Benchmark President and CEO Mark Walker officially announced plans to renovate the Victoria branch within the same timeframe as the already-underway Kenbridge project.

Renovation of the Victoria branch is scheduled to begin in June. Renovation of the Kenbridge branch started in April; both projects are expected to be completed by October.

“Although the bank has invested in communities all over Southside over the last 45 years and recently in North Carolina, we have never forgotten our roots right here in Lunenburg County,” Walker told members of the Lunenburg County Chamber of Commerce at its Thursday, lunch meeting at Victoria Restaurant. “We are grateful that both towns are enterprise zones that allow for business development tax breaks and hope that our initiatives will spur additional economic growth.”

Walker told the gathering that the bank is encouraged “by progress in the area,” specifically mentioning the new 166,700-square-foot hospital being built in South Hill, Fort Pickett’s selection to house the FASTC embassy security training facility, and the Microsoft operation in Boydton — a project he called “one of the best-kept secrets in” the region.

“We hope that our improvements might make Lunenburg County more attractive to new residents and businesses,” he said.

The Richmond architectural firm Baskervill has been chosen to handle both projects, Walker said.

The firm also designed the bank’s South Hill and Clarksville branches, as well as the configuration of the Lawrenceville branch.

Kenbridge Construction is doing the work.

“We’re looking forward to many more years in Lunenburg County,” Walker said.