Get the new 60-page Alleghany Living magazine. It is available at the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism office and Visitors Center. Located just off I-64 at Exit 16 at 110 Mall Road in Covington VA. Stop by or call (540) 962-2178.
Alleghany County officials are exploring the possibility of spending $1.5 to $4.5 million to develop a pad-ready site in the Alleghany Regional Commerce Center according to the front page story in the September 8, 2018 Virginian Review. According to the article, County officials have identified 15 acres in Low Moor VA directly north of Balchem for development. The approach being considered by the County can enable a business to be up and running within months after signing to locate on a property.
A feasi
bility study by Spurrier Consulting recommends a 62-room Sleep Inn & Suites (a Choice Hotels franchise) at the Exit 21 I64 interchange in the Alleghany Highlands.
“We have reviewed the lodging market in Low Moor which included the nearby communities of Covington and Clifton Forge. There is a lack of franchised hotels along this stretch of I64.”
The need for new lodging accommodations in the Alleghany Highlands is further confirmed by a 2017 assessment by VTKnowledgeWorks. This assessment concludes that there is currently a need for an additional 230 rooms of above average or better quality in the region.
The Spurrier Consulting study dates back to 2008-2009.
A newly completed feasibility study confirms that costs driven by mountainous terrain and distance from existing natural gas service remain the principle challenges to the viability of extending natural gas service to Low Moor, VA. The natural gas line would have to be extended from the Pitzer Ridge area of Covington, VA.
Heath and Associates, a Shelby, N.C.-based engineering firm that conducted the feasibility study for Alleghany County, places the estimated cost for constructing a natural gas system to the Alleghany Regional Commerce Center in Low Moor at $15.6 million. Columbia Gas of Virginia’s latest estimate is $26.5 million.
Due to the limited number of customers in the Low Moor area, the study projects that county would have to provide a subsidy of up to $975,403 per year to offset operating deficits.
The county also evaluated an option that would involve trucking compressed natural gas to the commerce center but the delivered cost exceeds propane and fuel-oil prices.
For more information read the front page story in the October 5, 2017 Virginian Review.
A new study prepared by VT KnowledgeWorks for the economic development support organizations in the Alleghany Highlands found that the Alleghany Highlands region’s activities could support over 400 hotel and B&B rooms. Further there are no accommodations along the 50+ mile stretch of Interstate 64 in the Alleghany Highlands region other than in the Covington – Clifton Forge area.
After an assessment of five lodging accommodations market segments the study has identified a need for additional 230 rooms at the ABOVE AVERAGE or better quality standard. Visitor comments support the conclusion.
The Strategic Services Division of VT KnowledgeWorks (VTKW) provides one-on-one consulting to business, government agencies and their privately funded support organizations, and entrepreneurs throughout Virginia needing confidential strategic planning and business development assistance.
To access and read the executive summary Click here
For more information contact:
Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation
1000 Dabney Drive, Suite 658
Clifton Forge, VA 24422
info@ahedc.com
tel: (540) 862-0936
www.ahedc.com
Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
110 Mall Road
Covington, VA 24426
info@ahchamber.com
tel: (540) 962-2178
www.ahchamber.com
Alleghany County Virginia and the City of Covington have signed a joint economic development, growth and revenue sharing agreement. The agreement between the two jurisdictions was signed on August 10th, 2017 at a ceremony at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College. The joint agreement provides for the sharing in the costs (development, incentives, property acquisition, required infrastructure, etc.) and revenues of a joint site/sites. The economic development, growth and revenue sharing agreement has received favorable review from the Virginia Commission on Local Government and can serve as a model for other localities in Virginia. The agreement calls for Covington and Alleghany County to share tax revenue generated by joint economic development projects on a 50-50 basis. The Alleghany County-Covington Industrial Development Authority is also part of the agreement.
Karnes Creek Investment Company, LLC
P. O. Box 635, Clifton Forge, VA 24422
Email: karnescreekland4sale@gmail.com
Tel: 540-960-1135