The Issue of Progress
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| July 2019 | Showcase Magazine 3
CONTENTS
Showcase Magazine
July 2019
The I ssue of Pro g e ss @showcaseDVA
Showcase Magazine
showcasemagazineva @ info@showcasemagazine.com
PG. Also Inside
Features Visions: A Look Back 8
Bold Strategies yielding big results for Danville 12
Editor’s Letter
Progress is a Process 6
Bold Strategies yielding big results for Danville
The Comeback City 20
From the Kitchen of
Big Bear’s Wife
Stove Top Southern Green Beans By Angie Barrett
18
Paws for a Cause
Empathy for Animals By Paulette Dean
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Confessions of a 30 Something
12
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Spend Your Summer on the
Smith River 22
Nine Grams
Instagrams From Our Area 26
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PG.
22
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Editor’s Letter
Progress is a Process One of my favorite things is the Carousel of Progress at Disney World. It’s an animatronic show that details technological advancements through the years. The show is a perfect example of progress. Success is often viewed from the point of something’s highest achievement. The Carousel of Progress is just a twenty-minute show. There is not enough time to detail the hard work that went into making our lives much easier over the last hundred years. There is no such thing as an overnight success story. Let’s look at the band KISS. Today, KISS has sold over one-hundred million records worldwide. In the early seventies, KISS almost bankrupted its record label from low record sales. People remember KISS after the success of the Alive record and just assume it was always that way. KISS struggled to find an audience with its first three albums. The band looked adversity in the eye and worked harder through live shows to gain an audience. With Alive (a live record) KISS found success and became a worldwide phenomenon in the late seventies. The band also saved its record label. It would have never happened without hard work and faith from Casablanca Records. You can research any success story and find that it would have never happened without a dedicated vision. In 2011, Showcase ran a series over several issues called “Visions: A look at what Danville could be.” In this issue, we revisit “Visions” to look at the city’s progress. Over the last eight years, a heck of a lot of hard work has gone into the evolution of Danville. And there is no end in sight. We should be very proud of what has been accomplished so far. But progress is a process. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Without continual growth and progress, such word as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” Let’s keep growing and progressing. We hope these stories and photos serve as an inspiration to get involved (if you’re not already) in the next great success story… Danville, Virginia.
showcase July 2019
CEO Andrew Scott Brooks scott@showcasemagazine.com E d it o r ia l Di r e c t o r Paul Seiple | paul@showcasemagazine.com G r ap h i c D e sig n e r Kim Demont | demontdesign@verizon.net Fi n a n c e M a n ag e r Cindy Astin | cindy@showcasemagazine.com A d v e r tisi n g Lee Vogler | Director of Sales and Marketing lee@showcasemagazine.com | 434.548.5335 Ashley Schultz | Marketing Consultant ashley@showcasemagazine.com C u st o m e r S e r v i c e Subscribe to Home Delivery for $24 per year 753 Main Street #3, Danville, VA 24541 Phone 434.709.7349 info@showcasemagazine.com www.showcasemagazine.com c o n t r i B u ti n G W r it e r s Angie Barrett | Paulette Dean | Travis Hackworth Arnold Hendrix | Monica L. Karavanic Lee Vogler | Brian Williams c o n t r i B u ti n G P h o t o G r a P h e r S 500 Block Craghead | Angie Barrett Danville Economic Development Travis Hackworth | VisitMartinsville | Lee Vogler Cover A view of Danville from the River District Tower Photographed by Lee Vogler
For more great things happening in the Dan River Region pick up the 2019 edition of Our Town, a welcome and relocation guide to our area. Scan with your smart phone for
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Feature Visions: A Look Back
Visions:
A Look Back
I
n 2011, Showcase ran a five-part series entitled “Visions: A look at what Danville could be.” A group of locals made predications for the future of our community. Below are some of the standouts that, in some form, are happening today. To read the entire series, visit showcasemagazine.com and search under the Magazine tab. The series ran from April to August 2011.
“I believe that Danville needs to be rebuilt from the inside out. The River District needs to be the backbone of our city. Downtowns are supposed to be the heart of a community. After many years of neglect, our downtown is due for a heart transplant.” -Lee Vogler (August 2011)
“It is not hard to imagine that if we make the same commitment to developing our own River District, we too can be a vibrant, attractive community. Not only would it improve our local economy, but it would surely improve the quality of life for our residents, as well.” -Monica L. Karavanic (April 2011)
••••••••••
Since 2011, the City of Danville has invested $35 million in streetscape and infrastructure improvements to the River District, while the private sector has responded with over $150 million of investment. In 2011, the population of the River District was around 200 people. Today, it’s over 2,000 and growing.
