February 2021
CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS
Member News is a monthly newsletter that provides news about Chamber members.
RIVER DISTRICT ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES NEW APP
The River District Association [RDA] is pleased to announce the River District Downtown App, Distrx. Distrx will be launched and ready for download in early March 2021. Distrx is a mobile app that is part of a nationwide network of Main Street districts and will provide both visitors and residents of the Danville area with a directory of downtown businesses, parking information, walking tours, a calendar of downtown events, and updated COVID protocols.

With so many people looking for free, family friendly recreation that also accommodates social distancing protocols, RDA recognized Distrix as a way to create fun and informative walking tours of the River District that can be updated on a regular basis. RDA is currently working with local partners to finalize a series of walking tours, including a Civil Rights Tour, an Art and Sculpture Tour, and a Downtown Revitalization Tour. More tours will be added as they are developed.  In addition, it will assist visitors and guests with parking, directions, and events that take place in the district.

The River District Downtown App will be launched on March 6, 2021 with a scavenger hunt “apptivity” for the community, “You Otter be in the River District.” Participants will need to download the app and click on the “contest” section. They will then be directed to follow clues or answer riddles to find all the stops. Those that complete the scavenger hunt be entered to win Danville themed prizes. Additionally, several walking tours will be available March 6.  

This Distrx app can be downloaded from both the Apple App Store, and Google Play. For more information about the app visit www.distrx.com.  
MVP SOUTHGATE PROJECT
The MVP Southgate project is a proposed interstate natural gas transmission pipeline that would increase the region’s access to cleaner, affordable American natural gas and generate more than $1 million in new annual ad valorem tax revenue in Pittsylvania County.

The project will start in Chatham and largely follow the existing Transco right of way into North Carolina, where it will deliver natural gas to a local distribution company. The pipeline has received its federal certificate of public convenience and necessity, and is currently going through state regulatory processes. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will hold a virtual public hearing on February 8, 2021, and will accept comment through March 10, 2021, on the draft air permit recently issued for the MVP Southgate project’s Lambert Compressor Station.
IALR COMPUTER TRAINING WORKSHOPS
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS IS HIRING FOR AN OFFICE MANAGER
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Danville Area is currently advertising for the position of Office Manager. The Office Manager is responsible for managing all financial functions including payroll, accounting, financial operations, employee benefits. Ideal candidate is self-motivated, analytical, resourceful and possesses expert knowledge of GAAP processes and procedures. 
 
To apply, submit cover letter, resume and three professional references to:

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Danville Area
ATTN: Faith Stamps
123 Foster Street
Danville, VA 24541

or 


Applications will be reviewed beginning February 1, 2021. Position will remain open until filled. 
SBSD: ONE ON ONE BUSINESS CONSULTS
COVID-19 VACCINATION AT SOVAH HEALTH
VEDP SEMINAR: PERFECT YOUR INTERNATIONAL SALES PITCH
How are you adapting your approach to sales and communicating your company’s value proposition in the new world of virtual meetings? Join VEDP for a 3-part webinar training series designed to help you perfect your virtual presentation, communication, and sales pitch skills.

Part 1: Master the Art of the Virtual Presentation [February 11, 2021]
Part 2: Persuasive Communication [February 18, 2021]
Part 3: Perfecting Your Value Proposition [February 25, 2021]
VIRGINIA TOBACCO REGION REVITALIZATION COMMISSION EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE OPPORTUNITIES
Applications are now open for:

  • Talent Attraction Program [TAP]
  • Health Occupations State Loan Repayment Program [SLRP]

These programs have been and continue to be an incentive to your members in hiring and retaining staff as we have successfully brought recent graduates for hard-to-fill positions to our region over the last 2 years. 

Talent Attraction Program [TAP]
 
TAP’s purpose is to encourage recent graduates to work in targeted, hard-to-fill occupations and live in the Virginia Tobacco Region for a minimum of 2 years while providing them up to $12,000 annually in student loan repayments [with a $24,000 loan repayment commitment]. Individuals approved for this incentive will be required to maintain fulltime employment in a specified occupation and be civically engaged in their community. We are currently taking our third round of applications for this program with an April 30 deadline. To date we have awarded over 150 recent graduates which has helped bring them to or keep them in our region!

Health Occupations State Loan Repayment Program [SLRP]
 
We have also partnered again with Virginia Department of Health who currently manages the SLRP program which targets hard-to-fill health occupations in our region in order to improve and increase access to quality healthcare. They allow up to $140,000 in loan repayments over a 4 year period in specified healthcare occupations. Individuals approved for this incentive will be required to work in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas within the Virginia Tobacco Region, have to be board eligible or certified and will be required to live in the Virginia Tobacco Region as well. To date they have awarded 30 individuals in these much needed occupations!
COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINICS FOR PHASE 1b GROUPS
Beginning Monday, January 18, the Pittsylvania-Danville and Southside health districts will begin conducting closed “point of dispensing” [POD] COVID-19 vaccination clinics specifically for “Phase 1b” priority groups. Phase 1b is the second group eligible to receive the vaccine, and includes police, fire and hazmat response personnel, those living and working in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and migrant labor camps, childcare/K-12 teachers and staff, food and agriculture workers, manufacturers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, mail carriers [USPS and private], anyone 65 years and older, and those individuals 16-64 years with high risk medical conditions. Residents in Phase 1a will still be provided opportunities to receive the vaccine.

