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The Virginia-Israel Advisory Board:
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| Secret "Project Jonah" site
surrounding Southwest Virginia Community College - Source: 3B
Consulting Services LLC site plan (PDF) |
Project Jonah developers, signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding with Southwest Virginia Community College to provide "training" for workers (and further entwine itself into state and federal funding streams), and have purchased a massive site from the college foundation to build the fish farm. A Pure Salmon operating entity may also be established on campus under the terms of the MOU.
VFOIA documents about Project Jonah
| Entity | Release Date/PDF | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority | 02/17/2023 | FOIA release. March 24, 2022 VCEDA supports Tazwell County's grant application to the U.S. Economic Development Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce, for an unknown amount. Discussions about including the company Aquaponics to grow produce in wastewater. May 11, 2022 letter from Pure Salmon's Brandone Thorne, CFO, claiming "the project has spent a total of US $43,682,852 out of which approximately US $24,400,000 are expenses for site-preparation, construction and materials....Based on the progress achieved and fulfilling the requirement for Pure Salmon Virginia LLC to spend $25 million in non-VCEDA funds for site-preparation, construction and material, we are hearby requesting a 12-month extension from June 30, 2022 in order to proceed and start working together on all the required documentation for the VCEDA funding of the vertically integrate[d] aquaculture facility of Pure salmon Virginia, LLC. June 16, 2022 VCEDA committee meeting agenda on grants, approving extension of the loan closing deadline until June 30, 2023. EDA and related correspondence announcing $4.3 million in American Rescue Plan funds for "business and job growth" in Tazewell County. Reporter Beth JoJack asks Jonathan Belcher for information on Project Jonah for the Virginia Business story "Indoor salmon farm travels upstream" since "Pure Salmon says they're no longer talking to reporters." |
| Tazewell County | 11/18/2021 OCR |
Connie Baily Kitts files ten questions about Project Jonah at a
September 7, 2021 Board of Supervisors meeting. Summarized, they
are 1. Why are 27% of ARPA funds going to a foreign fish farm?
What about substance abuse? 2. Will drawing 400k gallons from the Clinch River and other sources be harmful? 3. What about runoff? 4. How much funding has actually been raised for the project? 5. Why isn't the case for the switch from tilapia to salmon public given all the public funding? 6. Is the Israeli company AquaMaof, which is being sued, competent to perform? 7/ Grassroots folks have to live with consequences of water use. Why aren't they involved? 8. Why are there so many closed meetings on the already-public Project Jonah? 9. If fish farming is such a huge opportunity, why are Virginia market leaders shut out? 10. JLARC studies have shown projects fail when there is no stakeholder involvement. So why has stakeholder involvement been a missing element here? |
| Tazewell County | 11/16/2021 OCR | October 1, 2021 Letter to Connie Bailey [Kitts] from Tazewell County Administrator Eric Young responding to questions raised about "Project Jonah" in a September 7, 2021 Board of Supervisors meeting. |
| SWVCC | 10/5/2021 OCR |
Southwest Virginia Community
College MOU to train and certify Pure Salmon LLC technicians for
$1,929 per class to be paid for by Virginia Coalfield Economic
Development Authority grants. If 218 workers are trained, VCEDA
will pay out $420,522. Executed by Pure Salmon on April 27, 2021 and Southwest Virginia Community College on May 3. |
| VEDP | 09/17/2021 | Capital commitment proof letter" from Singapore based Apex Fund Services in 2020, which allegedly administers the 8F AquaCulture Fund I. Apex self-certifies it has a "total commitment" of $317 million. Notes from a Cantor Fitzgerald (a financial services firm) branch in Japan indicate that "construction period debt financing is tricky, would prefer to do a refinance when to [the] construction is underway." Cantor also notes the lack of an offtake agreement like the Food City offtake during Project Jonah's tilapia phase. "Important that the US project has an offtake agreement." |
| VEDP | 05/07/2021 | Agreement Date: September, 2020. Pure Salmon LLC executed Virginia Economic Development Partnership agreement covering $1.8 million in incentives. Project Jonah must not only invest $198,370,000 in capital expenditures, but also create 218 new jobs with an annual wage of $59,133, far in excess of regional averages. |
| SWVCC | 05/03/2021 | 2020 Southwest Virginia Community College draft MOU to train Pure Salmon LLC workers. |
| DEQ | 03/04/2021 | Combined engineering site plans for Project Jonah |
| DEQ | 02/22/2021 | Project Jonah site plan near Southwest Virginia Community College. |
| Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority | 1/4/2021 | VCEDA extends loan closing deadline to 6/30/2021 after which the conditional loan approval will be canceled. |
| Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority | 10/13/2020 |
July 14, 2020 Jonathan Belcher (VCEDA) letter to Lala Korall of
European Business Development, Inc. "The Executive Committee of
the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority has asked
me to inform you that they would like to see Project Jonah break
ground this calendar year on the project in Tazewell County." June 30, 2020 VCEDA Executive Committee and Budget Committee meeting agenda. List of Active VCEDA projects as of September 11, 2020. September 29, 2020 Lala Korall email - "Apex Capital Commitment Confirmation Letter." Capital commitment proof letter that 8F Aquacultu~e Fund I LP of Cayman Islands has $316 million as of March 3, 2020. August 12, 2020 letter from Korall on document requirements to close $10 million VCEDA loan. November 19, 2018 VCEDA letter listing requirements for loan closing, including "MOU with Southwest Virginia Community College, Determination of Collateral for the Loan Availability of Private Funds, proof of the Expenditure of $25 million in Private Funds, Letter of Support from VEDP, Company Borrowing Resolution, Loan Documents, Authority and Capacity. "Evidence ofthe existence, good standing, authority and capacity of Dominion Aquaculture, LLC and each guarantor (if any) and their respective constituents and representatives." Land Survey, Flood Hazard study, Insurance, Appraisal, Financial Statements, Title InsurancelLien Searches, Environmental Compliancel Report, Attorney's Opinion, Project Conditions and Compliance, Checks showing Dominion Aquaculture providing payment for all recording and filing fees related to loan documents that VCEDA requires to be filed or recorded." June 22, 2020 VCEDA email to VEDP about support for Project Jonah. IRmep FOIA. |
| Virginia Economic Development Partnership | 06/23/2020 | Draft VEDP letter of approval required for VCEDA loan dated July 31, 2017. "This letter is to indicate the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s (VEDP) support for continuing discussions with Dominion Aquaculture. VEDP has a strong commitment to Southwest Virginia and enthusiastically supports any company that has the potential to provide new jobs for the region’s citizens and new capital investment for its localities. Dominion Aquaculture represents an opportunity to diversify the region’s economy, which has suffered significantly with the decline in coal and coal related industries." |
| Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority | 05/26/2020 | Committee Meeting Agenda - November 21, 2019 |
| Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority | 05/26/2020 | Committee Meeting Agenda - October 18, 2018 |
| Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority | 05/26/2020 | Active Project Reports |
| Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority | 05/26/2020 |
VCEDA Executive Committee notes for
6/14/2018."Project Jonah - wants an amendment to the loan
approval to allow the closing of the loan (but not the
disbursement) before they have spent $25M. Have postponed the
real estate closing with SWCC and said no announcement or
construction this calendar year, but have authorized Preston
Breeding to begin some engineering work. No documentation
provided yet of any actual cash in the bank. Do we allow them to
request the loan amendment?" "Project Jonah - construction now not to begin until next year, with opening date sometime in late 2020 or early 2021. Land purchased delayed until this fall. Prelim. Engineering has begun. Because of contingency in our loan approval, want to ask board at 10/2018 meeting to waive requirement that at least $25M must be spent before loan can be closed, and substitute with a provision that loan can be closed but no funds disbursed until at least $25M expended." "Project Jonah - mention the check sent to SWCC. Will be back in spring for VCEDA modification." "Project Jonah - agreed not to submit the request for modification; will ask for extension in Oct." "10/25/2019 Project Jonah request for one year extension of loan closing deadline." |
| Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority | 05/26/2020 | 2018 and 2019 VCEDA motions to extend project Jonah loan closing deadlines. |
| Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority | 05/26/2020 |
10/15/2019 "Proprietary and Confidential" letter from CFO Sarah
Ho of 8F Asset Management claiming to have raised $147 million,
"leading the Fund to reach its target of USD 320m by year end
2019...The co-investment between Fund and AquaMaof's in Poland:
Pure Salmon Poland. has moved beyond a proof of concept facility
and is now producing commercially viable 4-5kg Atlantic salmon
that has been tested across the world by retailers. leading
chefs and restaurants as well as industry experts, with
generally very good feedback received. In addition, the quality
of the fish has secured a 10.000 ton per year off take in Japan
by one of the leading fresh food distributor and importer.
