BRISTOL, Va. – For the second year in a row, Bristol Virginia has been recognized as one of the 21 most intelligent communities in the world for its expansive use of broadband to improve quality of life and economic opportunities in the city and across Southwest Virginia. 

Known as “Smart21,” the honor is the first phase for cities vying for the 2010 Intelligent Community of the Year award, a competition sponsored by the New York City-based Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). The ICF receives hundreds of applications annually from communities large and small, urban and rural, and from both industrialized and developing nations who have ventured into the world of fiber-optic broadband. 

The top 21 communities for 2010 were named in New York City on Oct. 16 at the residence of the Consulate General of Sweden, who was representing the City of Stockholm – the 2009 Intelligent Community of the Year winner. The semi-finalists are chosen based on a number of “intelligent community indicators,” including broadband connectivity, knowledge workforce, innovation, digital inclusion and marketing and advocacy.  

“We are pleased to have once again risen to the top in this impressive competition,” says Bristol Virginia Mayor Jim Rector. “Our leaders have gained a great deal of information by going through this process and having the opportunity to review what other communities around the world have done to integrate broadband into their local economies and improve the quality of life for their citizens. We believe we are doing much of the same for the people and businesses in our region. It is truly an extraordinary opportunity.” 

Bristol Virginia made an impressive showing in 2009 as the only American city to survive to the final round of Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year. “We’re not resting on our laurels from last year’s award,” says BVU Board Chairman Paul Hurley. “With the recent formation of our Community Broadband Integration Team to find new applications for our broadband service, we’re looking to continue providing the people of Bristol and our region with every opportunity to improve their quality of life.” 

The competition is carried out in three phases. Early in 2010, the ICF will narrow the list of 21 global semi-finalists to seven at the Pacific Telecommunications Council conference.  The ICF will then announce an overall winner in May at its annual summit held in New York City.

In 2003, BVU OptiNet was the nation’s first municipal utility to launch a fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) broadband network offering voice, cable and data services. 

The Smart21 of 2010
The Smart21 list of 2010 includes communities from 13 nations and from every continent except Africa. 

• Arlington County, Virginia USA; population: 210,000
• Ballarat, Australia; population: 88,000
• Besancon, France; population: 122,000
• Bristol, Virginia, USA; population: 17,590
• Dakota County, Minnesota, USA; population: 398,500
• Danville, Virginia, USA; population: 42,000
• Dublin, Ohio, USA; population: 40,000
• Dundee, Scotland; population: 142,000
• Eindhoven, The Netherlands; population: 733,000
• Gold Coast City, Queensland, Australia; population: 500,000
• Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada; population: 65,000
• Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; population: 1,148,000
• Porto Alegre, Brazil; population: 1,416,000
• Riverside, California, USA; population: 296,800
• Suwon, Korea; population: 52,000
• Tallinn, Estonia; population: 404,000
• Taoyuan County, Taiwan; population: 1,970,000
• Tel Aviv, Israel; population: 391,300
• Tianjin Binhai, China; population: 2,020,000
• Trikala,

More about Bristol Virginia and BVU honorsBristol Virginia and BVU have received a number of other prestigious awards in recent years. These include the 2009 Community Broadband Fiber Network of the Year Award from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors; 2009 Smart21 and Top Seven awards from the Intelligent Community Forum; 2008 Gold Award for Municipal Excellence from the National League of Cities ; Governor’s Technology Award (2008) from Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine; Cornerstone Award for Outstanding Customer Service (2007) from Broadband Properties Magazine; Smart Community Award (2008) from Last Mile magazine; and the American Public Power Association Community Service Award (2008).  

About ICF
The Intelligent Community Forum (www.intelligentcommunity.org) is a think tank that studies the economic and social development of the 21st century community. Whether in industrial or developing nations, communities are challenged to create prosperity, stability and cultural meaning in a world where jobs, investment and progress increasingly depend on broadband communications. The Intelligent Community Forum seeks to share the secrets of success of the world’s intelligent communities in adapting to the demands of the broadband economy by conducting research, hosting events, publishing newsletters and producing an international awards program.

~ Carolina Profile Design Corp. to invest $3 million in expansion ~

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Carolina Profile Design Corp., a lithographic commercial printing company, will invest $3 million to expand in Grayson County, creating 55 jobs. The company will add a metal machining process to its existing operations. Virginia successfully competed with Illinois, North Carolina and Pennsylvania for the project.

            “Carolina Profile Design has been a corporate staple in Grayson County since 1990,” Governor Kaine said. “This expansion will enable the company to manufacture high-end metal parts for machinery and after-market products that are in demand around the world. In a region that has been hit by economic the downturn and offers an available workforce, 55 new jobs are significant.”

Carolina Profiles began in 1990 as a machine shop with considerable capability in designing plastic recycling equipment. The company now operates both a sophisticated machine design and production shop and some specialized commercial printing.

“We at Carolina Profiles appreciate the natural beauty, the lifestyle and the friendly attitude of Grayson County and Western Virginia,” said Helmar Nielsen, President, Carolina Profile Design Corp. “The state and county government have been very helpful, particularly with employee training, which is a major requirement of our machining operation.” 

