Laserfiche WebLink
Attachment A <br /> <br />Patriot Technology Centre <br /> <br />What is it? <br />The Patriot Technology Centre will be a state-of-the-art technology incubator and high- <br />performance manufacturing. It will be located in the Patriot Centre at Beaver Creek business <br />park. The facility will consist of the latest in architectural and engineering design and <br />technological infrastructure to service technology sector businesses. The Centre also will <br />provide space for high performance manufacturing to allow present and future businesses an <br />environment to test new equipment and train employees. Local companies such as Stanley <br />Fumimre, American of Martinsville, Bassett Furniture and Hooker Furniture are beginning <br />production lines that rely heavily on high-tech infrastructure and machinery. A high <br />performance manufacturing center will assist them in this process. <br /> <br />How will it work? <br />A technology sector company will be allowed to use the facility rent-free for up to 36 <br />months. Henry County and Patrick Henry Community College will guarantee the company. <br />that it will have a trained workforce available, through PHCC's programs and the Workforce <br />Development Initiative. The company must promise that it will hire at least 50 local workers <br />and pay them at least $30,000 annually. <br />After the business locates in the community, secures its workforce and is operating <br />successfully, it would be expected to move to a new location, preferably within the Patdot <br />Centre but certainly within the Southside region. Then a new business would be recruited for <br />the incubator. <br /> <br />What is the company's risk? <br />Virtually none. The company makes a commitment to relocate within Henry County once it is <br />operating successfully, and it makes a commitment to pay each worker at least $30,000. The <br />company bears no responsibility in the cost of construction, infrastructure, or initial <br />employee training. <br /> <br />What does Henry County get out of this? <br />Henry County gets a new corporate citizen that provides well-paying, technologically-based <br />jobs that will allow us to diversify our economy. Henry County citizens get new careers in an <br />innovative, growing field. <br /> <br />What does the Commonwealth of Virginia get out of this? <br />Northem Virginia companies are searching for employees in their tight job market. If those <br />employees aren't found in Virginia, they may be found elsewhere. This proposal allows those <br />jobs to stay in state while casing the crunch in Northern Virginia and feeding a region that <br />needs to diversify. In that scenario, everyone wins. The Centre also will provide an <br />oppommity to lure businesses across the North Carolina line into Virginia. <br /> <br /> <br />