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byline: Richard Foster

GO Virginia awards $11.1 million in economic recovery grants

The state’s GO Virginia economic development initiative announced Wednesday that it has allocated $11.1 million in grants to advance economic recovery efforts across Virginia, including a $1.45 million award to create a statewide system to support cybersecurity jobs training for Virginia’s defense contracting industry.

“The targeted support that GO Virginia provides is critical to ensuring communities across our commonwealth are well-positioned to succeed in a post-pandemic economy,” Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement. “These projects demonstrate how regional collaboration can drive innovation and deliver positive economic results, including diversifying our workforce, supporting entrepreneurs and upgrading our infrastructure.”

Since it was established in 2017, GO Virginia has funded 182 projects, awarding about $68 million in support of economic development efforts across the commonwealth.

The awards announced Wednesday include:

Cybersecurity Job Creation System ($1.45 million)
Statewide
Old Dominion University Research Foundation will develop and deliver a statewide cloud-based compliance system to aid Virginia’s defense contractors achieve Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) accreditation. Old Dominion University and Eastern Shore Community College will develop a NIST 800-171/CMMC education program to be delivered by the two institutions and other participating universities and community colleges.

Southwest Virginia Regional Ecosystem Initiative Implementation ($290,850)
Region 1: Cities of Bristol, Galax and Norton and the town of St. Paul
The University of Virginia’s College at Wise is partnering with SWVA Startup and Opportunity SWVA to increase the number of entrepreneurs in the region by 2027. The strategy includes hiring a regional ecosystem builder, implementing a virtual accelerator program and focusing on increased outreach and programming to develop a more diverse entrepreneurship community.

Project Fuse ($70,000)
Region 1: Counties of Dickenson, Lee, Scott and Wise, and the city of Norton
Project Fuse will develop an action-oriented plan with business retention and recruitment tools for local economic developers to promote telework employment strategies in the Lonesome Pine Regional Industrial Facilities Authority territory.

Project Thoroughbred ($100,000)
Region 1: Counties of Lee and Scott
Project Thoroughbred’s goals will include adding capacity to the maximum output farmers can produce; strengthening market confidence in the region’s ability to meet quality specifications; diversifying products; and work toward creating jobs for graduates of Mountain Empire Community College’s Grain Management Program.

Dearing Ford Industrial Park ($506,000)
Region 2: Campbell County and the town of Altavista
The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance will manage a project to extend gas service to the Dearing Ford Industrial Park and adjacent publicly-owned development parcels.

Helping Local Employers Prepare the Existing and Future Workforce for Industry 4.0 ($45,360)
Region 2: Counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Franklin and Roanoke, the cities of Covington, Roanoke and Salem, and the town of Vinton
The Learning Factory in Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech, in partnership with the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center, will address the need for trained talent in Industry 4.0 technology skills in the region. The project will convene employers and stakeholders to help identify areas of needed growth in Industry 4.0 such as necessary new technology, skill gaps among the current and future workforce, areas of potential collaboration and others.

Lynchburg Beacon of Hope ($97,740)
Region 2: Amherst County and the city of Lynchburg
Lynchburg Beacon of Hope will develop a Playbook for Future Centers to provide a programmatic guide of its existing Future Centers model that will focus on in-demand careers in the region’s targeted industries of manufacturing, information technology and life sciences.

Building a Regional Health Sciences Talent Pipeline ($100,000)
Region 2: Counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Franklin and Roanoke, the cities of Covington, Roanoke and Salem, and the town of Vinton
The project will establish the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers to work as a consortium with public institutions and private employers, helping them to more systematically collaborate to leverage resources and align curriculum with employers’ future growth strategies.

Minority Small Business Launch Center at Virginia State University ($453,000)
Region 4: Counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Henrico, Prince George, Surry and Sussex and the cities of Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Richmond
The Division of Research and Economic Development and the Center for Entrepreneurship at Virginia State University will create a Minority Small Business Launch Center that will provide a comprehensive suite of services for minority business founders and early-stage businesses.

Virginia’s Gateway Region Sites ($1.63 million)
Region 4: Counties of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George and Powhatan and the city of Petersburg
Virginia’s Gateway Region will advance site readiness in GO Virginia Region 4, elevating 15 sites (totaling 1,652 acres) to Tier 4 on the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Virginia Business Ready Sites Program.

Sussex County Water Study ($96,000)
Region 4: Counties of Isle of Wight, Sussex and Surry
Virginia’s Gateway Region will facilitate a preliminary engineering report for the evaluation of water supply alternatives to serve a 1,000-acre development site in Sussex County.

Campus 757 ($500,000)
Region 5: Cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Portsmouth
The Hampton Roads Workforce Council will create an initiative to increase the percentage of college students who stay and work full time in Hampton Roads.

