The Winery at Bull Run in Fairfax County is planning to double its production with help from the state and county.
The winery plans to invest $1.7 million, create 38 new jobs and build a new production facility. The winery is next to the Manassas National Battlefield Park and currently produces 13,000 cases of wine each year.
Gov. Ralph Northam approved a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, according to an announcement Thursday. Fairfax County will match the state grant with $100,000.
The winery has to meet performance goals or refund the money to the state and county. The grant requires the Winery at Bull Run to invest $1.7 million, produce 10 new, full-time jobs, 28 part-time jobs and buy $436,820 in Virginia agricultural products over three years, according to Brian Worthy, a Fairfax County spokesman.
The winery will make annual reports to the state and county on its progress. Plans also include new equipment and a new 8,000-square-foot production facility. The new jobs being created will include winemakers, tasting room staff and cellar hands.
The Winery at Bull Run opened in 2012 on 225 acres and says that its wines are made using only Virginia-grown grapes. It also grows grapes on a 40-acre vineyard in Rappahannock County.
A Winery at Bull Run spokeswoman said it employs around 70 people. The new full-time jobs would pay at least $42,980, and the part-time or seasonal jobs will pay at least $22,880.
Opposition Leader Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3), right, said he was only being civil when speaking on issues concerning Ninth District Representative Dr The Hon Hubert O'Neal (left) at his public meeting in Virgin Gorda on November 2, 2016. Photo: VINO/File
Persons at the meeting called by Dr The Hon Hubert O'Neal (R9) at the Catholic Community Centre in Virgin Gorda on November 9, 2016. Photo: VINO
“So I want the Member to know that I am not going to take that kind of abuse from him. And if he is expecting me to just crawl up in my shell like a soldier crab and say nothing about it, that is not going to happen either.”
Meanwhile, Hon Fraser addressed the matter on his Facebook page on November 10, 2016, saying that in a “weird and incredibly ill-advised meeting” Dr O’Neal made a series of threats to him in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition and that he wished to respond with a hope that civility can return to politics in the Virgin Islands.
“Unlike the hostilities and threatening antics of Dr O'Neal -Member for the 9th District-, I thought I was quite civil to the Member as I only pointed out my observations, evidenced by the opening paragraphs of my very comprehensive presentation which had little else to do with him….There have been many observations that I made during the last General Elections Campaign, but none was more pertinent to you the people of Virgin Gorda than the need for you to ensure that your next Representative be someone in a position of high authority,” Hon Fraser said in sticking to his argument that Dr O’Neal lacks clout.
Meanwhile, many Virgin Gordians on social media expressed disappointment with their Representative. Some even suggested that the threats by Dr O’Neal were made outside of the House of Assembly where he was not protected by immunity and that the matter should be reported to the police.
Another said the Ninth District did not belong to the Representative and that any Member should be free to call meetings there. Dr O’Neal had called the meeting in Virgin Gorda by Hon Fraser ‘unprecedented’.
you loose you temper in the Heat of the Moment..... not 7 days after the fact. He should have been level headed enough to formulate a better response, he had enough time to write, rewrite wrote and rewrote his speech. What he did was in really bad taste and a discredit to his office.
By trying to sound tough enough he lost all credibility with the people, and did more damage to his representation than anything the opposition leader could have said. His people needed to take away his twitter fingers opps sorry... well in his case turn off the microphone
pure politics!!!! while the people suffer and these two guys simply wants to look good in the eyes of their respective voters(stop the nonsense;put heads together for the better of our territory)...wake up and shift away from NDP this !!! and the VIP that!!! (one tribe and we dont need no more tribalism)
@ Myron: now you know better than to be here calling fraser a statesman; this guys only have strong political support in district # 3 and look at his margin of victory in 2015(thanks to st thomas votes)....now; if he have balls he will run at large come 2016(now that's a true statesman)....(this have been a paid political announcement)
I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but this was a bit much. I do not agree with the way Dr O'Neal addressed this matter. He should have addressed Hon Fraser directly. Give him a call or something. Fine, he did not attend the meeting, but Hon. Fraser did inform him, he had a choice.
On another note, Dr O'Neal was out of line. As a representative, a member of the House and as a grown man, he should have conducted himself better. What if a resident in that district tells him something he doesn't like, would he get physical? This man was not ready for the political arena. Hon Fraser has been bashed more than a coconut and he has NEVER stooped so low. Dr. O'Neal needs to issue a public apology.
Since when Bertie get some much balls. Thing to talk mehson. He busy playing bad man, but if I was Fraser I would report him to the police and say I'm in fear for my life because this man made a public threat. No need for witnessess cause it's already breaking news. Bertie know Fraser speaking the truth so he get vex, that's all it is.
disapointed fraser not taking up d challenge. had mah bush tea ready and front seat. rumble on the rock...burtie talks a good fight but my money was on joe fraser.. fighter has to have head too
take him on fraser he will see all the pigs from pig city in his sleep .dont take that threat as no joke .i warn you
Hey.......maybe we can turn this into a fundraiser. D9 vs D3. Winner takes all for a charity or school in their district...lol. What you all think?
Fraser right to not take him on because that is child's play. I doubt he has time for that nonsense. Do not always like VIP's approach but one thing about them is that they behaved like men. As a female I dislike seeing all of this whining, fussing and over emotionalism seen in recent years.