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Wise County IDA reports $23M in grant awards, data center revenue and clarifies no local nuclear testing
Summary
Brian Falin, Executive Director of the Wise County IDA, told the Board that the $23 million cited in recent discussions is primarily state and federal grants, updated the board on several projects including Mineral Gap Solar and Project WiseLink, and clarified the county is not pursuing nuclear reactor siting or testing.
WISE, Va. — Brian Falin, Executive Director of the Wise County Industrial Development Authority, presented an update on economic development projects on March 12, saying that most of the more than $23 million referenced in recent discussions consists of state and federal grant awards rather than local funding.
Falin briefed the board on active projects including the Elam Farm Industrial Site development, the Mineral Gap Solar Project, a microreactor feasibility study and Project WiseLink, a transmission infrastructure effort tied to regional energy and industrial development. He said the Mineral Gap Data Center, which opened in 2017, employs about 25 people and produces approximately $200,000 annually in tax revenue for the county.
Noting public concern about energy projects, Falin expressly clarified the county is not proposing a nuclear reactor, that no local sites are under consideration by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and that the county will not serve as a testing location for small modular reactor technology.
The board thanked Falin for the presentation and acknowledged the potential tax-base benefits of data center growth alongside public concerns about energy projects.
