It’s official! After months of speculation the worst-kept secret of the year is revealed: Walmart announced Sept.24 that a new Supercenter is coming to a site in Caroline County in Ladysmith. The store will create approximately 300 jobs, represent a $25 million investment and generate tax revenue for the county. The 158,000-square-foot Supercenter is part of a broader retail project by Richmond-based Blackwood Development.
The store will be located on the southwest corner of Ladysmith Road and Route 712 (Green Road), near the Ladysmith exit off I-95. Caroline County and Blackwood Development plan to make significant improvements in the road network.
Blackwood plans to additionally invest $20 million to develop 100,000 square feet of retail and services. Walmart and Blackwood expressed appreciation for the welcoming and professional attitude of the Caroline County Board of Supervisors, Economic Development office and Planning Department.
At their Sept. 22 meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved as part of the consent agenda a request to expedite the public hearing for the project, which was identified in the staff memo as simply “a business prospect.”
The public hearing is currently scheduled for Dec. 8.
Later in the meeting, after a closed session, the supervisors unanimously agreed to pursue $28.4 million worth of funding to expand Ladysmith Road from Interstate 95 through Route 1, the corridor on which the proposed Walmart would sit. Funding would be provided through House Bill Two, a law signed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe last year that aims to invest funds in projects that “meet the most critical transportation needs in Virginia.”
The motion, put forward by Reedy Church Supervisor Reggie Underwood, stated the county’s intention to apply for HB2 funding for a “four-lane divided typical road section with other supporting improvements.” Of the project, $12 million would come from revenue sharing, with the county match being $6 million.
Projects selected for funding under HB2 are expected to be announced by July 2016.
“Walmart is thrilled to bring a new Supercenter to Caroline County,” said Brooke Mueller of Walmart. “Our customers in the area have expressed a strong desire to have a store closer to where they live, so this is a great location,” Mueller said.
“Walmart’s Supercenter in Caroline County will provide our citizens, who are already Walmart shoppers, the retail variety and convenience they have come to expect without leaving our community. Caroline County looks forward to many years of successful cooperation with Walmart, and the accompanying retail development. The impact of hundreds of jobs for our citizens, and more revenue for important community services will greatly enhance our citizen’s quality of life,” said Calvin Taylor, Chairman of the Caroline County Board of Supervisors.
“The Walmart announcement is the result of the ongoing work to bring more and better businesses to Caroline County and to the Madison District. Walmart is an outstanding win in our successful and continuous retail and industry recruitment campaign. At the same time, the Board of Supervisors is working on plans to upgrade Rt. 639 to make shopping at Walmart, and many other new stores, convenient,” said Wayne Acors, Caroline County Supervisor from the Madison District where the store will be located.
Blackwood Development Company, a Richmond-based company, has been developing successful retail shopping centers in central Virginia for the last 25 years.
“Blackwood Development is excited for the opportunity to work with Walmart and Caroline County on this project. Our work with the county has been seamless and we look forward to delivering a top-notch project to the community,” said Blackwood executive Marc Greenberg.
At their Sept. 22 meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved as part of the consent agenda a request to expedite the public hearing for the project, which was identified in the staff memo as simply “a business prospect.”
The public hearing is currently scheduled for Dec. 8.
Later in the meeting, after a closed session, the supervisors unanimously agreed to pursue $28,355,000 million worth of funding to expand Ladysmith Road from Interstate 95 through the Route 1 intersection, the corridor on which the proposed Walmart would sit. Funding would be provided through the new House Bill Two, a law signed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe last year that aims to invest funds in projects that “meet the most critical transportation needs in Virginia.”
The motion, put forward by Reedy Church Supervisor Reggie Underwood, stated the county’s intention to apply for HB2 funding for a “four-lane divided typical road section with other supporting improvements.” Of the project, $12 million would come from revenue sharing, with the county match being $6 million.
Projects selected for funding under HB2 are expected to be announced by July 2016.
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