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Patrick County

Virginia unemployment rate lower than national average

The Virginia Employment Commission has released a report detailing employment statistics across the Commonwealth. Experts say that the job market has a direct impact on the housing market -- good jobs allow homeowners to pay the mortgage and stay in their homes. Poor job markets can lead to declining property values.

Virginia’s unemployment rate was 7.7% in February, lower than the national rate of 10.4%.

Read more in local news outlets....

Posted on Thursday, April 8, 2010 - 8:29am

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

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

Luxurious Resort Opens in Patrick County

Primland, a new luxury resort is open in Patrick County according to the Martinsville Bulletin.

The outside of the lodge is made of stone and cedar, with plenty of windows to let the outdoors in. Local and regional companies were used to build the lodge which is contruscted using environmentally-friendly methods and materials. Currently the resort employs more than 100 people, most of whom are from Patrick County.

Several local officials have praised the Primats for their willingness to help the county by constructing the lodge. A great addition to the county that will attract tourists and boost the area's economy by accomodating corporate retreats, seminars, weddings, hunting or golf excursions and more. The future of Primland might include residences, cooking lessons from the resort's chef and more.

"If visitors to the Lodge at Primland, a luxurious retreat perched atop a mountain ridge in Patrick County, feel like they’re living in a dream, the reason is simple. They are.

The 72,000-square-foot lodge, which celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, was the vision of Didier Primat, a French businessman who bought Primland’s 12,000 acres in 1977 for a logging operation.

Environmentally conscious, he dreamed of designing a resort that would offer world-class accommodations while protecting the natural beauty around it.

'Today’s the day where the dream has turned into reality,' Primat’s son, Harold Primat, said moments before he cut a ribbon to open the lodge. 'We’re thinking strongly of him. What you see today is his vision.'

That vision includes 26 guest rooms, a state-of-the art boardroom that seats 17, a theater, ballroom, dining room, indoor pool, fitness center, spa and golf shop.

On the lodge’s left side is a silo-shaped structure that includes the 1,800-square-foot, two-story Pinnacles Suite, on top of which perches an observatory complete with a telescope that can peer light years into space."

Read full story.

Posted on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 - 2:45pm

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Posted on Monday, June 15, 2009 - 12:00am