A bend in the river
An out-of-town trip to visit colleges with her daughter gave Christie Wall an idea that several years later she hopes will benefit her and her hometown. For fun, Wall and her daughter tried out an escape room — an interactive adventure game that requires participants to solve a themed puzzle or challenge in order to […]
Military Circle redevelopment could include arena
Four groups — including mid-Atlantic developers, entertainment and sports figures, concert promoters and arena operators — are competing for a chance to redevelop Norfolk’s aging Military Circle Mall into a mixed-use community. Overhauling the struggling mall has long been on the city’s to-do list, but the project was jump-started last year when the Norfolk Economic […]
Developments perk up Danville
Danville City Council members faced a dilemma three years ago. Council members could pay up to $185,000 to demolish a crumbling stucco apartment building on Jefferson Avenue, or they could spend $75,000 in matching funds to augment a $125,000 grant from the Virginia Housing Development Authority to stabilize the property, which was declared unfit for […]
Richmond supports restaurants with ‘Picnic in a Parklet’
Two Richmond restaurants will see their on-street parking lanes become outdoor dining areas this week to serve customers, spark business and encourage safer and socially distanced spaces. The dining areas are part Richmond city government’s “Picnic in a Parklet” pilot program, a partnership between the city and downtown booster Venture Richmond, according to a March […]
Super Radiator Coils announces $9M expansion in Chesterfield
Super Radiator Coils will hold a shovel ceremony April 12 to mark the third expansion of its manufacturing facility in northern Chesterfield County — a $9 million project that will add 56,000 square feet and up to 50 jobs, according to a company announcement Monday. The company employs around 210 people at its plant on […]
Blacksburg Partnership president retiring
After 19 years as the founding leader of the Blacksburg Partnership, Diane Akers announced Friday that she will retire on June 30 from her position as president of the private economic development group. Akers was hired as the Blacksburg Partnership’s founding director in 2002, helping launch the organization that was established as a partnership between […]
Data center air systems manufacturer announces $36M plant in Botetourt
Munters Group AB, a Sweden-based manufacturer of air treatment and cooling systems for data centers and other industrial applications, will invest $36 million to relocate its Buena Vista operations to Botetourt County, company and county officials announced Thursday. Munters will begin construction in April on a 365,000-square-foot manufacturing facility expected to open in summer 2022 […]
Virginia Tech replaces economic development office
On Wednesday, Virginia Tech announced that it was replacing its Office of Economic Development with a new Center for Economic and Community Engagement, as part of its commitment to improving the lives of others. The new university-level center will engage with internal and external partners to drive economic growth, address workforce needs and interact with […]
New Metro railcars set to be built in D.C. region
Metro’s new fleet of railcars will be built in the Washington, D.C., region, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced Wednesday. Hitachi Rail Washington LLC, an entity related to Japanese manufacturer Hitachi, has been awarded a contract worth up to $2.2 billion to build up to 800 railcars. The base order for the system’s 8000-series […]
Manufacturing/logistics building coming to Meadowville Technology Park
A newly announced 353,044-square-foot manufacturing and industrial facility will be the first spec building constructed at Meadowville Technology Park, which is owned by the Chesterfield County Economic Development Authority. The project is being developed by Columbia, South Carolina-based Red Rock Developments and Stamford, Connecticut-based Westport Capital Partners LLC. It is Red Rock’s f[...]
757 economic recovery plan focuses on cooperation
At a Thursday news conference, Hampton Roads regional leaders unveiled a new economic recovery plan for the next two years that focuses on cooperation and resiliency. Hampton Roads Alliance President and CEO Doug Smith presented a report detailing multiple goals for the region to help it recover financially after the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting job […]
George Mason University names research, innovation, econ. dev. VP
George Mason University announced Friday it has hired Andre Marshall as its vice president for research, innovation and economic development and president of the university’s research foundation, effective July 1. He succeeds Deb Crawford, who left GMU to become vice chancellor for research at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Marshall currently serves as the program director […]


















