LEBANON -- The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority welcomed new board members Wednesday and proceeded with votes to move projects forward in Russell and Wise counties.
Gov. Bob McDonnell recently announced new appointments to the VCEDA board and reappointed Clintwood's Donald Baker, currently serving as chairman of the VCEDA board.
Others appointed by the governor to four-year terms are Stacy Estep Munsey, assistant commonwealth's attorney in Lee County; Ross C. Jenkins, owner of the Hob-Nob Drive In of Gate City; Ron D. McCall, vice president of finance for Humphreys Coal Group in Norton; and Joe Gary Street, president of Royal Machine Works Inc. of Buchanan County.
Another newcomer to the board is Donald Ratliff, vice president for state and governmental affairs for Alpha Natural Resources, who will represent Dickenson/Russell Coal Co. LLC on the board.
Returning for new four-year terms are Michael J. Quillen of Alpha Natural Resources/Paramont Coal Co.; Gerald Ramsey, Consolidation Coal Co.; Steve Greer, CNX Gas Co.; Joe Gillespie, Virginia Economic Development Partnership; Jim Baldwin, Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission; Glen Skinner, Lenowisco Planning District Commission; Carroll Branham, Buchanan County Board of Supervisors; Donnie Rife, Dickenson County Board of Supervisors; and Dana Kilgore, Wise County Board of Supervisors.
The board approved a request from the Russell County Industrial Development Authority to allow plans to move forward on construction of a new Holiday Inn Express to be located in Lebanon. The board previously approved a loan of up to $2.8 million to assist in the project.
In other action, the board approved a loan of up to $505,000 to the Wise County IDA for a yet-to-be-announced project that will create new jobs in Wise County.
The board also approved forgiving the outstanding balance of a $300,000 loan to the Russell County IDA and converting the balance to a grant for an expansion project by CGI approved in 2009.
The loan was converted to a grant because CGI has exceeded the number of employees and jobs the company was required to create in the initial loan package. CGI currently has around 425 employees at its Russell County operations.