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$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

Virginia Beach Synchronizes Traffic Lights to Ease Congestion

Against the backdrop of a $4 billion state budget shortfall, Virginia Beach has recently eased some traffic congestion by re-timing its traffic lights.  The three-year effort began in October 2008 and, thanks to federal grants, they will be able to re-time all but 100 intersections.  Officials estimate a five to twenty percent reduction in congestion by re-timing the signals, which is far less expensive than building new roads.

By no means is the stoplight synchronization a panacea, but rather an example that small steps and innovation can lead to positive outcomes.  There is no question that Hampton Roads is in serious need of major transportation improvements and new infrastructure, but the outlook for additional funds is poor given the current economic climate and state budget crisis.

 

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Posted on Monday, January 11, 2010 - 2:23pm

Hampton Roads Home Sales Soared While Prices Slid Last Month

The Virginian-Pilot reported some good news about the housing market in Hampton Roads.

Home sales in the area soared while buyers rushed to beat the deadline for the first-time buyers federal tax credit.

The tax credit has been extended, and expanded to include current homeowners who wish to move into a different home.

Get details about the current federal tax credits for home buyers that expire on April 30, 2010.

"Home sales in South Hampton Roads soared as prices slid during November as first-time buyers rushed to beat the now-extended deadline for a federal tax credit, according to a report released Wednesday.

Last month's sales volume was up 5.1 percent from October and 87 percent over November 2008, according to Real Estate Information Network Inc.

The Virginia Beach-based multiple listing service reported 1,164 homes in the region sold in November, compared with 623 a year earlier.

Despite increased sales, home prices continued to fall, partly reflecting activity by first-time buyers at the low end of the market. The multiple listing service reported that the median price for existing homes in November was $199,950, down 7 percent from a year ago and at the lowest point in 10 months.

November marked the six month in a row of growth in local home sales and the biggest year-over-year gain in 2009. The rebound contrasts with the market a year ago, when sales were plummeting amid deteriorating economic conditions."

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Posted on Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 10:26pm

Hampton Roads Area Having a Top-10 Year for Rainfall

Hampton Roads has experiences it's rainiest year since 2003, acording to the Virginian Pilot.

The increase in rainfall will hopefully have a great impact on the area's agriculture.

"Hampton Roads officially broke into the top 10 wettest years on record with the recent heavy rainfall.

The region's 2009 rainfall total moved into the No. 6 spot, overtaking the 1937 amount of 59.7 inches, said Craig Moeller, meteorologist for WVEC-TV.

At 5 p.m. Wednesday, 60.75 inches of rain had been measured for the year in Norfolk, according to the National Weather Service in Wakefield.

'This is the most rain we’ve had since 2003,' Moeller said. That year, the National Weather Service measured 61.76 inches of rain at the Norfolk airport and ranked it the fifth wettest year."

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Posted on Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 10:15pm

Sales of Existing Homes Rise in South Hampton Roads

For the third consecutive month, home sales volume inched higher than the same month last year, according to a recent story in The Virginian-Pilot.

In South Hampton Roads there are a few signs that the local housing market is improving. A driving force behind the improved numbers is first-time home buyers taking advantage of the $8,000 federal tax credit. Also, investors are snapping up foreclosed properties with plans of renovating them.

This is great news for homeowners in South Hampton Roads, because as the market improves their home value is also increase.

"First-time home buyers and investors continued to drive sales of existing homes in South Hampton Roads last month.

Real Estate Information Network Inc. released data showing that 1,043 homes in the region sold in August. Although it fell 15.6 percent from July, the sales activity last month was 1 percent higher than the 1,033 homes that sold in August 2008, the Virginia Beach-based multiple listing service said.

It is the third consecutive month that sales volume inched higher than the same month last year, suggesting the local housing market might have reached a bottom. June was the first month with a year-over-year volume increase since January 2007.

'I think people are aware of the tax credit and aware of the low interest rates,' said Dick Thurmond, president of William E. Wood and Associates. 'So people are thinking they need to make a move now to take advantage of that.'

Any first-time home buyer or any buyer who has not owned a principal residence for three years is eligible for an $8,000 federal tax credit. Thurmond said he expects the credit to encourage many more buyers to enter the market before the incentive expires Dec. 1."

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Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - 6:47am

Passenger Rail on Freight Tracks Less Costly

The cost of putting a passenger trains on Norfolk Southern's existing freight tracks between Petersburg and Norfolk would be far less than the state's original estimate, according to The Virginian-Pilot.

Bringing high-speed rail to Virginia is becoming an effort that is encouraging various localities, organizations and departments to work together in order to receive federal funding. The addition of the service could greatly improve transportation along the eastern part of the state, and make way for future growth.

