Directors of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority heard an update Friday on progress at the NOVI project, located at the site of the former Georgia Pacific property.
Plans for the 49.9 megawatt wood-fired electrical plant, owned and operated by Michigan-based NOVI Energy and its utility partner Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative, are now progressing. Employment during the two-year construction period is estimated at some 250 jobs.
When completed, the plant is expected to employ 26 full-time workers while creating another 67 field jobs. The plant will burn some 600,000 tons of wood annually, valued at $12 million with its “economic effect expected to ripple across the community,” said IDA Director Mike Sexton.
Officials with the company are now occupying three offices at the Energy Center in Riverstone Technology Building, but are expected to move very soon to the three trailers which are located at the plant site as work begins.
In other reports, Dr. Doug Corrigan, director of the Energy Center, advised that the flatline equipment provided by Superfici was installed at the C-Care facility in the Energy Center on time. When training on the equipment is completed on September 12, operations will begin on the wood finishing project. It is being carried out by the American Wood Finishing Institute, which has a five year lease.
Corrigan said five families will soon be moving into the community to work on the project, with a total of about 20 expected long term. One family, he said, already has purchased a home in the area.
IDA directors also approved an application for up to $600,000 in funds to join with the Town of Halifax in renovating the old Burlington plant, located on Cowford Road in Halifax.
The resolution notes that the General Assembly has allocated $3 million for FY12 to be used for the redevelopment of vacant and deteriorated industrial properties throughout the state. The old Burlington plant, built in 1946 in the Town of Halifax, is considered an important economic development parcel for business development and new employment opportunities, offering rail and natural gas access.
The resolution calls for the Halifax County Board of Supervisors to designate the IDA to make the application and to support a separate application for at least the same amount from the Tobacco Commission’s Southside Economic Development allocation for Halifax County.
Earlier in their meeting, directors honored former IDA board member Bill Kelehar with a framed resolution of appreciation for his five years of service, noting the many projects that have been undertaken during his tenure. Those included the purchase of the Day site and the FlextTec building, the NOVI project, site development of Riverstone Technology Park, the rehab of the former Daystrom property, the location of the call center in Riverstone, the grand opening of Lindstand USA and VIPER at VIR, and the AVID location at Riverstone as well as the hiring of Mike Sexton as Executive Director.
During Kelehar’s tenure, Marriott held its groundbreaking ceremony for Fairfield Inn and ABB expanded, as have Presto, ABB and Lasco.
Directors also recognized Cynthia King, who is the new operations manager for the IDA. She is taking over from Kristy Johnson who leaves the post Sept. 1. King, who last worked for Verizon in their Roanoke office, said she is excited about her new job. She lives in Gretna and was a former clerk with the Pittsylvania County Corrections department.
NOVI Energy contact:
Aditya Gangadharan, 248.735.NOVI (6684) x 127, adganga@novienergy.com