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“This building concept is modeled after the former Burton Hotel (demolished in the 1960s). While it is modeled after it, it is not a recreation of the hotel building in any way except for exterior design. The interior is very modern, and the building would utilize all available green technology.” -Travis Hackworth (June 2011)
•••••••••• Artwork by Travis Hackworth
“This concept utilizes both existing infrastructure and new construction. The Rorer A. James Tower concept adds an additional 8 floors to the former Register and Bee building on the corner of S. Union and Patton St.’s. This building was originally built to hold an additional 9 floors to mirror the Masonic Temple on the other corner. The building would house medium income housing options, a specialty restaurant, a coffee-house or bakery shop, and a grand ballroom on the top floor with a full kitchen to serve up to 200 people. The target audience is working professionals and young start-ups. The lower floors will offer office space for technology start-ups with an on-site technology incubator center specializing in mentoring your tech entrepreneurs.” -Travis Hackworth (May 2011)
The city is using a very similar design for a proposed mixed-use parking facility downtown.
•••••••••• “I truly believe expanding our cultural and entertainment commodities in the years ahead will be absolutely vital to the long-term prosperity of Danville. Job-creation is priority number one right now, but where will people spend their money once they have those jobs? We must ensure that answer is Danville.” -Lee Vogler (July 2011)
Today, Danville is home to numerous venues which host live music throughout the week, as well as multiple cultural events like the Day of the Dead festival and the Bridge Street Food Truck Rodeo. Also opening soon is an ax throwing venue and escape room.
The building is currently being developed into a similar boutique hotel concept by Ed Walker.
Artwork by Travis Hackworth
Photo by Lee Vogler www.showcasemagazine.com
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Feature Bold strategies yielding big results for Danville
Bold Strategies yielding big results for Danville By Arnold Hendrix Public Information Officer for the City of Danville
T
ake a drive into the heart of Danville and you will come to the point where two historic districts — downtown and the Tobacco Warehouse District — are tied together by the Dan River.
Nine years ago, city leaders bet they could better develop the two areas if they were marketed as one. With this strategy agreed upon, the “River District” was born. It has been a winning bet. Today, private investment is taking place as hoped, with the repurposing of buildings for residential units and for locating, starting or growing businesses, including retail shops and services, restaurants, and entertainment venues. This year, for example, the River District welcomed King Cropp Food, which provides a seasonally influenced menu for lunch and dinner. The district now boasts a dozen restaurants — all but one having opened in the last nine years. In May, Commonwealth Pharmacy became the first retail pharmacy in the district when it opened its doors
Photo by 500 Block Craghead
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on Craghead Street, selling prescription drugs and an assortment of general merchandise. Also, in May, the Danville Science Center — an anchor tenant in the River District—opened its first new permanent exhibit in nearly 25 years. The train-themed exhibit, “Crescent Crossing,” is dedicated to preschool-age children. Much more is coming, with announced plans for a boutique hotel, a grocery store, and an entertainment business that will feature ax throwing and an escape room. This private investment is outpacing public seeding and investment by more than four-fold, with $35 million in public seeding and investment and $150 million in private investment. Continued to Page 14
Photo by Danville Economic Development
Continued to Page 12
Photo by Lee Vogler www.showcasemagazine.com
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Feature Bold strategies yielding big results for Danville
Continued from Page 13
Thanks to added amenities and repurposing of buildings, the River District has become a cool place for those with an appetite for history, adventure, and great food. The River District, however, has not been the only winning bet placed in this decade. City leaders have accelerated economic development through international recruitment and nurturing of
Photo by Danville Economic Development
Photo by Danville Economic Development 14 Showcase Magazine |
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existing businesses. In making this happen, the city has some real partners. These efforts have yielded remarkable results. For example: • As of today, there are 11 companies with eight different foreign headquarters operating in Danville or just outside the city limits. • Last year, Danville was recognized internationally by FDI Intelligence as one of the Top 10 micro cities for economic potential. The magazine which is a publication of the Financial Times, studies the most promising investment locations in North and South America. To be on the list means that the city is moving the needle in attracting foreign investment. • Also last year, Site Selection Magazine placed Danville in the top 50 micro-cities in economic activity in the nation. Micro-cities are those with a population of less than 100,000. • In partnership with Pittsylvania County, other local organizations, and regional and state agencies, five new industry announcements and two expansions have been announced in the last 12 months that will bring 900 new jobs and $114.1 million in new investment into the region.
