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Tag: Top 5

Top Five: February 2025 edition

1 | Richmond water crisis shuts down restaurants, businesses

Businesses “Dry January” became all too literal in Richmond, where city residents and businesses struggled with a water outage that started Jan. 6, delaying the start of the General Assembly, and leaving the city without water for several days. (Jan. 8)

2 | Buc-ee’s estimates first Va. location to open in June

Texas-based Buc-ee’s projects it will open its first travel center in Virginia — a 74,000-square-foot Rockingham County location on June 30. (Jan. 2)

3 | Hundreds pack into Caesars Virginia on opening day

Caesars didn’t shortchange on spectacle for the opening of its $800 million Danville casino, the third permanent casino to open in the state. (Dec. 17, 2024)

4 | World’s first commercial fusion power plant planned for Chesterfield Commonwealth Fusion Systems

A Massachusetts-based fusion energy company, plans to build the world’s first grid-scale commercial fusion power plant in Chesterfield County. (Dec. 17, 2024)

5 | Martinsville doctor found guilty of 460+ counts of opioids distribution

A federal court jury in Abingdon found Dr. Joel Smithers, who previously practiced in Martinsville, guilty of 466 federal counts of illegally prescribing Schedule II controlled substances and of one count of maintaining a place for the purpose of illegally distributing controlled substances. (Jan. 7)

Top Five January 2025

1 | Inova pays $2.37 million to settle False Claims Act allegations

Three Inova Health entities agreed to settle claims that Inova submitted Medicaid claims containing falsified information. (Nov. 18)

2 | Pittsylvania County wins $1.3 billion battery separator project

Tennessee-based Microporous announced it will build its battery separator manufacturing facility at the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill, creating 2,015 jobs. (Nov. 13)

3 | Maximus announces feds have backed off $6.6 billion contract rebid

The Tysons-based federal contractor announced Nov. 26 that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services canceled efforts to rebid the company’s contract to operate a Medicaid and Medicare customer service call center. (Nov. 26)

4 | Developer plans $3 billion data center in Appomattox County

AVAIO Digital Partners announced Dec. 10 it had signed an agreement with the Appomattox County Economic Development Authority to purchase a 452-acre site. (Dec. 10)

5 | Permanent Hard Rock Bristol casino opens

Located near downtown Bristol, the casino resort’s features include a 45-foot-tall guitar at
the entrance, 303 guest rooms and nearly 1,500 slot machines. (Nov. 14)

Top Five November 2024

1   |   U.S. port strike stops cargo operations at Port of Va.

About 45,000 union dockworkers walked off the job at every major port along the East and Gulf coasts until they ended the strike after reaching a tentative deal three days later. (Oct. 1)

2   |   Three Va. universities have ‘some viability risks,’ report says

However, state watchdog JLARC said Radford University, Virginia State University and the University of Mary Washington were not in imminent danger of closing. (Oct. 8)

3   |   15 Va. schools make U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 national universities list

The University of Virginia once again was the highest-ranking Virginia school on the list. (Sept. 25)

4   |   Kongsberg to build $101M missile plant in James City County

The subsidiary of Norway’s Kongsberg Group plans to establish its first U.S. defense assembly plant in James City County, creating an estimated 180 jobs.  (Sept. 17)

5   |   $10M Biochar plant opens in Waverly

Lynchburg-based Restoration Bioproducts held a Sept. 18 grand opening for the company’s Sussex County biochar production facility. (Sept. 19)

Top Five August 2024

The five most popular daily news stories on VirginiaBusiness.com from June 12 to July 12 included news of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointees now holding a majority on the governing boards of Virginia’s state colleges and universities.

