Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority

VCEDA has again signed on to be a sponsor of the Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing (SVAM) iManufacturers Expo, August 19, 2026, at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon. Registration for the event opened Monday.

The Expo has become one of the region's premier manufacturing networking events, bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, educators, economic development organizations and industry partners from across Southwest Virginia. This year's event is expected to attract approximately 175 attendees for a day of networking, learning and business development.

VCEDA was pleased to be in attendance at two Southwest Virginia Regional Housing Policy Workshops held recently -- one at Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) and one at Mountain Empire Community College (MECC). The meetings focused on the newly released Southwest Virginia Housing Report prepared by the Incremental Development Alliance Team.

The report and the meetings examined housing challenges and opportunities facing all seven counties and the City of Norton in Southwest Virginia's e-Region. VCEDA Funds Administrator Marketta Horton represented VCEDA at the SWCC workshop and VCEDA Marketing Coordinator Susan Copeland represented VCEDA at the MECC workshop.

VCEDA was in attendance and was an exhibitor this week at the Virginia Economic Developers Association Summer meeting in Blacksburg, VA. Topics of discussion included energy resilience, infrastructure, higher education and housing. The meeting also included the presentation of Main Street awards. Representing VCEDA at the conference were Economic Development Specialist Angie Farmer, Business Development Specialists Charlotte Mullins and Diane Thomas and Executive Director/General Counsel, Jonathan Belcher.

ICYMI: VCEDA issued its latest e-newsbrief last Thursday. You can take a look here:
https://vceda.us/vceda-e-news-brief-june-4-2026/. If you would like to subscribe and be added to our mailing list, send us a message and we'll get you signed up!

VCEDA was pleased to host members of the Virginia Economic Developers Association today in Lebanon as the VEDA group met with its members in the region as part of a statewide tour to learn more about the various regions of the state and how VEDA might assist in economic development efforts. VEDA's theme for 2026 is "Stronger Connections. Stronger Communities. Stronger Virginia."

Those taking part in the meeting at VCEDA's Lebanon office were, from left, (front) Susan Copeland, VCEDA marketing coordinator; Diane Thomas, VCEDA business development specialist; Curt Breeding, VCEDA board member and member of the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors; A.J. Robinson, Tazewell County director of communications and tourism; Garrett Hart, VEDA president; Connie Long, VEDA executive director; Angie Farmer, VCEDA economic development specialist; Marketta Horton, VCEDA funds administrator; Leslie Litton, Lee County community development director; and Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel; and (back) Brian Falin, Wise County Industrial Development Authority executive director; John Kilgore, Scott County economic development authority director; and Alicia Roland, Washington County Industrial Development Authority. Also present, but not pictured, was VCEDA Business Development Specialist Charlotte Mullins.

Congratulations to the CGI Lebanon delivery center in Southwest Virginia on celebrating its 20th anniversary! The milestone event was celebrated May 26 at EO Companies in Abingdon, VA. The gathering highlighted the important role the Lebanon delivery center has played in the past two decades as CGI’s first delivery center in the United States, supporting clients locally and globally through CGI’s delivery network. VCEDA was involved in helping to recruit CGI to locate in Southwest Virginia's e-Region. Thanks to CGI's Michael Davis for the photos shared from his LinkedIn post.

A new trails marker and monument commemorating the Civil War Battle of Jonesville was dedicated recently in Lee County, VA. VCEDA provided a grant of $1,750 from its Tourism Capital Improvement Matching Fund, which helped make the project possible. The new sign will help residents, students, and visitors better understand the January 3, 1864 Battle of Jonesville and will strengthen Lee County’s growing Civil War Trails presence.

The project represented a partnership among Civil War Trails, the Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society, Lee County Tourism, VCEDA, Lee County Schools and many others who supported the preservation and interpretation of this important local history.

Dr. Brian McKnight offered historical remarks and Steven Starnes attended with his field map of artifacts associated with the battle. VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher represented VCEDA at the event. He is pictured here with Greg Edwards, chairman of the VCEDA board/Lee County Economic Development Authority.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is hosting a nationwide pitch competition that will bring together entrepreneurs from across the country who are building and scaling businesses within their communities.

Selected businesses will be invited to participate in a live pitch competition in Washington, DC, which will culminate in a $1 million prize pool to celebrate the innovation and ambition that has driven American ingenuity for the past 250 years.

See the flyer and find out more at: https://preview.sba.gov/freedom-250/

VCEDA was pleased to be in attendance at the recent Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia community meeting held at the Town of Lebanon Recreational Center. The event focused on solar energy educational and training opportunities in Southwest Virginia. Business Development Specialists Diane Thomas, front row, left; and Charlotte Mullins, front row, right, represented VCEDA at the event. VCEDA is a member of the Solar Workgroup.

VCEDA was a sponsor of and exhibitor at the Metallurgical Coal Producers Association annual conference & expo in Roanoke, WV, May 18-20. Pictured are VCEDA Board members, J.P. Richardson, left and Barbara Altizer, right, who is also the executive director of education and outreach for MPCA, In the center is Cathy St. Clair, VCEDA communications coordinator. The conference focused on the importance of Met Coal and steel with a theme of "Redefining Resilience."