County man tapped as chairman of DCC board

During their June meeting, the Danville Community College board selected its new leaders for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

Carlyle Wimbish, a representative from Halifax County, began his term as board chair on July 1.

Telly Tucker, representing the city of Danville, began his term as vice chair that same day.

Wimbish, who joined the college board two years ago, is a retired high school business and education teacher and also served as an alumni director at a North Carolina college, headmaster at a Virginia private school and president of a wholesale grocery firm and a retail paint firm.

He was formerly licensed as a real estate and insurance agent.

Wimbish most recently worked as director of a small business center in the North Carolina Community College System and a business development center/incubator that he developed.

Wimbish serves on numerous other boards, including the Virginia Rural Center, and he formerly served two four-year terms on the Southside Virginia Community College Board and two three-year terms on the Hargrave Military Academy Board of Trustees.

Tucker, who serves as director of Danville’s Office of Economic Development, joined the DCC board in 2015.

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MEC’s Lee elected vice chairman of ODEC board

Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative (MEC) and EMPOWER Broadband, Inc. president and CEO John Lee has been elected to serve as vice chairman of Old Dominion Electric Cooperative’s (ODEC) Board of Directors. The new officers were elected at the Generation and Transmission Cooperative’s annual membership meeting held in Williamsburg on July 30.

Kent Farmer, president and CEO of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, was elected to serve as chairman of the board; Lee was elected to serve as vice chair, and Southside Electric Cooperative president and CEO Jeff Edwards was chosen for the secretary/treasurer position. These officers will serve in those positions for the next three years through 2022.

Old Dominion Electric Cooperative is a generation-and-transmission cooperative that provides wholesale power to 11-member electric distribution cooperatives, including MEC, in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. ODEC, which now boasts over $2 billion in assets, is wholly owned by MEC and 10 other Members. Among its Virginia assets are 50% of the Clover Power Station (coal) in Halifax County, 11.6% of the North Anna Nuclear Station in Louisa County and two natural gas-powered peaking stations: Marsh Run Power Station in Fauquier County and Louisa Power Station also in Louisa County.

ODEC also wholly owns Wildcat Point Power Station, a combined cycle natural gas generation facility in Rising Sun, Maryland.

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Community college hires former county school maintenance director as new facilities manager

Halifax County native Jay Jennings has been named the new facilities manager at Danville Community College (DCC).

“‘Excited’ is the word that best describes how I feel about this role,” Jennings said. “I don’t take much time to test the waters; I like to jump right in and be a part of the team. I enjoy rolling up my sleeves and helping out any way I can. Don’t be surprised if you see me on a roof or a lawnmower.”

Having graduated from Virginia Tech’s property management program in 2003, Jennings brings a strong construction background, holding previous roles with commercial contractors in Richmond and South Boston.

“I love the college so far,” he said. “My first impression of the campus is the people and how great they are to work with. I’m also impressed with the condition of the buildings and how they have been maintained and updated. I look forward to meeting and working with everyone this coming school year.”

Jennings joined the DCC team in July and is responsible for ensuring that campus facilities are safe, up to code and fully operational, managing contractors, training new employees and working with third-party vendors, planning and coordinating all installations, including telecommunications, heat, electricity and refurbishments, managing the upkeep of equipment and supplies to meet health and safety standards, inspecting buildings’ structures to determine the need for repairs and renovations, review utilities consumption and strive to minimize costs, supervise all facilities staff and external contractors, control activities such as parking space allocation, waste disposal and building security and maintaining accurate financial and non-financial records.

“My goal is to get our buildings running as efficiently and economically as possible,” Jennings explained. “I enjoy working with the controls side of the profession, so I like to monitor how the buildings operate. I’m the guy that goes around turning off lights in empty rooms. I take pride in saving money for the college, because there’s always somewhere else that money is needed.”

