on schedule to be operating in the second half of 2010 or early part of 2011, a company official said recently. Dawne S. Hickton, RTI vice chairman and chief executive officer, made that comment during an earnings call with financial analysts. That timetable is a six-month delay in RTI’s original schedule. It was announced in November and attributed to “economic uncertainties” and a decline in demand for titanium. Richard E. Leone, manager of investor relations for RTI, said Wednesday that the Patriot Centre plant accounts for the bulk of RTI’s expected capital expenditures for this year. “However, we will watch this carefully during the year and as we did during 2008, we’ll align our spending with events that take place in this uncertain marketplace,” Hickton said during the earnings call. Henry County Administrator Benny Summerlin said Wednesday he is confident the Patriot Centre plant will be built. “I would be concerned if it (RTI) wasn’t cautious,” he said. “Overall, demand has slowed. I understand they have orders and they’re trying to schedule construction to match delivery (of orders).” RTI manufactures titanium mill products and fabricated metal components for the aerospace industry. Last spring, it bought a former shell building at the Patriot Centre and announced it will invest $100 million in the facility and establish 150 jobs there during the next three years. The property became taxable when it was sold, Summerlin said. The building comprises 79,480 square feet. RTI is more than doubling the size of the building as well as constructing two new buildings on site. The three buildings together will cover more than 300,000 square feet. Construction is continuing at the site, according to Leone. Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp., said RTI’s progress will become more evident soon. At lot of steel will be going up as the company finishes the footings on its first building, he said. “We are in a very good financial position currently,” he said, although he noted that the market slowdowns “affect everyone and everything, unfortunately. RTI still has very good long-term agreements but a lot of them were pushed out to the right. That affects this facility (in the Patriot Centre).” RTI reported its financial performance for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2008 earlier this month. Net income for the quarter was $4.1 million or 18 cents per diluted share, compared with $24.9 million or $1.8 per diluted share in the 2007 fourth quarter. Net sales for the 2008 quarter were $148.8 million, down about 9 percent compared with $163.8 million for the comparable 2007 quarter. For the year, net income was $56.2 million or $2.44 per diluted share and net sales were $609.9 million. Those compare with net income of $92.6 million or $4 per diluted share on sales of $626.8 million for 2007. “But despite being one of the most challenging operating environment for everyone in the industry, which began and impacted us as early as last April with the first big push out on the Boeing Dreamliner, our operating income for the full year was the third highest in our history, revenues were the second highest and our operating cash flow was at its second highest ever in the history of our company,” Hickton said in the earnings call. The cash flow, combined with third-quarter refinancing, enabled RTI to end the year with “a strong balance sheet reflecting $284 million in cash, as well as an undrawn $200 million credit facility. It is important to note that during 2009, we will only have $1.4 million in loan repayments and those are related to our Canadian borrowings,” she added. Long-term demand for titanium should remain strong, Hickton said. RTI has long-term agreements that represent more than $5 billion in future revenues, she said. “Three of these agreements, including Lockheed Martin, stand over 10 years and are for the supply of titanium products for future aircraft that are significant users of titanium and provide a solid base of business for our company that will help us weather these current recessionary conditions, Hickton added. RTI’s stock closed Wednesday at $12.57 a share, down 21 cents. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/56 Thursday, 15 January 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. Topics of discussion will include: how and what agencies purchase, how to respond to requests for proposals and quotes, and how to navigate procurement websites.

