Former commerce secretary returns to Williams Mullen
Former Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball is returning to his former law firm, Williams Mullen. Ball rejoined Williams Mullen on Oct. 10 as of counsel in its corporate section, supporting and serving the firm’s Economic Development Team and aiding clients with business expansion needs. He’ll be based in the firm’s Richmond office. […]
Breaking rank
What a difference a year makes. On July 13, 2021, against a backdrop of ships blasting their horns and spraying water in celebration at the Port of Virginia’s Norfolk International Terminals, Gov. Ralph Northam sat for a harborside interview with CNBC, which had just named Virginia the nation’s best state for business for an unprecedented […]
Va. Food Industry Association taps new exec director
Melissa Assalone is the Virginia Food Industry Association’s new executive director, the Richmond-based association announced Wednesday. Assalone, who previously served as deputy legislative director in Gov. Ralph Northam‘s administration, assumed the role on Monday. She succeeds Parker Slaybaugh, who is now Virginia’s chief deputy secretary of agriculture and forestry. “Meli[...]
Thermo Fisher Scientific to add 500 jobs in RVA region
Massachusetts-based scientific equipment and software supply company Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will invest $97 million to expand its laboratory operations into three new locations in the Greater Richmond area, a project expected to create more than 500 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. “Thermo Fisher’s expanding footprint and creation of more than 500 new jobs […]
Hubs and spokes
Economic conditions bounced back across many sectors in 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic still impacted development deals occurring in Virginia. The state saw a great deal of focus on manufacturing and supply chain growth, areas expected to stay busy despite the recent change in state political leadership. In Hampton Roads, many of the region’s major […]
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 […]
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[...]
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 [[...]
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 calls state of emergency to increase hospital staffing
With an all-time high number of Virginians hospitalized for COVID-19 on Friday, Gov. Ralph Northam issued a 30-day executive order Monday to expand the number of available hospital beds, increase staffing capacity at hospitals and nursing homes, and allow public health agencies greater flexibility. “It is painful to see the number of COVID cases rising,” […]
VDH funds $5 million for new COVID-19 testing centers
As COVID infection rates reach record numbers from the omicron variant, the Virginia Department of Health will open nine new COVID-19 community testing centers across the state to increase testing availability, Gov. Ralph Northam‘s office announced Thursday. The centers will offer polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, considered the most reliable type of COVID-19 test. The […]
Sen. Kaine back in D.C. after being stuck on I-95 for 27 hours
This story was updated Jan. 4 at 4:20 p.m. After being stranded with hundreds of other motorists on Interstate 95 for nearly 27 hours, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine arrived at his office in Washington, D.C., just before 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to CNBC. The 2016 Democratic vice presidential candidate wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday […]