-FreedomWorks of Harpers Ferry, W.Va., has proposed building 131 wind turbines in the George Washington Forest, generating enough electricity to power 86,000 homes. (The Washington Post)
-Virginia Natural Gas is decreasing its rates 15 percent because of a sharp drop in natural gas prices in July. (The Virginian-Pilot)
-Danville is adding shopping options, including Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Petco, which will be opening this week. Harbor Freight Tools looks like it will be opening soon, and Sally Beauty Supply, Rue 21 and Verizon Wireless have all obtained building permits. (Danville Register and Bee)
For the Record:
-Martinsville and Henry County agreed to build a new shell building at Beaver Creek Industrial Park. The $3 million facility will be 100,000 square feet in size and expandable to 190,000 square feet. The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. will pay carrying costs of $129,000 a year during construction and for one year afterward. Henry County would then pay 67 percent of the carrying costs and the city the remainder. (Martinsville Bulletin)
-NewMarket Corp., a Richmond-based provider of specialty chemicals, announced a $100 million repurchase program for the company’s outstanding common stock. The company will buy back shares through the open market as conditions warrant and through private deals. The program will be in force until December 31, 2010. A previous buyback program announced in 2007 was terminated. (Business Wire)
-Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., a McLean-based strategic consulting firm, completed the separation of its U.S. government and global commercial businesses. The company sold a majority stake in the U.S. government consulting unit, which will retain the name Booz Allen Hamilton, to the Washington, D.C., private equity firm The Carlyle Group for $2.5 billion. The now independent commercial and international businesses will operate as Booz & Co. (PRNewswire)
-Metal Manufacturing and Processing, a division of Raleigh Mine & Industrial Supply Inc. of Mount Hope, W.Va., will invest $3.2 million to open a processing facility for fabricating metal and remanufacturing of truck parts in Tazewell County. The project will create 171 jobs. Virginia competed with Kentucky and West Virginia for the investment. (Press release)
Every American should pay their taxes willingly, but the American government should not be pressuring banks in other countries to disclose information about their customers. I can only hope that overseas banks honor their own privacy standards and keep their customers’ information within the confines of their own bank.
--Banks
Feb. 6, 2009 at 12:40 AM