Volume 07 | May 21, 2021
Office of Economic & Industrial Development
Wise Advice
Virginia Lifts COVID-19 Restrictions
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced that Virginia has lifted the statewide mask mandate and will lift other COVID-19 restrictions, including distancing and capacity restrictions, on May 28, in accordance with CDC guidelines.

What does this mean for you and your business?

  • Fully-vaccinated individuals do not have to wear masks in most indoor settings, except on public transit, in health care facilities, and in congregate settings.

  • Businesses retain the ability to require masks in their establishments.

  • Employees who work in certain business sectors, including restaurants, retail, fitness, personal care, and entertainment, must continue to wear masks unless fully vaccinated.

  • Those who are unvaccinated or not fully-vaccinated are strongly encouraged to wear masks in all settings.

  • Individuals will retain the option to wear masks.

  • Masks will continue to be required in K-12 public schools, given low rates of vaccination among children.

Haven't received your vaccine yet?

Virginians over the age of 12 can schedule a vaccination appointment by visiting vaccinate.virginia.gov or calling 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1).
COVID-19 Financial Resources
Restaurant Revitalization Fund

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) will help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.

Learn more and apply through the U.S. Small Business Administration website.
Financing Your Small Business Dream in Wise County
Looking for funds to start or expand your small business in Wise County? The Wise County Industrial Development Authority wants to help! Low interest micro loans are now available through their Small Business Revolving Loan Fund!

The intent of the RLF is to encourage the expansion and development of viable business activity, including full-time and/or part-time job creation in Wise County. The RLF is targeted to those businesses that cannot obtain economically feasible financing due to conventional interest rates and lending/exposure limits applied by local lending institutions.

See our website or email Brian Falin for more information and to apply.
Wise County Economic Development Has a New Website!
The Wise County Office of Economic & Industrial Development is pleased to announce the launch of its new website. Check out our new page on www.wisecounty.org.

We will update our page with new information frequently, so remember to bookmark our URL and check back often! See below for just a few of our new features.
Wise County Property Database is Live
View or submit residential or commercial property for sale or lease on Wise County's new available properties database!

Looking for a new home, land, or retail, office, or industrial space for your business? Need to sell your property? Do both at www.wisecounty.org/RealEstate.aspx
Wise County Job Postings Board
Looking for a job? Hiring for a job? Use our new job postings page for all your employment needs in Wise County! Job submissions will be posted and visible to job seekers on our website at www.wisecounty.org/382/Employment-Opportunities
Formerly Mined Land in Wise County Selected for Solar Development
The Nature Conservancy has announced an innovative collaboration with two renewable energy companies, Sun Tribe and Sol Systems, who will pursue the development of some of the first utility-scale solar projects in the Central Appalachian coalfields. The initial focus area for the collaboration centers on Wise County.