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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Burlington to be demolished

It provided many a Halifax County resident with employment over the years, and it maintained a steadfast presence in the Town of Halifax.

Burlington Industries and its days of bustling textile manufacturing are now long gone. In coming weeks, the same will be said of the 387,000 square foot building that once housed one of the county's most productive industries.

But hope springs eternal that potential buyers will bring new business and jobs to the 90-acre industrial site located on the edge of town.

D. H. Griffin has taken ownership of the Burlington building located at 1101 Cowford Road and has plans to demolish it within the next month or so.

Director of the Greensboro Division of D. H. Griffin David Dutherage said he anticipates demolition beginning in mid-November and ending sometime in early spring.

Before moving forward with the demolition, the company has to finish the permit process and deal with "a couple of environmental issues."

Halifax Town Manager Carl Espy said Tuesday, Griffin has secured a zoning permit to proceed with the demolition.

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Abandoned Burlington plant set to be razed

Work is expected to begin in the next month or so to demolish the old Burlington Plant in Halifax, members of Halifax Town Council were told Tuesday.

Town Manager Carl Espy explained that D.H. Griffin Company, based in Greensboro, N.C., has obtained building permits to tear down the old 387,000 square foot brick structure, which for many years housed one of Halifax County's largest employers before the textile maker took bankruptcy. The plant, which sits on 89.49 acres of land on the edge of town, closed its operations back in 2002. It has been vacant since that time.

The Halifax County Industrial Development Authority has received two $50,000 grants to fund the demolition of the facility. The first is from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and will be used for the abatement of hazardous materials (such as asbestos, commonly used in building construction in the 1940s).

The second $50,000 grant comes from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development's Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF). When the IDA applied for the latter grant, it cited a need for partial demolition of the building in hopes of preserving the major part for readaptive reuse.

However, after documenting damages from an interior fire and numerous leaks in part of the roof, plus vandalism to much of the plant's copper piping, it was decided that the preservation of the current building is not economically feasible.

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