1   |   Youngkin peppers university boards with GOP power players

New members included some conservative movers and shakers, such as Marc Short, former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence. (June 28)

2   |   $681M subsea cable plant coming to Chesapeake

LS GreenLink USA, the U.S. subsidiary of a South Korean cable manufacturer, is expected to create 338 jobs. (July 9)

3   |   Condair invests $57.2 million on Chesterfield County plant

The Swiss commercial and industrial humidification systems manufacturer, plans to hire 180 workers for a factory slated to open in 2025. (June 18)

4   |   Dominion Energy to buy N.C. offshore wind lease for $160M

Dominion Energy Virginia is purchasing the Kitty Hawk North Wind lease from Connecticut energy company Avangrid. (July 8)

5   |   State delays choosing Shenandoah medical marijuana provider

As 40 applicants vie for the lucrative license to be the sole pharmaceutical cannabis distributor for the Shenandoah Valley, Charlottesville and Fredericksburg, the state Cannabis Control Authority delayed the selection, saying staff need more time to review. (June 26)

Top Five July 2024

1   |   39 Virginia companies make the 2024 Fortune 1000

Thirty-nine companies headquartered in Virginia are on Fortune magazine’s 70th annual Fortune 1000 list, with 24 Virginia companies again making the elite Fortune 500. (June 4)

2   |  VDOT buys Owens & Minor’s Hanover headquarters for $33.5 million

The Virginia Department of Transportation plans to move the state agency’s central office into the Mechanicsville building in summer 2025. (May 13)

3   |  VIPC launches $100 million fund partnership for Virginia startups

The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp. is partnering with seven venture capital fund managers to invest $100 million in 100 Virginia-based startups. (For more on this story, see Page 12.) (May 20)

VIPC CEO Joe Benevento speaks at May 20 event with Gov. Glenn Youngkin in background. Photo courtesy Virginia Innovative Partnership Corp.

4   |  Capital One, Walmart end credit card agreement

McLean-based Capital One Financial is no longer the exclusive issuer of Walmart consumer credit cards. (May 24)

5   |  Hampden-Sydney College receives $20 million pledge

Richmond-based Endeavour Legacy Foundation pledged $20 million to Hampden-Sydney College, the second largest gift in the college’s history. (May 14)

Top Five June 2024

1   |   Google investing $1 billion in Virginia data center campuses

Ruth Porat, Google and Alphabet’s president, chief investment officer and chief financial officer, announced the tech company’s investment to grow its Virginia data center campuses. News conference photo courtesy Google

Google is expanding its Virginia data center campuses this year and is launching a $75 million Google.org AI opportunity fund. (April 26)

2   |   Richmond-based attorneys win U.S. Supreme Court case

After nine years and through three U.S. presidents, attorneys David DePippo and Tim McHugh and their client, a Richmond FBI agent, won a case focused on GI Bill education funding. (April 16)

3   |  Petersburg casino competitors roll out details

Five Petersburg casino contenders shared their plans, but the city later picked a partnership between The Cordish Cos. and former NFL star athlete Bruce Smith
to move forward. (April 15)

4   |   Youngkin appoints lottery director, tax commissioner and chief transformation officer

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced three new hires in his administration. (See related interview with new Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid Jones, Page 46.) (April 12)

5   |   Chesterfield fintech Paymerang to be acquired for $475 million

The payment and invoice automation company signed an agreement to be acquired by Atlanta-based Corpay. (May 9)

Top Five February 2024

The top five most-read daily news stories on VirginiaBusiness.com from Dec. 15, 2023, to Jan. 15 were led by the announcement that Fortune 500 IT company DXC Technology replaced its top executive.

Interim DXC CEO Raul Fernandez. photo courtesy DXC Technology

1   |   DXC Technology replaces Mike Salvino

The Ashburn-based company replaced Salvino, its chairman, president and CEO, with interim President and CEO Raul Fernandez. (Dec. 20, 2023)

2   |   Trucking company plans $50 million facility in Botetourt

Michigan-based Universal Logistics Holdings is planning a $50 million expansion into Botetourt County, which is expected to create
45 jobs. (Jan. 3)

3   |   Lynchburg and Danville law firms to merge

Petty, Livingston, Dawson & Richards in Lynchburg and Southern Virginia Legal (SoVa Legal) in Danville merged to become PLDR Law, beginning Jan. 1. (Dec. 27, 2023)

4   |   Virginia Credit Union, Member One announce merger

Chesterfield County-based Virginia Credit Union and Roanoke-based Member One Federal Credit Union announced plans to merge and create the state’s third largest credit union. (Jan. 11)

5   |   Norfolk HeadWaters casino could break ground in spring 2024

The HeadWaters Resort & Casino’s developer has submitted new plans to the City of Norfolk, aiming to start construction in spring 2024. (Dec. 19, 2023)

HeadWaters Resort & Casino, which is planned for Norfolk, has to meet a deadline of November 2025 to open. Rendering courtesy HeadWaters Resort & Casino;

November 2023 Top Five

The top five most-read daily news stories on VirginiaBusiness.com from Sept. 15 to Oct. 13 included news about plans for a second Virginia Buc-ee’s mega-convenience center, this time in Rockingham County.

