The Patrick County Economic Development Authority (EDA) has received a $91,000 grant from the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission to support the Strategic Site Readiness Initiative. Announced at the commission’s Sept. 24 meeting, the funding will help prepare Rich Creek Corporate Park and other properties along the U.S. 58 corridor for future business development.
The engineering design analysis is for an on-site water storage solution at the Rich Creek Corporate Park. While the property currently has a water line and an existing tank and booster station, these assets are privately owned and unavailable for new industries. The proposed water storage tank would serve future tenants by providing a reliable resource for fire suppression systems. Completing the engineering design now positions the county to seek construction funding and move the site closer to active occupancy.
The grant will also support a site evaluation study of properties along the US-58 corridor stretching from the Town of Stuart eastward to Henry County. This corridor is a strategic economic artery with strong potential for business activity and growth, but it currently lacks adequate infrastructure and shovel-ready sites.
Through GIS-based screening and analysis, the study will identify the most suitable sites for future development in Patrick County. This planning will provide the county with the tools needed to attract new industries and ensure sustainable economic growth.
“This grant represents a critical investment in Patrick County’s economic future,” said James Houchins, Director of Economic Development and Tourism. “By preparing the Rich Creek Corporate Park for additional occupancy and identifying future development sites along US-58, we are strengthening our ability to welcome new businesses, create jobs, and expand opportunities for residents.”
The Patrick County Strategic Site Readiness Initiative reflects the county’s long-term commitment to proactive economic development, ensuring that Patrick County remains competitive in attracting new industries and investments.
The Martinsville EDA received a $1,000,000 grant to support predevelopment work, including building stabilization and additional studies on American Furniture Plant 10. Completion of the work will encourage prospective proposals and accelerate redevelopment with a keen focus on addressing the housing priority needs of the region, part of a standing strategy to restore vibrancy in Martinsville’s downtown commercial district.
The American Furniture Plant 10, located at 51 Lester Street, is one of Martinsville’s largest properties at approximately 98,000 square feet on a 2.8-acre site. It represents an ideal opportunity for community and economic revitalization. This former industrial structure sits immediately adjacent to the Uptown spur of the Dick & Willie Passage Trail and the property selected for a future municipal amphitheater. The site is a block away from the popular cultural and commercial courthouse square.
The Martinsville Economic Development Authority (EDA) recently purchased the site from the City of Martinsville and is actively engaged in discussions with development teams to advance adaptive reuse of the property.
Also, among the projects the commission approved is a $350,000 grant to SOVA Innovation Hub Corporation to support RISE THRIVE – Entrepreneur Support and Ecosystem Building, a two-year initiative to strengthen rural entrepreneurship across Southern Virginia.
Commission funds will be used to support two full-time RISE Business Navigators, development of the RISE THRIVE Accelerator curriculum, delivery of direct entrepreneur support services, and cost-sharing for professional services. The accelerator will be a 12-month, cohort-based virtual program delivered through a regional hub network, offering training, mentorship, and subsidized access to resources that increase social, knowledge, and financial capital. Entrepreneurs will receive support in areas such as IT, AI, legal, marketing, accounting, and other eligible professional services.
Funding requests approved by the commission support a variety of organizations and initiatives across Southern and Southwest Virginia, including agriculture, business development, and tourism projects. The commission supported three workforce housing projects that will create over 130 units targeting families earning between 80-120 percent of the area median income.
The commission also adopted a new strategic plan that will chart its course through 2027. The strategic planning effort, led by a team from the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement, included multiple input sessions, interviews, and more with stakeholders from across the Commission’s footprint to ensure that the commission is meeting the needs of the communities it serves.
