REGIONAL VIEW southern virginia
Study finds racetrack has $237 million economic impact by Joan Tupponce
almost every day of the year. And that activity boosts the economy. Each year VIR gener- ates $237 million in total economic impact in the state, with $197 million or 83 percent of that occurring in the local region, according to a study released in April by The Washington Economics Group Inc. “A vast majority of our
V
impact comes from outside the area, visitation,” says Connie Nyholm, VIR’s owner and CEO. “That’s what makes it different from tracks such as South Boston [Speedway].”
About 270,000 visitors
attend VIR events each year, and most stay for several days in the area. In addition to racing
events, VIR’s two tracks also are rented to a variety of organizations. The tracks can
FOR THE RECORD
Ballad Brewing, the first craft brewery in Danville’s River District, not only celebrated its first year in business in June, but it also saw two of its brews pick up awards at the annual Virginia Craft Beer Cup competition in Richmond. There was a lot of competition, with 375 beers competing in 27 categories for the awards, according to the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild web- site. (Danville Register & Bee)
Foxhound Solar LLC won approval from the Halifax County Board of Supervisors to operate a 91-megawatt solar farm in the Clover area, overcoming objec- tions by some residents of the area who said the project would negatively impact their property. The solar generation facility will be on a 1,479-acre tract, although only 589 acres will be taken up
IRginia International Raceway in Alton is busy with some event
Institute.
A sports-car championship scheduled for Aug. 17-19 is expected to attract 40,000 visitors to the racetrack.
The raceway’s larg-
est spectator event is the Michelin GT Challenge IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which will be held Aug. 17-19 this year. “That’s the biggest weekend of the year. It brings in 40,000 visitors over a three-day period. Governor Northam will be our grand marshal this year,” Nyholm says. VIR recently landed the
be rented simultaneously with five different configurations available. “We have 360 rent- als in a year,” Nyholm says. “Our business daily is renting racetracks.” VIR also has two skeet
ranges “as well as pistol and rifle ranges from 50 to 1,000 yards, which is sniper range,” Nyholm says. “We use those primarily for government and military groups. That keeps us very busy.” VIR is also rented for
corporate team-building and
by the array of solar panels. The rest of the land will be used as buffer or remain undeveloped as wetlands, and the property own- ers will be able to continue using the land, whether for farming or otherwise. (
SoVaNow.com)
With two internet towers of eight completed, more Pittsylvania County residents are expected to receive high-speed internet access by the end of the year. Both the White Oak and Mount Airy towers have been equipped to provide service, though Mount Airy still needs to be connected to electricity. White Oak, on the other hand, currently serves about 100 households and has seen capac- ity upgrades in order to add more residents. Pittsylvania County Di- rector of Economic Development Matt Rowe said the broadband provider involved in the project,
Photo courtesy Virginia International Raceway
entertainment events as well as weddings and bachelor parties. “It’s like a three-ring
circus,” says Nyholm. “In addition to the racetracks, we have two restaurants, unlim- ited catering, go-karting, off-road trails, a spa and the shooting facilities.” VIR has an industrial
park with tenants such as the Global Center for Automo- tive Performance Simulation, a company affiliated with the Virginia Tech Transportation
SCS Broadband, hopes to offer service to about 90 percent of the county. (Danville Register & Bee)
Neighbors expressed mixed reactions in late June to options of creating a connector road to take traffic from the Danville Expressway to the Southern Virginia Mega Site at Berry Hill. An input meeting drew about 30 people to Brosville Elementary School to see the plans and talk to various officials. The favored plan calls for using the existing exit at Oak Ridge Farm Road to build a four-lane road to the industrial park. The plan then shows three options for tying the connector into Berry Hill Road and the industrial park. (Danville Register & Bee)
Telvista Inc., which ceased operations and laid off about
www.VirginiaBusiness.com
2019 Sports Car Club of America National Champi- onship Runoffs, which will be held Oct. 8-13 next year. “It’s the largest race group, and they have that race all over the country. It’s their Super Bowl runoffs,” Nyholm says. “We put our name in the hat a couple of years ago and secured the runoff for 2019. It’s huge. It will bring in thousands ... It will be bigger than anything we have had here. This is a new marker in the history of VIR.”
300 workers in March, will pay nearly $400,000 and give about $300,000 worth of its equipment to the Danville Industrial Devel- opment Authority in exchange for early termination of its lease agreement. The termination agreement between Telvista and the IDA, a quasi-government agency, allows the company to exchange eight months’ rent and the equipment in return for leav- ing the lease agreement early, explained Danville Economic De- velopment Director Telly Tucker. (Danville Register & Bee)
PEOPLE
A Danville travel agency has changed its name and brought on a new partner. David Giffen, a CruiseOne franchise owner, announced Patty Shields as a new business partner for Dream
Vacations-Giffen, Shields & As- sociates. Shields will specialize in cruises, honeymoon planning, Disney travel and resorts in the Caribbean, U.S. and Europe, ac- cording to a news release. (Work It, SOVA)
Heather Lee Krajewski has been named vice president for college advancement at Hampden- Sydney College. Krajewski comes to Hampden-Sydney from the University of Richmond, where she was assistant vice president for advancement. (News release)
Dr. Arthur T. Silvers and his staff have merged with Danville Dental Associates. Two new dentists have also joined Danville Dental Associates: Nikki Hartline and Andrew J. Hessler. Both are relocating from Ohio. (Danville Register & Bee)
VIRGINIA BUSINESS 15
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