aCorridor Headlines

1. Galax is location for new call center, 255 jobs
   Results Global Services announces new call center to provide customer service for XM Satellite Radio.
2. Smyth County sees $3 million investment, 100 jobs
   Wellborn Cabinet will locate cabinet manufacturing operation in former furniture factory that closed in January.
3. aCorridor board hears from VEDP Executive Director
   Jeff Anderson, executive director of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, is aCorridor board meeting speaker.
4. Expansion & saved jobs in Washington County
   Strongwell Corporation plans to expand, add 140 jobs. Bristol Compressors gets new owner; 1,000 jobs saved.
5. Gatorade® profile now on website
   Read why Gatorade® chose Wythe County for its new plant.
6. From My Perspective...
   An update from Executive Director Tom Elliott.
7. around the aCorridor...
   Wytheville opens new community center. What do Southwest Virginia's Bland and Northern Virginia's Alexandria have in common? Galax names new city manager.

Galax is home to new call center

Congressman Rick Boucher  and Galax Mayor C.M. Mitchell at the January announcement that Results Global Services will locate a 255-employee customer service call center in the Crossroads Institute.

Congressman Rick Boucher announced January 8 that Results Global Services will locate a call center in the Crossroads Institute in Galax, where 255 employees will provide customer service for XM Radio.

Congressman Boucher said the location of this new industry is a result of talks he had with the satellite radio company beginning in 2001. He said he continued talking with XM over the years and hosted company officials during one of his Showcasing Southwest Virginia tours. He said XM suggested that the Florida-based Results Companies look to the region for locations for its call centers.

“Today's announcement marks another landmark success for my Showcasing Southwest Virginia program and for local officials in the three localities,” Boucher said.

The Tobacco Commission is providing $255,000 in support of the remodeling of the 10,000 square feet of space that is needed by Results at Crossroads Institute.

Return to Top

Smyth County announces new cabinet manufacturer operation

Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced February 27 that family owned Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. plans to invest $3 million and locate a manufacturing operation in the former Vaughn-Bassett factory in Atkins. Wellborn plans to create 100 new jobs at the facility that many still refer to as Virginia House Furniture, which closed in January.

Sally Morgan,  director of Smyth County economic and community development, said the Alabama company, which has been manufacturing kitchen and bath cabinetry for more than 45 years, has been looking at Smyth County for several years, seeking an existing building and hoping for a facility and a workforce familiar with the woodworking industry.

Paul Wellborn, chairman of Wellborn Cabinet, said his company looked at several surrounding states before deciding on Smyth County. "The dedicated and experienced employee base and the benefit of being close to lumber sources, and the support we received from the county and state representatives throughout the process were the deciding factors in our decision."

VEDP Executive Director  addresses aCorridor Board of Directors

Jeff Anderson, executive director of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, was the guest speaker for the aCorridor Board of Directors meeting held February 22 at Wytheville. He briefed the board on how VEDP is organized and outlined some key strategies and ideas to be considered on a regional basis. He said VEDP breaks economic development into three components: retention of existing business, expansions at existing businesses and attraction of new business. He told the group about four pilot projects under way in Blacksburg, Lynchburg, Danville and Harrisonburg to determine what it takes for communities to attract technology companies. "We need to work together so we can bring you clients that you want and help you to build on your assets."

Strongwell to create 140 new jobs; Jobs saved at Bristol Compressors

Strongwell Corporation, headquartered in Bristol, has announced plans to expand its Bristol and Abingdon facilities and to hire 140 new employees within three years. The maker of fiberglass products used for tool handles, hand rails and planks announced it has purchased an adjacent warehouse at the Bristol facility that increases its space for storage of finished products by more than 15,000 square feet. Expansion at Strongwell's Highlands Division in Washington County will add 57,000 square feet and is expected for completion by late 2007.

Governor Tim Kaine announced March 5 that Washington County and the Tobacco Commission made a commitment of $1 million to assist in saving 1,000 jobs at Bristol Compressors, the county's largest employer. The governor announced that KPS Capital Partners, a New York-based investment firm, has purchased Bristol Compressors, manufacturer of compressors used in air conditioning units and heat pumps. The KPS transaction will provide access to substantial capital to be invested in the further development of Bristol Compressors International, the company's new name under KPS ownership.

"The Washington County Board of Supervisors enthusiastically supported this project in order to preserve valuable jobs for our citizens," said Kenneth O. Reynolds, chairman of the board of supervisors and an aCorridor board member. "We also recognize the significant impact of this operation on our local and regional economy through the purchase of goods and services from many other small businesses. This is good news all the way around!"

