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Power Bills a Top Concern for Customers in Western Virginia

Power plantAccording to Delegate Ward Armstrong, rising electricity costs tops the list of concerns of his constituents. During the current General Assembly session he plans to introduce legislation to mitigate the impact being felt by families. According to the Dan River news, Appalachian Power increased its rates by 15.5% on December 12, 2009 and has proposed another rate hike that is pending approval by the State Corporation Commission. Howeowners throughout the state may see similar increases as well.

 

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Posted on Thursday, January 14, 2010 - 10:18am

Sen. Mark Warner Proposes Economic Development Legislation

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) is proposing federal legislation to better position localities, especially those in distressed areas, to recruit new businesses. He made his announcement in Danville yesterday regarding a bill that would provide federal loans of up to $10,000 per job to localities to help attract businesses to the United States. As former Governor, Warner brought a unique perspective and pro-business approach having built his own business over many years - a business that became quite sucessful. He grew frustrated, however, in keeping the United States competitive on a global scale. With this legislation, his goal is to keep Virginia "in the game" with increased incentives for businesses searching for a new location.

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Posted on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 - 11:22am

Leaders Celebrate Opening of One-Stop Center

Great news for residents in the Danville area, the Virginia Workforce Center opened yesterday, according to the Danville Register Bee.

This is good news for home owners in the area because the center will provide resources to help area residents find jobs, which will boost the local economy and property values.

"State and community leaders celebrated the opening of the Virginia Workforce Center — or 'One-Stop' — in Nor-Dan Shopping Center on Thursday morning.

'I look at these centers as platforms for opportunity and hope,' said Danny LeBlanc, senior advisor for workforce to the governor’s office.

The new one-stop center housed a full lobby of customers after opening three weeks ago. From Dec. 18 to Wednesday, the center served 1,521 customers.

'This region, we are well positioned for progress and we are ready to get the job done in a more effective and efficient way,' Mayor Sherman Saunders said.

What does the Virginia Workforce Center do?

Employers, workers looking to upgrade their job skills and job seekers will benefit from the integration of service providers. The facility streamlines employment services for customers with convenience in one location and by using a common registration form.

The center also serves in-school and out-of-school youth and provides internship training, job placement assistance and summer and in-school employment-related programs."

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Posted on Friday, January 8, 2010 - 5:03pm

Danville’s Beyond Video & Tanning to Close After 23 years

Sad news for Danville residents, as Beyond Video & Tanning announced it will be closing before the end of the month, according to the Danville Register Bee.

The locally-owned store has been in business for 23 years, and will be missed by residents. Hopefully a new business will move into the empty space soon.

"A locally owned movie rental business and tanning salon will close its doors after 23 years.
Beyond Video & Tanning will close to customers Jan. 21 and will leave Cain Creek Shopping Center across from the airport by the end of the month, owner Robert Bridgforth said.

'I’m going to miss the people,' Bridgforth said. 'I would like to express my enjoyment in the last 23 years to the people I met and providing good entertainment to the public.'

Every year for the past three, business decreased by 10 percent, he added. The 57-year-old attributes the decline in the movie rental business to the culmination of the current economic recession, higher gas prices, the success of Netflix, bootlegging and the Internet and cable delivery of movies on the same dates as DVD releases.

'Netflix has earned my admiration as a well-run and good service,' he added. 'The business model suits the customer’s needs.'

The recession in itself may have been good for business as people stay in instead of going out, but gas prices made renting and returning movies — two trips — more expensive, he said.

The tanning business also decreased with changing demographics and the best customers buying their own beds, Bridgforth said. He added the tanning salon to diversify the business in 1989.

Now, the store’s 5,000 DVDs and VHS cassettes and nine tanning beds are up for grabs as part of the store’s liquidation sale."

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Posted on Friday, January 8, 2010 - 12:27am

Danville Approves Animal Chaining Ordinance

According to GoDanRiver.com, Danville City Council approve an ordinance that will limit the amount of time a pet can be chained outside, which pets can not be chained oustide, and the proper collars, halters or harnesess required.

The ordinance will go into effect on July 1, 2010.

"Danville City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that will strictly limit the amount of time a pet can be chained outside, effective July 1, 2010.

Chaining will be banned altogether for sick or injured animals, animals under four months of age or when the outside temperature reaches — or falls below — freezing.

When chained outside, animals must have proper collars, halters or harnesses, and it cannot be tethered to a fixed point — the animal will have to be chained to a runner or swivel that will allow it greater movement.

Animals can also be kept in dog lots, or kennels."

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Posted on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 - 3:42pm

Southside's First Solar Power Project Coming to Danville

Southside's first solar power project will be coming to Danville's Community Market, according to GoDanRiver.com.

The project is funded by federal stimulus money, and being used by Danville Utilities to purchase and install the panels. This is a great beginning for a long-term and sustainable clean energy economy in Southside.

Homeowners can appreciate this news because it is the start of a new industry in the area which can bring in new jobs, boost the local economy, increase the tax base and increase property values.

"Danville’s Community Market will be the recipient of the first solar power project by a utility in Southside, thanks to $202,000 in federal stimulus funds, according to a letter from the city manager to City Council and Mayor Sherman Saunders.