Photo by 500 Block Craghead
• Through a partnership with The Launch Place, 15 new high growth and tech entrepreneurial startups have been announced in five years. • Earlier this year, Danville’s unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent. Five years ago, the rate was 8.4 percent for that same period; and nine years ago, 14.1. Not only that, the figure of 4.4 percent is the lowest for that time of the year in 18 years.
Photo by 500 Block Craghead
To build on this success, city leaders and their partners continue to invest. Continued to Page 16
Photo by Danville Economic Development
Photo by Danville Economic Development www.showcasemagazine.com
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Feature Bold strategies yielding big results for Danville
• Local worker training programs in precision machining now are so well known that a year ago the governor of Arkansas spent a day here so he could take those ideas back to his state. Also, Danville last year hosted the national the 2018 HAAS Americas CNC Educators Training Conference. More than 200 leaders in the automation and machining field from around the country spent a week in Danville learning about the workforce training partnerships that were created here and now serve as a model for other localities.
Continued from Page 15
Photo by Danville Economic Development
The former Dan River Inc. White Mill building is one example. The Industrial Development Authority has stabilized this iconic building, developed a grantfunded conceptual site plan, and most recently, entered into an option agreement with a Wisconsinbased company for the purchase of the building. This company specializes in historic preservation, urban revitalization, and adaptive reuse. Also, investment continues in workforce development. This investment provides incredible opportunities and boundless potential. Here is why: • The ability to provide an ongoing supply of precision metalworkers has become the determining incentive for a company to locate here. This supply led to the successful recruitment of companies such as Kyocera SGS, Unison, and Harlow Fastech. • The economic development staffs in Danville and Pittsylvania County are busy hosting more prospects who are interested in the city and region because of the pipeline of trained precision machine workers. That pipeline has grown to include students at George Washington High School. The program is modeled after the one in place at Danville Community College and serves as a feeder for high school students who want to continue their studies at the community college or another institution. These students can achieve, relatively quickly, a certification that industry honors. When they begin work, they earn well above median incomes. 16 Showcase Magazine |
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Photo by Danville Economic Development
• Also, efforts are underway in other areas of workforce training. Students can start learning about robotics and computerized machining tools as early as sixth grade. The cybersecurity program at Danville Community College is one of just five in Virginia (and the only one outside the urban crescent) to win special recognition by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. To capture the spirit of the changes and to send a clear message about what drives the decisions being made today, city leaders four years ago unveiled a new brand identity. The brand identity uses the credo “Reimagine That.” Yes, reimagining has become the lifeblood of this community and its way of life, with bold strategies yielding big results. The message is clear, “the status quo is a no go.”
In 1859, Averett University began on the corner of Ridge and Patton streets in downtown Danville. In 2011 when we renovated the former Dimon headquarters at 512 Bridge Street, it was like coming home. Averett is proud to be Your Hometown University and part of the revitilization of Danville & the River District. 434-791-5600 • 1-800-AVERETT • averett.edu
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Feature Big Bear’s Wife
From the Kitchen of
Big Bear’s Wife Stove Top Southern Green Beans Written by Angie Barrett of BigBearsWife.com Photo by Angie Barrett
Stove Top Southern Green Beans are amazing and super easy to make. They’re simmered all day long to create the most flavorful green beans ever. Prep Time: 15M; Total Time: 7H; Yield: 4-6 Servings INGREDIENTS 1-pound green beans 4 cups water 2 chicken bouillon cubes 8 slices of bacon 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon Mrs. Dash Salt Free Garlic & Herb Seasoning Blend INSTRUCTIONS • Snap ends from green beans. • Rinse beans and add to a medium sauce pan. • Add 4 cups of water, chicken bouillon cubes, garlic powder, and Mrs. Dash Salt Free Garlic & Herb Seasoning Blend. • Bring to a boil. • Chop bacon into 1-inch pieces.
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• Cook half of the bacon in a skillet until crispy. Drain grease. • Add cooked bacon and raw bacon to the green beans. • Let green beans boil for 10 minutes, Reduce to a simmer. • Simmer for 6-7 hours or until super tender. • Add more water if needed during cooking period.
