MARTINSVILLE, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GENEDGE ALLIANCE, in partnership with the Southside Business Technology Center (SBTC), received funding approval from the Danville Regional Foundation (DRF) on March 13, 2012 in the amount of $100,000 to co-fund the E3 Pilot Project Implementation program in Danville/Pittsylvania County. The Tobacco Commission has already committed $250,000 to the launch of E3, pending dollar-for-dollar match. The award will provide for the establishment of a pilot group of manufacturers to participate in the E3 Pilot, and for the funding of technical assessments that lead to the implementation of energy and environmentally sustainable strategies within local manufacturing businesses.
E3 (which stands for Economy, Energy, and Environment) is a federal initiative that is a model of collaboration between manufacturers, utilities, local economic development entities, and federal resources. E3 is intended to enable economic growth in local communities by working most efficiently with manufacturing businesses providing technical assessments, training, and implementation of energy and environmentally sustainable strategies within local manufacturing businesses.
GENEDGE ALLIANCE Executive Director Jeff Kohler states, “A similar E3 Pilot Program exists with our affiliate, The Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC) in Southwestern Virginia.”
MTC Executive Director Keith Thompson adds, “Our two-year E3 initiative began in October 2011 and has provided comprehensive technical assessments for six regional companies. Over $15,000,000 of potential economic savings plus significant improvements in environmental performance has been identified.”
DRF President & CEO Karl Stauber says, "DRF is proud to participate in this collaborative effort with TIC, SBTC, GENEDGE ALLIANCE, economic developers in both the county and city, and most importantly manufacturers throughout Pittsylvania County and Danville. This effort to increase productivity and improve the sustainability of our region's manufacturers is an important one. Our hope is that this project will allow these companies the ability to better compete in the global marketplace which is a win-win for the companies and our region."
“E3 projects in other communities have produced significant benefits,” said Jeremy Stratton, director of the Danville Office of Economic Development. “These benefits are realized not only by manufacturers but everyone in the community. We are pleased that the SBTC has pulled the resources together to build this program for the Danville area.”
"The Tobacco Commission's goal is to help bring jobs to the footprint. The E3 project will help manufacturing companies stay competitive in a very tough market place. This will keep jobs and bring jobs to our area," says Delegate Danny Marshall (14th District).
About GENEDGE ALLIANCE: GENEDGE ALLIANCE is the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) affiliate for the Commonwealth of Virginia. GENEDGE helps Virginia industries compete. Since 2000, our clients have reported over $2 billion in quantified economic impact for companies. For more information on GENEDGE ALLIANCE visit www.genedge.org.
About the Southside Business Technology Center (SBTC): The SBTC provides business consulting services to local and regional private businesses, economic development organizations, non-profit institutions and local governments of Southside Virginia, by providing tangible business consulting services for existing and newly established businesses in the areas of business plan development, feasibility studies, sources of capital, market research and analysis, financial analysis, operational analysis and mergers and acquisitions. For more information on SBTC visit www.southsidebtc.org.
About the Danville Regional Foundation (DRF): The Danville Regional Foundation is a catalyst for innovation and an agent for transformation for the Dan River region. The Foundation is committed to development, promotion, and support of activities, programs, and organizations that address the health, education, and well-being of the region's residents. For more information on DRF visit http://drfonline.org.
About the Danville Office of Economic Development: For information visit http://discoverdanville.com/.
About the Virginia Tobacco Commission: The Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission (Virginia Tobacco Commission) is a 31‐member body created by the 1999 Virginia General Assembly. Its mission is the promotion of economic growth and development in tobacco‐dependent communities, using proceeds of the national tobacco settlement. For more information visit www.tic.virginia.gov.