Bedford County

Nuclear technology company Babcock & Wilcox will set up shop in Bedford County's New London Business and Technology Center. Details about what exactly the facility will focus on and how many jobs will be created are expected to be released on Tuesday. The company has said that no nuclear materials will housed at the site.

B&W is investing millions to prepare the site, and if a large number of jobs are created the impact on the Bedford County economy could be significant.

Read more in local news outlets....

• Bedford County in line for a new nuclear facility
• B&W announces plan to invest in Bedford County facility
• Nuclear technology company Babcock & Wilcox expands to Bedford County

The Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority, which governs the 1,100-acre Virginia Explore Park,  was presented with possible plans for the park on Tuesday. New plans are needed because would-be developer Larry Vander Maten was unable to find funding for a planned family resort.

The proposals include generating funds through rentals, leases, and program fees, reopening a historic area, and opening an adventure park, a bike center, campgrounds, and cabins. Also under consideration are a river walkway, a riverside pavilion, and an amphitheater.

Successful development of Explore Park would provide residents in nearby counties with new recreation opportunities, and would also enhance the area's image as a destination for people who love the outdoors. Homeowners could find the value of their properties increasing as a result of the stimulated local economy.

Read more in The News & Advance....

The Bedford County Board of Supervisors voted to revise the county’s floodplain ordinance to prohibit certain uses and activities in flood-prone areas. The changes were necessary to meet requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The agency has completed a flood insurance study and a flood insurance rate map. Both will take effect Sept. 29.

Flood ordinances and FEMA maps of flood plains can impact homeowners by restricting how they can use their property, potentially influencing the value of their homes.

Read more in The Lynchburg News & Advance....

Roanoke-area home sales rose 14% in April over last year, likely a result of buyers rushing to sign housing contracts in time to qualify for federal tax credits.

According to the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors, 328 area homes were sold during the month, compared with 287 in April 2009.  The average price of a house also rose, to $182,471, up from $176,964 in April 2009, the association said.

MapTech Inc., Virginia’s Region 2000, the City of Lynchburg, and Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality are working on a plan to clean up local waterways, and they are looking for help from everyday citizens.

The plan will be based on a December 2007 assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency that spelled out the volume of bacteria the James River and six of its tributaries could contain and still be safe for recreation, known as the Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL. Studies have shown that the James, as well as Ivy Creek, Fishing Creek, Blackwater Creek, Tomahawk Creek, Burton Creek and Judith Creek contain bacteria levels higher that the TMDL.

Organizers are forming working groups comprised of citizens and officials. The groups will study particular problems in depth, and propose solutions. 

Homeowners -- and their property values -- benefit from clean waterways. Not only is clean drinking water a necessity, but sparkling waterways are a great recreational resource that draws prospective buyers.

Read more in The Lynchburg News & Advance....