Planned Wise EDA will spur downtown growth
Establishing an economic development authority might pave the way for new businesses in the town of Wise, local officials believe. EDAs can provide educational programs and mentoring to entrepreneurs, as well as buy, lease and sell property and administer grants, points out Reagan Walsh, the town’s planner and zoning administrator. “I’ve run into a lot […]
Commonwealth Crossing plays ‘long game’ for success
Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre’s first two tenants — Polish flat-glass processor Press Glass Inc. and Pennsylvania-based aluminum beverage can manufacturer Crown Holdings Inc. — have invested at least $218 million into facilities at the industrial park in Henry County, creating about 400 jobs, according to Mark Heath, president and CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic [&helli[...]
Shoring up
Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown are all significant parts of the nation’s foundation, and historic tourism drove the region’s economy during the 20th century. But Colonial Williamsburg hasn’t been enough to keep big crowds coming to the area consistently in the 21st century, even before the pandemic. Visitation dropped from 960,000 in 1999 to 534,000 in […]
Youngkin announces $8.1M in GO Virginia grants
A variety of projects around the state intended to spur economic and workforce development will get a boost from $8.1 million in state GO Virginia grants, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday. The 17 projects are expected to add hundreds of jobs. Nearly $4.8 million will fund two Virginia Tech projects, including one expected to build […]
Chesterfield County kicks off $210M mixed-use project
Chesterfield County officials began demolition Tuesday of the former Best Products Co. Inc. building in the Spring Rock Green shopping center to clear the way for the $210 million first phase of the Springline at District 60 mixed-use development. The 42-acre first phase of the project, located on Midlothian Turnpike off Chippenham Parkway, includes a […]
German electronics manufacturer to add 100 Va. jobs
Germany-based Zollner Elektronik AG will invest $18 million to expand in Virginia, including boosts to its electronics manufacturing operations in Danville as well at the company’s U.S. headquarters in Leesburg, adding 100 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday. The expansions include $14 million to expand manufacturing operations in the Danville-Pittsylvania County Regional Industria[...]
River District Association gives leader a title upgrade
Diana L. Schwartz’s title is changing from executive director to CEO of the River District Association, the Danville downtown revitalization association announced Monday. The title more accurately reflects her role, according to an RDA news release. It has shifted from creating and managing programs for the downtown business community to putting greater emphasis on growing […]
Ship repair contractor expanding Norfolk presence
Advanced Integrated Technologies (AIT), a ship repair contractor for the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command and U.S. marine, industrial and commercial industries, will invest $500,000 to expand its Norfolk operations and add 76 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday. The Norfolk-based company will increase capacity at its location in Norfolk Industrial Park, off Ingleside […]
Apparel wholesaler plans $50M Hanover facility, 1K jobs
SanMar Corp., the United States’ largest supplier of wholesale printable accessories and apparel, will invest at least $50 million to establish distribution operations in Hanover County and create an expected 1,000 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday. SanMar’s operations, planned to occupy a 1.1 million-square-foot building in the East Coast Commerce Center, will be the [&hell[...]
Buc-ee’s could open first Va. store in New Kent
A Texas-sized travel center could be coming to New Kent County. Buc-ee’s, which bills itself as having the cleanest restrooms in America and the “friendliest beaver,” has filed a conditional use permit with the county’s planning and zoning department for review and approval of a proposed sign, the county’s economic development department posted on its […]
Amazon delays construction on HQ2
Amazon.com Inc. is delaying construction on the second phase of HQ2, its $2.5 billion East Coast headquarters in Arlington County. The news comes as Amazon plans to open HQ2’s first phase, Metropolitan Park, in June, and as the Fortune Global 500 tech company laid off a record 18,000+ workers amid concerns over slowing revenues and […]
Fairfax’s econ dev leader honored by White House
Fairfax County Economic Development President and CEO Victor Hoskins has a new accolade to add to his list of achievements. Hoskins, who has served in his role in Fairfax County since 2019, received a lifetime achievement award from the White House, the county EDA said Thursday. The award honors Hoskins for his “lifelong commitment to […]