For the Record – Eastern Virginia, February 2013

The City of Portsmouth received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2012 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement in the category of programs and policies. The award is given for creative, sustainable initiatives that help protect the health and the environment of communities while strengthening local economies. (News release)

In its annual “State of the Bay” report, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation gave the ecosystem an overall score of 32 out of 100 — meaning the largest estuary in North America continues to suffer from excessive pollution, algae and dead zones, and continues to get a failing grade. Still, the environmental group pointed out that its overall score in 2012 was one point higher than in the last report and four points higher than in 2009.
(The Virginian-Pilot)

Toano-based Energy Services Group International has acquired New Orleans-based BCP Technical Services, a privately held provider of specialized staffing and work-force solutions for the U.S. energy industry. Founded in 1983, ESG recruits and employs engineers and other highly skilled technical personnel for long-term assignments, primarily in the commercial nuclear power industry, but also in the fossil, solar and wind power generation sectors. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Joe Dorto, the president and CEO of Virginia International Terminals Inc., the private company that runs the Virginia Port Authority’s facilities, will retire March 31. The state is examining proposals from two private bidders to replace VIT. A legislative watchdog agency recently reported Dorto was paid $754,330 for the year that ended June 30. Dorto, however, says these developments did not influence his decision, which he has discussed with the Port Authority board since last summer. (The Virginian-Pilot)

Old Dominion University has begun work on a $12 million, 39,000-square-foot art building to be located between 46th and 47th streets on Monarch Way in the University Village. The building will house the Jean Outland Chrysler Library, a collection of 112,000 rare volumes relating to the history of art, as well as provide space for a reading room. The project is part of an ongoing partnership between ODU and Norfolk’s Chrysler Museum of Art. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Richmond-based Thalhimer Realty Partners Inc. has purchased 3.4 acres of land at 555 S. Independence Blvd. in Virginia Beach for the development of a 61,000-square-foot Class A office building.  MGT Construction was selected as the general contractor.  The building is scheduled to be completed by October. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Virginia Health Services, a Newport News-based operator of convalescent, rehabilitation and retirement centers, will expand its York Convalescent and Rehabilitation Center in Yorktown and Northampton Convalescent and Rehabilitation Center in Hampton. The company said both expansions will be handled by W.M. Jordan Co. in Newport News and are expected to open in July. The Northampton will add a 16-room rehabilitation wing. At York, the expansion will include a 20-room rehabilitation wing. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

WellPoint Inc. has completed the acquisition of Virginia Beach-based Amerigroup Corp., the country’s largest managed-care company. With the acquisition, Indianapolis-based WellPoint serves 4.5 million beneficiaries of state-sponsored, health-care programs in 20 states. The acquisition brings the total enrollment in WellPoint’s health plans to 36 million members. Amerigroup will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary, and its management team will lead the combined Medicaid businesses. (VirginiaBusiness.com)