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OPPORTUNITY In July 2019, the Town of Bluefield’s Industrial Development Authority (IDA) bought an empty building in the heart of its idyllic Southwest Virginia downtown. The vision: Turn the 5,400-square-foot commercial building — once home to a carpet store, dance theater, fitness center, and medical equipment company — into a small business and retail incubator to accelerate business growth. Bluefield, a community of 5,400 in Tazewell County, has put a focus on sparking new ventures and …

Opportunity Converting a former candy factory into a 43-unit multifamily housing project – with expansive water views of the Pasquotank River – could contribute to economic development in downtown Elizabeth City, N.C. Built in 1921 as the modern home of The Weatherly Candy Factory, the building once witnessed the production of up to 2 million pounds of candy annually. The Weatherly family founded the business in 1890, with generations overseeing it until its closing about …

The Capital Region SBDC will offer support and resources to small businesses in a time of economic rebuilding.

A decade ago, in the last economic crisis, mainstream banks abandoned Dianna Bowser and the Southside Community Development and Housing Corporation, where she’s executive director. Founded in 1988, the nonprofit builds homes and provides counseling for first-time homeowners in and around Richmond, Virginia. “They stripped us of our construction lines of credit,” says Bowser. “It was devastating.” But that’s when Bowser first encountered Virginia Community Capital, a relatively new bank at the time. The bank …

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.

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 …

By Bill Greenleaf, Senior Vice President and Real Estate Lending Team Manager It’s not a stretch to say the COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed in the lending world. Oddly enough, business continues as usual for many who are able to work from home. Deals are getting done as we all do our part to stop the spread and keep others safe. The economic and lending disruptions, however, are especially felt in the …

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. …