Business Appreciation Week

More than fifty business leaders and community members interested in the success of small businesses gathered at Lynchburg Grows on May 13, 2009 to celebrate Business Appreciation Week. The agenda included heavy hors d'Oeuvres provided by Grace Restaurant on Old Forest Road; a keynote address by Will Allen, urban farmer, and Founder of Growing Power Inc., a Milwaukee farm, community food center, recognition of those businesses and individuals who have participated in the One Programs facilitated by the Office of Economic Development for The City of Lynchburg.

Will Allen spoke of his vast experience with the following topics:

Living Biological Growing Systems: An Innovative Approach to Sustainable Production. How to develop a comprehensive and sustainable growing system that can grow food year-round without heat.

Composting: Learn how to build indoor/small-scale compost systems, and design and maintain outdoor/small and large-scale systems.. Discuss collection of waste streams in the city or on the farm.

Vermiculture: Construct and maintain a worm bin. Use vermicompost as a fertilizer or use it for generating cash from those who want an excellent organic fertilizer.We will build an additional 4 worm-bins that will be offered for sale to participants along with a starter worm population.

Aquaponics: Build a large aquaponics unit/vertical growing system where fish and organic plants live in an enclosed system. We will also build 3-4 model demonstration units that will be offered for sale to workshop participants who want to experiment with an aquaponics system.

Businesses who participated in the 2008-09 One Programs were honored with plaques presented by the Honorable Mayor of Lynchburg, Joan Foster, and Marjette L. Glass, Director, Office of Economic Development. Among the honorees were:

• Moore + Goldman, Kelvin L. Moore
• Putt-Putt Fun Center, Joe Aboid
• Funquest, Jim Anderson
• Topline Group LLC, Sergio Asensio
• Bank of The James, Robert L. Chapman III
• Hollywood Diva, Melissa Dunn
• AMF Lanes, James and Maureen Patterson
• Rosetta Coffee Company, Rebecca Skeen
• Lynchburg Industrial Development Authority
• Region 2000 Economic Development Council
• Amherst County Schools
• Bedford County Economic Development Authority
• Virginia Credit Union League Financial Literacy Committee
• Boxley
• RR Donnelley
• Coleman-Adams Construction
• Mr. Patrick Richardson
• Thomasville Furniture
• Appomattox County
• Campbell Insurance
• Fleet Laboratories
• Wooldridge Heating Air Electrical
• Cintas
• Foster Fuels, Inc
• Gorham "Bunny" Wood - Wood & White Investment Advisors, LLC
• Robert Barlow - Fee Clinic of Central Virginia Inc.
• Sarah Jessop - AREVA NP Inc.
• Robert A. Leveque - RR Donnelley Print Solutions
• Tony Tucker - Heritage High School
• Chuck Warren Wegmann, USA Inc.
• Chris McSwain - Craddock Terry Hotel and Conference Center
• Gary Booth - Southern Air
• Ann Gurten / Kevin Bryant - Diebold
• Dave Owen - City of Lynchburg Department of Public Works
• Dan Laslie - Laslie Auto Body
• Lynette Callands / Jared Anderson - Bank of the James
• Mike Pingstock - AMG
• Mark Epperson - RR Donnelley Print Solutions
• Tony Camm -Holiday Inn Select