Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Upcoming Event

Best Places to Work in Virginia

Hamburger Menu Hamburger Menu

Tag: Virginia state government

Virginians go for Texan vodka

Virginia is for lovers of vodka distilled from corn in Austin, Texas, apparently. 

For the seventh straight year, Tito’s Handmade Vodka is Virginia’s most popular spirit at Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) stores, according to a Friday announcement.

The spirit generated $75 million in sales at Virginia ABC stores in fiscal year 2024. That’s an increase of $3 million over 2023. 

The second-most popular spirit at Virginia ABC stores is Hennessy VS cognac, which sold over $38 million. Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 ranked third with $28 million. The fourth-most popular spirit was Patron Silver tequila, with $25 million in sales, while Jim Beam straight bourbon whiskey delivered $23 million in sales. 

Rounding out the top 10 were: Jameson Irish whiskey ($20 million), Lunazul Blanco tequila ($19.4 million), Maker’s Mark straight bourbon ($19.2 million), Grey Goose vodka ($18 million) and Crown Royal Canadian whiskey ($17 million). 

The bestsellers list released Friday follows last week’s report of unaudited financial results for fiscal 2024. The authority reported $1.5 billion in gross revenues last year, up from $1.47 billion in gross revenues in fiscal 2023. ABC revenues include the sale of distilled spirits, Virginia wines and mixers, and the collection of license fees and other revenues.

The products that saw the biggest increases in sales among those that ranked in the top 50 were tequilas. In fiscal 2023, Lunazul Blanco ranked No. 10. Teremana Blanco jumped from  the 43rd spot in fiscal 2023 to 24th this year, with $9.8 million in sales. Teremana Reposado moved from 42nd place to 27th, posting $9.1 million in sales. Lunazul Reposado rose from No. 45 to 28th place in fiscal 2024, delivering $8.8 million in sales. 

Not everyone can be the belle of the ball, though. D’ussé VSOP cognac saw the largest decline among the state ABC’s top 50 products by percentage. With $6.6 million in sales in fiscal 2024, D’ussé sold $1.6 million less than in fiscal 2023. The spirit ranked 28th last year but came in 39th this year. Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey fell from the 14th spot to No. 17 in fiscal 2024, and Casamigos Blanco tequila fell from 11th in fiscal 2023 to 14th this year. 

The best-selling categories at Virginia ABC in fiscal 2024 matched those in fiscal 2023. Vodka was the top seller with 1.6 million cases sold, followed by tequila at 996,000 cases sold. Straight bourbon whiskey came in third with 814,000 cases sold, and ABC stores sold 537,000 cases of cordials and 437,000 cases of rum.  

Tequila saw a 12.4% increase in cases sold this year, making it the fastest growing spirit in the cases sold category for the second year. Domestic cordials increased by 7.6%, while straight rye whiskey saw 4.9% growth. Far from fizzling, sloe gin sales grew by 18.4%. Even so, with 167 cases sold, it remains Virginia ABC’s smallest category. 

Sales of Virginia-distilled spirits raked in $25.8 million in fiscal 2024, with Fredericksburg’s A. Smith Bowman Distillery at the top. The top sellers in this category were: Bowman Brothers Virginia Straight Bourbon ($2.2 million), John J. Bowman Virginia Straight Bourbon ($1.1 million), Isaac Bowman Port Finish Whiskey ($619,572) and Richmond-based Cirrus Vodka’s 750 mL size ($490,955) and one-liter bottle ($432,535).

This year, Virginia ABC opened five new stores, including the authority’s 400th store, which is located in Jonesville.

The top five stores by gallons sold were:

  • Store 256, in Virginia Beach, 108,681 gallons
  • Store 219, in Fairfax, 106,587 gallons
  • Store 331, in Short Pump, 89,882 gallons
  • Store 278, in Virginia Beach, 89,498 gallons
  • Store 280, in Chesapeake, 89,283 gallons

The profits Virginia ABC collects from distilled spirit sales at ABC stores, and taxes collected on beer and wine sales go to the state. Since its establishment in 1934, Virginia ABC has contributed $13.9 billion to the commonwealth’s general fund supporting major education, health and transportation initiatives.