From The Gazette Virginian

South Boston success story

South Boston, Halifax receive more than $144K in grants for 19 projects

The towns of South Boston and Halifax are among 16 Virginia cities and towns receiving more than $144,000 in Virginia Main Street grants and technical assistance for 19 projects on Wednesday.

The towns of Halifax, South Boston, Ashland, Lawrenceville, and the cities of Franklin and Petersburg have been awarded technical services to complete proposed projects.

Downtown Investment Grants were awarded to the towns of Altavista, Blackstone, Orange, and St. Paul, and the cities of Hopewell and Staunton.

Six Commercial District Affiliate grants were awarded to the towns of, Scottsville, Pulaski, South Hill and Bowling Green and the city of Radford.

“We got two of them,” said a pleased South Boston Town Manager Tom Raab. “I think it’s excellent that they – Virginia Main Street – realizes we’re doing a great job and are willing to help us.”

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Virginia Reclaims “Top State for Business” Title in CNBC Ranking

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that CNBC has named Virginia America’s “Top State for Business” in 2019. CNBC unveiled Virginia as the top state for business this morning during a live broadcast from Shenandoah River State Park, and Governor Northam was on location to discuss the announcement. The top ranking is determined by CNBC following an extensive study of all 50 states based on 64 metrics in 10 categories of competitiveness. Virginia is tied with Texas for most years named top state for business by CNBC, with wins in 2007, 2009, 2011, and now 2019.

“I am proud to bring the title of America’s top state for business back to Virginia,” said Governor Northam. “One of my primary goals has been to make Virginia the number one place to do business, and to do it in a way that benefits all Virginians and every region of the Commonwealth. This recognition underscores our work to build an inclusive and diversified economy, invest in our workforce, and create quality jobs—and is proof that companies of many different sizes and industries can find a home in Virginia.”

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Virginia Companies Increase International Sales through Commonwealth’s Premier Exporting Program

July 11, 2019

~ Fourteen Virginia companies recognized for completing two-year international business acceleration program ~

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that 14 companies from across the Commonwealth have graduated from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s (VEDP) Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) Program. The program, which now has 290 graduates, assists Virginia exporters that have firmly established their domestic operations and are committed to international exporting as a growth strategy.

“The Virginia Leaders in Export Trade program provides growth-minded companies with the tools and expertise they need to navigate new markets and successfully export overseas,” said Governor Northam. “International trade is a powerful economic engine in our Commonwealth and we are proud to support this valuable program that helps businesses of all sizes and industries thrive in the global marketplace. I congratulate these Virginia companies on their tremendous international performance and I am confident they will see continued success here in Virginia and abroad.”

The graduating companies recognized during an event in Richmond today include:

• Avizia (Fairfax County)

• Axis Global Enterprises Inc. (City of Virginia Beach)

• Fulcrum Concepts, LLC (King and Queen County)

• Global Center for Automotive Performance Simulation (GCAPS) (Halifax County)

• High Threat Concealment (James City County)

• Higher Logic (Arlington County)

• International Flooring & Protective Coatings, Inc. (IFPC) (City of Norfolk)

• Klas Telecom Government Inc. (Fairfax County)

• Logos Technologies LLC (Fairfax County)

• Matrix International, Inc. (Fairfax County)

• Ozmo, Inc. (Montgomery County)

• PunchOut2Go, LLC (Albemarle County)

• Red 5 Holdings, Inc. (Fairfax County)

• The PBE Group (Tazewell County)

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Longwood University to offer new bachelor's degree programs in South Boston

SOUTH BOSTON, Va. (WSET) -- If you live on the Southside, a new partnership will soon help you further your education.

Longwood University will offer two new bachelor degree programs at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) in South Boston.

Starting in the fall of 2020, you'll be able to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Elementary Education.

If you'd like to learn more about these programs and how you can get involved, there will be information sessions on July 11th and August 8th at 5:00 p.m. to meet with Longwood University program coordinators and admissions staff.

From wset.com