Danville Utilities will use the funding to buy and install solar photovoltaic electric generation panels on the Community Market building at the Crossing of the Dan. The U.S. Department of Energy awarded Danville the 'Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant,' which was distributed to the largest cities and counties in Virginia and other states as part of the federal stimulus bill.

According to the letter, 'this will be the first solar power generation project undertaken by a utility in Southside Virginia.' The funds must be spent so as to create and/or retain jobs, 'while laying the foundation for a long-term and sustainable clean energy economy.'

Funding for the project is included in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget.

The electricity generated will both supply the Community Market building and supplement the city’s purchased power.

City Manager Lyle Lacy and Mayor Saunders could not be reached for comment Sunday. City Council will vote on the ordinance Tuesday."

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Posted on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - 6:24pm

United Way Celebrates New Location in Danville

The United Way recently opened a new location in Danville's downtown Tobaccoa Warehouse District, according to GoDanRiver.com.

This is great for Danville homeowners because it brings stability and services to the area that can help improve the quality of life and strengthen communities, which can positively impact property values.

"The United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County celebrated its new location in Danville’s downtown Tobacco Warehouse District on Monday with a ribbon-cutting and open house.

Patrick Jinks, president of the local United Way, opened the festivities by thanking the various partnerships that made the move possible — and didn’t forget to thank Dan River Inc., who rented them space on West Main Street for almost 25 years at the price of one dollar per year.

'It helped your dollars stay where they needed to stay,' Jenks told a crowd of about 50.

As the afternoon wore on, the crowd doubled in size, with guests touring the portion of the Lindsay Lofts project at 308 Craghead St. that the United Way now owns. Bronx Boy Bagels provided an array of food that could be found in offices and meeting rooms throughout the site.

'We bought two condo spaces,' Jinks said, adding that the United Way and several tenants share the space. The tenants are Zinc Salon, which leases about half of the building next door, and four other non-profits — The Alzheimer’s Association, Dan River Center for Voluntarism, Big Brother/Big Sisters of Danville Area Inc. and the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce — which share office and meeting space with the United Way."

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Posted on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - 6:14pm

Tourism Vital to Sustaining Dan River Region's Business Base

Tourism supports quality of life and institutions like museums and attractions that convince people and businesses to relocate to Danville, and according to GoDanRiver.com tourism increased in the area in 2008.

One way to show Danville to visitors from all over Virginia and North Carolina comes in the form of Bright Leaf Brew Fest at the Community Market, which help boost the local economy.

This is great for homeowners because tax revenue from tourism will help keep taxes down for residents.

"Local tourism leaders envision a thriving downtown Danville.

They don’t want to see empty storefronts or for-sale signs.

Residents want to have downtown retailers, the mall and shopping centers like Coleman MarketPlace, said Sandie Marshall, chair of the Dan River Hospitality and Travel Committee of the Danville-Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce.

But the residents of Danville and Pittsylvania County can’t support those businesses alone, Marshall added.

'If we don’t have people coming in to support our stores and the things we’ve always wanted in the area, those things are going to fold up and go away,' she said. 'During a recession, the first thing people want to cut is marketing dollars. That’s the last thing people should cut.'

In 2008, tourists (travelers going more than 50 miles) spent more than $75 million in Danville, according to the Virginia Tourism Corporation. That employed 850 people and resulted in more than $5 million in local and state tax revenues.

Tourism actually increased by $4.4 million last year from 2007."

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Posted on Monday, November 16, 2009 - 9:16pm

Danville Manufacturers See Increase in Business

Several local manufacturers are seeing increases in business, according to GoDanRiver.com

Some of the companies seeing a boost include:

  • Goodyear Tire & Rubber
  • Nestlé
  • Cook Composites and Polymers Company
  • Essel Propack
  • Yorktowne Cabinetry
  • Amthor International

This great news for Danville area residents because the increase in business means that most of the employees that had been laid-off are now back at work, and working full-time hours. This improvement will help boost the local economy, and possibly attract new residents into the area. These are great signs for homeowners concerned about their property values, which will be protected by events like these.

"Local manufacturers say they’re seeing marginal to substantial growth in business, yet still remain cautious about the economy.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. reported an 11 percent increase in sales in the third quarter from the second quarter, but that’s down 15 percent from sales in 2008’s third quarter, according to the company’s earnings release.

Third quarter operating income still reflects weak industry demand compared to the prior year, the release stated.

Roughly 60 Goodyear workers are back on the job in the Danville plant, said Jo Andrews, communications manager for the Danville plant. The company anticipates adding more employees as business increases."

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Posted on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - 12:15pm

Remodeled Danville Theater to House Record Store

Another building is renovated in downtown Danville, according to GoDanRiver.com.

The continued investment into downtown will help improve the local economy and home values.

"As one downtown building’s facelift nears completion, Downtown Records plans to relocate from Union Street to Main Street in November.

Sammy Saunders, the hobby owner of the used-record store, bought the old Broadway Theater in May with the idea of remodeling it into a usable space.

'I always had a desire to buy an old building, fix it up and make something out of it,' Saunders said.

The certified public accountant and senior partner at Harris, Harvey, Neal & Co. in Danville envisioned the new space — three times bigger than the Union Street store — could house the more than 100,000 long-playing (LP) records and the nearly 300,000 45-rpm records he collected since the 1960s."

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Posted on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 - 5:08pm