Henry County Awards Nearly $1 Million Contract for Commonwealth Crossing Expansion – BTW21

Report on Henry County’s Strategic Investment in Sustainable Economic Development

Project Overview: Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre Expansion

On October 28, 2025, the Henry County Board of Supervisors authorized a contract of $995,000 with Timmons Group for engineering and design services pertaining to Lot 3 at the Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre (CCBC). This initiative is designed to prepare a 100-acre, rail-accessible site for future industrial use, making it “shovel-ready” for prospective manufacturing projects.

• Total Contract Value: $995,000
• Primary Contractor: Timmons Group
• Scope of Work: Grading, infrastructure planning, and environmental permitting.

Financial Structure and Partnership Alignment

The project’s funding model demonstrates a multi-level partnership aimed at achieving regional development goals, directly supporting SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

1. State-Level Grant: A sum of $750,000 has been secured from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s (VEDP) Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP).
2. County-Level Funding: The remaining balance will be covered by Henry County’s fiscal year 2026 budget for the CCBC.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This strategic investment directly contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, positioning Henry County and the wider region for long-term, sustainable growth.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The primary objective of preparing Lot 3 is to attract transformative manufacturing projects, thereby promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and creating opportunities for full and productive employment.

• The project enhances the region’s competitiveness in attracting industries that provide stable, high-quality jobs.
• It supports the Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor (BRIC), a 15-locality coalition that has driven nearly 20% of statewide manufacturing growth and one-third of new manufacturing jobs since 2020.
• The BRIC region’s economy, valued at $33.7 billion in real GDP, has demonstrated a 12% growth rate since 2020, the second-fastest in Virginia.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The contract focuses on building resilient infrastructure to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

• By funding essential engineering and design, the county is developing quality, reliable, and sustainable industrial infrastructure.
• The initiative strengthens Henry County’s role in the regional innovation corridor, preparing it for the next generation of advanced manufacturing.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The development of planned industrial sites and related community support systems contributes to making local communities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• The Board approved rezoning requests in the Horsepasture and Iriswood districts, allowing for new residential development to support community growth alongside industrial expansion.
• Investments in public safety infrastructure, including emergency vehicles and ambulance services, enhance community resilience and safety.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The actions of the Henry County Board of Supervisors reflect a commitment to building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at the local level.

• Appropriations were approved to support law enforcement operations through funding for overtime, equipment, and uniforms for the Sheriff’s Office.
• The purchase of secure voting supply cabinets for the Registrar’s Office and the formal recognition of Election Worker Appreciation Day reinforce the integrity of and trust in democratic institutions.

Ancillary Institutional Actions Supporting Community Sustainability

In addition to the primary contract, the Board of Supervisors took further actions to strengthen community infrastructure and governance, aligning with the aforementioned SDGs.

Public Services and Safety (SDG 11, SDG 16)

• Awarded a $214,616 contract for an ambulance re-chassis.
• Approved a $64,187 contract for outfitting nine new Sheriff’s Office vehicles.
• Appropriated $33,222 for Sheriff’s deputy overtime, a LiDAR speed detection unit, and training.
• Appropriated $31,200 from asset forfeiture funds for Sheriff’s Office uniforms.

Civic Infrastructure and Engagement (SDG 4, SDG 16)

• Received an operational update from the Blue Ridge Regional Library.
• Approved $36,500 for secure voting supply cabinets.
• Passed a resolution supporting the designation of the Mayor Edward M. Page Sr. Memorial Bridge.
• Approved a resolution recognizing November 11, 2025, as Election Worker Appreciation Day.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article focuses on economic development through industrial site preparation, aiming to attract manufacturing projects that create jobs and boost the regional economy. It explicitly mentions economic growth figures and job creation in the manufacturing sector.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The core of the article is about investing in infrastructure to support industrialization. The approval of a contract for engineering, design, grading, and infrastructure planning for an industrial business park directly relates to building resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable industrialization.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The project is part of a broader regional strategy, the “Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor (BRIC),” which involves a coalition of 15 localities. This highlights efforts in regional development planning to create positive economic links and foster rural economic transformation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation. The article supports this by mentioning the goal to attract “transformative manufacturing projects” and positioning the region to lead in the “next generation of advanced manufacturing.”
   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. The entire project, funded by the county and a state grant (VBRSP), is a development-oriented policy aimed at making the site “shovel-ready” to attract businesses and create jobs.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being. The $995,000 contract for engineering and design services for the Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre is a direct investment in developing quality industrial infrastructure.
   • Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization. The article highlights that the region has driven “nearly 20 percent of statewide manufacturing growth,” showing a clear focus on boosting industrialization.
   • Target 9.a: Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support. While Virginia is not a developing country, the focus on making “Southwest and Southside Virginia a national model for rural economic transformation” aligns with the principle of supporting development in economically challenged regions.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning. The article’s mention of the “Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor (BRIC) — a 15-locality regional coalition” is a direct example of strengthening regional development planning to foster economic transformation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 8:
  • Real GDP Growth: The article states the BRIC region generates “$33.7 billion in real GDP” and its economy has “grown 12 percent” since 2020. This can be used to measure progress related to Indicator 8.1.1 (Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita).
  • Job Creation in Manufacturing: The mention that the region has driven “one-third of new manufacturing jobs since 2020” is a direct indicator of job creation in a key productive sector.
• For SDG 9:
  • Investment in Infrastructure: The article specifies the financial commitments, including a “$995,000 contract” and a “$750,000 grant,” which serve as indicators of investment in infrastructure development.
  • Manufacturing Growth: The statistic that the BRIC area has driven “nearly 20 percent of statewide manufacturing growth” is a clear indicator related to industrialization progress (relevant to Indicator 9.2.1: Manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP).
• For SDG 11:
  • Existence of a Regional Development Plan/Coalition: The “Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor (BRIC)” itself, as a “15-locality regional coalition,” serves as a qualitative indicator that a regional development plan is in place and being acted upon, which is central to Target 11.a.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: btw21.com