Mount Rogers Regional Partnership tells Smyth supervisors it helped generate 238 jobs and $128M in investment last year
February 27, 2026 | Smyth County, Virginia
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Ashlyn Shrewsbury, executive director of Mount Rogers Regional Partnership, gave the Smyth County Board of Supervisors a fiscal‑year‑in‑review update on Feb. 26, saying the regional economic development organization helped generate 238 new jobs and approximately $128 million in capital investment during FY25.
Shrewsbury highlighted a recently announced 65‑acre greenhouse project she referred to in the presentation as "Plucked," reporting roughly $105 million in capital investment and 118 new jobs tied to that project. She also described ongoing support for expansions by local firms — including Dutchess Dairy and Hitachi Energy — and said the partnership manages Pathway Park, pursues prospect management and oversees grant‑funded site studies.
The director detailed several grant sources and studies: a regional site study funded in part by the Tobacco Commission and Go Virginia, a Pathway Park access analysis funded by AEP, and a target‑industry study supported by the Wellspring Foundation. She said the region secured FDI‑qualified site certification for multiple industrial parks and continues to market available sites to prospects.
Shrewsbury described talent and workforce efforts (K–12 and community college coordination, talent‑solution programs, and career fairs) and noted marketing metrics including two new videos, seven press releases and an advertising campaign that generated more than 30,000 views. She also said the partnership recently doubled its private investors from six to 12 under a tiered private investment model.
Board members asked about opportunities to pivot former tobacco acreage to other agricultural commodities; Shrewsbury said agribusiness is a target industry and that the partnership would pursue prospects for suitable farmland and greenhouse development. She invited supervisors to suggest local sites and emphasized coordination with county staff on business retention and expansion outreach.
No board action was required after the presentation; Shrewsbury concluded by offering her contact information for follow‑up.
Shrewsbury highlighted a recently announced 65‑acre greenhouse project she referred to in the presentation as "Plucked," reporting roughly $105 million in capital investment and 118 new jobs tied to that project. She also described ongoing support for expansions by local firms — including Dutchess Dairy and Hitachi Energy — and said the partnership manages Pathway Park, pursues prospect management and oversees grant‑funded site studies.
The director detailed several grant sources and studies: a regional site study funded in part by the Tobacco Commission and Go Virginia, a Pathway Park access analysis funded by AEP, and a target‑industry study supported by the Wellspring Foundation. She said the region secured FDI‑qualified site certification for multiple industrial parks and continues to market available sites to prospects.
Shrewsbury described talent and workforce efforts (K–12 and community college coordination, talent‑solution programs, and career fairs) and noted marketing metrics including two new videos, seven press releases and an advertising campaign that generated more than 30,000 views. She also said the partnership recently doubled its private investors from six to 12 under a tiered private investment model.
Board members asked about opportunities to pivot former tobacco acreage to other agricultural commodities; Shrewsbury said agribusiness is a target industry and that the partnership would pursue prospects for suitable farmland and greenhouse development. She invited supervisors to suggest local sites and emphasized coordination with county staff on business retention and expansion outreach.
No board action was required after the presentation; Shrewsbury concluded by offering her contact information for follow‑up.
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