Multiple projects across the southside were awarded funding by the Virginia Tobacco Revitalization Commission last week. The City of Danville was awarded over $2.3 million for the Coleman Site graded pad.

This award will allow for completion of site planning and engineering and construct an 80- acre graded pad, which will make the site more attractive to prospective industry by reducing risk and time to operations. Funding will support wetland mitigation and grading costs.

The City of Danville was awarded a $750,000 grant/$750,000 loan for the continued development of a 12-megawatt advanced battery energy storage system that will be used to reduce peak load for Danville Utilities and will in turn save Danville Utilities tens of millions of dollars over the life of the project. These savings will be directly passed through to the commercial, industrial, and residential customers of Danville Utilities, helping ensure lower electricity costs for current and future residents as well as attract new businesses to the Tobacco Region.

Pittsylvania County will receive over $610,000 for renovations to the Staunton Plaza in Hurt. The redevelopment of the plaza is aimed at attracting new tenants and creating workforce development in the area.

The Town of Halifax was awarded just under $286,000 for the Halifax Exxon Redevelopment Project. The former Exxon station at 100 S. Main St. will be converted into a restaurant, bottle shop, and beer & wine bar that will help revitalize the core downtown area and improve connectivity and commercial access to adjacent property.