Martinsville, VA (January 15, 2009) – The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation’s Office of Small and Minority Business Development is hosting a Quarterly Procurement Idea Exchange on Thursday, January 22, 2009, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the New College Institute. The event is free and will be tailored to small businesses (500 or less employees) and women, minority or veteran owned companies.Topics of discussion will include: how and what agencies purchase, how to respond to requests for proposals and quotes, and how to navigate procurement websites. Event participants will also be able to network with a variety of buyers such as Henry County, Martinsville, New College Institute, Patrick Henry Community College, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Virginia Museum of Natural History, and Virginia Tech. “There are billions of dollars in government opportunities for small, minority, and veteran owned companies,” says Lisa Fultz, Director of the EDC’s Small and Minority Business Development Office. Fultz also says that “this event is a great time to connect with government buyers face-to-face and increase chances for making a sell.” To register for the Quarterly Procurement Idea Exchange please visit www.YesMartinsville.com/smallbusiness or call us at 276-403-5940. The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/29 Friday, 09 January 2009 12:00:00 +0000

EDC Press Release. Workshop to provide hands-on help with cash flow scheduled for Jan. 14 at NCI.

Martinsville, VA (January 9, 2009) – The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation’s Office of Small and Minority Business is hosting a workshop that will provide attendees hands-on exercises to assist them with managing cash flow. The workshop is scheduled for January 14, 2009, at the New College Institute from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. “This workshop is designed to help business owners understand the importance of cash flow, how to track it, and pitfalls to avoid,” says Lisa Fultz, Director of Small and Minority Business Development. “It can be extremely helpful to business owners to know how to deal with bumps in the road beforehand.” To register for this free workshop, call 276.403.5940, email vspencer@yesmartinsville.com or visit www.yesmartinsville.com/smallbusiness The mission of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is to create new job opportunities and expand the tax base for the area. The organization strives to support and develop local industry, as well as market Martinsville-Henry County globally as an exceptional place to live, work and play. The EDC is a public-private partnership between the City of Martinsville, Henry County, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) and the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont.  http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/7 Tuesday, 01 May 2007 12:00:00 +0000

Koger Air was featured in a May PR Campaign that serves to show appreciation to the company for the contribution it makes to Martinsville-Henry County.

For more than 50 years, Koger Air has called Martinsville-Henry County home.  A manufacturer of industrial material and handling equipment, the company originally designed dust collection systems for the local furniture industry.  Today, the company has grown and has a diverse list of national clients, including Pella Window, MasterBrand Cabinets and Pinehall Brick - to name just a few.  With five separate manufacturing, warehousing and office facilities totaling 100,000 square feet and more than 50 employees, it's easy to see why Koger Air works in Martinsville-Henry County. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/8 Thursday, 01 March 2007 12:00:00 +0000

Accretive Commerce was featured in a February PR Campaign that serves to show appreciation to the company for the contribution it makes to Martinsville-Henry County.

Accretive Commerce calls Martinsville-Henry County home.  In fact, the company has a distribution center and customer care center here.  Accretive Commerce provides highly integrated customer care and fulfillment services for some of the largest and best-known brands in the country, including American Eagle, Restoration Hardware, and Godiva - to name a few.  Accretive associates handle phone calls, e-mails, Internet inquiries, and other direct-to-consumer lines of communication from a broad range of industries.  Thanks to Accretive, orders are being placed, products are being shipped, and return merchandise is being processed 24/7.  With over 800 local employees, it's easy to see why Accretive Commerce works in Martinsville-Henry County. http://www.yesmartinsville.com/index.cfm/go/news.details/ID/12 Wednesday, 07 February 2007 12:00:00 +0000

"Around here, we talk about thermoplastics, polymer blends and thermosets (and that's before breakfast)." This is Martinsville-Henry County's message to prospective polymer and plastics processors.

We know plastics. Martinsville-Henry County is home to the world’s largest manufacturer of window film and a world leader of Expanded Polystyrene Foam products. And the Advanced and Applied Polymer Processing Institute, a national research and engineering center of excellence, is just down the road from us. Combine that with our strategic mid-Atlantic location that reduces transportation costs and our pro-business attitude, and you’ll see why Martinsville- Henry County is a good location for your business. Call today at 276.403.5940 or visit us www.YesMartinsville/plastics to find out how we can get your business up and running quickly.