News Room

In little more than a year, the series of mostly empty buildings leading into Bristol’s downtown will have been transformed into a 70-room hotel with a rooftop bar overlooking the State Street-Commonwealth Avenue intersection.

Called The Sessions Hotel, the newly announced $19 million development will include a $1.2 million incentive from the city’s general fund, which city officials said will be paid only once doors are open for business. Plans call for development to begin in February and for doors to open in the spring of 2015.

Shearer’s Foods will invest $4.75 million to expand its city snack food plant and add about 25 jobs, thanks in part to some state assistance.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced the expansion Tuesday in a written statement. The Ohio-based firm plans to add a tortilla chip line at its plant just off Commonwealth Avenue to serve customers in the Southeast.

Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Liaoyang Ningfeng Woodenware Co., Ltd., a Chinese furniture manufacturer, will invest $2.1 million to establish its first U.S. subsidiary, New Ridge, LLC, in Smyth County. The company will manufacture furniture components for the Chinese market, supply its European customers with finished products from the U.S., manufacture and sell products for the U.S. market, and expand into lumber production and export to China. Virginia successfully competed against Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia for the project, which will create 125 new jobs.

An Abingdon-based company is expanding its Wytheville operation with help from the Joint Industrial Development Authority of Wythe County, Wytheville and Rural Retreat.

Appalachian Cast Products Inc. will invest $1.6 million in a building expansion and additional equipment creating 16 new jobs and saving 12 jobs.

A new development for exit 5 in Bristol will feature outdoor shop Cabela’s.

The announcement was made at a press conference Wednesday morning. The expected completion date is 2014.