757 Collab ($2.42 million)
Region 5: Cities of Hampton, Newport News and Norfolk
757 Collab, an ongoing venture of 757 Accelerate, 757 Startup Studios, and 757 Angels, will continue building and delivering new innovation and entrepreneurship programming, capacity, and services to early-stage companies by bringing together an accelerator, private capital, collaborative space, and community outreach programs.

Establishing a Regional Internet of Things Accelerator Program in the Rappahannock Regional Entrepreneur Ecosystem ($215,000)
Region 6: Counties of King George and Stafford and the city of Fredericksburg
Stafford County and partnering localities will collaborate with the Center for Innovative Technology to expand entrepreneurial programs in the Rappahannock Region. Programs will also support the technology-based Virginia Smart Community Testbed in Stafford and provide entrepreneurs with access to the proven Regional Internet of Things Accelerator Program and additional community-focused programming.

Northern Virginia Community College Dual Enrollment Expansion Program for Information and Engineering Technology ($1.11 million)
Region 7: Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park
Northern Virginia Community College, in conjunction with multiple partners, will implement the Dual Enrollment Expansion Program for Information and Engineering Technology (DEEP-IET) to develop regional workforce capacity in IET, specifically targeting information technology and engineering technology.

Innovation Forward ($100,000)
Region 7: Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park
The Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance will undergo a strategic planning process to determine the best approaches to organization and management, budgeting and funding, staffing, policy development, business development activities and brand development.

Accelerating Regionally Significant Sites ($786,333)
Region 9: Counties of Culpeper and Louisa
The Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development will elevate one 700-acre site to Tier 4 on the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Site Characterization scale and enhance the marketability of a 266-acre Tier 4 site by completing water and sewer engineering studies for the sites.

Expansion of Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program Mentor Network ($882,794)
Statewide
George Mason University will expand the statewide network of Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program mentors, who will support startups and early-stage companies. Services will include assistance with developing strategic plans and accessing funding and grants through a new regional hub service network.

The Future of Workforce Development Outreach ($148,689)
Region 9: Counties of Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison and Nelson
Virginia Career Works – Piedmont will address newly identified service equity gaps by providing targeted assistance to displaced workers who do not have access to a career center or high-speed internet. They will create face-to-face support for job seekers and increase access to training and employment opportunities.

Accelerate 2022 ($100,000)
Region 7: Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William and the city of Fairfax
Refraction Inc., in partnership with George Mason University, will launch Accelerate 2022, a multiday showcase and pitch competition that will bring investors from across the nation to fund Northern Virginia startups and high-growth companies.

 

 

Reston’s Trucker Tools acquired by Calif. tech firm

Reston-based Trucker Tools, a software company that provides a digital freight management platform for the transportation industry, has been acquired by Walnut Creek, California-based software company ASG.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 2013, Trucker Tools offers a software suite with capacity management, predictive freight matching, automated booking, real-time GPS-based visibility and digital workflow solutions.

“ASG has a proven track record of helping SaaS [software as a service] companies grow and build out reliable, resilient software services delivering enduring value and competitive advantage,” said Prasad Gollapalli, founder and CEO of Trucker Tools, in a statement. “Their philosophy, mindset and approach complement Trucker Tools culture and values, and are well-aligned with our laser focus on superior customer engagement and product performance. We are excited to leverage the ASG team’s skills and experience as we chart this next chapter in our sustainable growth journey.”

As part of the acquisition, Trucker Tools is adding Jesse Buckingham, a former executive at two high-growth logistics businesses, as the company’s chief revenue officer.

A portfolio company of San Francisco-based private equity firm Alpine Investors, ASG specializes in acquiring vertical SaaS companies and has acquired 35 companies including Trucker Tools.

Chantilly-based CTSI acquires N.C. A/V company

Chantilly-based technology firm Corbett Technology Solutions Inc. (CTSI) announced Tuesday that it has acquired Morrisville, North Carolina-based Collaborative Technology Solutions LLC (CTS), a provider of audiovisual, security, structured cabling and sound-masking services.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. CTSI is a portfolio company of Chicago-based private equity firm Wind Point Partners. The transaction is CTSI’s third acquisition since it was acquired by Wind Point in June 2020. In a news release, CTSI said it would continue focusing on acquiring companies providing communications, life-safety and security solutions.

“Our core values of excellence, reliability and integrity align perfectly with those of CTSI,” CTS President and Partner Tom Livolsi said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to continue providing our customers with the excellence they’ve come to expect while beginning to support CTSI customers with the same care and attention we’ve brought to market for years.”

“CTS’s reputation in the industry is well established,” CTSI President and CEO Joe Oliveri said. “They’re known for quality engineering and robust, attentive and individualized service. It’s that commitment to customers that excites us here at CTSI; our customers are our top priority and I’m confident that existing and new customers alike will see that commitment reflected in our work.”

Founded in 1969, CTSI provides audiovisual, communications, collaboration and security solutions for enterprise, government, health care and educational customers.