Gatorade's new profile on web

A profile on one of the aCorridor's newest existing, successful businesess is now available on our website www.acorridor.com. Arnie Wodtke, director of the Hot Fill Supply Chain for Gatorade®, is also featured on the home page of our website, telling visitors why his company chose Wythe County for its plant location. Click here to read the profile on Gatorade® and its choice of Wytheville.

From my perspective...

Tom Elliott                        Executive Director

Once again, as you can see from this newsletter, there's a lot going on in the aCorridor. Already in 2007, we've had eight announcements, bringing a total of 544 jobs and $37.1 million in capital investment to the region. In 2006, the aCorridor reported a total of 18 announcements, with capital investment of $171.34 million and 920 jobs.

Prospect Activity - 2006 was an excellent year and we're off to a great start in 2007. As I recently told my Executive Committee, prospect activity is occupying the majority of my time lately, and that's the best situation an economic developer can hope for! We have several projects that are currently active, and I'm looking for more to follow. I see my role not only as helping to bring prospects to the region, but also to team up with the local economic development professionals in an effort to close the deal. Prospect activity will continue to be my top priority.

Strategic Planning – After the aCorridor localities complete their budget process, another priority for me will be that of strategic planning. I will be working with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to undertake this effort. There is no single plan that can “blanket” the entire aCorridor region. Therefore, we must consider the assets, challenges, and goals of each locality in order to decide what we “want to be famous for” and how we want to get there.

In closing, there were two projects announced in the First Quarter that have been in the works for quite some time. Congratulations to Carroll, Grayson, and Galax on landing the Results/XM Radio project – and thanks to Congressman Rick Boucher for his relentless efforts to bring them there! Also, congratulations to Smyth County for years of effort in landing the Wellborn Cabinet project!

If you haven't signed up to continue receiving this newsletter, please do it now, and stay tuned!

around the aCorridor...

Wytheville opened its long awaited Community Center with tours and and an open house the weekend of March 24. The $17 million center includes meeting space, athletic courts and a pool. The 104,000 sq. ft. facility includes a 2,000 sq. ft. indoor swimming area, a 4,000 sq. ft. cardio and fitness area, sports facilities that include courts for basketball and raquetball, a climbing wall and meeting space that can accommodate youths to seniors. The Community Center, located on the campus of Wytheville Community College, which donated the land for the center, also includes a day care center.

What do Bland and Alexandria have in common? Both are creating wireless communities and Bland is first! Since last spring, Bland County has been offering free wireless service in the town of Bland. An article in the Roanoke Times reported that Northern Virginia's Alexandria was creating a wireless network for citizens and visitors. Alexandria plans to charge for access to the Internet, but it will be free in many high-traffic public areas.

The new Galax city manager is Keith Holland, who had been town manager of Rocky Mount since 1998. Holland, who has been in public administration since 1990, previously worked as director of finance for Lexington and as assistant town or city manager in Bluefield, WVa., Tazewell and Vinton.

Governor Tim Kaine has appointed two aCorridor residents to state boards. Dave Barrett, executive director of the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission, is appointed to the state's Independent Living Council, and Andrew K. Jennings of Carroll County, a student at Hampden Sydney College, is named to serve on the Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice.

Regional furniture manufacturers, Vaughn-Bassett, Stanley, Bassett and Vaughn Furniture, all received settlement checks from the U.S. government recently related to their efforts concerning imposing duties on Chinese imports of wooden bedroom furniture. Led by Vaughn-Bassett's chief executive, John Bassett, the manufacturers claimed in 2003 that China was in violation of anti-dumping trade laws by exporting furniture at illegally low prices. Ultimately, relavant agencies agreed and U.S. Customs and Border Protection began to collect the duties. The Continued Dumping and Subsidy Act of 2000 provides that the money collected be distributed to manufacturers who have continued to invest in their companies. The latest distribution totaled $21.8 million and was distributed among 23 companies (Roanoke Times)

Keith Thompson is the new director of the Manufacturing Technology Center located at Wytheville Community College. Thompson, who has been serving the center as senior project engineer for eight years, has 27 years of manufacturing experience, is a trained Six Sigma Black Belt instructor and specializes in lean manufacturing, plant layout and process and product development. He holds an associate degree from Virginia Highlands Community College, a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech and a master's degree from the University of Tennessee. The center is a not-for-profit organization that serves 17 counties and four cities in Southwest Virginia and is operated by a consortium of Wytheville, Mountain Empire, New River, Southwest Virginia and Virginia Highlands community colleges and Virginia's Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

Any suggestions or comments about this e-newsletter? Please let us hear from you. Contact us at: pr@acorridor.com.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, click here.

Return to Top