Youngkin announces plan to grow workforce housing

At the Governor’s Housing Conference in Virginia Beach Thursday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin unveiled the Workforce Housing Investment Program, an initiative at Virginia Housing that will invest $75 million over five years to spur the creation of workforce-priced housing.

The funding holds the potential, according to a news release from the Governor’s Office, to “catalyze $750 million and build 5,000 units of workforce housing in conjunction with economic development projects in the commonwealth.”

Additionally on Thursday, Youngkin issued an executive order directing the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Department of Housing and Community Development to coordinate with Virginia Housing — which was created by the General Assembly in 1972 to help Virginians attain affordable housing — to ensure business site investment decisions take into account nearby localities’ plans to foster housing development.

Virginia has a housing supply of about 3.6 million residential units but has a housing demand of 4.1 million units, according to an analysis performed by the Department of Housing and Community Development. The current shortage of workforce housing in Virginia is 41,000 homes, according to the executive order.

The executive order also notes that an analysis from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership found Virginia’s metro areas are building new housing units at a lower rate than metro areas in competing states. Metro areas outside of Virginia are also issuing permits for new residential units at a faster rate than the commonwealth’s metro areas, according to the order.

“With record employer relocations and expansions in the commonwealth, over $85 billion in capital investment, nearly 250,000 jobs created, and a reversal of recent trends on net-out migration, it is clear that Virginia is growing and we need to make sure the supply of housing can meet our surging demand,” Youngkin stated. “The private sector is ready to step in and meet the needs of our growing workforce with much-needed workforce housing, and today’s announcement advances these efforts by accelerating workforce housing development and requiring local governments to support the housing growth that Virginia needs.”

Under the Workforce Housing Investment Program, Virginia Housing will provide loans, loan subsidies and grants up to $3 million to localities and nonprofits to develop housing for workers earning between 80% and 120% of the area median income, or up to 150% in rural areas.

To be eligible, a locality must be located within a 30-minute drive of a business adding new jobs. For a locality that isn’t economically distressed, that business must add 100 jobs. For a distressed locality — a locality with an unemployment rate above the state average or with a poverty rate above the statewide average poverty rate — the business must add 50 jobs. For a double-distressed locality — a locality with both an unemployment rate above the state average and with a poverty rate above the statewide average — the business must add 25 jobs.

The Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference, which opened Wednesday and continues through Friday, attracts more than 900 affordable housing advocates, providers and policy makers.

Va. appoints new DRPT director

Tiffany Robinson is the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s new director, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday.

Robinson succeeds Zach Trogdon, who has served as acting director since Jennifer DeBruhl retired July 1.

Robinson has almost 15 years of experience in state and local government, according to a DRPT news release issued Tuesday. She was most recently deputy chief of staff in Youngkin’s office, a role she has held since September 2023.

“I am very excited to welcome Tiffany Robinson to lead DRPT,” W. Sheppard Miller III, the state’s secretary of transportation, said in a statement. “Her extensive background in public policy, strategic operations and community development fully equip her to advance Virginia’s rail and public transportation goals.”

Before joining Virginia state government, Robinson was secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, where she managed more than 1,800 employees and a $1.7 billion operating budget. Robinson previously served as deputy chief of staff in the Maryland’s governor’s office under former Gov. Larry Hogan, and before that as assistant secretary in the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

“I am honored to join the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and am excited to lead such an important agency that plays a vital role in connecting communities and enhancing mobility across the commonwealth,” Robinson said in a statement.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

2024 Virginia 500: Government | Politics

MICHAEL D. BILLS

FOUNDER, CLEAN VIRGINIA, CHARLOTTESVILLE

 

 

RICHARD CULLEN

COUNSELOR TO GOV. GLENN YOUNGKIN, RICHMOND

 