Even you will never ride the proposed rail service, you will still be affected by it. The economic possibilities that could happen because of enhanced transporation services in the area will help boost your property value.

"Norfolk Southern Corp. projects the cost of putting conventional passenger rail on its freight tracks between Petersburg and Norfolk at $75 million, far less than the state's estimate.

State estimates released in July show that slightly faster trains, 90-110 mph versus 79 mph, in the same corridor would cost $262 million.

Chip Badger, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation director, said the state numbers include passenger stations and other costs not counted in Norfolk Southern's estimate. Pricing details will not be released for possibly several weeks, he said.

High-speed rail has become a hot topic in Hampton Roads with the impending release of a state study into the costs and ridership of bringing trains to the area and with the Obama administration's $8 billion in federal stimulus money set aside to build a high-speed train network.

The state is seeking stimulus money to build higher-speed rail between Washington and Richmond and between Richmond and Hampton Roads. The projects are among $102 billion worth of projects nationally vying for the federal money.

Deborah H. Butler, the railroad's executive vice president of planning and chief information officer, told a gathering of the Urban Land Institute on Wednesday that the $75 million for improving the corridor that roughly parallels U.S. 460 is about half the company's early estimate."

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Posted on Friday, September 11, 2009 - 11:41am

Business Leaders and Residents Urged to Press for Hampton Roads Rail

The Virginian-Pilot reported on a recent meeting in Norfolk concerning high-speed rail coming to Hampton Roads. The pressure is on for area business leaders and residents to start voicing their support for rail service as the state highway department has a shrinking revenue and growing maintenance needs that will prevent improvements to area highways.

Rail is a great solution to this problem, especially high-speed rail which is quick, affordable to passengers and cost-efficient. The federal government is giving away funds to help areas like Hampton Roads improve transportation. Currently Virginia has submitted applications to receive part of the money and is competing with areas in North Carolina to receive the Southeast's portion of the federal money.

Rail is going to happen across the country. Now it is up to business leaders and residents to speak up to ensure it comes to Hampton Roads.

"Business and community leaders need to start lobbying now for higher-speed trains to South Hampton Roads, a rail advocate told a gathering of the Downtown Norfolk Council on Wednesday.

Although a state study on passenger service will not be released for several weeks, businessman Brad Face, a founder and co-chairman of Virginians for High Speed Rail, said, 'I'd immediately start making noise.'

The political momentum for expanding fast trains out of Washington is focused south through Richmond and Petersburg then on to North Carolina.

It's not on bringing it to Hampton Roads 'because we haven't gotten our act together in Virginia,' Face said.

'We have to redirect the political momentum,' he said.

The federally designated Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor includes both North Carolina and Hampton Roads links.

The Obama administration has set aside more than $8 billion in federal stimulus money to start building a national high-speed train network and has proposed another $5 billion over five years.

Virginia has applied for stimulus money for the Washington-to-Petersburg link. The state is also requesting money in a second round of federal funding for a Hampton Roads connection."

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Posted on Friday, September 4, 2009 - 5:07pm

Free Pesticide Disposal Service for Southside Residents in 2009

A free service offered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service, and the Virginia Pesticide Control Board will dispose of harmful pesticides at no cost to residents and businesses in their southside service area, according to a recent article in the Progress-Index.

The program assists agricultural producers, licensed pesticide dealers and pest control firms, golf courses and homeowners with the proper disposal of unwanted pesticides. The program is available at no cost to eligible participants. 

To administer the Pesticide Disposal Program, Virginia is subdivided into 5 regions. A pesticide disposal program is conducted annually in localities within each of the regions. Once all 5 regions have been served, the program will start another cycle. The Southside region is being serviced by the program for the remainder of 2009.

Participants should complete a pesticide disposal registration form ahead of time and return the completed form to VDACS, PO Box 1163, Richmond VA 23218. The form is available online, or by contacting Pesticide Disposal Program at (804) 786-3798.

"The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Pesticide Control Board invite farmers, pesticide dealers, pest control firms, homeowners and golf courses to participate in the 2009 pesticide disposal program, which collects unwanted, outdated, or banned pesticides and disposes of them in a safe manner. VDACS, through its Office of Pesticide Services, provides this service at no cost to participants in the designated localities.

The program is funded through pesticide product registration fees collected by OPS.

Since its inception, Virginia's Pesticide Disposal Program has collected and destroyed nearly 1.5 million pounds of outdated and unwanted pesticides, completely eliminating the environmental threat they could have posed."

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Posted on Thursday, August 13, 2009 - 12:40pm

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