Impact Stories

Opportunity                                                                               Spread over 285 acres, the Winton Country Club estate in Amherst County is home to the historically significant Sarah Henry Manor House, an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court, and an 18-hole golf course with stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains at every turn. Amherst County owned the country club property for over 50 years after the land was donated to the county in 1967. In recent years, the club faced financial …

OPPORTUNITY Southside Community Development and Housing Corporation (SCDHC) is a nonprofit serving Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield and Henrico. The organization earns most of its revenue through home sales to individuals and families earning below 80% of the area median income. That means price points are typically between $160,000 and $180,000 for a new home certified by EarthCraft, a top standard for environmental stewardship in building materials, environmental use, and daily operation. Yet in …

For nearly a quarter-century, Appalachian Voices has been working side-by-side with local communities to protect the land, air, water, and people of Central and Southern Appalachia.  The organization also advocates for an equitable clean energy economy that will better serve the region. The effort centers on a continued push away from fossil fuels and making sure that people in the region have access to healthier energy sources, like affordable solar power. These shifts lead to …

Opportunity After purchasing the 25-acre Clopton Siteworks and its 26 former tobacco warehouses in South Richmond, Lynx Ventures has been redeveloping the community to create office, warehouse, and studio space for small businesses. Already, 11 of the buildings have been renovated and leased for many different uses, starting to reinvigorate a once-vibrant neighborhood. Among the early tenants in the reimagined Clopton Siteworks was Hatch Kitchen, co-founded by Lynx Ventures, Brad Cummings, and Austin Green.  Hatch …

Addiction is a struggle for many people. The McShin Foundation, founded in 2004, provides the resources and tools to help individuals succeed in their initial battle and for sustained recovery over the next three years. From two offices in a church basement, McShin now offers a 15,000-square-foot recovery residence and more than 100 beds across the Greater Richmond area. Last year, the Foundation served 419 participants, including 172 individuals in its 28-day residential recovery program. …

Tom McDougall and the team at 4P Foods have been “one of the lucky ones” among the many food businesses that have struggled or been overwhelmed by supply shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. “As grocery stores were emptied and online delivery was seeing spikes in demand, local farms have remained open for business,” says McDougall, whose organization delivers farm-fresh food to homes and businesses in the Washington, D.C. region, and is expanding through Virginia. “It …

Opportunity A new 40-unit apartment facility will provide needed affordable housing for seniors in Gloucester, Va. Being developed by Bay Aging, a nonprofit organization based in nearby Urbanna, Daffodil Gardens Phase II will include five fully accessible apartments. Daffodil Gardens Phase II will be constructed adjacent to the original Daffodil Gardens, which brought 64 units to the area in 2001. The complex includes the Gloucester Adult Day Care Center and a Bay Transit facility, which …

OPPORTUNITY Now for sale in Danville: Manufactured homes, but probably not the kind you have in mind. Built offsite and delivered to a lot, these manufactured homes don’t have wheels. Instead, they feature improved durability, energy efficiency, aesthetics, and meet stringent quality standards. In addition to permanent foundations, the houses have higher-pitched roofs, sheetrock interiors, covered front porches, and offer low operating, maintenance, and utility costs. The homes are, in both appearance and construction, similar …

Opportunity A four-building complex in the heart of Norton’s main business corridor largely remained empty for many years. Because location is everything in real estate, the Norton Industrial Development Authority (IDA) purchased the property in 2005, recognizing its business development potential. In 2012, one building was partially renovated to house a weekly indoor farmers’ market, a critical first step in reimagining this location as a “center of gravity” for future business development and social activity. …

Opportunity A faith-based substance abuse rehabilitation ministry – and long-time VCC client – has had to turn away patients and visiting families due to lack of space. Based in Virginia’s picturesque New River Valley, Eagles News Regeneration is at capacity with 24 men enrolled in the residential treatment program. Eagles Nest Regeneration was founded in 2006 by William and Tonya Maddox. William “Robbie” Maddox is a former associate pastor who has worked on the front …