VCEDA Grant to Wise County IDA Will Assist with St. Paul, VA Revitalization Project
ST. PAUL, VA – MAY 5, 2026 – A $25,000 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) to the Wise County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) will help to connect the Deen Building in St. Paul, VA to public sewer service as part of an overall revitalization project in downtown St. Paul.
The building, located at16619 Riverside Drive in St. Paul, VA, is one of the buildings identified as part of the ongoing downtown revitalization of the Western Front area of St. Paul.
“In addition to the funds approved by VCEDA, the Town of St. Paul is providing up to $20,000 towards the sewer project,” said VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher. “The IDA has indicated to us it is their belief the future lease of the building will help add tax revenue, jobs and increase visitation to the Town of St. Paul.”
According to the IDA’s application, St. Paul Tomorrow, Inc. (a local 501(c)3 community development organization, based in St. Paul) acquired the Deen building in 2019 with the intention of redeveloping the property for future commercial use.
The IDA application for funding noted the building “is one of the only remaining structures in town that was originally built along the ‘Western Front’ area located adjacent to the railroad tracks. Originally a general store, the building has sat vacant and underutilized since the 1970s.”
The application went on to note, “St. Paul Tomorrow, with support of the town, secured grant funding in 2023 and 2024 to rehabilitate and expand the building. The historic building had no electricity or plumbing when acquired and it was later discovered the building was not connected to town sewer. In order for the building to receive a certificate of occupancy, it needs to be connected to the public sewer system.”
"The Deen Building revitalization project is just the latest example of the great work the Town of St. Paul and St. Paul Tomorrow is doing to keep the town moving forward,” said Wise County IDA Executive Director Brian Falin. “The work that has been done to restore the historic Deen Building will give the town another beautiful asset to draw investment and visitors to the downtown area. The Wise County IDA was proud to work with St. Paul Tomorrow on the grant application to assist with infrastructure needs and looks forward to seeing this project succeed.”
About Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Southwest Virginia’s e-Region: The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 to enhance and diversify the region’s economy and help create jobs, markets Southwest Virginia’s e-Region and its focus on electronic information technology, energy, education, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurship. VCEDA is a unique economic development organization that manages funds for economic development projects from a percentage of the coal and natural gas severance taxes paid by coal and natural gas companies that operate in the region. Located in southwestern Virginia, the region includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton. www.vceda.us or www.e-Region.org.
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PHOTO CAPTION: VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, right, presents a ceremonial check representing a $25,000 grant from VCEDA to the Wise IDA being used to help to connect the Deen Building in St. Paul, VA to public sewer service as part of an overall revitalization project in downtown St. Paul. Also pictured, from left, are Wise County IDA Executive Director Brian Falin and St. Paul Tomorrow representatives Kathy Stewart and Juanita Kelly.