Business

The leading proposal to get Virginia out of the liquor business is calling for privatizing retail and wholesale operations, and auctioning licenses to distributors and sellers of spirits.
Under that plan, Virginia could issue 500 to 800 licenses across the state according to a distribution formula, the governor’s senior policy adviser, Eric Finkbeiner, told lobbyists, lawmakers and others at a meeting of the state government reform and restructuring commission.

Nitrogen-inflated tires, the big buzz for the past couple of years in the automotive world, could save consumers at least $100 a year on fuel and tires, said Jeff Campbell, owner of Twin County Tire & Auto, located on North Main and Webster streets in Galax.

Two Crossroads Institute-based projects seeking grants from the Virginia Tobacco Commission appear to have made their cases for financial assistance.
Staff members made recommendations for the entire commission to consider grant awards later this month.
They sifted through 24 requests for a total of $21.5 million in financial support for special projects. With an available balance of less than $8.3 million, the staff recommended no award for six requests, referred seven to other committees and simply tabled three.

HILLSVILLE — On the eve of the opening of Stingray's Restaurant, a roomful of employees took the plunge in a training session on the importance of customer service.
When the new business opens in the Hickory Hills Shopping Center, possibly as soon as next week, it'll be sink-or-swim time for the 35 employees cast into the deep end of a challenging service industry.

So the management — Michell Coffin and owner Aniello Palumbo — called in Stephanie Surrett of the Virginia Department of Business Assistance in order to successfully navigate the sometimes turbulent waters of the work.