Up to 43 new jobs will be created after an expansion at Bird Dog Distributors, a plastics manufacturer in Dickenson County. The company received $525,000 from the Virginia Department of Energy’s (Virginia Energy) Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grant to help cover the costs of new manufacturing equipment and upgrading existing equipment. An additional 12 jobs will be supported through the process.
“The coalfields region can be converted into hotbeds for businesses and job opportunities, as exemplified by Bird Dog Distributors, LLC,” said U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith. “Bird Dog Distributors is a provider of healthcare products to government agencies. This AMLER grant funding for $525,000 strengthens Bird Dog’s ability to provide job opportunities for Dickenson County and continue its operations in the region.”
“Expanding job opportunities in Southwest Virginia while repurposing abandoned mine land is a win for Dickenson County and the Commonwealth,” said Virginia Energy Director Glenn Davis. “AMLER is designed to help our coal communities as they reinvent themselves. Good stewardship of the land and its resources position this region for opportunities for years to come.”
By expanding and diversifying the company’s production capacity, Bird Dog Distributors, LLC plans to use revenue growth to expand the workforce over the next five years. “We found a home supported by a great workforce in Dickenson County,” said Bird Dog Distributors, LLC Founder and CEO Scott Maier. “The AMLER grant opportunity makes it possible to continue to provide opportunities to the people that live here and expand the number of quality products we provide our customers across the nation.”
Bird Dog Distributors was founded in 2015 and provides quality healthcare products to government agencies and organizations nationwide. In addition, Bird Dog manufactures industrial plastics products. The facility is in an area that was mined for coal before 1977.
“Today we celebrate a great project and much needed jobs for Dickenson County,” said Virginia Senator Todd Pillion. “Finding opportunities for funding to grow business here in Southwest Virginia amplifies the commitment to our people here and is a firm reminder that this region is ideal for future investment and that Virginia is the best place to do business.”
“Adding 43 jobs through this project has a high impact on Dickenson County that aligns with our priorities to accelerate Southwest Virginia,” said Virginia Delegate Terry Kilgore. “AMLER is a commitment to revitalize our coal communities and is a crucial part in bringing economic growth and new job opportunities for this region.” The AMLER program began in 2017 and is administered by the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement. The grants are managed by Virginia Energy’s Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program.