 

WINSOME EARLE-SEARS

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, RICHMOND

 

 

C. TODD GILBERT

MINORITY LEADER, VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES, SHENANDOAH

 

 

CHARNIELE HERRING

MAJORITY LEADER, VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES, ALEXANDRIA

 

 

KHALID JONES

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VIRGINIA LOTTERY, RICHMOND

 

 

TIM KAINE

SENATOR, UNITED STATES SENATE, RICHMOND

 

 

CHRIS LaCIVITA

CO-CAMPAIGN MANAGER, DONALD J. TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT 2024; CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE, POWHATAN COUNTY

 

 

L. LOUISE LUCAS

PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE; CHAIR, SENATE FINANCE AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, SENATE OF VIRGINIA, PORTSMOUTH

 

 

RYAN McDOUGLE

MINORITY LEADER, SENATE OF VIRGINIA, HANOVER COUNTY

 

 

JASON MIYARES

ATTORNEY GENERAL, COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, RICHMOND

 

 

LARRY SABATO

DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR POLITICS; ROBERT KENT GOOCH PROFESSOR OF POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, CHARLOTTESVILLE

 

 

DON SCOTT JR. 

SPEAKER, VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES, PORTSMOUTH

 

 

ABIGAIL SPANBERGER

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, HENRICO COUNTY

 

 

SCOTT SUROVELL

MAJORITY LEADER, SENATE OF VIRGINIA, FAIRFAX COUNTY

 

 

LUKE TORIAN

CHAIR, HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES, PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

 

 

MARK WARNER

SENATOR, UNITED STATES SENATE, ALEXANDRIA

 

 

ROB WITTMAN

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MONTROSS

 

 

 

GLENN YOUNGKIN

GOVERNOR, COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, RICHMOND

 

VIPC taps Benevento as permanent president and CEO

Joe Benevento will remain as the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp.’s president and CEO permanently after serving in the role on an interim basis since September 2023, VIPC announced Wednesday.

Benevento took over as interim CEO when Bob Stolle announced he was stepping down. A not-for-profit corporation created in 1985 by the General Assembly as an economic development organization for the tech sector, VIPC provides strategic commercialization and funding support to Virginia-based tech startups.

“Joe Benevento brings tremendous leadership talent and investment experience that will greatly serve the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement. “A robust innovation-driven economy that accelerates R&D commercialization, catalyzes private investment capital and spurs entrepreneur startup growth will unleash opportunity throughout the entire Commonwealth. I know Joe will hit the ground running as CEO of VIPC and I look forward to working closely together to achieve a ‘Day 1 Goal’ of my administration to create 10,000 new high-growth startups in Virginia.”

Benevento previously served as deputy secretary of commerce and trade since 2022, helping to develop Virginia’s “Compete to Win” and “Innovative Framework” strategies for driving economic growth across the commonwealth, according to a VIPC news release . He also oversaw a state commerce portfolio of industries including technology, life sciences, aerospace and defense, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, unmanned systems and other sectors.

“VIPC is well-positioned to lead Virginia in developing, attracting and retaining talent, capital and innovation which expands investment, growth and opportunity across the entire commonwealth,” Benevento said in a statement. “I look forward to collaborating broadly and inclusively with the governor’s administration, General Assembly, entrepreneurs and startups, university research leaders, venture capital investors, entrepreneur support organizations, regional ecosystem leaders, industry corporate partners and other valued stakeholders. I am honored to serve the Commonwealth of Virginia and excited to lead VIPC into an ambitious future.”

Benevento has 20 years of business strategy and investment management experience across direct equity investing, business operations growth and executive board advisory positions spanning early-stage startups, small and midsized businesses and Fortune 500 companies. He began his career at New York-based investment banking company Goldman Sachs and Boston-based private equity firm THL Partners.

