JONESVILLE, VA – APRIL 13, 2026 — Creating a local hub for the community to gather while also offering ice cream and food options including soups, pizza cones and sandwiches, is what Jessie Middleton had in mind when opening Small Town Scoops, LLC in Jonesville, VA.
Small Town Scoops, LLC 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.
“Small Town Scoops, LLC offers locals and tourists alike a space in which to gather, while enjoying ice cream and other unique offerings, like Pizza Cones, while at the same time drawing people into the downtown area to also visit other shops and businesses there, ” said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel. “The business projects one full-time and two-part-time employees.”
“We want to bring joy and connection to our community by serving the highest quality ice cream and comfort foods in a friendly small-town atmosphere,” Middleton said.
With 24 flavors of Blue Bell scoop ice cream, including favorites “crazy cookie dough” and “oatmeal cream pie,” Small Town Scoops also offers classics: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry and the ever-popular banana split. The location, at 179 Chappell Drive, Ste. 202 in Jonesville is ideally situated – near the middle school and downtown.
The full menu may be found on the business website at www.smaltownscoops.net. In addition to ice cream and pizza cones, the menu includes thick creamy milkshakes, floats, soups, sandwiches, hot dogs and a variety of specials offered throughout the week.
In addition to the walk-up counter and seating inside, Middleton said he and wife, Vicki, who serves as operator of the business, have been working on finishing up a party room expected to be able to accommodate 25. Outdoor seating in nice weather is also available. Loyalty cards and gift cards are available.
“We want Small Town Scoops to serve as both a family friendly gathering space and a destination for visitors exploring the historic Wilderness Road corridor,” Middleton said. “By offering homemade ice cream flavors inspired by Appalachian culture and regional traditions, the shop creates an authentic taste of place that aligns with the principles of creative tourism.”
Middleton said the VCEDA funds were used toward the purchase of equipment, including a pizza cone machine.
“The VCEDA grant has been a big help, Middleton said, noting, “it reduces the financial pressure for us and helps us to grow and keep the business growing.”
Middleton worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) in developing the Small Town Scoops application to VCEDA and received a letter of support from the Lee County Industrial Development Authority (IDA).
“It has been a pleasure working with Small Town Scoops in Jonesville during the VCEDA Seed Capital process,” said MECC SBDC Director Becki O’Quinn-Purdie. “This shop has created a fun and welcoming place for families and young people to gather and it brings a special charm to the local community. Their expansion to offer warm food items will allow them to serve local schools, students and visitors traveling through — meeting everyday needs while keeping the small-town experience that people love. The SBDC enjoys helping businesses start and grow in local communities, building local economies one business at a time.”
“Congratulations to Small Town Scoops on receiving VCEDA seed capital funding,” said Lee County Community Development Director Leslie Litton. “The Lee County EDA is proud to support local entrepreneurs and we’re excited to see this new business contribute to our community’s vitality and economic growth.”
The business is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with plans to open on the weekends in the near future as summer arrives. However, Middleton said hours can be flexible now if needed by customers, adding, “we’ll be in until the last customer is served.”
For more information about Small Town Scoops, interested persons may call 276-346-9024; check out the website; or find them on Facebook.
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: Jessie Middleton opened Small Town Scoops, LLC, hoping to create a local hub for the community to gather while also offering ice cream and food options at the business located in Jonesville, VA. Small Town Scoops, LLC is a recent recipient of a $10,000 VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant.)