Va. employment may not fully recover until 2023 to 2025
Virginia may not get back to full, pre-pandemic employment until 2023 to 2025, according to Moody’s Analytics employment forecasting, but Stephen Moret, president and CEO of Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) thinks that the commonwealth can recover sooner. “We not only want to accelerate the path back to full, pre-pandemic employment and even growing beyond, […]
Volvo electric trucks to be produced at NRV plant in early 2021
Volvo Trucks North America’s plant in Pulaski County will manufacture its new battery-powered VNR Electric truck model starting early next year, the company announced Thursday. The largest Volvo truck plant in the world, the Dublin facility currently employs close to 3,000 people and builds heavy-duty trucks of multiple models. The Volvo Class 8 VNR Electric […]
Grayson County food manufacturer announces $1.5M expansion
Organic meat snack brand Grayson Natural Farms LLC will expand its Grayson County operation by 35,000 square feet through a $1.5 million investment, creating 40 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. Grayson Natural Farms produces Landcrafted Food, which are grass-fed, organic meat snacks. Its smokehouse and production operation is currently located at 226 Industrial Lane. […]
Henrico County announces $2.3B GreenCity arena project
Henrico County officials announced Tuesday plans for a $2.3 billion arena-anchored development, born out of the failed Navy Hill project proposal for downtown Richmond. But with private financing and no projected impact on county taxpayers, the GreenCity development may have a smoother path. Proposed on the 204-acre former Best Products property owned by the county, […]
Shenandoah Valley Organic to create 110 jobs in Harrisonburg
Shenandoah Valley Organic, a family-owned organic chicken company, will establish a second, 75,000-square-foot facility in Harrisonburg, increasing production capacity and retail packaging abilities. The expansion will create 110 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. Founded by sixth-generation farmer Corwin Heatwole, Shenandoah Valley Organic mission is to partner with independent family fa[...]
Northam announces ‘Dopesick’ to film in Virginia
On Tuesday, Gov. Ralph Northam announced that “Dopesick,” an eight-episode limited Hulu series, will film in Central Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley and Roanoke region through the spring. Based on the bestselling nonfiction book “Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America,” by Roanoke journalist Beth Macy, the series will star Academy Award-nominated actor [&hel[...]
Vinton, Warsaw, Wytheville receive industrial revitalization funding
The towns of Vinton, Warsaw and Wytheville will receive a total of more than $1.4 million in state industrial revitalization fund (IRF) grants, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. IRF funding provides gap financing for redevelopment projects that can lead to long-term employment opportunities. “This funding will not only help transform deteriorating or unused structures, it […]
Va. Coalfield Economic Development Authority establishes $1M Renewable Energy Fund
The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) announced Thursday it has established a $1 million Renewable Energy Fund from coal tax credit funds. “With the establishment of the Renewable Energy Fund, VCEDA is poised to readily assist in the development of renewable energy projects, which will add new jobs and investment to the region and […]
Packaging manufacturer announces $68M expansion in Louisa, Wythe
Packaging manufacturer Klöckner Pentaplast Group (kp) will invest $68 million to expand its facilities in Louisa and Wythe counties, creating 54 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. Founded in 1965 Montabaur, Germany, Klöckner Pentaplast Group manufactures packaging for pharmaceutical, medical device, food, beverage and card clients. The company has operations in 18 countries and employs [...]
More than $1.9M in grants going to Va.’s tourism industry
While COVID-19 continues to slam the tourism and hospitality industries, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday that more than $1.9 million in matching grants will be disbursed among 161 local tourism initiatives as part of Virginia Tourism Corp.’s Recovery Marketing Leverage Program (RMLP). Although Virginia’s tourism industry had another record year in 2019, posting $27 billion [&hellip[...]
SWVA guardrail manufacturer announces $7.9M expansion
Nine months of hard work has paid off. Since February, InvestSWVA has been working with highway guardrail manufacturer SPIG Industry LLC on its expansion plans, and on Thursday Gov. Ralph Northam announced the Washington County-based company’s plans to invest $7.9 million to expand its operations in the Bristol-Washington Industrial Park, creating 113 jobs. Formed in […]
City of Suffolk announces leadership overhaul
Following the late September resignation of former Suffolk City Manager Patrick Roberts, interim City Manager Albert Moor on Monday made several appointments to the administrative staff, including an acting deputy city manager. Suffolk City Council accepted Roberts’ resignation during a special meeting after a closed session. The reason for his resignation was not released. After […[...]