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Grayson County and Virginia’s aCorridor to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Kaine approved a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Grayson County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $150,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“Carolina Profile’s expansion, and creation of 55 advanced manufacturing jobs, is an outstanding example of the results of our strategy to support local businesses and entrepreneurs who are creating employment that is above average pay and benefits, and not easily sent overseas,” said Mike Maynard, Chairman, Grayson County Board of Supervisors. “We are aggressively working to develop additional opportunities for this type of secure employment for the citizens of Grayson County.”  

 “This expansion is wonderful news for Grayson County and southwestern Virginia,” said Senator Roscoe Reynolds, a Commissioner of the The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. “I am grateful for Carolina Profile Design Corporation’s confidence in our community and I commend Governor Kaine, Chairman Maynard, the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Virginia Department of Business Assistance for their efforts in making this project a reality.”

“Carolina Profile Design Corporation’s decision to significantly expand operations in Grayson County, with Tobacco Commission , Governor’s Opportunity Fund and Department of Business Assistance support, clearly demonstrates that our rural communities are competitive even during this season of serious economic downturn,” said Senator William Wampler, a Commissioner of the The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. “The Tobacco Commission welcomes opportunities such as this where we can help ensure business growth and prosperity.”

GOVERNOR KAINE ANNOUNCES MORE LAND PRESERVED TOWARD 400,000 ACRE GOAL

~ Mill Mountain also to be placed under conservation easement ~

ROANOKE – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today highlighted the Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s approval of 17,000 acres throughout Virginia to be placed under conservation easement. He also announced that the Roanoke City Council has agreed to support plans to establish two perpetual conservation easements on Mill Mountain and the surrounding 600 acre park.

“One of the best things we can do for our children today is to preserve the environment for tomorrow,” Governor Kaine said. “These actions will bring us even closer to meeting my goal of preserving 400,000 acres of open space by the end of the decade.”

The initiation of the easement process for Mill Mountain was announced today by Governor Kaine on Mill Mountain following the Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s final 2009 meeting. The City of Roanoke, led by the efforts of Councilman Rupert Cutler, will work with the VOF and the Western Virginia Land Trust to establish the two permanent easements, and hope to complete the process this year. The mountain, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, will be protected forever by this easement.

(more…)

 For about the past seven years, I have been keeping up with the regular media mention of the possibility of a Wal-Mart in Abingdon.  There are those for it, those against it and those who probably don’t care.  With the building plan yet again up for debate in this morning’s Bristol Herald Courier, I decided that enough was enough and that I would offer my two cents—what they’re worth—to the world for consideration. 

Building a Wal-Mart in Abingdon has certain truths to it.  Number one:  It would secure jobs for certain Abingdon residents and those who live in the surrounding communities.  With a store in the community, who wouldn’t want to retrieve buggies and perform clean-ups on aisle nine because some snot nosed teenager thought it’d be fun to drop a gallon of milk.  Number two:  In this tumultuous time when healthcare or the lack there of is the only thing that matters, Wal-Mart does in fact offer most of their employees healthcare.  The quality I’m not sure of, but it’s there. And finally, Number three and perhaps the most compelling argument for most people—it gives citizens of Abingdon an unwavering supply of toilet paper, underwear and .55 frozen burritos when you need them most—at 3:00am. 

Let’s look at the evidence above…I’m convinced, aren’t you?!  Let’s build tomorrow!

Wait a minute…that wasn’t me.  Sorry.

So, why wouldn’t people want a Wal-Mart in Abingdon?  Let me tell you.  First of all, have you looked at Abingdon?  It’s beautiful.  It’s serene.  It’s everything a little town should be and more…I’ve looked forward to living there one day for years.  It’s being called “the next Asheville” for its amazing atmosphere, local art and small business focus.  Abingdon is the one town in Southwest Virginia that most other towns in the region are trying to emulate.  They have meshed historical beauty with a small town economy and it works for them.  They are prided and talked about the world over because the town has a feeling to it.  What other town is like that?  None that I’ve been to recently.  Yes, Abingdon has its “Hamburger Hill” district as we called it in high school, but that’s just a minor blemish on the town’s surface—a town that single handedly has more character than most people I know.  That’s saying a lot, by the way.

My advice to you, Abingdon is this:  Progress is great.  I love it when it’s done right, but is it really progress when you add a Wal-Mart to your landscape when there is one literally 10 miles away?  Don’t build.  It’s like that guy/girl you see at the bar after one too many and you think about asking them to dance, but your gut tells you no.  Don’t dance with Wal-Mart.  You’ll thank yourself in the morning. 

Shai Cullop

Governor Kaine announced in the news today that $14 million will be distributed “with approximately 3,790 Virginians [benefiting] from improved housing, wastewater services, job creation and economic revitalization projects.”  Most of the money goes towards “creating safe and affordable housing and water for Virginians, [but] there is also important funding for broadband, and economic and downtown revitalization efforts that will help our communities grow and improve the quality of life for their citizens.” (more…)

Recently, a textile company has become interested in moving into the Carroll and Grayson County area of Southwest Virginia. If they decide to do so it would create 300 new jobs in the area.

(more…)

According to The Floyd Press, a benefit concert on Saturday night raised over $12,000, all going towards the Warren G. Lineberry Memorial Park in Floyd, VA. With efforts like this, the town will have no problem with its goal to open the newly designed park by June 20^th. 

Although this concert was a big step towards building a park, everyone involved in this project agree that more efforts and contributions are necessary into creating Floyd’s own public park.  After all, the park is planned to have the works: patios, walkways, picnic areas, and even a small covered amphitheater.

(more…)