Paws for a Cause
Paws for a Cause Not long after I started working for the humane society (about twenty-seven years ago), I was driving on a busy street in Danville. I spotted an Eastern box turtle on the shoulder of the road and started to pull over so I could get it out of danger. I was horrified by what I saw happen next. A pickup truck swerved and hit the turtle, and the young man driving the truck started laughing. I was very upset; the actions of the driver were deliberate, and they were cruel. I have often wondered who he was, and where he is now. There is a cycle of violence that affects humans as well as animals. If the young man would intentionally kill a turtle, it’s not a stretch of the imagination to think that he would hurt a child, an elderly person, or a handicapped person. As one man put it during a cruelty investigation—“I don’t hit my puppies any more than I hit my children.” Margaret Meade, a well-known anthropologist, warned that the worst thing that could happen would be for a child to hurt an animal and get away with it. All serial killers on death row started out by abusing, torturing, and killing animals.
We urge parents to carefully watch children and immediately take action if animals are treated with anything but kindness. We also strongly suggest to young people that you choose your friends wisely; if you see a friend mistreat an animal, tell a grown-up. Although some children are born with a natural love for animals, they must be guided and taught appropriate behavior. Empathy is the ability to recognize and feel what another living creature (human or animal) is feeling then act appropriately and compassionately. We have recently announced an exciting partnership with the Danville Police Department to provide hands-on experiences that we believe will help nurture empathy towards animals. We invite you to learn more about our Cops and Critters event on July 24th by visiting our Facebook page and website (dahsinc.com). That poor turtle twenty-seven years ago helped my eyes to be open to the existence of sheer meanness. I wish the lesson was still not a necessary one.
Written by Paulette Dean Executive Director Danville Humane Society
Meet Money This little guy is about six years old and was brought to us by his owners. We believe a more appropriate name would be Mr. Ears!
Danville Humane Society
Dedicated to developing innovative solutions that strengthen communities and improve quality of life www.dewberry.com
Center for Manufacturing Advancement | Cyber Park
Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill
River District Tower
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Confessions of a 30 something
Confessions of a 30 Something
The Comeback City Written by Lee Vogler Photo By Lee Vogler
“I’m coming home, coming home. Tell the world, I’m coming home.” Do you remember that song from Diddy? It came out in 2010, the same year I came home to Danville after a few years of living in Richmond while attending VCU. I think about it often. When I moved back to Danville, our city was in the midst of the Great Recession, which itself had followed on the heels of several of our city’s major industries closing, like Dan River Mills. Our unemployment rate was hovering close to 20% and our city’s core was littered with vacant and decaying buildings. Needless to say, it wasn’t a peak time for Danville. Despite all of this despair, there was something brewing under the surface. There were groups of people who believed with all their hearts that the predicament we found ourselves in at that time was merely a roadblock, and not our destination. There was a group called Moving Danville Forward that I was a part of that started having productive conversations online about ways we could improve our city. There was a Visions series in this very publication that spent several months imagining a better future for Danville,
and ways we could get there. There were city leaders who were looking at other places that had been where we were, like Greenville NC, and came out on the other side. I was excited to be in the midst of all of it. Winston Churchill once said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” In 2010, it would have been very easy to see the difficulties in Danville. For twenty years, our population had declined. Our major industries had left. Everything we once knew about our city seemed to be eroding around us. And yet, we didn’t quit. We re-imagined and rebuilt our downtown into the River District, taking it from a decaying eyesore to a crown jewel of our city. We have a bike share program that has already been used by over 5,000 people in less than a few years. Our riverfront YMCA was ranked as one of the top ten recreation facilities in the world by Athletic Business Magazine. We’ve had well over $150 million in private sector investment in our River District, where historic tobacco warehouses have been transformed into vibrant loft-style apartments, shopping spaces, breweries and world-class restaurants. Our breweries were featured in the national publication BeerAdvocate magazine. Our partnerships with DCC, Danville Public Schools, and IALR have created a precision machining program that is not only nationally recognized but helping us attract new industries from around the globe. All of this happened during this decade. We’ve come a long way from 2010 to now. But as that, much older, song from The Carpenters goes, “We’ve only just begun.”
