The Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation provides comprehensive economic development for the Alleghany Highlands. Our role is to improve the quality of life of our citizens by helping existing businesses to grow and prosper and create quality jobs to the area. These efforts are being made to achieve a positive public image and a diversified economic base with viable employment opportunities to improve and enhance the local economy. The Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation (AHEDC) was formed on July 1, 2002 and is located at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, McCarthy Hall, Suite 510, Clifton Forge. The AHEDC is comprised of the City of Covington, Alleghany County, and the Towns of Clifton Forge and Iron Gate. The AHEDC is concentrating on five distinct focus areas for development, which are:

• Marketing and Business/Industry Recruitment
• Business/Industry Retention and Expansion
• Small Business and Entrepreneurial Development
• Travel and Tourism
• Workforce Development

Utilizing a combined effort bringing the resources of the City of Covington and the County of Alleghany to include the Town of Clifton Forge, the Town of Iron Gate, and State and regional resources, the AHEDC will work to improve current and future economic conditions within the Alleghany Highlands. A diverse and trained workforce, ready and available commercial properties, conveniently located and modern industrial areas, low operating costs, and a friendly community are all available in the Alleghany Highlands. Local and State incentives, to include the Alleghany Highlands Enterprise Zone, are available to existing and new Alleghany Highlands businesses and industries. The Alleghany Highlands offer a flexible business environment that can sustain a variety of industries and businesses.

• Mark George - (Chairman) MeadWestvaco Corporation
• Lewis "Butch" Kemper - (Vice Chairman)
• Kathy Bryant - (Treasurer) Highlands Community Bank
• David "BB" Bryant - City of Covington
• Bernard "Mac" Campbell, Jr. - Alleghany County
• Bill Zimmerman - City of Covington
• Donald Carter - Clifton Forge
• Cletus Nicely - Alleghany County Board of Supervisors
• Tammy Scruggs - Alleghany Highlands Arts Council
• Dr. Richard Teaff - Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
• Alan Williams - Mayor, Town of Iron Gate
• David Woods - Bacova Guild
• Ray Plasters, III - Labor
• Teresa Hammond - Chamber of Commerce
• Horton Beirne - The Virginian Review
• Jim Garcia - Standard Printing
• Ray Lipes - Service Operations Manager, nTelos
• Greg Madsen - CEO, Alleghany Regional Hospital

• John Strutner - Alleghany County
• John Doane - City of Covington
• Tracey Shiflet - Town of Clifton Forge

Alleghany Highlands - “Meet Virginia, Where Virginia Meets the Sky.” The Alleghany Highlands is made up of the City of Covington and Alleghany County to include the Towns of Clifton Forge and Iron Gate. The Alleghany Highlands is located in the western portion of Virginia and has a land area of 445.66 square miles. The word “Alleghany” is an American Indian word meaning “endless,” and it is used to describe the mountain ranges of the Appalachians. That is why our mountains are called the Alleghany Mountains. Opportunity for better business and personal living are also “endless” in the Alleghany Highlands. The Alleghany Highlands were first settled around 1746. On January 5, 1822, Alleghany County was formed from parts of Bath, Botetourt, and Monroe Counties by an act of the Virginia Legislature. The region is rural in nature and very mountainous with deep, level valleys. The highest point in the County is Big Knob (4,049 feet) on Warm Springs Mountain, while the lowest point is the Town of Iron Gate (1,000 feet). “Meet Virginia, Where Virginia Meets the Sky.” Throughout the 17th century, the Valley of Virginia was an unknown entity to all Europeans with the exception of a few traders and explorers. It was predominantly during the second quarter of the eighteenth century, after the earliest westward explorations, that the first European settlers began to move into the Valley of Virginia in any great numbers. The first European immigrants were of German origin. In the early 1730’s these settlers moved down into the northern Valley from Pennsylvania. They were soon followed by large numbers of Scotch-Irish who also came from Pennsylvania in the late 1730s and 1740s and eventually ended up settling the entire length of the Valley. Unlike the large-scale planters in the Piedmont and Tidewater areas, the German and Scotch-Irish immigrants were small-scale farmers who cultivated mixed crops including wheat, corn, rye, oats, barley, flax, and hay. Root crops included potatoes and turnips. One of the few early cash crops for the Valley farmers was hemp. The fertile bottomlands also encouraged the raising of cattle, hogs and, to a lesser degree sheep. The Valley provided them with limestone rich, productive soils. The Alleghany Highlands are 60 miles north of Roanoke; 176 miles west of Richmond, the state capital; 227 miles southeast of Washington, DC; and 270 miles southwest of Norfolk, Virginia’s deepwater international port. Located on the I-64 corridor, the Alleghany Highlands are "Virginia's Western Gateway," to the heartland of the United States. Industries and businesses of the Alleghany Highlands are based in traditional American manufacturing to include: automotive components, wood and paper products, plastics and coating materials, and high-tech electronics. Alleghany Highlands Agriculturalists are currently engaged in the production of cattle and hay fodder crops. The Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation is cooperating with Dabney S. Lancaster Community College to develop a laboratory to teach and promote packaging industries and manufacturing in the Highlands. Telecommunication and related service industries are also important and growing components of the current and future economy of the Highlands. The Alleghany Highlands is developing and consolidating travel and tourism attractions and opportunities. Adventure Tourism emphasizing the abundant natural beauty and historic/heritage components of the Alleghany Highlands will be the focal point of Highlands travel and tourism development. The Alleghany Highlands area has abundant resources for travel and tourism. Resources range from historical to natural sites and attractions. Some of the travel and tourism resources are natural resources such as Lake Moomaw, the Mountains, the Rivers, Douthat State Park and Falling Springs Falls. There are also historic resources such as the covered bridge, the various closed foundries such as the one in Longdale Furnace, historic homes and buildings, and the reconditioned C & O Train Depot in Covington that houses the Alleghany Historical Society. Other interest include the Historic Masonic Theatre, Alleghany Highlands Center for the Performing Arts located in the Town of Clifton Forge, Alleghany Arts Council, the Fall Foliage Festival, Covington Lumberjacks, Jackson River Sports Complex located in the City of Covington, Jackson River Scenic Trail, YMCA, The Homestead and Greenbrier resorts near by, Alleghany Highlands Arts & Craft Center, Alleghany Country Club, Cliff View Golf Club, Cliftondale Country Club, City Parks, Gathright Dam, Roaring Run, and Sweet Chalybeate. In addition there are hotel accommodations, restaurants, specialty shops, and regular retail shops available for travel and tourism activity. A diverse and trained workforce, ready and available commercial properties, modern industrial areas, and a friendly community are all conveniently available in the Alleghany Highlands. Visit the Highlands soon to experience your own Adventure Tourism or just pass through “Virginia’s Western Gateway” as you travel to the heartland of America. Come and “Meet Virginia, Where Virginia Meets the Sky.” See why the Indian word “Alleghany” still means “endless” when it comes to your opportunities in Alleghany County for better business and personal living.