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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 […]
$714M Wythe medical glove plant is solo venture now
Developers broke ground in January on the $714 million medical glove manufacturing complex planned for Wythe County’s Progress Park. Only now it may be a solo project, not a joint venture. In October 2021, then-Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced that Alexandria-based Blue Star NBR LLC was building manufacturing facilities to make nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) […]
Volkswagen to debut electric Microbus at SXSW
Herndon-based Volkswagen Group of America announced Wednesday that it would debut its electric bus during this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, which will be held March 11-20 in Austin, Texas. Designed to recall the iconic Type 2 Microbus introduced in 1967, the ID. Buzz is Volkswagen’s second noncommercial electric vehicle. The vehicle’s modern incarnation […]
Paper goods manufacturer announces $17M Henrico expansion
Washington-based paper goods manufacturer American Paper Converting (APC) will complete a $17 million expansion of its Henrico County operations, expected to add 69 jobs, the Henrico Economic Development Authority announced Tuesday. APC will move its current operation at 4401 Carolina Ave. to 5801 Tech Park Way, near the county’s White Oak Technology Park. The larger […]
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, […]
Startup Virginia to host Idea Factory workshop
Richmond-based nonprofit business incubator Startup Virginia is hosting its fifth Idea Factory — a six-week, largely virtual program to help aspiring entrepreneurs test, improve and validate their business ideas — from Feb. 28 to April 4. The program focuses on technology-driven or manufacturing-based business ideas and starts with an onboarding meeting before moving into five […]
Son replaces father as Smith-Midland Corp. chairman
Rodney I. Smith, who worked at his family’s precast concrete company in Fauquier County for 62 years, has stepped down as Smith-Midland Corp.’s board chairman, making way for his son, Ashley B. Smith, who is also president and CEO. The company, which manufactures, licenses, rents and sells precast concrete products, was founded in 1960 by […]
Roaring ’20s repeat possible, Richmond Fed president says
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Thomas Barkin said he could visualize another round of the “roaring ’20s,” he said Thursday during the Virginia Bankers Association/Virginia Chamber 2022 Financial Forecast event. Driven by investment and real estate appreciation, the nation has seen a 28% boost in household net worth over the past two […]
Fifth District economy has moderate growth, Fed says
The Federal Reserve’s Fifth District (including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland) saw modest growth but was constrained by supply issues and labor shortages, according to the latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, released Wednesday. The Beige Book is published eight times per year and is based on anecdotal information gathered [&hellip[...]
Chesapeake-based Yupo names new CEO
Chesapeake-based synthetic paper manufacturer Yupo Corp. America has named Byron E. Bassett as its new president and CEO. Bassett joins Yupo from North Carolina-based Precision Fabrics Group Inc., where he served as corporate vice president. Bassett replaces Andre Fischbach, who had been in the top spot since 2016. “Byron is a recognized business leader with […]
Daikin dojos offer workforce training
In the U.S., the Japanese word “dojo” generally refers to a martial arts training space, but in recent years, the term’s also been adopted in business for workforce development. In October 2021, Daikin Applied, a Minneapolis-based commercial HVAC equipment manufacturer, expanded the training dojo program at its Verona production facility, doubling the number of welding […]
Danville center launches companies faster
British aerospace and defense components manufacturer MEP Ltd. isn’t moving into its U.S. facility for another few years, but that isn’t stopping the company from getting its operation off the ground in Danville sooner. In August 2021, MEP (which will operate in the U.S. as Making Everything Possible LLC) moved into a space at the […]
