The alliance is a recently formed marketing partnership comprised of Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry and Patrick counties and the cities of Danville and Martinsville that promotes economic development and job creation in Southern Virginia.

Source: http://www.gazettevirginian.com/index.php/news/34-news/4582-regional-alliance-director-meets-with-authority-board-members Newspaper: The Gazette Virginian- Halifax County and South Boston Regional Alliance director meets with authority board members Written by Paula I. Bryant 07:44 am 12/19/11 Pushing a theme of cooperation among six regional partners, Southern Virginia Regional Alliance Executive Director Leigh Cockram addressed Halifax County Industrial Development Authority Directors during a brief visit to Riverstone Friday morning. The alliance is a recently formed marketing partnership comprised of Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry and Patrick counties and the cities of Danville and Martinsville that promotes economic development and job creation in Southern Virginia. Cockram was named director of the alliance in June. Cockram’s responsibilities include developing marketing materials, such as brochures and print mail items; establishing the office; promoting the region through traveling, hosting consultants and other efforts; and other things geared to creating jobs. Cockram told authority members Friday the need definitely exists for a regional alliance explaining “company executive and site selection consultants don’t see county, city, town or state lines. What they see and remember are regions.� She describes her job as one of “building the numbers story.� The numbers story to which Cockram refers includes the overwhelming manufacturing experience of the workforce in the region, the variety of workforce training sites, and the number of shovel-ready sites and existing buildings. “We want to get companies to see the true value of the assets that we have here,� she said. The regional alliance’s job is to market the area which houses 76 marketable buildings, 24 office buildings and 37 available sites on a regional level recruiting new industries into the regional footprint, she told board members. Emphasis is placed on marketing the Berry Hill Mega Park containing 3,500 acres in Pittsylvania County and the Commonwealth Crossing that contains 726 acres in Henry County. In her six months on the job, she has compiled localities’ data collectively to market to national and international site selection consultants and companies in an effort to get them to see “the true value and the assets we have sitting in our backdoor.� Her main job, as she sees it, is to get people to the region. “It’s just getting people here and it’s getting our message across to our target audience that this is a place that you can come and do business and do it well,� she said. She pointed to an existing manufacturing workforce available in the region, saying that more than 40 percent of the unemployed here have a manufacturing background. “We have wonderful training facilities that sit in our backyard, and when you start pooling all of this together and compiling mass numbers … you start building capacity. That’s what we need to start selling to America and international companies,� she added. “Advanced manufacturing industries is what the alliance needs to go after nationwide,� she told authority members, adding, because they average a weekly wage of $720 per week. “That’s really what we need to focus on.� Cockram said the regional authority’s goal “is to put our citizens back to work in Southern Virginia jobs. We have to start marketing ourselves as a region telling our story because regionalism is the way. That’s how we’re going to start getting more exposure,� she said. In the meantime, she said workers in the region need more training. “There’s a lot of work to be done on workforce development,� she said. The alliance has received a total of $600,000 in funding from the Virginia Tobacco Commission that funds $200,000, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership that provides $200,000 and each of the six communities that are contributing a total of $200,000 over the next two years. In other business Friday morning, authority members granted authority to execute a contract to J. E. Burton Construction Company – the low bidder at $318,549 for C-Care Phase II to install a large spray booth. They also adopted a resolution for procurement determination regarding C-Care Phase II B, for the “Metal Hang Line.� According to Energy Center Executive Director Doug Corrigan, the resolution adopted Friday authorizes and directs him to use competitive negotiation in order to retain the best manufacturer of the hang line to meet the specific needs of the Energy Center and its commercial partners. Also during the meeting, directors authorized authority Executive Director Mike Sexton to contract with J. E. Burton Inc., General Contractors, to perform the upfit of 11,000 square feet of lease space on the second floor of Building One at Riverstone for a company yet to be announced. “I have determined that there is no time to go through a formal invitation bid process and retain the tenant for Riverstone,� Sexton said. Following a unanimous vote Friday, the authority will now issue a written notice stating only one source was determined to be practicably available, identifying that which is being procured, the contractor selected, and the date the contract will be awarded, Sexton said. The tenant, who is expected to be named on Thursday by Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, plans to occupy the building by Jan. 31. Newly appointed authority member Chris Lumsden suggested the county continue to develop a relationship with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and its leader Martin Briley by hosting a reception for him that would bring him to the area where he can learn more about what Halifax County has to offer in the areas of energy and advanced manufacturing. OTHER ACTION In other action Friday morning, authority members received updates from authority officials on the following improvement projects: Riverstone project • Authority members received updates on improvements of projects at Riverstone including pad ready sites that are complete at lots 7,8 and 1. • The pond upgrade with liner is complete and the 34.5 kV distribution loop design is complete. • Riverstone also has contracted with Dominion Power not to exceed $400,000 to engineer the extension of a new 115kV transmission line, tapping into an existing line located east of South Boston to a proposed substation to be located at Riverstone. • Other improvements at Riverstone include those to the median on Confroy Drive and parking lot layout expansion is in progress. Current parking allows for 141 plus five handicap spaces. Additional expansion will allow for 195 plus six handicap spaces. Day site • Plans are being finalized by B & B Consultants for clearing and grubbing, entrance improvements and grading, and the plans are supposed to be ready to bid by Friday. Green View • All work for Phase I is complete and accepted, and future phases have been compiled in preparation for additional funding opportunities and to be prepared for interested prospects. • The electrical fire investigation is complete, and the authority has received the insurance check for $273,188.81. Power has been reestablished to building 2 and 3 and to the fire pump building. Permanent power for lighting for showing the building has been established, and painting is slated to be complete this week. • Securing of monitoring contract for the fire alarm system is in progress. Burlington Industries • The application for the new grant from the Industrial Revitalization Fund for $600,000 was submitted Sept. 9 to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. • A request for matching funds from the tobacco commission was withdrawn due to specific prospect project needs but can be reactivated when needed or as funds become available.