|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority on
Friday morning voted unanimously to donate two acres of land in the
Sinai Industrial Park to the Higher Education Foundation (HEF). Earlier
Authority members had approved a sale of the property to the HED at a
price of $20,000.
But as HEF chairman Wayne Conner pointed out to Authority members,
"education is the future of economic development. You will allow us to
use this $20,000 to develop the bag factory that could bring students
into this area" for educational training.
Ted Bennett, executive director for the Southern Virginia Higher
Education Center echoed Conner's words, saying the Center is “quite an
engine for economic development.” He explained that it will take three
to four million dollars to renovate and equip the bag factory for its
needs, but the Center is seeking grants and donations to help with
funding. (Authority members asked that a clause be inserted in the
deed, which would allow the land to come back to the Foundation if it
were not used for the intended purpose.)
Bennett and other staff members at the Higher Ed Center reviewed their
plans for the bag factory which will include the Wood Science/WoodLINKS
program for which the County has already received a grant. High school
students who complete the WoodLINKS program will then have the ability
to continue their education in wood science by enrolling in an
associate's degree program at the HEC and then continue on to get their
baccalaureate degree at Virginia Tech.
Noting that forestry has become the largest revenue producer for all
rural areas in Virginia, statistics show that in neighboring Charlotte
County employment in logging and forestry is 59 times greater than in
the rest of the state. Also average weekly wages in forestry and
logging are 11 percent higher than the typical average weekly wage in
Southside Virginia.
Another new program, graphic design and arts, is being added. Some
predict that this creative section will bring more jobs over the next
ten years than currently exist in all of manufacturing with wages that
are quite lucrative. Bennett says that the need and financing of the
arts has been lost to the emphasis on science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM).
The arts, he says, is a proven method of holding onto students who do
not neatly fit solely into a "STEM Silo." He feels strongly that
nurturing the arts may effectively reduce the dropout rate for students
in this area. The recently offered graphic design classes were filled
early on with enthusiastic students, he reported.
Yet another degree program, Hospitality and Tourism, will also support
existing economic development efforts, as well as providing some
crucial input to help expand the industry in this region.
Yet another very important project is expected to be opened for the
fall semester of 2008 — the Center of Nursing Excellence at the HEC.
With $426,951 to support renovation of the area which will house the
nursing center from the Tobacco Commission the staff is applying for
grants to fund equipment.
The Center will partner with existing members — Danville Community
College, Old Dominion University, Southside Virginia Community College
and Troy University; their mission is to advance professional nursing
to meet healthcare needs in Southern Virginia. Students who have taken
CNA (certified nurse aide) classes in high school can then continue on
toward their practical nursing (PN) degrees or registered nursing (RN)
degrees.
Reviewing the history of the higher ed center which began in 1986 in a
mobile unit at the high school, Bennett said its growth has been
enormous. In 2006 following a report by the State Council on Higher
Education, the Center initiated its K-12 outreach efforts, focusing on
science, technology, math and engineering areas. From this came the
establishment of The Center for Rural Education and Economic
Development (CREED) which is supported by school superintendents from
22 school divisions.
In September of 2007 a $13.2 million Advanced Placement grant was
awarded which will be used to increase the number of students
throughout the state, particularly in rural Southern and Southwest
Virginia, in participating in AP Math, Science and English courses.
Another $1 million Teaching American History grant was received in June
of 2007 which will fund professional development for K-12 history
teachers from Halifax, Charlotte, Pittsylvania Counties and the City of
Danville.
The Center is also heavily involved in teacher training and recruitment.
“We’ve come a long way,” Bennett said, “but there’s still a long way to
go.”
In other business Friday morning IDA members waived their right of
first refusal to a three acre tract at 1200 Fulp Industrial Road which
was formerly the site of Energy Comversions, Incorporated (ECI) but
which was abandoned several years ago. ECI now has a prospective buyer
for the property, Maryland Environmental Restoration Group (MERG), and
is asking that the IDA give up its first refusal right. MERG says it is
dedicated to the research, development and implementation of
alternative energy resources.
Authority members also voted to open an ABB escrow account with BB&T
for a Public Fund Money Rate Savings Account which will enable them to
invest the rent money that exceeds their monthly payments. The money
will then be used to make the payments for the remaining five year loan
period on the new addition.