The Story of the South-Central Virginia Business Alliance
By Francis Hodsoll
The South-Central Virginia Business Alliance (SCVBA) is a network of local businesses dedicated to meeting goods, services, and labor needs for major infrastructure projects and other economic development initiatives in South-Central Virginia.
Too often, major infrastructure projects roll into rural areas without real connection to the communities they impact. There can be a disconnect—between developers and local workers, between opportunity and access. SCVBA is designed to bridge that gap by building a diverse and growing group of businesses committed to one thing: ensuring that South-Central Virginia’s growth benefits the people who live and work there.
But SCVBA didn’t start in a boardroom… It started in a diner.
The Beginning
SCVBA was born out of the need to solve a big problem: the tension between new solar energy developments and the local workforce who felt left out of these opportunities. When I heard that there were mixed reactions to our Randolph Solar Project, I immediately jumped in my car and drove out to meet local business owners in the Charlotte County area. It turned out that local businesses were frustrated and feeling blocked from providing their goods and services on solar projects. My subsequent job foreman interviews at two other solar project construction sites reinforced this, as neither was using local help.
So, I met with business owners face-to-face. SCVBA’s first meeting took place at Sheldon’s Diner in Charlotte County and included a county planning commissioner, an excavating business owner, a residential construction business owner, a timber business owner, and a realtor. That first gathering was honest, raw, and productive. It laid the groundwork for what SCVBA would become. The goal was simple: to put local projects in the hands of local stakeholders, and to form lasting partnerships that strengthen Virginia’s future.
Four Years Later: A Network Rooted in Community with Measurable Impact
Now comprising 101 member organizations—including large, small and everything in between (and of course, our very own SolUnesco)—SCVBA is a far-reaching collective working together to ensure developers think local first when planning development in Virginia. We have engaged with utilities, EPCs, and developers urging them to put in place policies to bridge the gap between their standard requirements and the ability for small local companies to qualify. In the last three plus years we have held eight gatherings where we educate and help our members make connections. In addition, we’re working on rolling out internal development services for our members, including legal, accounting, and business growth support.
Our partnerships have proven fruitful, creating abundant job and revenue opportunities for members. These are local jobs putting food on local tables. We’re proud to say that what began as a controversial development has ended up growing local stakeholders’ companies by two to three times. For SCVBA, this is a key indicator that we are on the right path. And if I may add, for SolUnesco this is a perfect alignment with our mission of helping energy generation projects connect rural landowners with new revenue streams.
What’s Next: Project Hub
We’re incredibly excited to launch what we’re calling the SCVBA Project Hub. This online platform—that I often refer to as “the Craigslist for procuring local goods and services” will be a one-stop shop where owners and EPCs can post projects that need these services, local businesses can view the opportunities and respond accordingly, and member organizations can build online profiles. Simply, this will help developers find qualified local service providers and continue to reduce barriers to local businesses. The Project Hub is expected to launch in late June 2025.
Want a Seat at the Table?
If you’re a business owner in South-Central Virginia, or a developer who wants to do things differently, we invite you to pull up a seat at the table and join us! SCVBA believes in showing up, listening deeply, and building solutions with the community—not just in it. Visit SCVBA-Biz.org.
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