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Solar power demonstration facility proposed for Halifax County

photo by technicolorcavalryThe Halifax County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) and Dominion Power, along with an unnamed battery manufacturer, plan to develop a pilot demonstration facility for solar power generation and battery storage. If approved, the proposed facility should be operational in 2012 and would create 150 jobs over three years.

A location for the facility has not been selected, but officials note that the solar panels will need about 30 to 50 acres. The battery manufacturing plant will require about 70,000 square feet, and could be located in an existing building.

The creation of high-paying jobs boosts the local economy and, in turn, helps stabilize the real estate market. Current homeowners are more likely to stay in their homes if they are employed and can make their mortgage payments. 

Read more in The Gazette-Virginian....

Posted on Monday, June 14, 2010 - 1:58pm

Proposed Halifax County budget includes no new taxes

The Halifax County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve an $89,971,290 budget proposal that includes no new taxes. However, the spending plan pulls $850,000 from the county's $7 million reserve fund in order to balance the books.

Officials say the extra money is needed to offset cuts in state funding to various constitutional offices. Funding to the county school system stayed the same, with the schools absorbing cuts to their own state funding.

Local spending plans are of keen interest to homeowners, as officials determine tax rates and progam availability during the budget planning process.

Read more in The Gazette-Virginian....

Posted on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 - 10:25am

Halifax County Service Authority receives million-dollar grant

photo by SnapThe Halifax County Service Authority has received a $1,072,146 grant to engineer and build a waterline extension. The new waterline will replace wells that have been contaminated by a leaking underground storage tank.

The grant money will go toward eliminating the health hazards associated with well water contamination. It will also be used to extend water service to areas of Halifax that could serve as sites for future economic development.

Homeowners along the new waterline will benefit from access to clean municipal water service, and may see an increase in their property values as a result. Having water service available in areas ripe for development will encourage investment, invigorating the local economy.

Read more in The Gazette-Virginian....

Posted on Monday, May 3, 2010 - 8:47pm

$18.9 stimulus grant will bring broadband to south central Virginia

An $18.9 million federal stimulus grant has been awarded to Mecklenburg-based Buggs Island Telephone Cooperative (BIT). The grant will make high-speed broadband access available to every business and residence in 15 counties in south central Virginia.

The project will create 64 jobs, most of them in Mecklenburg.

Fifth District Rep. Tom Perriello assisted BIT with the application process. “This is a real game changer for economic growth and quality of life in our area,” said he said. “Reliable broadband service is the foundation for bringing new jobs and growing our local businesses. It boosts home values and the quality of life in our communities.”

Read more in The News &Record....

Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 4:49pm

Halifax Equalization Board Hears Assessments Complaints

According to the Gazette-Virginian, Halifax County landowners who have complaints or objections about their real estate assessments may meet with the board of equalization. Meetings are scheduled at 10-minute intervals on Tuesday, Feb. 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Thursday, Feb. 11, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The equalization board is listening to complaints of inequalities, including errors in acreage, according to Halifax County Tax Assessor Harold Throckmorton. Prior to a change being granted, the taxpayer or his agent is required to prove the property is not uniform with similar properties or prove the property is assessed in excess of its fair market value, said Throckmorton.

 

Read the full story...

Posted on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 - 5:05pm

Halifax Board to Hear Assessment Complaints

In early February, Halifax homeowners will have an oppportunity for their voices to be heard.  The Board of Equalization will convene to hear complaints from homeowners that disagree with their real estate assessments. Complaints may be submitted in writing or orally during the meeting.  The outcome of the meeting may result in a decrease, an increase or an affirmation of the assessment originally issued.  The hearing dates range from February 4- February 11 at various times. It is important for homeowners to ensure that their real estate assessment is accurate, as it affects the tax levied, but it may also impact the future sales price for re-sale purposes.

 

Read the Gazette-Virginian story for specifics...

Posted on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - 5:02pm

MBC Announces Grants for Last-mile Broadband Projects in Southside

The Virginia Tobacco Commission awarded grants to the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Copperative (MBC) to help provide broadband access to rural areas in Southside Virginia, according to WPCVA.com.

This is a huge need in these rural markets. Broadband access allows these localities to be competitive for attracting businesses. It also brings great educational opportunities to the area. These features are valuable to protecting and increasing property values.

"The Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative (MBC), a successful open-access fiber optic backbone provider in rural markets, is pleased to announce that $1,514,143 was awarded to MBC Members as part of a last-mile matching grant program, funded by the Virginia Tobacco Commission.

These awards will enable deployment of broadband services for residential and business customers in unserved communities in Southern Virginia.

