Bird Dog Distributors receives half-million-dollar grant to expand operations in Southwest Virginia

CLINTWOOD, Va. (WJHL) — A medical and industrial plastics manufacturing company named Bird Dog Distributors, LLC received $525,000 in grant funding from the Virginia Department of Energy to expand its manufacturing facility in Clintwood.

According to a release from Virginia Energy, Bird Dog’s expansion will create up to 43 new jobs and support 12 existing jobs. The company’s website says it “provides quality healthcare products to government agencies and organizations nationwide.”

“We found a home supported by a great workforce in Dickenson County,” said Bird Dog Distributors, LLC Founder and CEO Scott Maier. “The AMLER grant opportunity makes it possible to continue to provide opportunities to the people that live here and expand the number of quality products we provide our customers across the nation.”

The grant funding comes from Virginia Energy’s Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program, which aims to repurpose land and remediate issues created by coal mining operations that took place before 1977.

According to the release, Bird Dog’s facility is located on land formerly used to mine coal–on Little Six Lane in Clintwood.

“The coalfields region can be converted into hotbeds for businesses and job opportunities, as exemplified by Bird Dog Distributors, LLC,” said U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith. “Bird Dog Distributors is a provider of healthcare products to government agencies. This AMLER grant funding for $525,000 strengthens Bird Dog’s ability to provide job opportunities for Dickenson County and continue its operations in the region.”

Delegates in the Commonwealth said the added jobs will benefit the rural region.

“Adding 43 jobs through this project has a high impact on Dickenson County that aligns with our priorities to accelerate Southwest Virginia,” said Virginia Delegate Terry Kilgore. “AMLER is a commitment to revitalize our coal communities and is a crucial part in bringing economic growth and new job opportunities for this region.”

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