Wildwood Commerce Park Secures Additional Funding; Water Line Construction Begins
Carroll County, the City of Galax, Grayson County, and the Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority (BRCEDA) are pleased to announce that in May 2012 the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) for the Virginia Department of Transportation awarded Wildwood Commerce Park with $650,000 in Economic Development Access Program funds to construct the road into the commerce park. This grant completes the initial funding to develop Wildwood Commerce Park and follows $5,398,652 in grants to date from the Virginia Tobacco Commission and $500,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission. Grant awards received to date for Wildwood total $6.5 million.
Because Wildwood is physically located in Carroll County, the Carroll County Board of Supervisors agreed to submit the grant application to VDOT for the access road funding. Dana Martin, the CTB Member who represents Carroll County and Galax, made the motion to approve the funding. Jim Bowie, the CTB Member who represents Grayson County, seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. Construction for the access road is scheduled to begin in September 2012 and should be complete by June 2013.
“VDOT’s Economic Development Access Program is one of the most vital programs available. Moreover, it is extremely valuable to smaller localities. Helping our area get more income, employment, and growth is about the most important part of my role on the Commonwealth Transportation Board,” stated Dana Martin. “I am glad the program is available, and I am happy to have been able to help Wildwood Commerce Park.”
In addition, BRCEDA has awarded Prillaman & Pace, a general construction contractor based in Martinsville, with the contract to construct 1,380 feet of 12-inch water line along Coulson Church Road from the interstate ramp to the entrance of Wildwood. Three bidders submitted proposals to BRCEDA for the water line construction. This water line construction is being coordinated with VDOT and will not conflict with the widening of Coulson Church Road. Additional water and wastewater line construction into the park will begin in September 2012 and be complete by June 2013.
“Developing Wildwood Commerce Park is a long-term commitment and investment. Carroll, Galax and Grayson have made a significant investment of resources to develop this project. We are master planning the commerce park and taking the time to make the right decisions that will make Wildwood attractive to companies looking for communities where they can locate their operations and make significant investments in the local workforce and local property tax base,” comments Mike Maynard, Grayson County Supervisor and BRCEDA Board Chairman.
BRCEDA purchased the Wildwood Commerce Park in May 2011 and consists of 167 acres, of which 50 acres have already been graded and provided with retention pond access. This initiative is a collaborative effort involving Carroll County, Grayson County, and the City of Galax, with BRCEDA serving in a management role. The Mount Rogers Planning District Commission has provided vital planning and technical assistance. Draper Aden Associates of Blacksburg has been hired to provide engineering and related services for Wildwood. Virginia’s A-Corridor and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership have coordinated several visits to Wildwood by site selection consultants, with the most recent in June 2012.
The purpose of the Wildwood Commerce Park is to attract well-paying, high-quality jobs in growing, next-level business sectors.
BRCEDA was formed to provide the leadership for economic development efforts that would benefit the Twin County region. Over the last four years, BRCEDA has established the most successful Small Business Development Center in Virginia, leading to the creation of over 180 new businesses. Before the creation of a stand-alone Wired Road Broadband Authority, BRCEDA led the effort to create Virginia’s first community-owned, open access regional broadband network. Also, BRCEDA is continuing work with the Town of Fries and Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to implement the Fries Master Plan.