IDA to visit existing industries

Industrial Development Authority directors on Friday morning voted to start making their meetings available to existing industry and business leaders. One member, Bill Kelehar,  suggested that IDA directors may

want to hold some of their meetings at the industries who invite them to do so or existing industry may opt to attend the regular meetings at Riverstone. IDA members also got an update on the ABB expansion project, which

according to Project Manager Mike Blankenship, is nearing completion. Blankenship advised that several inspections remain to be completed, but noted that Hurt & Profitt Engineering will complete those and the

project should come in about $652,000 under budget. "It's been a good project," Blankenship advised IDA members and "ABB is fairly happy with it," he said. The County has already received two monthly lease

payments, starting on March 11, from the project. Blankenship also advised that he is looking at things that can be done to bring done the $400,000 costs of upfitting space in Building One of Riverstone Technology Park for the proposed Modeling and Simulation Center there. County Supervisors will be asked at their upcoming April

21 joint session with the Towns of South Boston and Halifax to approve an application to the Lake Country Development Corporation for a $400,000 loan to carry out the improvements that the Center calls for.

The IDA is also asking that Halifax County pay the interest only on that loan for the first 18 months since tenants are seeking rent free space for that period of time. In other business Kelehar and fellow board member Lisa Kipps Brown reported that they  had found in minutes of the Authority a job description which cited "measurable objectives" for their executive director. Those objectives were to be sent out to each IDA member to consider as the group begins its search for a new director. Members said they did not want to hire a consultant to help with the hiring, but felt they "should be fiscally responsible and handle the matter themselves." "We need to get rolling on this," said IDA Chairman Garland Ricketts as he questioned who should be named to the selection committee. In the

meantime, Interim Director Patsy Vaughan will receive an additional $3,000 per month raise as long as she has to fill the position. Following the Friday morning meeting IDA members toured the ABB Project.