Healthcare
Westminster Canterbury-Lynchburg Opens New Center
“Construction of this new building was a strategic decision by our Board of Trustees to enhance our mission to support, honor and uplift the lives of our residents and our staff members as we pursue our commitment to Person Directed Living, our new model of care delivery,” said Sean Huyett, president and CEO.
Each of the four resident floors—also known as neighborhoods—will contain 21 private rooms along with communal spaces that feature large windows, natural light, fireplaces, outdoor verandas and neighborhood kitchens where meals will be prepared daily. Other features of the healthcare center include a large community space, a physical rehabilitation center and a beauty/barber salon.
Launched in July 2017, construction and renovations at the V.E.S Road campus represent an investment of $49 million. Interior renovations to the community’s major dining venues and wellness center were completed in the past 12 months.
Horizon Opens New Appomattox Location
Horizon Behavioral Health has expanded its services to Appomattox with the opening of a new 4,000-square-foot location on Union Boulevard.
This expansion of services includes Intensive Outpatient Services and Child Psychiatric Services. They anticipate serving approximately 180 new consumers at the new location.
“It is always exciting to expand our mission of supporting and promoting the health, independence and self-worth of individuals and families in Central Virginia,”said CEO Damien Cabezas. “With this expansion in Appomattox we will be able to continue to keep individuals healthy and in their community.”
EDUCATION
Southern Landscape Group Trains Local Students
Southern Landscape Group is celebrating another successful Landscape Short Course. This initiative, a partnership with Campbell County Schools that’s now in its third year, seeks to build pride in agricultural and landscaping pathways with students so that the Green Industry has a quality future workforce.
During this year’s course June 10-13, 12 students worked together to complete Phase Two of Southern Landscape Group’s “Dream Garden.” This garden not only represents the company’s investment in education but it also serves as a display area for customers and prospective clients.
At the conclusion of the course, Southern Landscape Group offered paid summer internships to five students.
Tourism
Lynchburg Visitor Center Reopens
Following six months of indoor and outdoor renovations, the Lynchburg Visitor Center has reopened with a new look that rebrands and modernizes the building to better serve the needs of visitors and the community.
The Center will focus on promoting a unique Lynchburg experience, foster entrepreneur activities through the Office of Economic Development & Tourism’s CO.STARTERS program, host pop-up shops, arts and cultural programs, and more. With the proximity to the Lynchburg Community Market and historic downtown, the Center will serve as a cultural hub to promote Lynchburg.
“The Lynchburg Visitor Center will always provide the highest quality visitor services,” said Marjette Upshur, Director of the Office of Economic Development & Tourism, “and our goal with this renovation was to have the Center be equipped for the modern era, providing a multi-purpose space for events, community gatherings, meeting space, and more, and I think we achieved just that.”
Read about the Center’s new Lynchburg Experience Manager on page 12.
Construction
Lynchburg Roofing Announces Name Change
Lynchburg Roofing has changed its name to Cenvar Roofing, following a popular online contest that offered a $25,000 prize to whoever could come up with their new identity.
The company has expanded over the years to Roanoke and beyond, making their old name misleading. According to Chris Good, founder and CEO, they wanted to make sure they still paid tribute to where they were founded. “We loved how Cenvar captured that part of our history without alienating any communities we may serve in the future,” he said.
More than 750,000 people participated in the contest, from all 50 states and 76 countries. Approximately 50,000 unique name ideas were submitted in total. The chosen name was suggested by Laura Wonderley, of Staunton, who was awarded the $25,000 grand prize.
Technology
Bedford County Breaks Ground on Tower and Fiber Optic Infrastructure
Construction is underway on the first of 10 new communication towers, along with 21 miles of fiber optic cable, in Bedford County.
The new towers and cable will help bring high-speed internet service to 95 percent of the unserved and underserved areas of the county over the next 12 months. The project is also expected to support homework needs for Bedford County students in 6th through 12th grades who will use new Chromebook tablets this year.
At a groundbreaking ceremony on June 19 at Big Island Elementary, where one of the towers is being constructed, County Administrator Robert Hiss said: “Having broadband access throughout the county is as important as electrifying Bedford County back in the day. Quality internet is critical infrastructure for our citizens and businesses.”
The tower project will cost more than $3.5 million, with up half of that amount covered by two state grants. The Bedford County Board of Supervisors set aside funds in fiscal year 2020 to support the remaining costs.
A parallel broadband project is underway in the far southern part of the county with Comcast to serve 7,000 homes.
Economic Development
Alliance Announces Three Programs Following Release of Talent Study
A recently released study—conducted as part of a GO Virginia Region 2 project called “Stopping the Brain Drain”—outlines ways to increase the talent pool in the 18 jurisdictions in the Lynchburg, New River Valley and Roanoke areas.
“Economic prosperity does not start or end at political boundaries, so it’s critical for the Lynchburg, New River Valley and Roanoke regions to work together to attract and retain talent,” said Megan Lucas, CEO of the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. “We all prosper when new and skilled talent lives, works and plays in our part of Virginia.”
The study revealed significant positive feedback about what it’s like to live and work in Region 2. Strengths include natural beauty, mix of both metro and rural areas, close-knit communities, outdoor recreation and more. However, it found Region 2 faces some challenges when it comes to attracting talent, particularly young professionals. These factors include cultural diversity, dating opportunities and local retail/dining.
The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance is planning and implementing three new programs connected to this issue: Seize the City, Level UP, and Leading off Campus. Learn more about these new programs on pages 42-43 in our short feature about the higher number of millennials choosing to live in Lynchburg.
You can find a link to the “Stop the Brain Drain” talent study at Roanoke.org.
