The Halifax County Industrial Development Authority met with Ralph Torning, International Trade Manger for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at the IDA office. Ralph discussed benefits such as a comprehensive export assistance to Virginia businesses, one and two year export training programs (AIM and VALET) to help a company become export savvy, free export consultations, export compliance training sessions, and other export support services from the professionals of the International Trade Team at VEDP.
In fact, a Halifax County company was accepted into the Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program in August 2007. Hilden America, Inc. was chosen for the program based on their dedication to growth through export. Hilden America delivers long-lasting, ultra luxury linens to the finest hotels and restaurants. The company specializes in long staple, Egyptian cotton bed, table and bath linens, as well as robes and slippers. Hilden has a large warehouse and cut-and-sew operations in the U.S. and India that enables them to quickly deliver high-quality products at competitive prices. Hilden is also a recent graduate of VEDP’s Accessing International Markets (AIM) export development program. The AIM program, launched by VEDP in December 2005 introduces companies across Virginia to new business opportunities.
Ralph Torning will be offering workshops to area businesses that focus on the fundamentals of successful exporting and the help and support available to them in achieving their business improvement goals at the workshops. These workshops are sponsored by the Halifax IDA and are free to area businesses. The workshops will be offered at 9AM on March 18, 2009 and March 26, 2009 at Riverstone Technology Park Building One in the Conference Rooms. Please contact Nancy Smith at nsmith@halifaxvirgnia.com or 434-572-1734 to sign up to attend one of these informational sessions. For more information on International Trade for businesses located in Central & Southside Virginia please contact Ralph Torning at 434-582-5182 or the Halifax County IDA office at 434-572-1734.
James Gordon, the owner of Springfield Distillery, comes by his interest in whiskey naturally. “I grew up with memories of my father moonshining,” says Gordon, who opened his Halifax County distillery in August 2016. “My father is one of the first two private individuals in South Africa to get his license for distilling liquor. I get to tap into 25 years of distillery experience.”
