A scant half-hour from Danville, Martinsville's economy is zooming from more than a new motorsports investment. But the HT Motorsports Technology Center is only fitting in an area that rivals Mooresville, N.C., in its racing heritage.
      In fact, HT is relocating from North Carolina, in a unique partnership with Arrington Manufacturing and Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC). The $1.2-million, 50,000-sq.-ft.

From Bright Leaf to Bright Ideas Who would have guessed a generation ago that the City of Danville's Tobacco Warehouse District would be housing "carbonaceous nanomaterials" that weren't tobacco molecules? That's the case, though, as Luna Innovations, headquartered in Blacksburg to the north, is investing $6.4 million in an R&D operation in Danville that will create 54 new jobs by 2006. The company is targeting its fullerene-based products for military and commercial applications, from textiles to energy to pharmaceuticals. "This project allows Luna to work closely with Danville's highly motivated and qualified work force to secure Virginia as a leader in the nanotechnology sector," said Dr. Kent Murphy, Luna Innovations' Founder and CEO. The Danville work force in August 2004 was made up of more than 10 percent unemployed, although the late-July announcement of a $13.5-million expansion by Columbia Flooring was expected to improve that picture by 200 jobs. Luna now has research and manufacturing facilities in Blacksburg, Roanoke, Charlottesville, Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, Baltimore and Danville, perhaps making it the new emblem for the Mid-Atlantic's new economy.

(4,645-sq.-m.) Virginia Motorsports Technology Center will be constructed by Arrington, and will house not only HT's 75 people, but a whole new advanced motorsports curriculum offered by PHCC, including engine construction. That's not all the center is offering: The college program will provide engines at a reduced cost to up to two other race teams that would agree to locate in Martinsville-Henry County.
      Martinsville has also seen a $4.4-million investment and 150 eventual new jobs from IT service firm MZM, for a database and service operation designed to help the company serve its military and government clients. With an eye toward the future, MZM has purchased not only the building, but the 13 acres (5.3 hectares) around it in the Clearview Business Park, which had made a major investment to upgrade its telecom infrastructure.
      Another 2004 project in Henry County is coming from chenille and yarn maker Globaltex, which will invest upwards of $5 million and hire 154 workers. Crucial to the luring of the project was the existing presence of major supplier Drake Extrusion, whose executives helped convince Globaltex to come to racing country.
      Just to the north, corporate relationships were also at the crux of two major projects highlighting Roanoke's economy over the past year. On the heels of Marvin Windows' Integrity Window and Door facility opening this year, their major supplier Cardinal Glass — after having been stymied at its efforts to locate in the Commonwealth years before — is building a 220,000-sq.-ft. (20,438-sq.-m.) plant that will employ 200. The building has been designed to accommodate a 102,000-sq.-ft. (9,476-sq.-m.) expansion and 100 additional employees within five years. Roanoke has also seen automotive sector investments from Metalsa Roanoke and Virginia Forge.