Individuals will be required to bring a personal form of identification such as a driver’s license, and may also be asked to show proof of qualification, such as a work ID, in order to verify eligibility. These PODs are specifically for Phase 1b and 1a; COVID-19 vaccine is not available to the general public and these are not public events.

Essential employees will be scheduled through their employers. Vaccination planning teams are reaching out to coordinate with employers in Phase 1b. Employers of Phase 1b essential create a spreadsheet with all the qualifying employees- proper name, contact email [and mobile phone if desired], and indicate which employees has expressed a willingness to accept the vaccine.

Individuals 65 years and older and those 16-64 years with high risk medical conditions who live in PDHD should call 434.766.9828 and those individuals in SSHD should call 434.738.6545 to schedule an appointment. Both health districts are experiencing high call volumes and ask that callers be patient.

As availability of the vaccine increases, Virginia will move to the other phases. Phase 1c will include other essential workers. The complete definitions of all phases, data and other information, are on VDH’s Vaccine Response website at www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/. Anyone can use this brief eligibility to find out which vaccination phase they fall under.

Virginians who do not fall into priority phases will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine when it is more widely available. Once the vaccine is rolled out to the general public, distribution will be similar to the flu vaccine. People will be able to get the vaccine from a local pharmacy, primary care physician, Federally Qualified Health Center [FQHC]/free clinic, local health department or other clinic that is participating as a COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider.

You can learn more about the vaccine, its safety and answers to frequently asked questions at VDH’s website and CDC’s website.
MBF LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
BE THE CHANGE EXCHANGE
If your organization needs volunteers, or if you would like to serve in your community...Middle Border Forward and the Center for Community Engagement & Career Competitiveness have created the perfect resource for you! The Be The Change Exchange is a Facebook group that connects people who want to volunteer with organizations that need help. It's that simple!
 
How can I participate?

2.       Post your volunteer needs & contact information
3.       Volunteers will contact you via the information you provided
4.       Share and promote the group
 
Together, we can BE THE CHANGE our region needs to rebuild stronger than ever!
VOLUNTEER FOR COVID-19 VACCINATION EVENTS
On Saturday February 6 from 1-5 p.m., the Cherrystone Missionary Baptist Association in Ringgold, VA, SOVAH, and the Virginia Department of Health along with other community agencies, are hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for the Dan River Region at Cherrystone [5551 Tom Fork Rd. in Ringgold].
 
In that sense of community-building, we need volunteers to help make the event a success. We'll have snacks and water for all volunteers. To adhere as closely as possible to state guidelines, we are prioritizing those who are either in categories 1A or 1B [see the registration form for those definitions].
 
Please complete the volunteer registration form, and more details will be sent as they are made available.
  
Upcoming large-scale clinics for which separate volunteer links will be sent include:
 
  • February 20 at Averett [second dose clinic]
  • February 26 at the Community Market [second dose clinic]
 
Also, every Wednesday and Thursday from 1-4 p.m., SOVAH hosts smaller clinics at the hospital for which we always need 6 volunteers and 4 vaccinators. Email Billy Wooten, Executive Director of the CCECC, to volunteer for these.
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR SOUTHSIDE OPPORTUNITY FUND
Applications for the annual Southside Opportunity Fund [SOF] scholarships for students headed to college or a trade/technical school will be taken through late March.

High school and homeschool seniors who receive electricity at their homes from Southside Electric
Cooperative [SEC] are eligible to apply for the $1,000 scholarships. The application deadline is March 26,
and scholarships will be awarded this spring.

The program was created by the SEC Board of Directors to provide scholarships and other opportunities for Cooperative members and their families. It’s part of a recognition by the Cooperative of the importance of preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs.

Eighty-nine scholarships for almost $100,000 have been awarded in just five years.
A combination of weighted criteria is used in the selection process: 45% financial need, 45% academic achievement and 10% personal statement. Scholarships must be used for tuition, student fees, lodging or textbooks.

To be eligible, the applicant’s primary residence must receive its electric power from SEC, the applicant must receive a high school diploma or GED by the fall of 2021 and the applicant must be entering his or her first semester of college or trade/technical school in the fall of 2021. Proof of admission will be required if selected to receive a scholarship.

For more information and to apply for a scholarship, visit www.sof.coop or contact SEC’s community relations coordinators Joy Stump at 434.645.3219 or joy.stump@sec.coop or Mark Thomas at 434.645.3276 or mark.thomas@sec.coop.
MOBILE FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTION
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Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce | www.dpchamber.org
(T) 434.836.6990 | (F) 434.836.6955
150 Slayton Avenue | Danville, VA 24540