Henry County will receive $750,000 in state grant funding to support site development at Lot #3 of the Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre, part of a major statewide effort to prepare industrial sites for future business investment.
“This grant is a major step forward for Henry County,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jim Adams. “Preparing Lot #3 at Commonwealth Crossing for future development strengthens our position in a competitive market. With 100 acres and rail access, this site has tremendous potential. Getting the engineering and design work done now ensures we’re ready when the next opportunity comes.”
Adams noted that recent success in attracting major employers like Crown Holdings and Press Glass came in part from having project-ready sites. “Combined with record levels of industrial permitting and steady business interest, this investment reflects the kind of momentum we’ve worked hard to build, and we’re committed to keeping it going,” he said.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently announced a total of $40 million in Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP) development grants for 13 sites across the Commonwealth. Of that total, $35.9 million will go directly toward development, with an additional $4.1 million supporting a new accelerated site characterization initiative.
“Business-ready sites are instrumental to Virginia’s ability to compete and win economic development projects and create great new jobs for Virginians,” Youngkin said. “Since 2022, we’ve seen more than $125 billion in capital investment committed by companies expanding or moving to Virginia because they know they can move quickly on these landmark projects.”
The VBRSP, administered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), helps localities improve infrastructure and secure permitting to prepare sites for business expansion or relocation. For localities over 35 square miles, eligible sites must include at least 50 contiguous, developable acres.
“In today’s competitive landscape, having project-ready sites available across multiple regions gives Virginia a real advantage,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura. “The Virginia Business Ready Sites Program is making a measurable difference in communities throughout the Commonwealth by preparing sites that meet the demands of major employers.”
“Virginia is developing a next-generation portfolio of project-ready sites that are built to meet business needs from day one,” said VEDP President and CEO Jason El Koubi. “By preparing sites that align with the demands of today’s companies, we’re using infrastructure as a strategic tool to drive economic growth—and positioning every region to compete and win in the economy of the future.”
The program was developed by a coalition including VEDP, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, rail and utility representatives, engineers, and other public and private partners. Grants are awarded competitively by an investment committee composed of VEDP and administration leaders.
