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Blackstone representatives say they will offer on county land near Fort Pickett; board asks for more data
Summary
Representatives from Blackstone presented interest in roughly 64–84 county-owned acres adjacent to Blackstone Municipal Airfield for aviation- and drone-related development and indicated a cash offer of about $651,000 (approx. $9,000/acre assuming 72 acres); the board asked for surveys, revenue projections and coordination with other towns before proceeding.
Town of Blackstone representatives described interest in county-owned land adjacent to Blackstone Municipal Airfield and outlined a potential economic development plan tied to unmanned air mobility and an on-site vertiport. Presentation materials suggested the tract could range between 64 and 84 acres (no survey provided), and a town representative said the town would submit a formal offer and indicated a figure of $651,000 (which the presenter described as roughly $9,000 per acre assuming 72 acres).
Board members pressed for more information before any action: they asked for a formal survey to confirm acreage, projections on revenue streams and clarification on which grant programs the county or the town could access (Tobacco Commission, Virginia Department of Aviation funds), and they requested time to tour local facilities that the town and county representatives had seen. The board reserved judgment and scheduled closed-session negotiation steps for real estate matters.
