Henry County Awards Nearly $1 Million Contract for Commonwealth Crossing Expansion
- BTW21
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
COLLINSVILLE, Va. (October 28, 2025) — The Henry County Board of Supervisors has approved a $995,000 contract with Timmons Group to provide engineering and design services for Lot 3 at Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre (CCBC) — a major step forward in preparing the site for future industrial development.
The project is being supported by a $750,000 grant from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP), with the remainder funded through the county’s fiscal year 2026 CCBC budget.
“Preparing Lot 3 is an investment not just in Henry County, but in our region’s future,” said Board Chairman Jim Adams. “With 100 acres and rail access, this site positions us to compete for the kind of transformative manufacturing projects that are reshaping Virginia’s economy.”
The engineering work will include grading, infrastructure planning, and environmental permitting to ensure Lot 3 is “shovel-ready” for potential industrial prospects.
Officials said the development of Commonwealth Crossing continues to strengthen Henry County’s role in the Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor (BRIC) — a 15-locality regional coalition focused on making Southwest and Southside Virginia a national model for rural economic transformation.
According to Chmura Economics & Analytics, the BRIC region generates $33.7 billion in real GDP, ranking fourth in Virginia. Since 2020, the region’s economy has grown 12 percent, the second-fastest growth rate in the Commonwealth.
Despite representing only 8 percent of Virginia’s population, the BRIC area has driven nearly 20 percent of statewide manufacturing growth and one-third of new manufacturing jobs since 2020.
“We’re not just designing sites — we’re designing our future,” said County Administrator Dale Wagoner. “Each investment in engineering and site design strengthens Henry County’s role within the region’s innovation corridor and ensures we’re ready to lead in the next generation of advanced manufacturing.”
Administered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the VBRSP helps localities prepare industrial sites for investment by funding engineering, infrastructure improvements, and permitting work.
Earlier this month, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced $40 million in VBRSP grants to 13 sites across Virginia to advance site readiness and attract new jobs.
Other Board Actions
In other business, the Henry County Board of Supervisors:
Heard an update from Melissa Chapman, Interim Director of the Blue Ridge Regional Library, on ongoing operations and activities.
Approved an additional $33,222 appropriation from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to fund deputy overtime, a new LiDAR speed detection unit, and travel expenses related to grant training.
Approved an additional $31,200 appropriation from state asset forfeiture funds for the purchase of Class A dress shirts as part of the Sheriff’s Office uniform transition.
Awarded a $64,187 contract to East Coast Emergency Vehicles, LLC, for equipment installation in nine new Sheriff’s Office vehicles.
Awarded a $214,616 contract to Vest Sales and Service, Inc., for an ambulance re-chassis.
Approved $36,500 from the Board’s contingency fund to purchase seven secure voting supply cabinets for the Registrar’s Office.
Passed a resolution supporting the Town of Ridgeway’s petition to the Commonwealth Transportation Board to designate the Mayor Edward M. Page Sr. Memorial Bridge.
Approved a resolution recognizing November 11, 2025, as Election Worker Appreciation Day in Henry County.
Conducted several public hearings approving rezoning requests in the Horsepasture and Iriswood districts, allowing for new residential development and replacement of a home destroyed by fire.