Jenny Kincaid Boone

Devon Anders is president of Mount Crawford-based InterChange Group Inc., a storage and supply chain logistics company. Photo by Norm Shafer

Help wanted

Valley manufacturers face workforce shortage

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Meat, coffee creamer, frozen fruits and chocolate. These commodities represent some of the bread and butter business lines, literally, of Devon Anders’ mega storage and supply chain logistics company, which is based in Mount Crawford and has other state locations. The success of InterChange Group Inc. rises and falls on the health of the Shenandoah…

Rachael and Stacy Rose were able to keep their three Harrisonburg-area restaurants afloat with a Paycheck Protection Program loan from F&M Bank.

Lending a hand

Small businesses, community banks mutually benefited from PPP loans

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There were days during the past six months that some employees at F&M Bank in Timberville worked through the night. At 3 a.m., they were uploading loan applications for clients onto the U.S. Small Business Administration’s online portal. During the day, the site was overloaded with others applying for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program,…

The economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic is leading to uncertainty about how much work the construction industry will see in 2021, says Jeff Boehm, president of commercial construction firm Howard Shockey & Sons. Photo by Norm Shafer

Slowdowns ahead

Economic crisis may catch up to construction industry in 2021

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When the COVID-19 outbreak began in March, projects at Howard Shockey & Sons, a Winchester-based commercial construction company, kept moving forward. After all, construction is considered an essential business, and unlike some other states, Virginia did not restrict construction activity at the start of the pandemic. But while Shockey’s work continued, albeit with some hiccups…

McLean-based Chain Bridge Bank says it “acted properly” in its dealings with California-based Blue Flame Medical. Photo by Will Schermerhorn

California PPE supplier sues Chain Bridge Bank

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A California medical supply company is suing McLean-based Chain Bridge Bank, alleging the bank was responsible for destroying the company’s reputation and making it lose a $600 million state contract for personal protective equipment. In the lawsuit, Blue Flame Medical claims that Chain Bridge Bank told California officials that Blue Flame could be “fraudulent,” leading…

Cash crop?

Hemp growers find crowded, uncertain market

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Petunias, plants, strawberries, meat, tomatoes and more have been the primary revenue sources for Rolling Meadows Farms during the past 31 years. Tim Belcher took over the 400-acre Martinsville family farm in 1989 after his father retired. Now, the farm has a new product line and Belcher has high hopes that it could run neck…

Steady as she goes

Wealth pros advise clients not to be swayed by news cycles

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A presidential election. International trade conflicts. Fear of recession. There are plenty of circumstances that could shift the stock market and shake up investments in 2020. Yet consumers should not allow developments nationally and globally to influence their investment choices, say some Virginia wealth advisers who are listed as America’s Best in State for 2020…

Making its case

Grundy school creating program in natural resources law

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Appalachian’s plan to create a natural resources program began in full force a year and a half ago.