DCC’s Rapid Prototyping Gives Local Entrepreneur a National Boost

Danville, VA -- What started as a passing observation while watching a TV show is turning into major entrepreneurial success for one Halifax businessman.  It was three years ago when Paul Davis was watching a home show on the HGTV network.  Although each of the show’s featured homes was quite beautiful, they all had one major detractor in the kitchen.

“A horribly messy refrigerator,” the owner of South Boston’s Sears store recalls.  “Papers, pictures, magnets, you name it – they were all covered with it.”

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TOURISM WORKS for Your Halifax County Business

Meet with Virginia Tourism at the Prizery on August 19, 2009

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County Officials Meet With Senator Mark Warner

Senator Mark Warner met with Halifax County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) Executive Director Mike Sexton, County Administrator George Nester, IDA Chairman John Cannon, and Capital Results Partner Rob Shinn on June 4th along with Congressman Periello’s staff member Beth Elliott to discuss projects in Halifax County.  Senator Warner agreed to work together to support the county’s request for federal stimulus and earmark funds.  In addition economic development projects were discussed and plans were made to continually involve the Senator with these projects to ensure he is able to assist in any way possible.  Members of the group will maintain contact with the Senator’s staff to keep him up to date on projects or activities.

photo left - Mike Sexton, IDA Executive Director; John Cannon, Chairman of IDA; Senator Warner; George Nester, County Administrator of Halifax; Rob Shinn, Partner at Capital Results.

VEDP Director of Communications & Promotions Visits Halifax

Rick Richardson, Director of Communications & Promotions at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) visited the Halifax County IDA on Thursday, May 28^th.  Mike Sexton, Executive Director for the IDA took Rick on a tour of the hidden treasures in Halifax County.  Places visited included The Prizery, The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, Berry Hill and the STEM Center.  Rick quoted Halifax County as "surprisingly sophisticated" and is looking forward to a return trip.

Supporting Business Development and International Trade, VEDP's Communications & Promotions division plans, executes and manages the Partnership's overall marketing outreach initiatives. VEDP uses a comprehensive and aggressive marketing strategy to communicate that Virginia is the best state for business around the world.  What does this mean for Halifax County?  It means showcasing our existing businesses in various state marketing pieces, features in VEDP's newsletter on Halifax County business expansions and new business developments, and partnering with VEDP on various industry trade show missions.  The Communications and Promotions Department is a marketing arm that continues to be an important ally for Halifax County.

Race Tech Magazine attended Grand AM race at VIR in April

The Grand Am – Rolex Bosch 250 was held at VIRginia International Raceway on April 25, and Race Tech Magazine was there for the action.  In addition to the Grand Am race, the day's action also included the Skip Barbour Race Series, the BMW Race Series, and the VW JETTA TDI Race Series.

Click here to read about Race Tech Magazine's impressions of VIR.

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Neil Young showcases Lincoln Volt at VIR

Searching for a “Heart of Gold?” That’s just what Neil Young found when he stopped in Halifax County in March. Famous rocker Neil Young visited VIR to have testing performed on a hybrid 1959 Lincoln Continental convertible at the state-of-the-art chassis dyno located at the Virginia Institute for Performance Engineering and Research (VIPER).

Young says the huge 1959 Lincoln was selected for the project because “it doesn’t go against the flow…my theory is if you go with flow and then the change will happen quickly. People want big cars. Let’s build a big, smart car.” The big “American Car” as Young refers to it will go down the road in comfort and safety while delivering up to 100 miles per gallon. Using VIPER's instruments to fine-tune the single-rotor Wankel engine driving the generator, the stop helped to improve the car's efficiency. Dyno staff led by Victor Seaber helped the team test the generator engine and electric motor output on the chassis dynamometer at VIPER's lab in VIR's North Paddock.

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Virginia Clean Energy Business Incubator Named 14th US Business Incubator by Clean Energy Alliance

Albany, NY – The Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) is pleased to announce the addition of the Virginia Clean Energy Business Incubator (VCEBI) as CEA’s 14th U.S. business incubator focusing on clean energy technology development. The Virginia Incubator is located within a 60,000 square foot facility at Riverstone Technology Park, a 165-acre site in Halifax County. The energy research, development, and commercialization initiative at Riverstone is led by Dr. Carole Cameron Inge of Virginia Tech. Capabilities available to support clean technology development and commercialization inclue state-of-the-art modeling and simulation tools, information technology, engineering design, broadband telecommunications, geospatial informatics, and two-way interactive telepresence technology. VCEBI’s initial clean technology projects focus on distributed energy grid technologies, TriGen power generation with cellulosic materials, agribusiness research looking at alternative crops as fuel sources with Virginia State University, and small wind technologies that have the potential to enable distributed wind power to be produced economically, even in low wind regimes like Virginia.

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VIRginia International Raceway - a venue for Halifax IDA Marketing Events and beyond

The Halifax IDA, in partnership with VIRginia International Raceway, will host trackside marketing venues during the 2009 racing season.  Project Managers from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership will attend one of several races at VIR this year.  VIR, the 17-turn 3.27 mile track located in beautiful Halifax County in Southern Virginia, is one of the world's finest road courses.  With on-site lodging, go karts, corporate events, both fine and fun dining, the VIR Club, Camp Motorsport, the Oak Tree Spa and southern hospitality, VIR truly is America's Motorsport Resort!

The Halifax IDA also markets VIR’s RacePlex Motorsports Industrial Park.  This park gives tenants a unique opportunity to develop products from a trackside location with optimum vehicle testing capabilities including four distinct road courses, a 5/8-mile karting course, and a variety of off-road courses and terrains. Shop size ranges from 2,500 to 20,000 square feet. Additionally, Southern Virginia is well known in the Mid-Atlantic region as “Virginia’s Motorsports Alley”. Companies who establish a presence here also have the added advantage of operating in close proximity to other race support and automotive businesses.

Arguably one of the most exciting opportunities found at VIR’s RacePlex is the Virginia Institute of Performance Engineering and Research (VIPER).  VIPER is a vehicle dynamics testing and research center offering state-of-the-art technology and expertise to help obtain peak performance from a vehicle. VIPER maintains a unique status as a non-profit organization affiliated with Virginia Tech, a leading academic & research institution targeting performance engineering, and VIR, a leading vehicle performance center. In addition, VIPER's custom designed 8-post test rig, owned by the Halifax IDA, represents the next generation of suspension testing equipment.