CLINTWOOD, VA – MARCH 12, 2026 — Fresh-squeezed, fair-style lemonade in both classic and different flavors is what The Lemon Lab LLC is all about. Friends Kayla Justice, Deanne Hill and Jessica Rose started out offering lemonades in a pop-up tent style atmosphere at fairs and festivals, sometimes renting a trailer for set up, but as popularity for their lemonades grew, they decided to take the step to go all in and purchase their own food trailer.
The Lemon Lab, 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.
“The Lemon Lab, LLC grew out of a backyard endeavor into a full-fledged food trailer booked at regional fairs and festivals, now offering 15 flavors of lemonade, fresh brewed teas and more,” said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel. “The new business projects one full-time and two part-time employees.”
According to Justice, The Lemon Lab predominantly travels to Dickenson, Buchanan and Wise locations. In the beginning, they operated the business as a pop-up tent at events and then later rented a trailer, before deciding to go all in and purchase a dedicated food trailer of their own.
“We offer a unique fresh squeezed fair-style lemonade in 15 different flavors with some having fresh fruit added in for a unique drink,” Justice said. “Some of our specials include Peach Paradise, Strawberry Sunrise, Strawberry Kiwi, The Firework and Raspberry Bliss.”
In addition, The Lemon Lab offers “dirty sodas” – traditional soda brands to which creamer or half-and-half and flavored syrups are added, basically a mixed drink with no alcohol — at the food trailer events and throughout the year, The Lemon Lab offers delivery services to businesses or special events, selling lemonade or tea by taking orders for gallons to be delivered.
“When we set up, we keep a tip jar there that goes to certain organizations that we choose to give them to at each event, including, but not limited to church youth groups, youth sports organizations, youth dance organizations and more,” Justice said. “We want to serve and be involved in the communities of Southwest Virginia and our home here in Dickenson County. Our goal is to promote tourism and help bring people to the beautiful place we call home.
“When we first started this journey, we were super nervous, “ Justice said. “Some of our friends said why don’t you try for a grant, so we got with Becki at the Small Business Development Center and honestly, without her, we would really not have know what direction to take. She made the process super easy.
“When we saw our application with VCEDA had been approved, we were relieved because we realized it meant that our dream had come to life,” she added. The three friends made the initial investments into the new business, providing the match funding needed to qualify for grant consideration.
“The biggest blessing we have received so far is this grant,” Justice said.
Justice, Hill and Rose worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) in developing their 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 Lemon Lab in Clintwood through the VCEDA Seed Capital process,” said Becki O’Quinn-Purdie, MECC SBDC director. “Lemon Lab is a great example of how creativity can turn into a thriving small business. Their commitment to serving the community with a fresh, fun product and an inviting experience reflects the kind of entrepreneurship that helps small towns grow. We’re excited to see what 2026 brings for Lemon Lab and the SBDC enjoys helping businesses start and grow in local communities, building local economies one business at a time.”
“The Dickenson County IDA is grateful to VCEDA for its continued investment in our small business community,” said Dana Cronkhite, Dickenson County IDA executive director. “Support like this helps entrepreneurs turn great ideas into thriving local businesses. The Lemon Lab is a creative addition to our local food and tourism economy and we are excited to see how this business will enhance community events and create new opportunities right here in Dickenson County.”
For more information about The Lemon Lab, interested persons may call 276-455-9617 or check out their Facebook page.
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: Friends Jessica Rose, Kayla Justice and Deanne Hill started The Lemon Lab in Clintwood, VA as a mobile pop-up tent venue selling lemonade at fairs and festivals in the region. Seeing success there, they decided to go all in and turn their new business model into a full-fledged food trailer offering 15 flavors of lemonade and more. The Lemon Lab, LLC was a recent recipient of a $10,000 VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant.)