FRONT Notes

Airport funding

Airports in Virginia are expected to receive $399,740,660 in federal funds over the next five years as a result of the bipartisan infrastructure deal signed into law last month. The two DC-area airports, then Richmond and Norfolk get big chunks of that. Locally, Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional: $14,977,645 and Virginia Tech/ Montgomery Executive: $1,480,000 were in the mix. A spokesperson for ROA said they were studying how that money can be used, per FCC guidelines etc.

PPE plant coming to Wytheville

Governor Ralph Northam attended a groundbreaking last month for Blue Star NBR, LLC and Blue Star-AGI, Inc., a joint venture between Blue Star Manufacturing and American Glove Innovations. They have committed to invest $714.1 million to establish an advanced, nitrile butadiene rubber manufacturing plant. The joint venture has committed to build a manufacturing operation that projects to employ 2,500 people and produce up to 60 billion medical gloves a year. “This is about investing to bring jobs back to the United States from overseas and doing it right here in rural America. This can be transformational for all of Southwest Virginia,” said Northam. The Commonwealth will chip in $8.5 million for infrastructure upgrades at Progress Park. Personal Protective Equipment - PPE - became a prized and sometimes scarce commodity during the height of the pandemic shutdown.

Who spends that money?

After President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan $1.2 trillion (or so) infrastructure deal there have been people worried about the federal government wasting that money or not distributing it fairly. Senator Tim Kaine believes the solution lies largely in state and local governments. “I think local leaders often are the ones that make the best decisions, about how to use these dollars.” Kaine told the assembled remote media last month, “this money will go to the Commonwealth Transportation Board. So, on the road and bridge [portion of the bill] we let the local officials make the priority decisions.” Kaine also agreed with Biden's decision to appoint Mitch Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans and former Lieutenant governor of Louisiana, to help monitor the distribution.

VT Innovation Campus

Virginia Tech has announced a gift it says will enhance research and education at the Innovation Campus in northern Virginia, and in Blacksburg. Tech President Tim Sands announced last month that Northrop Grumman will provide $12.5 million towards the expansion of work in the field of quantum information science and engineering: “this partnership with Northrup Grumman will dramatically enhance the university’s work in a field that has the potential to reshape industry – and profoundly alter the dynamics of national security.” The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus plans to invest almost $16 million on top of the gift from Northrop Grumman to establish the Center for Quantum Architecture and Software Development.

BWX expansion

BWX Technologies, Inc., in Lynchburg, a leading supplier of nuclear components and fuel to the U.S. government, has announced a multimillion-dollar investment to create a manufacturing and research and development center to be called the BWXT Innovation Campus. It will sit on an 11-acre property adjacent to the company’s existing facility and will ,”showcase their services and technology in Campbell County.” The company currently has three locations in Central Virginia and

employs 2,630 workers across those facilities. A $400,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund assisted Campbell County with the project. A performance-based grant of $700,000 from the Virginia Investment Performance Grant was also given.

Gauntlet 2022

The Advancement Foundation in Vinton announces GAUNTLET 2022, which is Virginia’s Largest Business Program and Competition, is accepting applications for 2022. The Gauntlet “offers a proven formula to develop business knowledge, pairing entrepreneurs with mentors, and open up numerous resources for new and expanding businesses.” To date the program has served over 650 entrepreneurs, developed a mentor network of 250 professionals, and awarded over $7 million in resources including grants, cash, and in-kind prizes. It includes business training, mentorship, scaling strategies – with over $300,000 cash and prizes for the entrepreneurs who make it to the competition rounds. Virtual classes begin February 1.

Carlos signing off?

The building that houses the popular Brazilian eatery Carlos Restaurant was listed for lease last month. Carlos originated in downtown Roanoke before moving to a hilltop just off Electric Road/419 in the Tanglewood area of Roanoke County.

What goes up must come down

Richfield Living, the in senior living and rehabilitation company, has demolished the Richfield Recovery and Care Center. Constructed in 1970 it will make way for another Vision 2020: Project Home building. The Mountain Retreat independent living apartments will be constructed with 64 units. Cherie Grisso, Chief Executive Officer, shared that, “demolition of RRCC is an emotional time for residents, families, and team members with ties to the building. As we look to the future, the household model of care replaces the institution that was a standard of the past. Today we move into a new era.”

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BoCo broadband funding

Botetourt County and LUMOS have received funding for universal broadband coverage for homes and businesses from the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Universal broadband coverage means that all residents and businesses have access to reliable internet service with speeds that meet or exceed the federal definition of 25/3 service. This grant will allow delivery of Fiberto-the-Home (FTTH) broadband connectivity to 1,901 addresses in Botetourt County. LUMOS is also planning additional expansion projects targeting universal fiber coverage in the area. Botetourt County will receive $3,084.796 in VATI grant funding.

