Five-building industrial portfolio sells for $9M
A five-building industrial portfolio with buildings in Harrisonburg, Chesterfield County, Newport News, Virginia Beach and Durham, North Carolina, sold for just over $9 million Thursday, Glen Allen-based commercial real estate firm Commonwealth Commercial Partners LLC (CCP) announced. ESAP LLC sold the portfolio to Drakadia Holdings LLC, a business entity registered to an eastern Henrico County [&[...]
JMU SVP of administration and finance announces retirement
Charlie King, James Madison University‘s senior vice president of administration and finance for the past 25 years, has announced he will retire in December, the university said Monday. “On behalf of the entire university community, I congratulate Charlie on his retirement and share deep appreciation for the foundation he has laid, his support and his […]
Harrisonburg’s Farmer Focus hires CFO, R&D head
Harrisonburg-based Farmer Focus has hired Debarshi Sengupta as chief financial officer and Sean McLendon as head of research and development, it announced on Aug. 26 and Sept. 9. “Debarshi is an instrumental hire to guide our future, creating a strategic path forward to plan and resource our tremendous growth,” Farmer Focus president and Chief Operating […]
JMU entrepreneurship center hires new director
James Madison University announced Thursday that Suzanne Bergmeister has been named the next executive director of its Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship. She comes from the University of Louisville’s Forcht Center for Entrepreneurship in Kentucky, where she has been the full-time entrepreneur in residence for the past 15 years and assistant director for four. Bergmeister, who […]
Slovenian manufacturer bringing $2.6M U.S. HQ to Harrisonburg
SIBO Group, a Slovenia-based manufacturer of closure solutions for tubes, containers and other packaging systems, will invest $2.6 million to establish its U.S. corporate headquarters and a new manufacturing operation in Harrisonburg. The subsidiary will operate as SIBO USA LLC and the project will create 24 jobs. Founded in 1967, SIBO Group got its start […]
Sentara Healthcare named one of top 5 U.S. large health systems
Norfolk-based Sentara Healthcare was named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in an annual ranking by Fortune and IBM Watson Health released Tuesday. Sentara landed in fifth place, receiving five stars for clinical outcomes and operation efficiency and three stars for patient experience. This is the second year Sentara was ranked among […]
Startup PPE manufacturer settles in Harrisonburg
Startup manufacturing company Valley Guard Supply LLC will invest $1 million to establish a personal protective equipment manufacturing facility in Harrisonburg, creating 45 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The service-disabled, veteran-owned company produces three-ply disposable masks and plans to produce other safety and security gear, according to Northam’s statement. “Dome[...]
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[...]
More college students head into quarantine as COVID-19 cases rise
RICHMOND — As more universities open, they’re collecting and releasing COVID-19 data and grappling with contingency plans for those who contract the disease. As of Thursday evening, universities across Virginia were reporting that more than 550 students, staff and faculty members have tested positive for COVID-19 since schools reopened two weeks ago, according to the […]
UPDATED: Sen. Chase refused to wear mask at Harrisonburg restaurant
Updated, Aug. 19 The owners of a Harrisonburg restaurant posted a message on Facebook saying that GOP gubernatorial candidate Amanda Chase refused to wear a mask in their restaurant Sunday and threatened to sue them for enforcing the policy. “Chase came into our restaurant,” wrote Katharine Nye Pellerito, co-owner of Vito’s Italian Kitchen with her […]
Va. Main Street Merit Award winners announced
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) on Thursday announced the 2020 Virginia Main Street Merit Award winners, with businesses and projects in the Shenandoah Valley and Northern, Southern and Southwest Virginia recognized. Below are the 2020 award recipients: Best Downtown Public Improvement Project: town of St. Paul for the Downtown Comprehensive Infrastructure [&hel[...]
Two retail spaces in Harrisonburg sell for $5.25M
Two retail spaces in a Harrisonburg shopping center have sold for a total of $5.25 million, Harrisonburg-based commercial real estate brokerage Cottonwood Commercial announced Monday. The 2,500-square-foot Starbucks unit and a 5,000-square foot unit occupied by Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Sleep Number, a bedding store, were purchased by Zag Properties Inc. from 1756 EM LLC. […]