CLINCHCO, VA – APRIL 8, 2026 — Heat pump installation and repair is the specialty of Poor Boy HVAC & Elec., LLC, in Clinchco, VA. Danny Stanley is a Class C contractor, a master HVAC technician and master electrical technician providing services to both residential and commercial customers in Dickenson County and beyond.
Poor Boy HVAC & Elec., 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.
“Poor Boy HVAC & Elec., LLC offers a service in our region which is essential for meeting heating and cooling as well as electrical needs,” said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel. “The business projects three full-time and two-part-time employees within five years.”
Stanley said his hope is to grow the business into one that spans generations. Daughter, Laken Fleming works with him as office manager and sons, Justin Fleming and Travis Stanley also work in the business along with grandson, Hunter Fleming.
Poor Boy HVAC & Elec. provides heat pump sales, installation and repair services in Dickenson, Buchanan and Wise counties and part of Russell County. Additional electric repair services are also provided.
Stanley has been an HVAC technician for the past 17 years, working for other companies.
“My dream was to open my own HVAC business and to serve my community and the surrounding area,” Stanley said . “My vision is to build a family-owned legacy business that upholds integrity, quality and trust with the goal of transitioning the business to future generations.”
Stanley used the VCEDA seed capital funds as operating capital as the business first started.
“It was a tremendous help,” Stanley said. “Ten thousand dollars is kinda hard to come by. I had a little savings when I started the business, but spent that quickly to purchase a truck and tools. I thank God for everything he’s done for me. He deserves the credit for everything in my life.”
Stanley worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) in developing his application to VCEDA and received a letter of support from the Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority (IDA).
“The MECC Small Business Development Center was proud to guide Poor Boy HVAC & Electric in Clinchco through the VCEDA Seed Capital process,” said MECC SBDC Director Becki O’Quinn-Purdie. “Danny brings years of hands-on experience and a genuine heart for his customers and his decision to launch his own company reflects both courage and purpose. By building a family business rooted in quality work and dependable service, he is creating something lasting — an HVAC and electrical company that will serve this region for years to come. The SBDC enjoys helping businesses start and grow in local communities, building local economies one business at a time.”
“We appreciate the continued commitment of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) to supporting small businesses across Southwest Virginia,” said Dana Cronkhite, Dickenson County IDA executive director. “Investments like this help strengthen essential service providers in our communities. Poor Boy HVAC plays an important role in meeting the heating and cooling needs of local families and businesses and this support will help them grow and continue serving Dickenson County.”
For more information about Poor Boy HVAC & Elec., LLC, interested persons may call 276-791-7508 or 276-395-1156;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: Danny Stanley opened Poor Boy HVAC & Elec., LLC in Clinchco, VA to provide HVAC and electrical repair services in the region. His daughter, Laken, serves as the business office manager. Poor Boy HVAC & Elec., LLC is a recent recipient of a $10,000 VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant.)