Published: October 09, 2008 08:34 pm      

$600,000 invested in new Bland County industrial park

BLAND, Va. — The federal Economic Development Administration made a major commitment to provide the needed infrastructure for a new industrial park project in Bland County that could generate as much as $15 million in private investments and as many as 135 new jobs.

“These are coveted dollars,” Kelly A. O’Brien of the EDA said after presenting a check for $600,000 to Jason Ramsey, chairman of the Bland County board of supervisors. “We looked into a lot of projects before deciding to invest in this one. It had the right mix of private and public participation with a potential to bring new jobs to the area.”

U.S. Rep. Frederick C. “Rick” Boucher, D-Va., said the new project — Commerce Park — is located on a 22-acre site near Bastian, Va., and across old U.S. Route 52 from the Wolf Creek Indian Village and will cost an estimated $1,970,000 to complete the site preparation work. Boucher said that in addition to the $600,000 from the EDA, the county invested $747,000, the Tobacco Indemnification Commission contributed $200,000, the Virginia Department of Transportation provided $375,000 and the Mount Rogers Planning District contributed $50,000.

“I predict that this park will grow very rapidly,” Boucher said, pointing out that the county’s natural setting make it an exceptional place for new businesses to locate. “I don’t think there’s a prettier place anywhere in Virginia,” Boucher said. “The place is so quiet. The quality of living is attractive and Bland County offers a low cost of doing business.”

Boucher praised the work ethic and loyalty of the local work force, expressed thanks to the EDA and praised the efforts of Ramsey and the entire board of supervisors as well as Bland County Administrator Jonathan Sweet. “He’s one of the most far-sighted county administrators in the area,” Boucher said. “It is a great day here.”

Ramsey expressed thanks to the EDA and Boucher. “I know you’ve had a couple of rough weeks,” Ramsey said to Boucher. Ramsey also expressed his thanks to the Lord. “This is going to create jobs,” he said. Ramsey also expressed thanks to Randy and Kristina Newberry who donated the 22-acre parcel to the county.

“When I bought the land, I was thinking about working with a private developer and selling it for a profit, but when the county came to my wife and I, we thought it was the best thing we could do,” Newberry said. “The county has done so much for me, and when I asked my wife, she agreed.”

Sweet said the county has a prospect for the site, but did not release the name of the company interested in the land. “That’s one of the things that makes this investment from the EDA so timely,” Sweet said.

Draper Aden Associates of Blacksburg, Va., developed the artist drawings for the presentation on Thursday.

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com