Last Thursday, then-Gov. Ralph Northam announced a grant award in the amount of $362,700 for site development improvements at the Botetourt Center at Greenfield in Daleville. The grant is part of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s (VEDP) Business Ready Sites Program and will be used for site development needs of the 121-acre Lot 3 at Greenfield.
Having prepared and ready industrial sites is key to Botetourt County’s work to recruit future manufacturing employers to the community. Botetourt County competed with 25 localities to receive a grant from the Business Ready Sites Program. Northam announced that 11 localities will receive funding totaling $7.0 million.
The Botetourt County Department of Economic Development proposed using the grant to update Greenfield’s environmental site assessment, surveying, and related engineering studies. In addition, the grant will contribute to the construction of a sewer line and an access road to Lot 3. The grant will also be used to prepare grading plans.
“The purpose of doing this work now is that it is essential to prepare industrial sites for companies seeking locations for expansion projects before these companies call us to talk about our available sites,” says Botetourt County Director of Economic Development Ken McFadyen. “The larger the site, the better prepared we need to be when companies contact us,.”
Since 2016, nine manufacturers have announced plans to locate or expand in Botetourt County, involving over 1,000 new jobs and over $200 million in taxable investments. These manufacturers include: Munters, Maag Gala, Metalsa, Pratt Industries, Altec Industries, Canatal Steel USA, Constellation Brands, Eldor Corporation, and Arkay.
“Communities with sites that are ready with all utilities in place and with at least grading plans are the ones that receive favorable attention from companies seeking locations for their expansion projects. Companies bring jobs and taxable investments to the communities they select for their expansion projects, which reduces the tax liability of our citizens and local taxpayers,” said Botetourt County Administrator Gary Larrowe.