aCorridor Headlines

1. aCorridor names new Executive Director
   Regional economic developer is named executive director of Virginia's aCorridor.
2. Amcor PET Packaging coming to Wythe County
   Leading manufacturer of plastic packaging for the beverage industry to invest $105 million in Progress Park in Wytheville.
3. Duke Energy gives aCorridor $10,000
   Donation is for marketing the aCorridor region.
4. Manufacturing headquarters locates in Saltville
   Reline America to invest $5 million.
5. aCorridor companies are expanding
   Bristol, Galax companies announce growth                                 
6. From My Perspective...
   Executive Director Tom Elliott greets the region and tells us what he's been doing in his new position.
7. around the aCorridor...
   Bland County goes "'wireless;" Galax targets tourism as its newest industry; Carroll County Schools chief named Outstanding Superintendent of the Year.

Virginia's aCorridor selects              Tom Elliott as Executive Director

Virginia's aCorridor has selected Tom Elliott of Independence, formerly the executive director of the Carroll-Grayson-Galax Economic Development Authority, as its new executive director. Andy Hall, who served as executive director for nearly five years, left to become director of community affairs for the Wellmont Health System.

Susie Jennings, chair of the Board of Directors of Virginia's aCorridor, presents former executive director Andy Hall with a special gift honoring his years of service. Andy left to become director of community affairs for the Wellmont Health System.

"We are delighted that Tom Elliott has come on board to lead our organization," said Suzanne Jennings, chair of the Mount Rogers Development Partnership, Inc., the group that promotes the region as Virginia 's aCorridor. "He has the business and economic development experience to continue the momentum that this region has developed in promoting the aCorridor."

Since 2002, Tom has been involved in economic development efforts in Grayson and Carroll counties and the City of Galax. Originally employed by Grayson County to establish an economic development program, he added responsibilities for Galax in 2004 and Carroll County in 2005.

From 1988 to 2001, he was the principal in Elliott Training and Consulting in Independence and conducted training seminars for public and private sector organizations throughout the United States. A graduate of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, he held management positions with Southern Bell and AT&T for 15 years prior to locating in Independence.

Tom is on the board of directors for the Crossroads Institute in Galax. He has served as chairman of the board of directors and is currently a board member for the Southwest Regional Enterprise Center , a regional small business incubator. He is a member of the Virginia Economic Developers Association.

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Amcor breaks ground in Wythe

Amcor PET Packaging, a leading manufacturer of PET plastic packaging for the global beverage industry, announced in January it would invest $105 million and build a manufacturing operation in Progress Park in Wytheville. The company will supply hot fillable palstic bottles to the beverage industry and create 144 new jobs in the aCorridor.

Company officials held groundbreaking ceremonies in May. Joining company and local officials in the ceremonies was Virginia Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade Rick Siger. Frank Pellicor, vice president and general manager for Amcor PET Packaging's North American Beverage Division, described the new Wytheville facility as state of the art. "We appreciate the fine cooperation and assistance provided by state and local authorities."

Duke Energy becomes sponsor

Brad Swanson and Bill Wickman, representatives of East Tennessee Natural Gas, a Duke Energy company, presented Executive Director Andy Hall with a check for $10,000 in March. Duke Energy made the donation to assist Virginia's aCorridor in its marketing efforts.

Saltville lands new manufacturer

Reline America, Inc., a company whose technology repairs utility pipes without excavation of the infrastructure, announced plans to build its manufacturing headquarters in Saltville. The company plans to invest nearly $5 million, moving into the Svedala Building and creating 25 new jobs. These positions will include engineers and skilled manufacturing jobs, with an average annual salary of $38,000. The company markets and manufacturers pipe liners of resin-impregnated material which are inserted into deteriorated utility pipes and exposed to ultraviolet light that cures the material inside the pipe.

Bristol, Galax companies to expand

Prime Choice Foods of Bristol, a manufacturer of organic snacks in Bristol since 2001, will invest more than $4.5 million to consolidate warehouse operations and add manufacturing capacity to its current facility. Prime Choice Foods has found great success as one of the few organic corn products manufacturers in the market. Family owned and operated, the company sells its products under the brand name Go-Mex and produces private label products for Hain Celestial, Utz, Publix and Kroger.

Universal Fiber Systems, a leading producer of fibers and yarns for carpet, upholstery, automotive, industrial and other textile applications, is investing $8 million to expand its Prisma Fibers facility in Washington County. The expansion will create 82 new jobs and save 12 current jobs. Founded in 1969, Universal Fiber Systems produces solution-dyed fibers and was the first to introduce solution-dyed nylon to the world.

Turman Hardwood Flooring is investing $2.7 million to expand its Galax facility. The company manufactures hardwood flooring and is adding a new wood pellet manufacturing operation as part of the expansion and creating 40 jobs. Turman Hardwood Floring is part of The Turman Group of Virginia, headquartered in Floyd, which employs more than 400 in southwestern Virginia. The Galax operation was founded in 2002 when Turman purchased the former Burriss Lumber Company facility. According to company president Mike Turman, the Galax facility needs more up-fitting for this expansion project than some of the other facilities considered. "However, the support from the city and the state, and the dedicated workforce in this area, convinced us to keep it there."