Before he joined state government, he was managing director of a Richmond-based investment firm. He has advised, invested, managed or monitored more than $10 billion in enterprise value and contributed to raises of newly-closed investment funds ranging from $250 million to $20 billion, according to VIPC.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and management from Cornell University and his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Benevento serves on the boards of several regional technology and entrepreneurship organizations including the Northern Virginia Technology Council; Verge (the Roanoke-Blacksburg Innovation Alliance); Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corp.; Virginia Alliance for Semiconductor Technology; and the Virginia Space Grant Consortium.

Youngkin to embark on Northern Europe trade mission

Gov. Glenn Youngkin will leave on his third international trade mission next week, visiting Germany, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland, his office announced Wednesday.

According to the news release, he will meet with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, along with officials in Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich, Germany; Copenhagen, Denmark; Helsinki; and Zurich, from April 28 through May 3.

“This economic development trade mission with strong European partners will build on business relations, our shared priorities and highlight the commonwealth’s capabilities,” Youngkin said in a statement. “Virginia’s strong workforce, incredible business environment, robust transportation system and world-class education institutions make the commonwealth uniquely positioned to attract businesses around the globe. Germany, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland represent critical markets that will advance economic growth and prosperity in Virginia. In strengthening these relationships, we are not only reaffirming our commitment to economic development in the commonwealth but also strengthening the spirit of Virginia.”

In April 2023, Youngkin embarked on his first international trade mission as governor, meeting with Taiwan’s president and visiting Japan and South Korea, and in December 2023, he traveled to France, where he attended the 2023 International Paris Air Show, where he met with aerospace executives and other defense officials.

According to the governor’s office, there are 119 German-owned companies with presences in Virginia, as well as 30 Swiss corporations, 13 Danish companies and eight Finnish businesses. Denmark-based Lego Group is building a $1 billion manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County, the state’s largest economic development win announced during Youngkin’s administration. It’s expected to be operational in 2027, the toymaker said in February.

Virginia ABC board vice chair named CEO

Former beverage industry executive Dale Farino has been appointed the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s next CEO, effective April 29, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Tuesday.

Farino served as vice chair of the ABC Board of Directors, and upon his resignation from the board, his seat will be filled by L. Mark Stepanian, former owner and CEO of Loveland Distributing Co., according to the governor’s office. Last year, Farino retired as executive vice president of Sandston-based Breakthru Beverage Virginia, a wholesaler and brokerage company in the wine and spirits industry, and he previously held positions with Tidewater Wholesalers and Coca-Cola Bottling, as well as having served as president of the Virginia Wine Wholesalers Association from 2019 to 2023.

Former ABC CEO Travis Hill stepped down in November 2023 after close to a decade with the authority, which transitioned from a state department to a semi-independent authority with more autonomy in 2018. He is now a counsel for Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Global Economic Development, Commerce and Government Relations Group. ABC Chief Law Enforcement Officer Thomas Kirby served as the authority’s interim CEO.

Virginia ABC has exceeded $1 billion in annual liquor sales starting in 2018 and broken consecutive sales records each year. However, authority officials came under fire after employees embezzled money from seven ABC stores in 2022, thefts uncovered during an audit in September 2022, though ABC leaders said they didn’t learn about the embezzlement until February 2023.

“Dale Farino’s exceptional background in both national and international beverage distribution positions him perfectly to lead the Virginia ABC,” Youngkin said in a statement Tuesday. “His strategic insights and operational expertise are vital as we continue to enhance our services, increase revenues and enforce the regulations that keep Virginians safe.”

A former artillery officer in the Marine Corps and a graduate of the University of Richmond, Farino was chief financial officer, chief operating officer and vice president of operations at Breakthru.

“I could not be more excited about this selection,” said ABC Board Chairman Tim Hugo. “I have confidence that with Dale working collaboratively with the board, executive team and teammates across the authority, a successful future is imminent. While the authority contributed an impressive $12 billion to the Virginia General Fund over the past 90 years, I have no doubt Dale will lead the authority to a place of even greater profitability, sustainability and resilience in the years to come.”