VCEDA Seed Capital Grant Approved for Two Sweet Bees, LLC

NICKELSVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 15, 2025 – Increasing the production of honey -- for sale on site, as well as in a variety of stores throughout Scott County, VA -- is the focus Tilden and Jennifer Nash have as they work toward expanding sales throughout the region; offering bee pollinator services to local farms; hosting beekeeping workshops; and growing their new business, Two Sweet Bees, LLC.

Two Sweet Bees, LLC is a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant. Seed capital grants are funded from regional funds received by VCEDA which are paid by the natural gas industry.

“Two Sweet Bees, LLC is growing their beekeeping operations to increase their manufacture of local honey to be offered for sale throughout the region and to work with area farms to offer bee pollinator services which in turn will indirectly serve to increase nut, fruit and vegetable production at area farms,” said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel. “The new business projects one full-time employee and three part-time employees within five years.”

Eighty percent of the honey produced by Two Sweet Bees is sold in local stores, according to Tilden Nash, who said fall is the primary time the honey is harvested.

“I’ve been involved in beekeeping since I was a teenager,” Nash said. “I’ve always thought it was fascinating. My neighbor had some bees when I was growing up and I first got started in beekeeping there.”

Currently, Two Sweet Bees manages 35-40 hives of bees and as that number grows, Nash said, employees will be added.

“Our goal is to reach 200 hives to increase both our honey and our wax production,” Nash said. “We also want to expand to offer pollination services and want to start some workshops on beekeeping and to teach about Queen Bee grafting.”

Offering pollination services to local farmers since bees are essential for the pollination of many crops will also indirectly increase the yield of fruits, nuts and vegetables which benefits the agricultural sector and contributes to the local economy through higher farm profits and lower food prices.

 Nash noted the VCEDA seed capital funds were used to purchase equipment needed to purchase supplies for processing, bottling, labeling and selling the honey produced by Two Sweet Bees.

“The VCEDA seed capital grant has definitely helped,” Nash said. “It’s given us the opportunities we otherwise would not have been able to take advantage of and has enabled us to expand the operation.”

The Nash’s worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) in developing the application to VCEDA and received a letter of support from the Scott County Economic Development Authority (EDA).

“Tilden and Jennifer’s passion for their business, Two Sweet Bees, is truly inspiring,” said Becki O'Quinn, Mountain Empire SBDC director. “Their deep knowledge of beekeeping and commitment to growing the practice in our region is evident in every step they take. As they expand their operations and increase production, they’re also opening the door to new product offerings. We’ve enjoyed learning more about the beekeeping process and are thrilled to see them receive VCEDA Seed Capital funding to support their continued growth.”

“People are requesting more items locally grown,” said Scott County EDA Executive Director John Kilgore. “We are excited about this new business that supports agriculture in the region.”

Two Sweet Bees LLC may be found on Facebook and may be reached by calling 276-690-4804.

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.