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economic development

Lowe’s warehouse to create 70 jobs in Roanoke County
Feb 7, 2022

Lowe’s warehouse to create 70 jobs in Roanoke County

A new Lowe’s warehouse and distribution center is expected to create 70 jobs in Roanoke County, the $11 million project’s developer announced Monday. Lowe’s Cos. Inc. has hired Roanoke-based Cherney Development, in partnership with North Carolina-based Samet Corp., to build a 60,000-square-foot distribution warehouse and distribution center on an 8.45-acre site in Roanoke County&[...]

Port of Va. hires offshore wind development VP
Feb 3, 2022

Port of Va. hires offshore wind development VP

Patrick Kinsman, former CEO and commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Norfolk District, has been hired as the Port of Virginia’s new vice president of offshore wind development. Kinsman will oversee Portsmouth Marine Terminal’s conversion to a logistics hub. Simeans Gamesa Renewable Energy S.A. is investing $200 million to build the first U.S. […]

Feb 1, 2022

Va. Beach launches small biz loan program

The Virginia Beach Small Business Capital Access Program is offering loans of $15,000 to $25,000 to small businesses, with no payments required for the first six months. The program, which is a collaboration between the Virginia Beach Economic Development Department and the Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC) of Hampton Roads, provides $400,000 in zero-interest loans […]

Vinton Town Manager Pete Peters at Billy Byrd Apartments, formerly William Byrd High School Photo by Don Petersen
Jan 30, 2022

Revamping Vinton

Vinton has been reinventing itself over the past decade, using public-private partnerships to convert old, vacant buildings into bustling modern developments. Now that the small eastern Roanoke County town has attracted new residents and visitors, the town’s new focus is on improving its transportation, walkability and infrastructure. “We really had a renaissance the last five […]

Pharrell Williams speaks during a panel discussion at his November 2021 Elephant in the Room economic conference at Norfolk State University. Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images
Jan 30, 2022

The Visionary

The online version of this article includes additional material from Virginia Business’ interview with Pharrell Williams.  Pharrell Williams is a 13-time Grammy winner, an Oscar nominee, a fashion designer, a film producer, a music superstar and innovator. He’s also a native Virginian — a point that comes across strongly when he discusses his business ventures […]

America is “dangerously dependent on foreign sources for some of our most critical essential medicines,” says Phlow CEO Dr. Eric Edwards (L), who co-founded the Richmond-based pharmaceutical startup with Frank Gupton (R).
Jan 30, 2022

Economic healing

Over the years, Petersburg has become accustomed to bad economic news. After Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., Petersburg’s largest employer for decades, left the city in 1985, Petersburg suffered an economic downturn from which it’s never quite recovered. More recently, in 2016, Petersburg city government had a roughly $12 million shortfall in its operating budget, […]

Appalachian Council for Innovation taps exec director
Jan 27, 2022

Appalachian Council for Innovation taps exec director

John Bebber has been hired as executive director of the Appalachian Council for Innovation, its board announced earlier in January. He was previously district director for U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Abingdon. ACI is a nonprofit regional economic development organization founded in 1999 as the Southwestern Virginia Technology Council. It includes businesses and organizations in 16 […]

State awards $7M in grants to help with site readiness
Jan 14, 2022

State awards $7M in grants to help with site readiness

Eleven commercial projects across the commonwealth will get a boost to help with site readiness, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. The Virginia Business Ready Site program, administered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, awarded $7 million in development grants. Having project-ready sites available has been a priority for VEDP, and Northam asked for $150 million […]

Jan 12, 2022

Recycling joint venture to create 210 jobs in Chesapeake

Two sustainable development companies — New Jersey-based Kamine Development Corp. and Minnesota-based Nicollet Industries LLC — will invest $267 million to establish a joint venture paperboard recycling and production facility in Chesapeake, a project expected to create 210 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. The 335,000-square-foot Celadon Development Corp. facility will be at the Che[...]

Jan 12, 2022

IT firm set to bring 125 jobs to Richmond

A Fairfax County-based software consulting and managed services company, Intact Technology, is creating a second presence in the state with a location in Richmond, an expansion expected to create 125 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. According to Intact Technology CEO Jesse White, the company is exploring options in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom neighborhood. “Our application [[...]

Jan 11, 2022

Calif. aerospace company proposes Accomack County facility

Accomack County is a finalist for a proposed Rocket Lab USA Inc. facility, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. If the county is selected, Long Beach, California-based aerospace company Rocket Lab would develop a facility to support part production, assembly, integration and test operations to support the launch of its Neutron launch vehicle from the NASA […]

Northam proposes $353M for small biz, tourism relief
Jan 3, 2022

Looking back

In November 2021, Gov. Ralph Northam sat down for an interview with Virginia Business, looking back at his eventful four-year term. This is a transcript of the full interview, part of which was used in the January 2022 cover story, “A dramatic shift.” The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Virginia Business: What […]

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