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Finding new solutions
Movers and shakers in Southwest Virginia wanted to try a new approach to economic development. The stakes were (and are) high. Naturally, the decline of the coal industry had a devastating impact on Virginia’s coalfields. The Appalachian Regional Commission classifies four counties in Southwest Virginia — Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee and Wise — as economically distressed. […]
Making headway
Corporate investments are on the upswing in Southern Virginia, along with a desire to increase production, says Linda Green, executive director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance. “People have a lot of pent-up demand, and companies are responding to that,” she says. “We have lots of interest and activity.” Companies are choosing Southern Virginia for […]
Hard Rock names president of new Bristol hotel and casino
Hard Rock International Inc. has announced a president to lead its hotel and casino operations in Bristol. Allie Evangelista most recently served three years as a vice president and general manager for Penn National Gaming operations, including the past seven months at Hollywood Casino Perryville, in Maryland. Evangelista has “already hit the ground running and […]
Dumfries’ Rose gaming resort could have big local impact
Athough casinos being built in four Virginia cities have grabbed the lion’s share of media attention, construction is also underway on The Rose, a $400 million gaming facility and hotel in Prince William County that represents an additional outcome of the state’s 2020 casino legislation. Colonial Downs Group is building the hotel and conference center […]
The great divide
Virginia’s business community faces a strangely familiar and yet uncertain state government headed into the 2022 General Assembly session, which begins Jan. 12. Republicans rolled to victories across the board in the November 2021 election as Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin led a GOP sweep of all three statewide offices, and Republicans also won a narrow 52-48 […]
Construction begins on Rivers Casino Portsmouth
Chicago-based developer and gaming operator Rush Street Gaming broke ground Tuesday on Rivers Casino Portsmouth, kicking off construction of the $300 million casino and entertainment complex. Located off Victory Boulevard, the complex will have a casino, BetRivers sportsbook, restaurants, a live entertainment lounge, hotel and event center. It is scheduled to open in early 2023. […]
Richmond casino rejected by voters
Updated 4:20 p.m. Wednesday Richmond voters on Tuesday rejected the proposed $565 million ONE Casino + Resort by about a 1,200-vote margin. The project’s developer, Silver Spring, Maryland-based media company Urban One Inc., acknowledged the referendum’s defeat in a statement Wednesday, as did the city’s mayor. With “no” votes outnumbering yeses, Richmond became the o[...]
Danville casino price tag now set at $500M
Danville’s forthcoming Caesars Virginia casino and resort is going to be bigger than expected, with the project expected to cost $500 million, $100 million more than previously estimated. Caesars Entertainment released new renderings and more details Thursday for the casino. Part of the additional cost will go toward a larger hotel with 500 guestrooms, 200 […]
Pamunkey Tribe names W.M. Jordan, Suffolk as Norfolk casino builders
Newport News-based construction company W.M. Jordan Co. will team up with a national firm, Suffolk, to build Norfolk‘s $500 million HeadWaters Resort & Casino project on the Elizabeth River, according to a Friday announcement from the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, the casino’s operator. Suffolk, which earns $4 billion in annual revenue and employs 2,500 people in […]
Hospitality | Tourism
NEIL P. AMIN CEO, SHAMIN HOTELS, RICHMOND The past year has been a bit of a mixed bag for Amin and Shamin Hotels, one of the United States’ largest independent hoteliers. Shamin, which owns more than 60 hotels, saw its Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa in Short Pump enter receivership in January after falling behind on […]
Richmond casino referendum gets court’s OK for ballot
The Richmond Circuit Court approved the Richmond City Council’s petition Tuesday to place a referendum on the November ballot for city voters to weigh in on the Urban One Inc.-backed ONE Casino + Resort project. It’s the next step in a process that started early this year with the city’s request for proposals for a […]
Richmond City Council approves casino referendum, which heads next to voters
Richmond City Council on Monday voted 8-1 for a casino referendum to appear on the city’s Nov. 2 ballot. If passed by city voters, the proposed $600 million ONE Casino + Resort would be the only casino under Black ownership in the country. Urban One Inc., which owns and operates 55 radio stations and the […]
