Danville and Pittsylvania County leaders celebrated the completion of a newly constructed shell building, located in the Cyber Park, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, December 11.
The completion of this shell building, located at 120 Slayton Avenue, signifies the first construction partnership between the Industrial Development Authority of Danville and the Pittsylvania County Industrial Development Authority. The project was financed by the Virginia Community Capital and Virginia Small Business Financing Authority, including a $1 million grant from Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission.
“Shell buildings are a great incentive because they reduce by many months the startup time for any company looking to relocate or expand. So, this shell building is a commitment to future growth,” said Lee Vogler, chairman of the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority. “At today’s ceremony, we celebrate a shared vision within our community of not an empty building but a building full of jobs, full of tax revenue, and full of prosperity for our community."
“The members of the IDA of Danville are excited to join with the IDA of Pittsylvania County in the construction of the Cyber Park Shell Building,” said Neal Morris, IDA chairman for Danville City. “The cooperation between Danville and Pittsylvania County continues to reap benefits for the area as we all work together to attract industry and more jobs to Southside Virginia.”
The completion of this property is a result of the Danville city and Pittsylvania County economic development offices actively building inventory to meet the needs of modern manufacturers. Constructed by Blair Construction, this 30,000 square foot building can be expanded to 60,000 square feet and upfitted to suit specific needs of the client. Its strategic location in a premier business park, owned by the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority (RIFA), is in close proximity to workforce development assets, such as the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Program (ATDM) and Danville Community College’s Regional Center for Advanced Technology and Training (RCATT).
Joey Faucette, IDA chairman for Pittsylvania County said, “Having a ready to go modern manufacturing facility like this shell building is absolutely a must in today’s current industrial real estate market. Currently, over 75% of all prospect inquiries are for existing buildings with ceiling heights in excess of 24’ clear, which this building provides. If a community does not have such available building product, then they are fighting the fierce competition for the remaining 25% of prospect inquiries. I’m confident that we’ll be successful in leveraging this building to create meaningful jobs and investment on the property within the near future. I’m pleased that the County and its Industrial Development Authority were proactive in being a part of this endeavor.”
Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission member, Will Pace, added, "The Commission has a decades-long history of partnering with our localities to ensure they have the sites and facilities to compete for top employers and the jobs and investment they bring. This building is a perfect example of exactly the kind of forward-thinking project the Commission is proud to be a part of that will soon pay dividends for the Danville-Pittsylvania region. I'm excited to see a company call this space home and join our vibrant business community here in Southern Virginia."
Interested businesses can learn more about this property on www.discoverdanville.com.
About the Office of Economic Development and Tourism
The Danville Office of Economic Development & Tourism recruits and retains businesses for the Danville area. The office provides information on available sites and buildings, incentives and other financial resources and offers a website designed for the business community: www.discoverdanville.com.