Hurt Touring the CompanyAlton, VA - Rep. Robert Hurt spent Wednesday touring Southside businesses.
He spent the morning meeting with representatives from the National Tire Research Center at Virginia International Raceway.
Hurt got to see testing equipment at the center, which works in research and analysis for race car tires.
Developers say they hope the center will act as a catalyst to attract other tire and vehicle companies to the area. Their research has expanded to include car's chassis development and road handling. It is described as a one of a kind global facility.
"Automobile manufacturing, tire manufacturing, right here in Southside. Those are the kind of jobs I think we have got to have in order to have a fully diversified Southside economy, and I think this is very exciting," said Hurt.
Developers hope the center will employ 15 full time engineers and researchers by 2013.
Hurt will be on ABC 13 News at 5 p.m., if you have any questions you'd like to ask him, email us or write them on our Facebook page.
