Volume 06 | April 15, 2021
Office of Economic & Industrial Development
Wise Advice
Virginia Expands COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility on April 18!
Haven't received your COVID-19 vaccine yet? Here's your shot! On April 18th, Virginia will make free vaccines available to all Virginia residents and workers aged 16 and older!

Pre-register for your vaccine today!

Visit https://vaccinate.virginia.gov or
call (877) 829-4682 to sign up.
COVID-19 Financial Resources
Paycheck Protection Program





*The PPP program was extended by Congress through May 31, 2021, but funds will likely be fully expended well before this date. If you are considering applying for a PPP loan for your business, now is the time!
Restaurant Revitalization Fund

The American Rescue Plan Act authorized the creation of a $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The program is scheduled to begin accepting applications in April.

Learn more about the grant fund here or by clicking the image to the right.
Hiring? Let the Wise County Career-Technical Center Know!
The Wise County Career-Technical Center will create an 'Application Station' for their students. The school asks that local businesses keep them apprised of any current or future entry-level job openings they may have and to share any required application materials. Guidance Counselor Sarah Flanary will make the applications available and assist students through the application process.

Email job opening information and applications to Sarah Flanary at [email protected].
United Way of Southwest Virginia Announces Launch of 2021 Ignite Internship Program
United Way of Southwest Virginia’s Ignite Program provides our region’s high school students with a four-week summer internship component designed to teach critical workplace skills and prepare students for the workplace through hands-on work experience. Internships bridge the gap between the worlds of learning and work by connecting students and schools with employees and employers. To learn more about
internship opportunities in Wise
County, students should contact
their Ignite School Coordinator.
New Wise County Marketing Initiative & Logo Design Contest
The Wise County Office of Marketing & Community Development will launch a new marketing campaign with the following theme: 

Wise County, Virginia
“Stay for a Weekend. Stay for a Lifetime.”

This slogan will be used in a new logo that will be featured in marketing materials for Wise County including brochures, billboards, digital content, and more. The department is hosting a logo design contest through April 30 and invites members of the local community with artistic/graphic design experience to design and submit custom logos for consideration. Find more information here or email Brian Falin ([email protected]) with questions.
Great American Cleanup Event is this Saturday, April 17th

Contact your town's organizer to get involved!
Get to know...
GO Virginia Region 1

The Virginia Initiative for Growth and Opportunity (GO Virginia) is a bipartisan, business-led economic development initiative that is changing the way Virginia’s diverse regions collaborate on economic and workforce development activities. The objective of the GO Virginia initiative is to promote the creation of high wage careers, private sector job growth, and diversification across the Commonwealth through incentivized regional collaboration.

GO Virginia funding seeks to grow jobs paying higher than the regional annual average wage, which for Region One is $34,237. Region 1 consists of the cities of Bristol, Galax, and Norton; and the counties of Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe.
UVA at Wise serves as Region 1’s support organization. The support organization provides fiduciary oversight and administrative services for activities related to GO Virginia in Region 1.

Interested in learning more about GO Virginia Region 1's work or want to know more about their funding programs? Visit their website at https://www.goswva.org.