From my perspective. . Tom Elliott

Wow! It's hard to believe that more than nine weeks (and 5,000 miles) have gone by since I started this position. Time really does fly when you're having fun. It was a great learning experience spending some "quality time" with the economic development professionals in the localities that make up the aCorridor.

I want to thank Christy Parker, Sally Morgan, Jerry Brown, Tracy Mitchell, Jonathan Sweet, and Alan Hawthorne for the tours and the valuable insights they shared. We have a lot going for us. One of the highlights of the last two months was Business Appreciation Week, which kicked off May 14th. I had the privilege of participating in four events during the week and it was a great opportunity to meet so many business leaders in the aCorridor.

There's a lot to do in the days ahead. When the aCorridor Board of Directors met in June, I shared the following priorities with them:

       • Prospect Activity - I must say that prospect activity was a little slow during the early part of the year, but it's started to pick up in the last few weeks and I think we have some good opportunities on the horizon. Supporting the local economic development professionals and working to bring them more prospects will always be a top priority.

      •  Private Sector Funding - We could not exist without the annual funding we receive from the six counties and two cities that comprise the aCorridor. However, contributions from the private sector are crucial to being more proactive in our marketing efforts. Private sector funding is used only in conjunction with marketing, not for operational expenses. I truly appreciate those who have been loyal sponsors for many years and will be seeking to add more sponsors in the days ahead.

      • Lead Generation Program - This is a project which was delayed a couple of times, but I'm pleased to say that it will launch during the last week of June and run until September. The program will be conducted by 310 Marketing, LLC, a Richmond-based firm that specializes in working with economic development organizations. This is a pilot project for the aCorridor and successful results could lead to more of these efforts in the future.

I'm looking forward to a busy summer. Hope yours is safe and enjoyable!

around the aCorridor...

Bland County announced new wireless Internet service May 16 in a ceremonial "launching" at the courthouse. Bland County is the first local government in Southwest Virginia to install the "mesh networking" system, which can be expanded to provide wireless Internet access to other parts of the county. "Bland County is boldly taking broadband where broadband has never gone before," said County Administrator Jonathan Sweet during the publicity event outside the courthouse. Spending around $6,000 for equipment and installation, the county is now offering wireless Internet service in a limited area near the courthouse within a three-to four-block radius of the county seat. The service will probably be available all over the county in another year or two, Board Chairman Henry Blessing said during the ceremonies.

The City of Galax is concentrating on tourism as its newest industry. Chuck Riedhammer, a downtown entrepreneur, has been hired as the city's full-time tourism and community relations director. City Manager Dan Campbell says the city wants Riedhammer to continue to develop the tourism assets it has, but also to develop new approaches to tourism. This could involve expanding into eco-tourism, with a focus on the natural environment, capitalizing on the New River Trail, newly constructed guest cabins, and the area around Galax, including the New River, Blue Ridge Parkway and Blue Ridge Music Center. The new tourism director says his guiding principle will be to promote and publicize Galax as much as possible. "I want to build a new factory. It's going to be called tourism. Everybody can work there. Nobody can get laid off. Nobody can get outsourced. That's what I want to do."

Carroll County's Superintendent of Schools was named Oustanding Superintendent of the Year for 2006. Dr. Oliver A. McBride was chosen by the Curry School of Education Foundation at the University of Virginia to receive the Oustanding Superintendent award. He was honored for his "excellence in school administration, his leadership as a superintendent in Carroll County and in other parts of the state, and his dedicated service to the local community" during ceremonies held in Charlottesville in April. Dr. McBride was also recognized for his leadership role in establishing the Crossroads Rural Entrepreneurial Institute in Galax.

Two Smyth Countians restore a county landmark. Joe and Susie Ellis, owners of the software and consulting business TEDS, recently completed restoration of the Francis Marion Hotel in Marion, a project that has taken four years and more than $4 million. Both a Virginia and National Historic landmark, the five-story General Francis Marion Hotel, named for the Revolutionary war hero, "Swamp Fox," has been restored and reopened this spring. The walnut-paneled ballroom is in place, the original front desk is in service and the guest room doors are the originals. A full-service restaurant is operating in the hotel, and each guest room has high-speed Internet service. There is a market for "boutique hotels," says Ellis, and service will be the hallmark of this new/old Marion landmark.

A national Internet voting contest names Abindon an American Dream Town. From October to December last year, moviegoers at Abingdon's 12-movie theater heard about a contest to vote for Abingdon as an American Dream Town from the theater's community-minded owner. So, more than 20,000 votes were cast for the Town of Abingdon, and when the leading vote-getter was announced, it brought attention to Abingdon. Abingdon was the winner over 149 others, with Locust Grove, Oklahoma, coming in second with nearly 5,600 votes. Nominees were attractive towns, not cities, that have something extra going for them.

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