Wythe County enterprise zone expands

Wythe County enterprise zone expands (Image 1) (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

WYTHE CO. (WSLS 10) - Officials announced Monday Wythe County, Wytheville, and Rural Retreat have reached an important milestone in the ongoing work of economic development.

They say an application to expand the recently renewed Enterprise Zone program for Wythe County was granted by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development on January 5. Notification was received Monday morning, January 12. 

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"This expansion not only increases the geographic footprint of the program but also adds attractive incentives for qualifying businesses within those zones" said JIDA of Wythe County Executive Director David Manley in a written statement, released Monday. 

Launched in 2005, officials say the Enterprise Zone program is widely considered to be a success. They say over the past decade, the impact of the original zone cannot be overlooked. 

Wythe County Board of Supervisors Chairman Tim Reeves said in a written release, "Wythe County's Enterprise Zone has been an effective way for us to offer practical, compelling incentive packages that increase our competitiveness in this global marketplace."

Previously, officials said the Enterprise Zone had covered primarily Progress Park. With this expansion, downtown Wytheville, a portion of the Town of Rural Retreat, and a linear section along the I-81 corridor from Reed Creek to exit 86 between Graham's Forge and Draper are now included.