The Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation is the marketing organization promoting Alleghany County, the City of Covington and the Towns of Clifton Forge and Iron Gate for business recruitment, expansion and development. A public/private partnership, AHEDC focuses on Site Readiness, Infrastructure Management, Site Selection Outreach and Workforce Development. The organization also serves as a key information source for applicable data, regulatory compliance and funding opportunities to help you successfully launch, expand or relocate a business to the region.
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AHEDC Awarded $30,000 Rural Community Development Initiative Grant
From the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
In July 2020, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) began working to provide comprehensive capacity building services through the federal Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) to six recipient organizations located in rural and/or economically challenged regions of Virginia.
The RCDI program seeks to increase a community’s readiness to undertake community and economic development projects through technical assistance from DHCD staff and consultants, while addressing organizational, economic and design improvements within each recipient community. The capacity building program also provides a funding opportunity to help recipients implement activities that align with the community’s strategic planning goals, which are developed and made clear through the RCDI program.
The Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation (EDC), one of six RCDI recipients across the state, received an RCDI grant, totaling $30,000, from DHCD to fund the creation of two downtown kiosks, one located in Covington and the other in Clifton Forge, that showcase community information and encourage visitors to spend more time in each locality, as well as updates to construction intent drawings that will strengthen the community’s wayfinding system, identify various tourism attractions and/or assets and improve the visitor experience. More info here.
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Business Spotlight
WestRock, Covington, VA
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It’s time for another business spotlight! We’re excited to feature WestRock and its Covington mill, as well as the impact the company makes in our region. Learn more below!
WestRock’s Covington, Virginia mill is North America’s largest bleached paperboard mill. It began production in 1899 and has been in continuous operation since that time.
The Covington site is in a great location, close to I-64, Highway 220, Virginia’s ports and within a day’s drive of 50% of the nation’s population. The mill is also adjacent to the main east-west line of the CSX Transportation Railroad. The property stretches nearly a mile and a half along the Jackson River and sits on 250 acres with at least another 2,000 adjoining acres behind it. Overall, the Covington site is ideally located due to its fiber supply, low-cost energy, and access to major user markets for products.
Surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains, the largest hardwood forest in the world, the mill uses 80% hardwood fiber for its furnish. Fifty-three percent of this fiber is purchased in the form of pulpwood (also called roundwood), and 47% is purchased as chips from area sawmills. Our leftover wood waste is purchased from local loggers for biomass fuel for the power boiler. The wood is sourced in roughly a 150-mile radius around the mill.
The Covington mill annually produces about 950,000 tons of paperboard. The products manufactured are either one-side or two-side coated in solid bleached sulfate board (SBS), which is used in folding cartons, ovenable containers and high-quality printing applications. Read more here.
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Progress Being Made with the "River Retreat" Apartments |
The “River Retreat” Apartments located in the Alleghany Regional Commerce Center in Low Moor next to the YMCA is moving right along. This is the first of a 24-unit building being constructed with a second 24 unit following soon. Once completed there will be a total of 96 units. This is a huge investment for the Alleghany Highlands providing living options to retain local employees preventing them from residing in other localities. Some other key attributes is giving the area more living option retention to support local businesses, strengthen the membership of the YMCA and a new tax revenue for the County. |
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SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
We believe in having a child like mind when it comes to learning. Open to all possibilities.
Our workshops, events, and programs are designed with a small business owner in mind. Actionable, sharing of ideas, and takeaways to keep things straight.
Every thing you need to start, recover, grown and manage your business is here and it is FREE.
Workshops can be found here.
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Some Available Properties For Lease/Sale
Historic Downtown for Lease
376 W. Main Street Covington - Store front - 11,760 sq. ft. C3 Zoning
221/225 N. Court Avenue Covington - C3 Zoning
263 W. Main Street - Store Front - 2,200 sq. ft. C1 Zoning
431 Ridgeway Street - Store Front - 1,360 sq. ft. CFBD Zoning
For Sale
520 Main Street Covington - 11,156 sq. ft. C3 Zoning
606 S. Monroe Avenue Covington - 25,000 sq. ft. M1 Zoning
239 Maple Avenue Covington - 6,600 sq. ft. C1 Zoning
424 E. Ridgeway Street, Clifton Forge, VA - 3,300 sq. ft. CFBD Zoning - Turnkey Restaurant For Sale Serious Inquiries Only Call 540.862.4119
Other For Lease
1107 Craig Avenue - 27,412 sq. ft. C3 Zoning
Contact Terri at terri@ahedc.com or call 540.862.0936 to advertise your space or
to be connected to the property owner
More properties available here
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