Finally. Pure Salmon Poland has now started selling its
production across Europe." "At the local [Virginia] level, the first phase. namely the survey of the 2 properties has been completed. In addition, the Fund is in advanced stages of approving the geotechnical engineering and drilling tasks, which is an important due diligence item to be completed on the land. Once the land due diligence is completed. the fund will look to complete the required permitting and the acquisition of the land. As the Fund continues to work on all of the above items. our current timeline forecasts a start of the final engineering and design of the facility by the end of Q1 2020. Once the design completed. the Fund through its US entity will look to engage construction providers in order to start construction by end of Q3 2020. leading to significant financial commitments." "Based on the progress achieved and the Fund's above outline or the timelines. we respectfully request for the loan closing deadline of the VACEDA loan. per your letter dated Aug :22, 2017 to be extended through December 31, 2020, at which point all contingencies should have been fulfilled." 11/19/2018 Letter from VCEDA's Executive Director Jonathan Belcher on what Project Jonah must do before the $10 million loan can be closed, including signed MOU with SWVCC, determination of loan collateral, written evidence of $110 million in private funds, written evidence of the expenditure of at least $25 million in private funds expended on "site development, facilities construction, and/or equipment at the project location in Tazewell and Russell Counties, Virginia (excluding engineering and permitting fees), and the approval of the VCEDA Board at a duly called meeting of the VCEDA Board." Also a letter of support from VEDP. |
| Southwest Virginia Community College update on MOU to train Project Jonah workers and possible land sale. | 05/14/2020 |
In a 5/14/2020 email, Susan R. Lowe, Vice President of
Institutional Advancement at Southwest Virginia Community
College confirmed that there have neither been changes to a
proposed
SVCC MOU with "Project Jonah" to train workers nor has SVCC
signed the MOU. When asked to comment on a news report whether a separate entity, the Southwest Virginia Community College Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization was negotiating with Project Jonah for an option on property near SVCC, Lowe responded there was "nothing releasable at this time." |
| Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority | 05/15/2020 |
On November 21, 2019 Project Jonah is given a new loan closing
deadline of December 31, 2020. (PDF page 10). On April 25, 2018
VCEDA's Executive Director Jonathan S. Belcher clarified in an
email to Lala Korall that required "written evidence that at leaast $25
million has been expended in non-VCEDA funds" was not a covenant
that the VCEDA Executive Committee was likely to drop. (PDF page 20). In responding to a Virginia Freedom of Information Act request on May 15, 2020, Belcher indicated that "Certain correspondence relating to Project Jonah considered exempt, confidential and/or proprietary pursuant to Virginia Code Sections 2.2-3705.1(5), 2.2-3705.1(2), 2.2-3705.6(3), and 2.2-3705.7(2) has been excluded." (Email PDF) |
| Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission | 08/06/2019 |
Name change from Ecosus Virginia LLC to Dominion Aquaculture,
LLC Email 1 On April 1, 2019, Andres Sorel certifies to the Tobacco Commission that Tazewell County has adequate security on Project Jonah. "There have been a lot of starts and stops with this project." 8F named as Aquamaof's investor, and Lala Korall as the company's "Public Fundraising Director." Email 2 On Nov ember 27, 2018 confirmation from Tazewell County Attorney that "they have purchased one site and purchased an option on a second site...I do not want them [AquaMaof] to be able to accuse us based on how we presented it.[ financing and progress.]" Email 3 Tazewell County Attorney email on status of Project Jonah land purchases and investment from 8F. Dominion Aquaculture on December 1, 2017 confirms purchase contract on land adjacent to Southwestern Community College property under a fall purchase contract. Email 4 09/07/2019 status update from John Schiering, COO of Dominion Aquaculture. Letter from Karim Ghannam, CEO of 8f Asset Management of Singapore on their proposed investment in Dominion Aquaculture, LLC. 8/17/2017 letter from Tazwell County Master Commissioner of Revenue that Dominion Aquaculture owns 123.09 acres "on the waters of the Clinch River in the Town of Richlands." Email 5 On May 14, 2015 John H. Schiering, CEO of Dominion Aquaculture, LLC advises Doyle Rasnick, Chairman of Tazewell County IDA, that "we have formally commenced with the permitting process and are meeting with the US Army Corps of Engineers..." List of project accomplishments. Email 6 May 14, 2015 Doyle Rasnick, Chairman of Tazewell County IDA, updates Tim Pfohl, Executive Director of the Tobacco Commission that delays have occurred due to "legal encumbrances on the 122 acre site, and the complex permitting process..." Request to change Tobacco Commission $1.5 million grant base quarter to 10/01/2015. Letter from Bolling & Hearl, attorneys at Law to Ned Stephenson and Tim Pfohl of the Tobacco Commission about "matters regarding efforts to secure title to a tract or boundary of property containing approximately 122 acres, located near Richlands here in Tazewell County, Virginia (the "Property"). |
| Southwest Virginia Community College MOU to train Project Jonah workers. | 08/22/2019 | Memorandum of Understanding for Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) and Dominion Aquaculture LLC for workforce development to be paid for by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority. |
| Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority | 7/31/2019 |
December 19, 2013 VCEDA letter to David Hazut, CEO of Ecosus
Virginia, LLC (housed at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research
Center) announcing a loan earmark of up to $10 million subject
to Project Jonah obtaining $137 million in matching funds.
