By John Crane, Danville Register & Bee
Localities in other Southeastern states with manufacturers at mega sites saw industrial growth from suppliers as a result of those projects, but not much attraction of spinoff industries such as retail or restaurants, said the vice president of a consulting firm.
Also, some of those areas have grown substantially, while others haven’t, he said.
But the Dan River Region, with the Southern Virginia Mega Site at Berry Hill, should fare better overall than those other places when it attracts a major industry to the site, said Greg Payne, vice president with Economic Leadership LLC, based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
“Danville and Pittsylvania County is different than the examples because this place is bigger and more has been done,” Payne told attendees during an event at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research Wednesday morning. “It’s a little better equipped to accept more of the growth, but housing is a concern.”