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Preserving Our Architectural Heritage
1 A2.1
CRAGHEAD STREET PERSPECTIVE
2 A2.1
NORTH ELEVATION
554 PIEDMONT HARDWARE
550 SWIFT & COMPANY
548 ELDRIDGE DRUG STORE
546 NATIONAL BISCUIT COMPANY
544 542 VIRGINIA CITY MOTORS
536 534 VENABLE BUILDING
532
530 HUGHES BUILDING
528
1/16" = 1'-0"
554 Craghead Street ~ rickbarkerproperties.com
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Explore Martinsville
Spend Your Summer on the Smith River Written by Brian Williams Photos Provided by VisitMartinsville
There’s no better way to beat the heat than getting in the water, and the crisp, cool 45-degree waters of the Smith River will cool you down. Along the Smith River Trail System, eleven public canoe ramps are available for use by paddlers and fishermen. If you enjoy whitewater, canoe or kayak the river during peak generation from Philpott Dam. If a relaxing flat water paddle is more your speed, put your boat or tube in further downstream. Travel time is determined by water level and flow conditions; hydro-electric generation will increase water flows and decrease travel times. A general rule of thumb for planning canoe or kayak trips on gentle moving water is to allow 25-30 minutes per river mile. Call 276.629.2432 before paddling or fishing to listen to a recorded generation schedule for Philpott Dam. Gathering volume below Bassett, the Smith River meanders through Henry County, channeled by historic structures such as a Native American fish weir, rocky navigation sluices and diversions for water intakes along the industrial
corridor. At times of normal water flows, this section is rated as suitable for novices and low to intermediate paddlers. Mid-way down the Smith is the Martinsville Dam. The Doe Run Access point provides a takeout above the dam to allow for portage to the next access point below the dam which allows travelers to continue on their journey. You can also take out here and visit the trails, parks, shops, museums, and restaurants in Martinsville which is the largest community on the river. Below Martinsville, the river briefly passes through another industrial section before returning to a forested corridor graced by gentle rapids and abundant wildlife. The most popular area for paddlers is the lower sections of the river which are suitable for novice paddlers. These areas can be accessed from the South Martinsville ramp to the Smith River Sports Complex. This section is also the race course for the annual Smith River Boat Race which is a part of the annual Smith River Fest celebration. Downstream from the Sports Complex is Eggleston Falls, the largest rapid on the Smith, which is rated for intermediate boaters. The great thing about this beautiful section of the river is that it is varied and interesting enough for experienced boaters and still great for the novice. Ready to paddle the Smith, but don’t have the gear? No problem. All equipment is available for rent at Smith River Outfitters located at 3399 Fairystone Park Highway in Bassett, VA. Canoes, kayaks and a raft are available for rent and shuttle service is offered. Guided fishing trips by an experienced, professional angler are also available for whole or half days. Smith River Outfitters is opened Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and weekdays by appointment. Interested in learning more about the abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities in Martinsville-Henry County, or want to experience it first hand? If so, then mark your calendars for our 12th Annual Smith River Fest happening on Saturday, August 10th from 9:00-4:00 at the Smith River Sports Complex in Axton. The Smith Continued to Page 24
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Our Mission is to recruit, retain and develop entrepreneurs in our region through our equity funds and business development services.
INVESTMENT BREAKDOWN
6TH ANNUAL BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
9.11.19
Total Portfolio Companies 16 Companies
ECOSYSTEM BUILDERS
The Big Launch Challenge is a competition with $20,000 in prize money. Ten early-stage startups will pitch their business to inves judges a panel of investor followed by a short question and answer block.
Deadline to Apply: July 29 ABOUT US
BUILD BETTER BUSINESS, BUILD A BETTER COMMUNITY. 434.799.5491 | info@thelaunchplace.org | www.thelaunchplace.org
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Explore Martinsville
Continued from Page 22
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River Fest showcases all the exciting ways to experience the outdoors and have adventures in Martinsville-Henry County, VA. Learn more about the Smith River Trail System that includes more than twenty miles of trails and the Smith River that’s perfect for fishing, paddling, and floating. Smith River Fest includes the Helgramite Hustle
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5k Mud Run, Kids Mini Mud Run, the Smith River Boat Race, a casting pool with fly tying demos, inflatables, rock wall, kids cycling station, games, petting zoo, gear swap, craft beer, food and vendors of all types. As always, admission and parking are FREE. For more details, go to www.SmithRiverFest.com
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