Supporter Spotlight: Spilman Thomas & Battle

Spilman Makes Giving Back a Priority

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This year marks the 160th anniversary of Spilman Thomas & Battle’s founding. The Roanoke office was opened in 2007 to improve and expand services to clients in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region. At that time, the firm focused on wealth management, banking & finance, bankruptcy & creditors’ rights, consumer finance, tax law, and bond/public finance. Since then, the firm has expanded and deepened practices in local government law, labor and employment law, and general litigation. Firm offices across the country connect through a secure technology platform. Attorneys collaborate daily with colleagues on a variety of matters.

Spilman has been a TAP Empower Level Sponsor for the past four years. “We deeply believe in TAP’s mission to help lift our community out of poverty,” says Bryce J. Hunter, an attorney with the Roanoke office of Spilman Thomas & Battle. “It’s a cause that is very near and dear to the heart of many of us at Spilman. We are pleased and grateful that we are able to support TAP.”

The firm has a rich and diverse tradition of giving back. “Our community and professional stewardship is at the core of who we are,” says Lori D. Thompson, Member in Charge of Spilman’s Roanoke Office. Activities include pro bono legal services, volunteering in local schools, adoption services, and elder care. “We encourage each individual to contribute their time and resources to a cause they are personally passionate about,” she explains.    

“We recognize the value of housing affordability and availability to organizations, like TAP, and governmental authorities as a means to maintain workforce mobility, job opportunities, and positive impact on families and communities,” Lori continues. This includes representing lenders, investors, developers, and local governmental authorities with affordable housing and community development matters. Spilman also provides counsel on real estate, tax, financing, and government affairs solutions.

The firm advises on low-income housing tax credit projects, public-private partnerships, governmental financing and economic development initiatives and tax allocation district formation and financing. Regionally, the firm has worked with the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission (RVARC), the Covington Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and the Bedford Redevelopment and Housing Authority. It has collaborated with the City of Lexington and Botetourt County on zoning reforms to improve housing availability and affordability. Additionally, a Spilman attorney is Co-Chair of the Housing Law Practice Group for the Local Government Attorneys.

Spilman recently received the Empowering Women Award from Virginia Lawyers Weekly. The award is designed to showcase tangible and innovative efforts by law firms to advance women attorneys in the workplace and community. 

Saving a Family Farm

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A New Beginning

In 2009, Ben Flinchum left his Montana life to manage Cold Creek Cattle & Hay. His grandfather had bought the Craig County farm in 1951. Ben’s dad and his siblings had no interest in farming. Now, at 36 years old, he has undertaken the task of repairing and updating a property spanning over 200 acres.

Helping Empower Agriculture

“The farm was not in good repair,” says Ben. “My grandfather had been doing most of it on his own in his 80s.” Ben tells stories of young cows swimming in the creek to get out. He’d have to visit neighbors’ properties to get the escaped cattle.

Fencing repairs became crucial, but Ben couldn’t afford it upfront. “One of the biggest problems with being young and getting into agriculture is getting enough money to do all the improvements,” Ben says. “If I could only afford to do half [the fencing], they’re still going to get out on the other part.” That’s where TAP came in.

Ben secured a $100,000, five-year, low interest loan from TAP’s Business Seed program. This helped Ben keep the farm going and make vital repairs. He fixed the fencing, and bought new hay equipment and more cows. Ben also built a safe space to vaccinate and tag cattle. The Seed funds allow regular soil testing and treatment, setting up the farm for future prosperity.

TAP created Business Seed Capital, Inc. in 1998. It provides microenterprise loans to businesses that don’t meet standard bank loan criteria. Curtis Thomson, TAP’s vice president of financial services and director of Business Seed Capital, Inc., explains, “This loan fund and at least five additional loan pools are all designated for business growth. It’s all under the financial services umbrella, which is just another resource that TAP has to give individuals and families another opportunity for economic advancement.”

Embracing Tomorrow’s Potential

Ben owns both Cold Creek Saw Mill & Forestry in New Castle and the farm splits his time between them. The sawmill offers direct-to-consumer rough-cut lumber used mostly for barns and fences. The farm sells beef to individuals, calves to farmers, and hay to horse owners.

“One thing that we hear a lot in agricultural circles is that young folks aren’t interested in farming anymore,” says Ben. “Statistics show the average age of farmers going up. One thing I’d like to say to that is there are a lot of young folks interested in agriculture, but they don’t come from a farming background. It’s an incredibly daunting task to [start a farm].” Ben says TAP programs are a valuable resource for those interested in farming. In his case, TAP is helping him continue his family’s legacy. The infusion of cash allowed Ben to make the farm safer for everyone and helped him establish processes for future sustainability. “There’s a song I like to reference by George Strait called The World Less Traveled,” says Ben. “It’s about when you go against the grain and dare to dream. Agriculture is all about dreaming and taking risks. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. I think it’s very important to recognize the strength and determination agricultural folks possess. Agriculture is the strength our country was built on.”

Bank of Botetourt Is All about Community          

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Bank of Botetourt is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Established in 1899, theBank has grown to thirteen offices in four counties throughout the region. A new office in Rocky Mount, slated to open in the fall of 2024, is under construction. Bank of Botetourt offers competitive business and personal banking services and operates a mortgage division, Virginia Mountain Mortgage, and a financial services division, Botetourt Wealth Management.  

“We decided to become a supporter of TAP through conversations with Annette [Lewis, former TAP President & CEO],” explains Mary Ann Miller, FVP Marketing Strategy & Business Development Officer for Bank of Botetourt. The TAP Board voted Mary Ann in as a member this February. “I am honored to serve on the Board and look forward to collaborating to position TAP for future success.” 

“We have been working with TAP through the Early Head Start program in Buena Vista,” explains Mary Ann. The Bank sent volunteers every week, starting last fall, and is now doing so monthly. Through that partnership and experience, we learned the needs and wanted to increase our commitment. At first, volunteers helped where staff needed support in the classrooms. Now we have added financial education and reading to the children. Each month, two volunteers provide approximately six hours which helps TAP with grant funding applications. “We wanted to expand some of our outreach within the Rockbridge community and this was a need that TAP had for assistance and as an existing partner it was ideal for us both.”    

In 2023, the Bank moved up from a Courage Investor to an Empower Investor in TAP’s Bringing Hope Home annual campaign. “The Bank is proud to partner with TAP through both sponsorship and volunteerism at its Early Head Start program each month. We take this opportunity to help them better understand basic banking fundamentals and currency. The Bank looks forward to continuing our relationship with TAP through this program and beyond as we continue to grow,” shared Bank President and COO, Michelle Austin.