New industrial facility authority formed to help strengthen Southside economy

HURT (WSLS 10) - A new group is being formed to help strengthen the economy in Southside.

Representatives from Pittsylvania County, Danville, Hurt, Altavista, and the Southern Virginia Multimodal Park signed a letter of intent Thursday afternoon to create the Staunton River Regional Industrial Facility Authority.

The group's purpose is to help develop the Southern Virginia Multimodal Park.

"Today we have local leaders and officials from four separate jurisdictions who have decided to not only work together, but also with a private entity, with the goal of bettering all of central and southern Virginia," said Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Warren.

The park is currently being studied as a possible intermodal site because of its location along Highway 29 and its direct rail access to the ports.