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Recent Articles from Jonathan Heeter
Preparation pays off in Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley's economy grew in 2025 with a $3 billion Merck expansion, new food production facilities, and strong manufacturing investments.
$3B Merck expansion makes big impact in Shenandoah Valley
Merck is investing $3 billion to build a small-molecule manufacturing facility in Elkton, Virginia, creating 500 permanent jobs and boosting local economy.
Atlantic Park surf lagoon makes waves in Virginia Beach
Atlantic Park Surf debuts in Virginia Beach with a Wavegarden lagoon, year-round waves, a new concert venue and luxury entertainment options.
Carter Bank vs. Justice family saga continues
Martinsville’s Carter Bank & Trust says a Feb. 12 federal lawsuit filed against it by GLAS Trust Co. contains “false and misleading” allegations as part of a complex financial dispute over debt repayments from loans to West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, his family and their businesses. GLAS filed suit in the U.S. District Court for […]
Eastern Va. Big Deal: Prime location
Doug Smith isn’t surprised Amazon.com has extended its reach in Hampton Roads. The Hampton Roads Alliance president and CEO says Amazon’s expansion in the commonwealth has been a constant since the global e-commerce behemoth announced in 2018 that it would locate its East Coast corporate headquarters, Amazon HQ2, in Arlington County. The latest push includes […]
Eastern Va. Year-in-Review: Striking a balance
Economic development directors often try to balance diversifying their community’s industries while playing to regional strengths. Sean Washington, Norfolk‘s economic development director, believes his city found that balance in 2023. Norfolk has found growth around alternative energy, with Lambert’s Point being developed into a launching point for an offshore wind energy hub at [...]
High cost, higher rewards
Michael Meyers is always looking for an advantage. Like many in the meetings industry, the Greater Richmond Convention Center’s general manager has seen his facility’s costs spike from inflation. Likewise, the price tag to run conferences has increased, so planners and venues are striving to ensure a good return on investment for attendees. And to […]
Checking in
Neither Radford University nor the University of Virginia had to look far for collaborators on projects that have altered their campus footprints. The universities called on their own foundations to push forward the construction of two new on-campus hotels — The Highlander Hotel Radford and The Forum Hotel at U.Va. — and an upcoming hotel […]
New NASA tunnel could boost Va. space industry
As NASA pushes the reaches of space exploration, a new wind tunnel at the agency’s Hampton-based Langley Research Center will serve an important role in journeys beyond Mars and could also boost Virginia’s space industry. In August, NASA broke ground on its new 25,000-square-foot Flight Dynamics Research Facility (FDRF), which will house the 130-foot-tall vertical […]
Gambling on Hampton Roads
Roy Corby’s first job at a casino was as a dealer. Now, Corby is general manager of the $300 million Rivers Casino Portsmouth, which is on track to become the first Virginia casino to open in a permanent location. It plans to open in January 2023 at the intersection of Victory and Cavalier boulevards, off […]
