LEBANON, VA – JULY 27, 2026 – Professional drone-based aerial imaging, photogrammetry, mapping inspection and media service is now available in Russell County, VA as Jeremy and Roxanna Hill open Roadhouse Operations LLC, operating at Blue Nose Aerial Imaging of Southwest Virginia.
Blue Nose Aerial Imaging of Southwest Virginia is a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant. Seed capital grants are funded from regional funds received by VCEDA which are paid by the natural gas industry.
“Blue Nose Aerial Imaging of Southwest Virginia provides services utilized by a wide variety of industries including transportation, construction, forestry, agriculture, real estate and more,” said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel. “The business projects three full-time employees and one part-time employee within five years.”
Jeremy Hill noted services offered include orthomosaic mapping, volumetric calculations, thermal imaging, asset inspections and GIS-ready data deliverables. Cattle management and herd analysis, leased hunting property game assessments, 2D and 3D mapping, public safety assistance, precision agriculture, real estate and more are among the primary services currently being provided in the region.
The company is registered on SAM.gov and eVA and holds Virginia SWaM certifications. Also in the works is HUBZone certification to strengthen federal and prime contractor positioning. The Russell County company is affiliated with Blue Nose Aerial Imaging, a nationwide provider of commercial drone services.
“We are building the business to support contractors, engineering teams, real estate professionals, local governments, utilities and other organizations needing a responsive small business partner capable of producing professional results quickly and cost-effectively,” Hill said. “We work with others to leverage relationships with Inframappa for asset-management related workflow support, Inotek for thermal reporting and GovCon support to improve contracting readiness.”
Hill noted his fascination with aviation began early in life, leading him to pursue aerial imaging. He is Level I Thermologist, OSHA 10 safety, CPR and FAA Part 107 certified. He is a native of New Hampshire, where he said he grew up loving flight. He got his drone license through Virginia Highlands and then began looking at possible franchise opportunities to provide drone services in the region when he found Blue Nose through his research. He went through their academy, formed his LLC in April and officially opened last July. Blue Nose Aerial Imaging of Southwest Virginia is franchised to cover the territory from Roanoke, VA west to the Tri-Cities.
“We are a solutions-based company and we can collect the data, analyze it and turn it into solutions,” Hill said.
He said the seed capital grant has been used for equipment as well as being planned for outreach, education and marketing events.
“The VCEDA grant is paramount to my success,” Hill said.
Hill worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) in developing his application to VCEDA. He received a letter of support from the Russell County Industrial Development Authority.
“The Small Business Development Center congratulates Roadhouse Operations LLC, dba Blue Nose Aerial Imaging of Southwest Virginia, as they establish and grow their business in our region. We are always excited to see new entrepreneurs invest in Southwest Virginia, bringing innovation, specialized services and new opportunities to our local economy,” said Denise Harmon, SBDC director at SWCC. “It has been a pleasure working with this client through the SBDC and we appreciate the opportunity to assist them as they launch their business. We wish them continued success and look forward to seeing Blue Nose Aerial Imaging thrive in Russell County and throughout Southwest Virginia. Welcome to Russell County — we are proud to have you as part of our business community.”
“Blue Nose Aerial Imaging is meeting a growing demand for professional drone services here in Russell County,” said Laura Gilmer, executive director of the Russell County Industrial Development Authority. “We’re proud to support this kind of innovative, professional service business, which can bring new jobs and tax revenue to the county.”
For more information about Blue Nose Aerial, interested persons may visit the website at www.bluenoseaerial.com, their Facebook page at Blue Nose Aerial of Southwest Virginia, or call 276-885-5439.
About Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Southwest Virginia’s e-Region: The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 to enhance and diversify the region’s economy and help create jobs, markets Southwest Virginia’s e-Region and its focus on electronic information technology, energy, education, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurship. VCEDA is a unique economic development organization that manages funds for economic development projects from a percentage of the coal and natural gas severance taxes paid by coal and natural gas companies that operate in the region. Located in southwestern Virginia, the region includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton. www.vceda.us or www.e-Region.org.
About the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority Seed Capital Matching Grant Fund: VCEDA region for-profit businesses, within qualifying business categories, one year and under with less than 10 full-time employees are eligible to apply for dollar-for-dollar matching grants up to $10,000 from the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund. Applicants work with the Small Business Development Centers at Mountain Empire and Southwest Virginia community colleges to prepare the applications to VCEDA that include detailed business and financial plans. Businesses must be located in or plan to operate in the VCEDA region in southwestern Virginia that includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton.
(PHOTO CAPTION: Jeremy Hill opened Roadhouse Operations LLC (dba Blue Nose Aerial Imaging of Southwest Virginia) to provide aerial drone service to residents and businesses in the region. The new business is a recent recipient of a $10,000 VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant.)