Recent Articles from Susan Smigielski Acker
Military Circle plans shift in new direction
The fate of Norfolk’s closed Military Circle Mall has yet to be determined, but city officials are considering how the property could leverage sports tourism and offer retail and housing options. The city bought the 54-year-old, long-declining mall building and the surrounding 73 acres in 2020 for $11 million. As Norfolk seeks to repurpose the […]
NNS aims to grow workforce
Virginia’s largest industrial employer, Newport News Shipbuilding, hopes to grow its 26,000-person workforce by 3,000 this year to tackle its backlog of projects. NNS, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, is building modular components for 12 Columbia-class subs and then handing them off to partner General Dynamics’ Connecticut-based Electric Boat, and the two companies have […]
Jefferson Lab scientists to study water treatment methods
Jefferson Lab, the Newport News-based Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility known worldwide for its highly scientific research, is now looking to take on solutions to everyday problems, starting with eliminating harmful chemicals in drinking water. Jefferson Lab researchers use high-energy electron beams to study the building blocks of matter. This research helps scientists understand the[...]
Deep dive
The Port of Virginia has set the stage to offer the widest and deepest harbor on the East Coast by 2025, with the recent widening of Thimble Shoal Channel West allowing for two-way traffic for all vessels, including ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs). Completed in March, the shipping channel is now as much as 1,400 feet […]
Widening of Port of Virginia shipping channel is complete
The Port of Virginia’s shipping channel is now wide enough for two ultra-large container vessels to pass at the same time, concluding a significant part of the $450 million dredging project to make the port the widest and deepest harbor on the East Coast. According to the Friday announcement, the port expects to finish the […]
Heathsville firm helping to revive manufacturing jobs
Hickory Ground Solutions LLC is helping Southern Virginia and East Tennessee create manufacturing jobs