RoCo gets broadband funding as well

Roanoke County also been awarded four Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) grants totaling more than $3.7 million to fund broadband expansion for residents. The County also partnered with internet service

providers to leverage more than $7.7 million to improve broadband connectivity throughout the County. Roanoke County will work with the Craig Botetourt Electric Cooperative, Cox Communications and Shentel to build fiber broadband more than 1200 unserved locations, achieving universal coverage in Roanoke County when combined with other projects.

Meanwhile in MontCo …

Governor Ralph Northam announced in mid-December that Montgomery County received a $27.6 million Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (“VATI”) Grant to assist with a $50 million project to bring high speed fiber optic broadband service to thousands of citizens and businesses throughout the County. “We, as a government entity, understand the only way to achieve this goal is to partner with private companies like GigaBeam and Appalachian Power Company," said Montgomery County Administrator Craig Meadows. GigaBeam Networks and Appalachian Power Company are finalizing plans for the project that will bring high-speed internet for up to 8,822 citizens, businesses and community organizations located throughout Montgomery County.

Roanoke steel company purchased

Alro Steel has acquired Ace Steel in Roanoke. Alro says it will grow its customer base while providing improved service for cut-to-size metals and plastics. Ace Steel’s customers will now have access to Alro’s inventory including aluminum, carbon steel, stainless steel, tool steel, cast iron, red metals, alloys, and plastics. Ace Steel was founded in 1992 as a steel distributor serving the Roanoke Valley. Alro was founded in Michigan in1948 and has over 70 locations in 12 states.

Martinsville joins The Gauntlet

The Advancement Foundation announced that “Uptown Partnership” with match funding from the City of Martinsville was selected to receive the Governor’s Community Business Launch grant through a highly competitive process across the state of Virginia. The $90,000 grant will boost business development training and resources to enable new or existing businesses to accelerate growth through Vinton-based The Gauntlet Business Program and Competition. Uptown Partnership in collaboration with the City of Martinsville aims to diversify its retail business mix with a focus on main street small-scale manufacturing and businesses that fit within its Main Street Transformational Strategies of “Handmade, Craft-made, Artisan,” and “Uptown Living.”

Second location for RND

A Roanoke-based coffee company has opened its second brick and mortar location in Vinton. Roasters Next Door - or RND Coffee - is opened at Vineyard Station, at the corner of South Pollard Street and Washington Avenue. Co-owner Quincy Randolph on they chose to open a new location in the town of Vinton: “we saw a lot of the same characteristics [as the original Wasena store] as far as revitalization and investment in the community and the excitement happening in Vinton.” Randolph also says Vinton Town Manager visited the original RND on a number of occasions – almost recruiting them he adds. No drivethrough service here but Randolph adds that the parking lot (which it shares with Joe Goodpies at what used to be a Ford dealership before a remodeling) is big enough for patrons to park, grab a quick coffee, and hit the road again. RND’s first location is off Main Street in the Wasena area of Roanoke.

Closing the broadband gap

New grants will advance Virginia 90% towards the goal of achieving universal access to broadband and highspeed internet. Virginia will allocate more than $722 million to provide universal broadband infrastructure in 70 localities, which will close 90% of Virginia’s digital divide. The funding is from the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) and the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA); it will support 35 projects, connecting more than 278,000 households, businesses, and community institutions to highspeed internet. The total

broadband investment in Virginia is mow above $2 billion over the past four years, according to Governor Ralph Northam’s office.

Funding for new shared lab spaces

The GO Virginia Coalition has approved a grant award to the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC) to fund the expansion of laboratory space and facilities. In addition to the construction of shared lab space by the VTCRC, this “Project Eagle” will support the creation of 125 new biotech jobs over the next five years. “Through collaborations, we aim to fill the demand from biotechnology companies and provide full access needed to support research to commercialization aspirations,” said Brett Malone, President & CEO of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. The VTCRC – with funding from GO Virginia – will lead a coalition, including Montgomery County, City of Roanoke and Carilion Clinic, to support the development of a shared lab facility in Blacksburg and site design for a larger facility in Roanoke.

In addition, a new collaboration established between Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center and Johnson & Johnson LLC, will provide early-stage innovators in the region with access to their virtual residency program which includes expert mentoring, programming and resources offered through Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS (JLABS). In the first year of the collaboration, JLABS and the VTCRC will select up to five companies for participation in the JLABS virtual residency program. “Additional wet and dry lab space in our region is a real boost for life sciences and biotech innovation, especially as it relates to improving healthcare delivery,” said Don Halliwill, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Carilion Clinic, who also helps lead the work of Carilion Innovation, the organization’s internal incubator.

Compiled by Gene Marrano

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