The 50/50 matching grants were awarded to:

CenturyLink, for an ADSL deployment in 14 digital loop carrier serving areas currently served by dial-up Internet access, located in Campbell, Prince Edward, Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry and Patrick Counties;

DigitalBridge Communications, for expansion of its existing WiMAX deployment in Appomattox County;

Jet Broadband, for high-speed wireless deployment in two targeted areas in Charlotte County and Mecklenburg County; and

Telpage, for a broadband wireless deployment in Greensville County."

Read the full story.

Posted on Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 12:30am

South Boston's Proposed Comprehensive Plan is Presented

South Boston's Comprehensive Plan for the next 20 years was recently presented, and for the most part it was welcomedaccording to The News & Record.

Some business owners and their supporters voiced their displeasure with parts of the plan pertaining to Riverdale. But, there are several parts of the plan that would benefit homeowners by improving quality of life, increasing property values and increasing the tax base.

"Two-thirds of South Boston’s Comprehensive Plan the next 20 years drew mostly favorable reviews at a community meeting held Thursday at The Prizery, but with floodwaters only a day away from inundating Riverdale it was the future of the low-lying commercial district that dominated the proceedings.

Comprehensive Plan 2030, as the town’s vision for the next 20 years is dubbed, includes a proposal for South Boston to gradually buy up land in Riverdale for future use as a wetlands nature preserve, complete with walking trails and boat access for recreational use. Designed to create a more aesthetically pleasing gateway into town, the proposal would depend on South Boston having the funds — either generated within the budget or obtained from outside grant sources — to buy out commercial properties in the Riverdale corridor at fair market value."

Read the full story.

Posted on Monday, November 16, 2009 - 10:26pm

Homes Sales in Southside VA Are on the Rise

Area homes sales have increased, according to the South Boston Virginia News, which has been aided by low interest rates and the new tax-credit for first time home buyers.

Last week local real estate agents learned how the Virginia Association of Realtors is working towards an extension of the tax credit. This would help continue to bring the housing market into recovery, which will help boost the local economy and increase property values.

"Home sales in the area have risen by more than a third in the past year as the recovery in the national housing market takes root, aided by low interest rates and a new tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time home buyers.

Local real estate agents associated with the Southern Piedmont Land & Lake Board of Realtors, a trade group for Halifax and western Mecklenburg counties, listened yesterday as Lisa Noon, vice-president with the Virginia Association of Realtors, discussed market trends during a luncheon at Italian Delight.

Noon said the VAR is working with its national association to lobby for the extension of the home buyer’s credit, which is good for 10 percent of housing purchases up to $80,000. The credit has brought out more first-time purchasers and spurred sales in the low- to mid-range of the market, said Noon yesterday.

'Overall, it’s been well received,' she said.

The program, part of President Obama’s stimulus package, not only has boosted home sales, but created or saved jobs in construction, furniture and other housing-dependent sectors of the economy, Noon said.

Noon said a healthy housing market is essential to economic recovery, making the tax credit worthwhile. 'Our overall goal is to ensure a continuing strong housing market, and anything we see that will improve housing will improve the economy as well,' she said.

VAR data show that home sales in the Southern Piedmont region — Halifax and the portion of Mecklenburg west of Route 4 — jumped 35.5 percent from the third quarter of 2008 to the same period in 2009. The realty group reported 84 home sales in 2009, compared to 62 for the same three-month period in 2008."

Read the full story.

Posted on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - 12:57pm

Going 'Green" Could Help Farming Communities in Southside

Going green could help farmers in rural areas like Soutside, according to GoDanRiver.com.

Last week officials from the VA Commission on Energy & Environment met in Gretna to learn about the area's green and energy initiatives. One key point addressed in the meeting is how these initiatives can help farming communities.

This is an important topic for all homeowners in farming communities because there are key legislative changes that would have to be made to make these efforts able to have a positive impact on the state's energy consumption and economy. It's important because it could lead to more affordable, renewable energy sources, but could also help farmers who support many of the state's rural communities.

"Generating renewable energy from local sources could help rural areas like Southside, business leaders told policymakers Thursday.

The Renewable Energy Subcommittee of the Virginia Commission on Energy and Environment met in Gretna on Thursday to learn about the area’s 'green' and energy initiatives, said subcommittee chairman and Delegate Charles Poindexter, R-9th District. The subcommittee will report back to the commission, which will later make recommendations on legislation for the upcoming session of the General Assembly.

Ken Moss of Piedmont BioProducts in Gretna told the subcommittee that second-generation biofuels, those using biomass like wood or grass, would bring prosperity to farming communities in Southern Virginia."

Read the full story.

Posted on Thursday, October 29, 2009 - 10:11am