Tobacco Commission Funding Two Southside Projects

Source from:  Danville News 07/30/2010

Two Southside projects have received funding from the Virginia Tobacco Commission totaling $10 million, according to Delegate Danny Marshall, who has a seat on the commission. Marshall said the commission met Thursday and approved two special projects for the region: $5 million for photovoltaic cell manufacturing at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and $5 million for a project that entails designing a new type of tire at Virginia International Raceway. The project at the Institute will entail building small photovoltaic cells that will be grouped on panels and used on roofs to collect solar power, Marshall said. Marshall said General Motors, Goodyear and Virginia Tech will join forces at VIR to produce a new tire design that will increase a vehicle's mileage by between three and five miles per gallon. Enditem