VCEDA Grant Will Assist with Small Developer Workshop Focused on Housing
CLINTWOOD, VA – DECEMBER 30, 2025 -- An up to $29,500 grant to be used to help pay for a Small Developer Workshop to assist with regional capacity-building training in workforce housing in the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) region was closed recently between VCEDA and the Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority.
The training workshops – aimed at public officials and public employees -- will be held on the campuses of Mountain Empire Community College and Southwest Virginia Community College. While specific dates have not yet been set, it is expected the workshops will be held in late April or early May 2026.
All localities within the VCEDA service area – Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Tazewell, Lee, Scott, Wise and the City of Norton -- will be invited to participate in the program. Primary participants will include county administrators, county attorneys, economic development staff, building officials, local planners and public works departments.
The Dickenson County IDA is serving as fiscal agent on the project.
“The Small Developer Workshop is an initiative aimed at addressing critical housing shortages and development barriers across Dickenson County and the surrounding counties in the VCEDA region,” said VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher. “Through a combination of training, practical simulations and expert consultation, the project will serve to equip public officials, planning development staff and community leaders with the knowledge and tools to address housing policies, streamline permitting and catalyze new housing development.”
The long-term vision of the initiative is to increase the availability of affordable workforce housing throughout the region by training stakeholders to implement improvements and foster development.
Training through the program will be conducted by experienced consultants.
The training is also intended to serve as a foundational step leading to a regional housing summit in 2026. The IDA received additional funding for the project from a $20,000 capacity-building grant the Dickenson County IDA applied for from Virginia Housing.
"This workshop is about turning conversation into action," said Dana Cronkhite, executive director of the Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority. "Through regional collaboration and practical training, we are working to equip local leaders with the tools they need to support housing development that meets the needs of our workforce and strengthens the regional housing ecosystem. We are grateful for the support of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Virginia Housing, whose investment reflects a shared belief in the importance of this work in the future of our communities."
"In Southwest Virginia, workforce housing is not a theoretical challenge but a real constraint on economic growth and talent retention,” said Natalie Chapman, economic development supervisor in Wise County, VA. “These workshops will move beyond discussion and give our local officials and partners practical tools to identify barriers, modernize policies and support small-scale housing development that fits our communities. We are grateful to the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Virginia Housing for investing in this effort and recognizing that building local capacity is essential to the long-term success of Southwest Virginia’s workforce and economy.”
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 for $29,500 to Dickenson County Administrator Larry Barton to assist with a Small Developer Workshop to assist with regional capacity-building training in workforce housing in the VCEDA region.