The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) was formed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 to enhance and diversify the economy of the seven-county, one-city coalfield region of Southwest Virginia, which includes the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell and Wise and the City of Norton. Since VCEDA was formed, the region has seen significant progress in job creation, private investment, and improvements in the economic diversity index and the unemployment rate of the region.

2025 was another year of such progress, with the following being some of the highlights of the year:

» The announcement of 27 new projects in the region, projected to create 189 full-time and 106 parttime jobs and $17,364,124 in private investment.

» The announcement of 6 expansion projects in the region, projected to create and retain 369 fulltime and 1 part-time jobs and $58,344,319 in private investment.

» The approval by the VCEDA Board of 59 loans and grants for $18,759,752.62 in new VCEDA funding for projects in all 7 counties in the VCEDA region, projected to help create and retain 584 full-time and 124 part-time jobs and $180,214,443 in private investment.

» The closing of 34 approved loans and grants totaling $17,537,516.27, projected to help create and retain 249 full-time and 52 part-time jobs and $37,749,848 in private investment.

» Twenty-six new business start-ups in the region supported by grants from VCEDA’s Seed Capital Matching Fund program, projecting a total of 100 full-time and 106 part-time jobs.

» Thirty-one outreach marketing events to promote the region throughout the United States.

» The opening of an additional 2.74 miles of the Coalfields Expressway as a four-lane highway.

Important projects announced during the year in the region include the location of Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners, projecting 89 new full-time jobs, assisted by an up to $3 million loan approved by VCEDA to the Russell County Industrial Development Authority. West River Conveyors also announced a major expansion of its operations in Buchanan County, which is being assisted by an up to $4 million loan approved by VCEDA. VFP, Inc. announced a major expansion of its manufacturing operations in Scott County, projected to create 200 new jobs and $35 million in private investment, and assisted by an up to $312,500 grant and up to $3 million loan earmark from VCEDA. An expansion by White Rock Truss and Components in Lee County was announced projecting 27 new jobs, which is supported by an up to $500,000 loan approved in 2024 by VCEDA to the Lee County Economic Development Authority. Tate, which already operates a data center components manufacturing facility in the region at St. Paul, VA, is expanding as well to the former Alcoa building in Lebanon, VA and creating at least 35 new jobs, supported by a $4 million loan approved in 2024 by VCEDA to the Russell County IDA. Job-creating expansions by Simmons Equipment Company and Lawrence Brothers, Inc. were also announced, both supported by loans from VCEDA. Loan and grant funds were approved by VCEDA for a variety of other projects throughout the year including for infrastructure development, telehealth, workforce development and training, tourism development, and entrepreneurship.

As always, the successes of 2025 were possible because of the region’s team approach as VCEDA and its economic development allies work towards a common goal for the betterment of the region. It is this team approach that will continue to be critical as the region continues to work to enhance and diversify the economy of the coalfields of Virginia.