National Tire Research Center ribbon cutting set

The National Tire Research Center, located in Halifax County adjacent to the Virginia International Raceway, will have a ribbon cutting on Oct. 24 for its renovated facility and to display the custom-built equipment that economic development leaders and Virginia Tech officials say they hope make the Southern Virginia region the one-stop destination for global tire testing and development.

General Motors’ Ken Morris, executive director of Global Vehicle Performance and Safety, and the proving grounds and test labs, Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger, and Connie G. Nyholm, co-owner and managing partner of Virginia International Raceway, will be present at the Virginia Motorsports Technology Park in Alton to cut the ribbon at 2 p.m.

The $14 million National Tire Research Center was created in 2010 through a collaborative effort led by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in alliance with the Virginia Tech Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, General Motors and the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.

“With this new research facility and major equipment in place, we are on schedule to create a whole new genre of testing starting in January 2013,” said Frank Della Pia, executive director for the tire research center. “The facility has no peer. When you add up all the capabilities the National Tire Research Center has to offer, it’s going to be a transformational leap in tire technology.”

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IDA applying for $1.3 million grant

IDA board members have voted to support submission of a $1.3 million tobacco commission economic development application to continue rehabilitation of the former Daystrom Furniture facility now known as Green View Advanced Manufacturing Center.

Following a closed session Friday morning, authority board member Butch Blanks offered a motion to approve submission of the application that will require a $42,000 match from the authority and also seeks a $150,000 local match commitment from the Halifax County Board of Supervisors.

According to the resolution of support, this project will assist in providing ready space for advanced manufacturing and workforce training as well as space for commercialization of start-up industries and research and development projects and other general industry needs.

Coatings Center to officially open

Halifax County Industrial Development Authority this morning will unveil the region’s newest asset for economic development — the National Center for Coatings Application, Research, and Education (C-CARE).

The Honorable Mary Rea Carter, deputy secretary of commerce and trade, will represent Gov. Bob McDonnell at the ribbon cutting scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Riverstone Centre.

Also speaking will be Industrial Development Authority Executive Director Matt Leonard, David Lohr, president and executive director of the Commonwealth Center of Advanced Manufacturing (C-CAM), Dr. Douglas Corrigan, executive director of the Riverstone Energy Center, and Philip Stevenson, founder and president of AWFI.

C-CARE has been more than two years in the making and is a collaboration between the Halifax Industrial Development Authority, the Riverstone Energy Center and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center.

C-CARE was made possible by funding from the Virginia Tobacco Commission, the Halifax County Board of Supervisors and in-kind contributions of
equipment from a network of industrial partners.

Staffed by AWFI, a leading expert in coatings technology training and process engineering, the coatings center represents a unique public/private partnership that is designed to stimulate economic development and job creation throughout the region.

Housed in 12,000 square feet of environmentally controlled space, the center is home to Superfici Flatline and Hangline equipment, Kawasaki Robotics, Robatech Surface Preparation technology and liquid and powder spray booths.

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Most advanced training center of its kind opens

The Halifax County Industrial Development Authority unveiled the region's newest asset for economic development - the National Center for Coatings Application, Research, and Education (C-CARE) Monday morning.

The Honorable Mary Rea Carter, deputy secretary of commerce and trade, represented Governor Bob McDonnell at the ribbon cutting held at Riverstone Centre.

Also speaking were Matt Leonard, executive director of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority, John Cannon, authority chairman and member of the Virginia Tobacco Commission, David Lohr, president and executive director of the Commonwealth Center of Advanced Manufacturing (C-CAM), Dr. Douglas Corrigan, executive director of the Riverstone Energy Center, and Philip Stevenson, founder and president of AWFI.

C-CARE has been more than two years in the making and is a collaboration between the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority, the Riverstone Energy Center and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center.

C-CARE has been made possible by funding from the Virginia Tobacco Commission, the Halifax County Board of Supervisors and in-kind contributions of equipment from a network of industrial partners.

Read more ...

Coatings center to officially open in Halifax County

Halifax County Industrial Development Authority this morning will unveil the region's newest asset for economic development — the National Center for Coatings Application, Research, and Education (C-CARE).

The Honorable Mary Rea Carter, deputy secretary of commerce and trade, will represent Gov. Bob McDonnell at the ribbon cutting scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Riverstone Centre.

Also speaking will be Industrial Development Authority Executive Director Matt Leonard, David Lohr, president and executive director of the Commonwealth Center of Advanced Manufacturing (C-CAM), Dr. Douglas Corrigan, executive director of the Riverstone Energy Center, and Philip Stevenson, founder and president of AWFI.

C-CARE has been more than two years in the making and is a collaboration between the Halifax Industrial Development Authority, the Riverstone Energy Center and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center.

C-CARE was made possible by funding from the Virginia Tobacco Commission, the Halifax County Board of Supervisors and in-kind contributions ofequipment from a network of industrial partners.

Staffed by AWFI, a leading expert in coatings technology training and process engineering, the coatings center represents a unique public/private partnership that is designed to stimulate economic development and job creation throughout the region.

Read more ...

Halifax lifts the curtain on C-CARE

A ribbon cutting ceremony today at Riverstone Technology Park kicks off a week-long showcase of Halifax County's manufacturing assets and economic development opportunities.

The Industrial Development Authority (IDA) is set to cut the ribbon this morning at 9:30 a.m. for the National Center for Coatings Application, Research, and Education (C-CARE), housed at Riverstone Building One.

Later in the day, local officials and business leaders will gather for a symposium, "The U.S. Renaissance in Advanced Manufacturing," that will continue throughout the week at Riverstone and the SVHEC Innovation Center. The purpose, according to IDA officials, is to stimulate economic development and job creation throughout the region.

C-CARE has been more than two years in the making and represents a collaboration between the Halifax IDA, the Riverstone Energy Center and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center. It has been made possible by funding by the Virginia Tobacco Commission, the Halifax County Board of Supervisors and in-kind contributions of equipment from a network of industrial partners. Staffed by AWFI, a leading company in coatings technology training and process engineering, the coatings center is the product of a unique public/private partnership in the region, say IDA officials.

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SoBo company manufactures audio-visual dome bound for Florida

After nearly eight weeks of manufacturing, Lindstrand USA inflated its first audio visual (AV) dome Tuesday at its plant on Parker Road in South Boston before the dome is sent to Orlando, Fla., for use in a laser show event for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions to be held in November.

According to designer Joey Jones, the sphere size of the dome is 20 meters, and it will hold more than 400 people. The dome takes a full day to assemble.

Lindstrand USA President Angela Lewis said the company has sold and shipped several of these domes worldwide including to Barcelona and Dubai.

The dome was fully inflated by Tuesday afternoon.

The company purchasing the dome is expected to pick it up later this week after Lindstrand gives it a complete test.

from the Gazette-Virginian

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