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Will new casino be a jackpot for Norfolk?
On a wintry Wednesday, a handful of bettors gathered in line awaiting the 10 a.m. opening of the Interim Gaming Hall, Norfolk’s large temporary tented casino containing 132 slot machines. Nearby, behind a construction fence, cranes broke the morning silence with the occasional bam, bam, bam — driving in 6,500 piles for the foundat[...]
Hampton Roads too reliant on federal dollars, economists warn
The Hampton Roads economy grew for the fourth consecutive year in 2024 and is projected to continue growing this year; however, area economists warn that the region is overly reliant on federal spending, placing its economic health at risk in the event of future cuts. The analysis, released Tuesday, was published in an annual Stat[...]
Hampton Roads Business 2025: Executive Insights
Virginia Business asked six Hampton Roads leaders to discuss how their organizations are contributing to the region’s success and meeting challenges such as changing trade policy, regional cooperation and workforce training. PAT DAVIS-HAGENS Market president, Bon Secours Hampton Roads, Suffolk How does Bon Secours assess where t[...]
An overview of Hampton Roads
Home to 1.79 million people across 17 localities, Hampton Roads is Virginia’s second most populous region, just behind Northern Virginia. It also boasts the commonwealth’s biggest city by population: Virginia Beach, with an estimated 457,066 residents. Nearby Norfolk is the densest locality in the region, with 4,467 people per square[...]
Navy Region Mid-Atlantic welcomes new commander
The Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, based in Norfolk, has a new commander. On Friday, after little more than a year on the job and 36 years in the service, Rear Adm. Carl Lahti was relieved by Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett as commander during a ceremony at Vista Point onboard Naval Station Norfolk. Barnett was most recently commander of Nav[...]
Transportation 2025: LAHTI, REAR ADM. CARL A.
UPDATED SEPT. 12, 2025 In July 2024, Lahti succeeded Navy Rear Adm. Wesley McCall as commander of the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, a group of 13 installations from Illinois to North Carolina, including Naval Station Norfolk. But in September 2025, after the Virginia 500 was published, Lahti retired after 36 years of duty and just a l[...]
Transportation 2025: SCHLARMANN, CAPT. MATT
Schlarmann became commanding officer of the world’s largest naval station in August 2024. Naval Station Norfolk supports the operational readiness of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and employs 89,000 military personnel and 52,000 civilians. Schlarmann came to Naval Station Norfolk as executive officer in 2023. He took over the commanding[...]
Economic Development 2025: STEPHENS, BRYAN K.
A 2025 Virginia C-Suite Awards winner, Stephens took the helm of the Hampton Roads Chamber in 2013. The organization advocates for business in the region, which is home to Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval complex, as well as significant manufacturing and hospitality sectors. With a five-star accreditation by the U[...]
Virginia Beach anticipates bright tourism summer
Three Dog Night ushered in a new era for The Dome in Virginia Beach in May, belting hits like “Joy to the World” to excited fans and driving the summer entertainment season on the Oceanfront. Next on tap is the launch of the Wavegarden surf lagoon, which is expected to open this summer, according to city officials. Both The Dome a[...]
June 2025 for the record
Central Virginia A massive $80 million, 846,260-square-foot spec industrial building under construction in southern Chesterfield County is expected to be ready for delivery before the end of the year. New York-based real estate developer PNK Group began construction on the building at 1640 Ashton Park Drive during the first quarter[...]
For The Record April 2025
Central Virginia The $2.3 billion GreenCity development in Henrico County is dead, as the developers of the project failed to make more than $5 million in overdue payments by a March 13 deadline. The county, which sent two notices of default to developers Michael Hallmark of Los Angeles-based Future Cities and Susan Eastridge of Fal[...]
Leadership: The Virginia Power 50 List
What does power mean? How do you determine who wields more than others? How can you measure an intangible but very real force? In our annual list of the 50 most powerful leaders in Virginia, we set out to do just that, considering the number of employees an executive leads, personal wealth and other metrics. Think of those selected[...]
Va. Leadership: On the move
B. Marc Allen CEO, Electra.aero, Manassas Allen joined the aviation startup in August 2024, after having served as Boeing’s chief strategy officer and president of Boeing International. A graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School, Allen clerked for former U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. He is a[...]
Our View: Making Virginia grate again
For the state where the United States was born and the roots of the American Revolution were planted (see editor's note below), it’s an ironic fact that Virginia is heavily dependent on the largesse of the federal government. The state’s so-called “Golden Crescent” — the prosperous corridor running roughly along interstates 95 and[...]
Eastern Va. Year-in-Review: Region aims to lean in on energy, defense sectors
A new economic development plan for Hampton Roads seeks to build on the region’s strengths as a long-time maritime and defense industry center, while also focusing on the energy sector. With 17 cities and counties, the region has struggled to work together as one cohesive unit, leaders have said over the years, but the Hampton Roa[...]
Norfolk focuses on cruise and entertainment tourism
The “city surrounded by water” — Norfolk — is going through “an evolution, putting in necessary investments to stay on top of the times” as a tourism destination, says Sean Washington, the city’s director of economic development. The city is expanding its cruise center to accommodate an influx of passengers year-round, has broken gro[...]
Retired Naval Station Norfolk commander is new Suffolk econ dev chief
Retired Navy Capt. Janet H. Days, who retired last year as commanding officer of Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval station, will be taking on a new tour of duty in February as director of Suffolk's economic development department, the city announced Wednesday. She'll start her new job Feb. 7, according to the announ[...]
An overview of Hampton Roads
Home to 1.79 million people across 17 localities, Hampton Roads is Virginia’s second most populous region, just behind Northern Virginia. It also boasts the commonwealth’s biggest city by population: Virginia Beach, with 457,900 residents. Nearby Norfolk is the densest locality in the region, with 4,467 people per square mile, accord[...]
High stakes
The 2024 presidential race between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump carries hefty consequences for Virginia’s economy that will be even more pronounced than in previous elections. Presidents are limited by the constraints of Congress — particularly if either chamber is held by the o[...]
Transportation 2024: REAR ADM. CARL A. LAHTI
In July, Lahti succeeded Navy Rear Adm. Wesley McCall as commander of the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, a group of 13 installations from Illinois to North Carolina, including Naval Station Norfolk. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate who most recently was commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Japan/Navy Region Japan, Lahti has studied alternative[...]
