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Growth industry
SoVa targets advanced manufacturing
When manufacturers thinking about setting up shop in Southern Virginia visit Pittsylvania County, the county’s economic development director, Matt Rowe, doesn’t just show off expansive, shovel-ready industrial sites. He also touts the region’s workforce, which includes many workers with advanced manufacturing skill sets. Eighteen percent of Southern Virginia’s labor force works in manufacturing, an industry
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ODU and IALR to launch manufacturing engineering tech degree
ODU to offer 4-year degree on Norfolk campus and IALR satellite campus
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Old Dominion University will launch Virginia’s first four-year degree in manufacturing engineering technology (MfgET) at its Norfolk campus and a satellite campus at The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, the university announced Thursday. “This partnership reinforces Old Dominion University’s commitment to workforce development and leadership in the maritime industry,” ODU President
ValleyStar Credit Union names 3 new execs
Barnes, Shaffer and Sparrow all promoted
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Martinsville-based ValleyStar Credit Union has named three new executives to its leadership team. Justin Barnes will be the credit union’s chief lending officer, Mendy Shaffer will be interim chief financial officer, and Robert Sparrow will be chief risk officer. Barnes began his financial services career in 1999 and has spent 23 years in lending, according
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Making headway
Industrial interest blossoms across region
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Corporate investments are on the upswing in Southern Virginia, along with a desire to increase production, says Linda Green, executive director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance. “People have a lot of pent-up demand, and companies are responding to that,” she says. “We have lots of interest and activity.” Companies are choosing Southern Virginia for
UK race car maker taps into Martinsville talent
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College students in Martinsville can get on the fast track to careers with British race car manufacturer Radical Sportscars. In May, the Peterborough, England-based company opened its first U.S.-based sales office at Patrick & Henry Community College’s Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Complex, close to the school’s Racing College of Virginia. That will be followed in
VF Corp. to create 82 jobs in Henry County
$10.2M expansion will increase distribution capacity at Martinsville facility
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Denver-based apparel and footwear company VF Corp. will create 82 jobs with a $10.2 million expansion within Henry County, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. The company will make upgrades within its 500,000-square-foot facility in Martinsville to increase distribution capacity and speed. “VF Corp. has thrived in Henry County for nearly 20 years, and we are
ValleyStar Credit Union names new CEO
Mike Warrell was president and CEO of Solano First Federal Credit Union
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Martinsville-based ValleyStar Credit Union hired Mike Warrell as CEO, it announced Wednesday. “As ValleyStar strengthens relationships and builds upon its digital integration, Mike Warrell was the clear choice to move the credit union forward,” ValleyStar Chairman James Rorrer said in a statement. “He has the experience and deep understanding needed to optimize member engagement and
The Lester Group names new executive
Kevin Silveira will oversee building supply group, Fortress Door
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The Lester Group has tapped Kevin Silveira to lead its building supply group and Fredericksburg-based Fortress Door Co., the Martinsville-based real estate and building materials company announced May 6. Silveira leaves a 19-year career at National Lumber Co., where he started as account manager and most recently served as vice president of sales. As vice
VEDP, Martinsville receive $3.9M in federal grants
Funding to assist economic development, businesses
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The city of Martinsville and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership have been awarded $3.9 million in federal CARES Act grants to boost economic development during the downturn related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced Thursday. Martinsville will receive a $3 million grant from the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration to expand
Martinsville credit union names chief information officer
Cheri Spence joins ValleyStar
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Martinsville-based ValleyStar Credit Union announced Thursday it has hired Cheri Spence as its first chief information officer. Spence joined the ValleyStar board of directors in 2019 as the result of a merger with Entrust Financial Credit Union, where she served as chairwoman. She most recently served as vice president and CIO of Richmond-based nonprofit ChildFund.