Author: citizens

Floyd County Economic Development Authority has officially launched their new website

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Floyd County Economic Development Authority to Launch New Website (www.yesfloydva.org)

The new website is designed with the Floyd logo that is shared with the Town and County Tourism and Economic Development Departments.  Sharing it across the Town and County tourism and economic development channels empowers community representatives to attract new visitors and investment in support of each current resident.  The Floyd logo is a combination of logomark and wordmark that is rooted in both local meaning and global relevance.  Floyd is an incredible source for all things creative, and our logo ties closely to that aspect of the community’s identity.  The logomark draws from patterns found in traditional quilts and calls to the patchwork landscape of agricultural farmlands that link our community’s modern and traditional ways of life.  The middle of the symbol is open to serve as the “O” in Floyd, but also visually represents the inviting nature of those in our community.

News - Floyd Logo

The new website is the product of the Floyd County EDA’s action plan and marketing strategy.  The website will feature more infographics, images and videos that align with our key messaging.

The new website’s featured updates include: Key Industries, a Floyd Community Video (Floyd…More Than You Think), resources to Start or Grow your business, interactive maps and sites and buildings database, talent attraction, a job board, and better search engine optimization.

 

The new website will officially launch June 1, 2021. For more information about Economic Development in Floyd County, email info@yesfloydva.org.

Yarrow Springs Farm Takes Top Prize at the Floyd C4 Business Development Series

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The 6th annual Floyd C4 came to a dramatic conclusion on Monday night, as 10 of the participants in the 6-week business development series gave their best pitch to judges. This year looked a little different than in the past as the program was entirely online.  Contestants had already submitted written business plans, which were confidentially scored by 3 judges from around the larger southwest Virginia region the week before. Each business had 10-minutes to pitch followed by 15 minutes of questions and answers with the judges.

Girl Yarrow Springs
Yarrow Springs Winner 2
Yarrow Springs Winner

Yarrow Springs, LLC was the top place winner, earning $5,000 to use toward a new flower farm and design business. Owner Liza Dobson, farmer and florist, will use the funding to put toward drilling a well and installing a water filtration and sink in the design studio, located in Meadows of Dan.

Kat the Farmer, LLC took second place and a $4,000 prize. Owner Kat Johnson will produce a variety of all natural, soy free, dairy free, salad dressings that are created to compliment fresh locally grown greens. The showcase will be healthy dressings in ready to eat Lunchtime Salad Kits, sold locally. Kat the Farmer is located in Check.

Lichen or Knot won third place and a $2,000 prize. Owners John and Heather Barbieri will be expanding their plant truck business they started Spring 2020 and will open a physical location in the Town of Floyd.

“The quality of this year’s plans and pitches were excellent,” according to Jon Beegle, the Chairman of the Floyd County Economic Development Authority. “Out of a possible 300 points, less than 9 points separated 5 contestants. They really showcased the innovation and entrepreneurship in Floyd County and showed promise in both start up and expansion opportunities.”

Firehouse Farms won fourth place and a $500 prize.  Owners Madeline and Jody Akers are working to start a meat processing business in Willis, that will include selling sausages and meats raised on their farm.

Ayurvedaposters won fifth place and a $390 prize.  Ayurvedaposters is a specialty design and poster business serving a niche but global market with opportunities for growth.  Owner Aaron Staengl is from Check.

The Floyd C4 Business Development Series, funded by the Floyd County Board of Supervisors, provides 6 weekly sessions on business start-up, marketing, finance, operating a business and how-to-pitch. C4 stands for Curriculum, Creators, Coaches and Challenge. “The Small Business Development Center is an integral partner with us in putting this on as their staff members Tom Tanner and Amanda Forrester do some of the presentations as well as provide business counseling services to participants. Local business leaders, including Teresa Martin of Studio Thought, Jon Beegle of Bootleg BBQ, Beegle Landscaping and EDA Chairman, Aaron and Anne Vaughan of Anne Vaughan Design, and Jay Bekono of Henry’s Health Pets, as well as Pat Sharkey, Kayla Cox, John McEnhill and Lydeana Martin, provided insights into owning and operating a business in Floyd County.  The Floyd County EDA is fortunate to have great partners that make this possible—including the County, the Town, Virginia Community Capital, and the New River Valley Regional Commission,” Beegle added. “We look forward to continuing to work with all of the businesses who did the Floyd C4 and seeing them grow and succeed in Floyd.”

Thomas Industrial Fabrication Coming to Floyd county

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Floyd County today announced that Thomas Industrial Fabrication is moving to Floyd, Virginia. The project will bring 28 fulltime jobs to the County, with employees earning about $50,000/year on average, nearly double the average wages of people currently working inside Floyd County ($28,652 according to the Virginia Employment Commission.) The company is buying the former Dreaming Creek property from the Economic Development Authority (EDA) of Floyd County, which acquired it in the closing weeks of 2018.

Thomas Industrial Fabrication is a family business, owned by John Paul and Kelly Thomas and currently operating in Woolwine, Virginia. The couple has lived in Floyd County for over a decade and has family roots in the County.

“My father started the company in 1997, and I stepped into leadership about a decade ago, during the recession. We came out stronger despite the recession and have doubled our workforce in the past 10 years. Our motivation in purchasing this building is to give us the possibility for expansion, as well as to provide stability and create a more organized workplace by having all production under one roof. Floyd is a great fit for us in part because of the strong welding program at Floyd County High School, and the better transportation access.”

The Floyd County Board of Supervisors loaned the EDA funds to purchase the former Dreaming Creek property in December 2018, which is a 27,000+ SF building on nearly 11 acres in the Floyd Regional Commerce Center. The EDA retains the right to buy the property back at the incentive sales price if the property is to be sold in the next 5 years. The EDA’s purchase allowed the addition of deed restrictions to the property and reservation of access across the property.

Lauren Yoder, Chairman of the Floyd County Board of Supervisors said, “We are excited to welcome Thomas Industrial Fabrication and these good-paying jobs with strong benefits to Floyd County. And the company will add significantly to the County tax base. This underlines the value of strong Career and Technical Education training for our youth and adults. This is very important to employers including the Thomas’. We are delighted to welcome them to Floyd County.”

The new jobs will include welders, machinists, millwrights, fabricators, mechanics, engineers, buyers, foreman, and office support. Eight of the current employees, including the owners, live in Floyd County.

Jon Beegle, Chairman of the Economic Development Authority of Floyd County, added, “This is a great fit for Floyd County. One of our goals is to increase the number of good-paying jobs here, and this is another step in that direction. We have so many citizens with great welding and fabrication skills thanks to the fantastic welding program that Doug Thompson runs at Floyd County High School. John Paul and Kelly Thomas are already valued members of our community, and after 2 years of conversation with them about getting this business to Floyd, we are delighted that it is happening. We are very grateful and excited that they are investing in Floyd, and we look forward to their continued growth and success.”

With this deal and the recent leasing of the last available space at the Floyd Innovation Center, the County and EDA have no more business facilities available for lease or sell. They do have one pre-graded 9-acre site available, and they are developing plans for a new 20,000 SF shell building in the Commerce Center, which will also be dividable. The County is also reaching out to private developers to encourage development of more business and mixed-use spaces.