Earmark expiration date of December 13, 2014. Meeting minutes on
another project forgive a $2 million loan balance by converting
it to a grant. November 20, 2014 letter to Yoav Dagan President of Ecosus Virginia, LLC extending expiration date of loan fund earmark until December 31, 2015. Meeting minutes state there is no change in terms. October 15, 2015 VCEDA letter to John H. Schiering, COO of Dominion Aquaculture LLC resetting expiration date to December 31, 2016. VCEDA moves into closed session on a Project Jonah request, according to meeting minutes. Minutes document no change in earmark terms. December 15, 2016 VCEDA letter to John H. Schiering, COO of Dominion Aquaculture LLC resetting expiration date to June 30, 2017. VCEDA moves into closed session on a Project Jonah request, according to meeting minutes. Minutes document no change in earmark terms. June 15, 2017 VCEDA letter to John H. Schiering, COO of Dominion Aquaculture LLC resetting expiration date to December 31, 2017. VCEDA moves into closed session on a Project Jonah request, according to meeting minutes. Minutes document no change in earmark terms. Confidential August 22, 2017 VCEDA letter to John H. Schiering, COO of Dominion Aquaculture LLC, and Lala Korall, Vice President resetting expiration date to December 31, 2017. VCEDA letter changes the terms of the loan to 84 consecutive monthly payments of , with the first beginning three years after the promissory note is signed. states that if Project Jonah has at least 200 full-time employees with an average annual wage of $50,000 per year, that 8% of the outstanding loan balance will be forgiven and converted into a grant starting in year 4.Private matching funds reduced to $110 million, with at least $25 million expended in private funds on site development before the loan is approved and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership issues a letter supporting the project. Loan closing fee reduced to one-half percent. Interest rate on the loan set to 0% until year 3 and 2.125% thereafter. . .. VCEDA moved into closed session to reconfigure Project Jonah loan, according to meeting minutes. Confidential November 19, 2018 VCEDA letter to John H. Schiering, COO of Dominion Aquaculture LLC, and Lala Korall, Vice President resetting expiration date to December 31, 2019. Restates need for copy of Southwest Virginia Community College workforce and development training MOU, details on collateral, written evidence of $110 million in private funds, support letter from VEDP and other terms. October 18, 2018 VCEDA letter to John H. Schiering, COO of Dominion Aquaculture LLC, and Lala Korall, Vice President resetting expiration date to December 31, 2019. |
| 07/26/2019b |
A September 17, 2015 performance agreement between the Tobacco
Region Revitalization Commission, County of Tazewell and
Dominion Aquaculture LLC for $1.5 million. The grant must
be repaid if the fish farm fails to employ at least 431 people
with a quarterly payroll of $5.3 million, that taxable assets be
located in the county with a value of $134 million within 36
months after the end of the base quarter. "Said Deed of Trust
shall provide that Company is in default if Company has not
performed at least 10% of its taxable asset investment as
described in paragraph 4 of The Agreement on or before January
1, 2017." AquaMaof International LTD unconditionally guarantees
"any and all obligations of every nature owing by Dominion
Aquaculture, LLC. Signed by David Hazut, CEO AquaMaof
International LTD. Lala Korall listed as contact at Dominion Aquaculture, LLC is also President of I-Deals LLC, which received $11,788.82 from VIAB in 2014 for "Management Services." Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission VFOIA coordinator clarified by email that "You also requested a budget and grant reports, however, since this project was funded through our Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund (TROF) program we do not have these items. While most of our programs are administered on a reimbursement basis, and thus do generate the budgets and reports you are seeking, TROF is our only program in which funds may be disbursed for a project in advance at the request of the grantee and does not generate those documents. In this case the grantee (Tazewell) did indeed decide to receive the funds up front with a security agreement signed prior to disbursement. TROF funds are granted to the locality, in this case Tazewell, to act as an incentive for a specific project and are not granted directly to the company in question. At the end of the agreed upon project period, if all agreed upon performance metrics have been met the grant is closed with no further action. If, however, metrics have not been met in whole or in part the Commission recoups funds from the company and/or the locality as necessary. In short, the Commission's interests are protected by the locality the grant was awarded to." |
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| Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission | 07/26/2019a |
VFOIA request for grant application, grant agreement, detailed
budget and grant reports on a $1.5 million grant to develop
"Project Jonah" in Tazewell County. The released grant application proposes to create 268 new fish farm jobs with an average annual wage of $48,800, real estate purchases of $1.5 million, $39 million in real estate improvements, placement of $93 million in equipment with a total capital investment of $134 million. In order to earn the grant, the company was to have met its employment obligations no later than three years after the base quarter, ending December 13, 2013. (December 12, 2016.) The grant was conditional on submission of a deed of trust (dated June, 2015 recorded in the Tazewell County Circuit Court Clerks office in Deed Book 2015, page 09537) to secure the company's performance of the agreement. |