1  |  44 Virginia schools make U.S. News and World Report’s 2024 list

The University of Virginia ranked No. 24 among national universities and No. 5 for top public schools. (Sept. 18)

2  |  Buc-ee’s buys land for second Virginia location

The Texas-based travel center chain purchased 21.3 acres along Interstate 81 in Rockingham County for $6.6 million. (Sept. 26)

3  |  Falwell Jr. lawsuit targets Prevo, Liberty board members

Former Liberty University President and Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. alleged in a lawsuit that President Emeritus Jerry Prevo and Liberty executive committee members received more than $1 million from Liberty through “questionable, self-dealing transactions.” (Sept. 19)

4  |  Reid retiring as Dominion Energy Services president

Dominion Energy Services President Carter Reid, also Dominion Energy’s executive vice president, chief of staff and corporate secretary, will retire Jan. 1, 2024. (Oct. 2)

5  |  U.Va. receives $50 million gift from Breeden Co. founder

Ramon W. Breeden Jr., chair of Virginia Beach-based developer The Breeden Co., gave $50 million for business education and athletics. (Sept. 18)

October 2023 Top Five

The top five most-read daily news stories on VirginiaBusiness.com from Aug. 16 to Sept. 14, 2023, were led by the news that Bon Secours filed suit against Anthem in Henrico County Circuit Court.

1  |  Bon Secours sues Anthem for $93 million

The health system alleges that insurer Anthem Health Plans of Virginia owes unpaid claims. (Aug. 28)

2  |  Richmond casino reintroduced with new name

Urban One unveiled a new moniker for the $562 million resort casino city voters will reconsider in a fall referendum: Richmond Grand Resort & Casino. (Aug. 31)

Rendering courtesy Henrico County

3  |  Dominion Energy announces $14 billion sale of three natural gas companies

The Fortune 500 utility said it will sell three natural gas distribution companies to Canadian pipeline and energy company Enbridge. (Sept. 5)

4  |  Henrico County, Markel|Eagle acquire land for GreenCity

Henrico County and an affiliate of Markel|Eagle Partners agreed to purchase the 110-acre Scott Farm property for $35.1 million; the site will become part of the $2.3 billion GreenCity development. (Aug. 17)

5  |  Va. Lottery’s Gee tapped as next secretary of commonwealth

Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed Virginia Lottery Executive Director Kelly Gee as secretary of the commonwealth after Kay Coles James stepped down to become a senior adviser to Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia political action committee. (Aug. 29)

September 2023 Top Five stories

The top five most-read daily news stories on VirginiaBusiness.com from July 15 to Aug. 15 included news about Buc-ee’s planning to build a mega-convenience store in Rockingham County in 2025. It would be the chain’s second Virginia store, following a New Kent County store also slated to open in 2025.

1  |  Plans revealed for second Buc-ee’s Virginia location 

The Texas-based travel center applied for a special-use permit at a site along Interstate 81 in Rockingham County near Mt. Crawford. (July 25)

2  |  Atlantic Union to acquire American National Bank 

Richmond-based Atlantic Union Bank’s parent company entered into an agreement to acquire Danville-based American National Bankshares, creating a bank with assets of $23.7 billion as of June 30. (July 25)

3  |  Eight Virginia companies make 2023 Fortune Global 500 

Freddie Mac remained the top-ranked Virginia-based company on the magazine’s 34th Global 500 list, with aerospace and defense companies RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) and Boeing close behind. (Aug. 2)

4  |  Stihl names new president, CEO 

Stihl Inc.’s former senior vice president of sales and marketing, Chris Keffer, became the Virginia Beach-based outdoor power equipment manufacturer’s president and CEO on Aug. 4. (July 14)

5  |  Lidl US chief to leave, reports say

In September, Michal Lagunionek, Arlington-based Lidl’s U.S. president and CEO, will be replaced by Joel Rampoldt, a Miami-based retail and wholesaler consultant. (Aug. 4)