 

Reston’s LookingGlass Cyber Solutions acquires Texas tech firm

Reston-based cybersecurity contractor LookingGlass Cyber Solutions Inc. has acquired Austin, Texas-based AlphaWave Inc., a cloud-native tech company that provides attack surface management services.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. In a news release, LookingGlass said the transaction will complement the Reston company’s existing cybersecurity services for federal and state government customers by “enabling deeper attack surface visibility into cloud and container environments.”

“AlphaWave’s cloud-native foundation enables them to clearly understand the nuances of managing one’s attack surface across the cloud and containers. This expertise is only going to become more critical as the private sector and government continue to undergo digital transformations and move to cloud-first strategies. We are excited to bring AlphaWave’s expertise and attack surface capabilities into the LookingGlass Suite as we deliver actionable threat intelligence enhanced with an adversary’s view and customized models of an adversary’s capabilities,” said LookingGlass CEO Gilman Louie in a statement.

Founded in 2009, LookingGlass provides cybersecurity services and employs more than 300 people.

 

Whitt Clement to become U.Va. rector on July 1

Former Virginia Secretary of Transportation Whitt Clement will start his two-year term as rector for the University of Virginia on July 1.

Clement is a longtime former state delegate who is now a special counsel and former partner for the Richmond-based law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth. He will succeed U.Va.’s current rector, James B. Murray Jr., managing general partner of Charlottesville-based Court Square Ventures.

The school’s new vice rector will be Robert D. Hardie, co-chairman and CEO of Charlottesville-based H7 Holdings LLC, which owns the Keswick Hall hotel in Virginia and The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville. A noted philanthropist, Hardie and his wife, Mollie, donated $7 million to U.Va. in 2019 for the school’s Athletics Master Plan and a new student health facility. Hardie is also co-chairman and CEO of Charlottesville-based investment firm Level One Partners. He earned a bachelor’s degree, MBA and doctorate in management from U.Va.

Clement was appointed to U.Va.’s board of visitors in 2015 by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Hardie is serving his second stint on the board, having been appointed by Gov. Tim Kaine in 2008 and by McAuliffe in 2017.

“It has been a singular honor and pleasure to work with Jim Murray, who is a gifted leader,” U.Va. President Jim Ryan said in a statement. “He has not only helped the university navigate challenges like the pandemic, but also has overseen great progress on the 2030 Strategic Plan and the ‘Honor the Future’ campaign. I am heartened that he will remain as a board member while Whitt Clement and Robert Hardie will step into the rector and vice rector roles, respectively. I’ve relied on Whitt’s wisdom and devotion to the University of Virginia since I became president, and Robert’s dedication to supporting the U.Va. student experience has been invaluable. I look forward to working closely with them in the years to come.”

Clement, who holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a law degree from U.Va., is a founding trustee and member of the UVA College Foundation. A past president of the Virginia Bar Association, he is also a former chair of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

“It’s a great privilege to lead such a strong, dedicated board and I look forward to working with my colleagues, President Ryan and his leadership team as we transition from the extraordinary year of the pandemic to more normal times,” Clement said.

 

Reston-based Ellucian to be acquired by Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners

Investment firms Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners have reached an agreement to acquire Reston-based higher education software company Ellucian, according to an announcement from the companies released Monday.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. New York-based Blackstone and Texas-based Vista Equity are acquiring Ellucian from Texas-based TPG Capital and Los Angeles-based Leonard Green & Partners.

Founded in 1968, Ellucian provides enterprise resource planning software products such as student information systems, data analytics tools and graduation-tracking platforms for more than 2,700 higher education customers in more than 50 countries representing more than 26 million students.

“We are excited to welcome Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners to the Ellucian team at such a pivotal time in higher education,” said Ellucian President and CEO Laura Ipsen in a statement. “Their investment strategy represents a long-horizon commitment to our company with significant new capital to accelerate digital transformation, our open SaaS platform and international growth. On behalf of the team, I’d also like to thank TPG and Leonard Green for their valuable contributions and strategic partnership over the years.”

Eli Nagler, a senior managing director at Blackstone, said, “Digital transformation is one of Blackstone’s highest-conviction investment themes and Ellucian has proven itself a clear leader in the fast-growing higher-education technology sector. The long-term nature of our partnership with Ellucian will allow us to invest substantially in innovation for its customers.”

Burke Norton, co-head of Vista’s Perennial Fund and senior managing director, added, “As a market leader and innovator, Ellucian has a tremendous opportunity to further modernize diverse higher education institutions globally. We look forward to partnering with Ellucian to elevate the higher education experience, while improving outcomes for institutions, instructors and students alike.”

 

UK manufacturer to build $6.4M facility in Danville

MEP Ltd., a manufacturer of complex plastic and metal components for the aerospace and defense sectors, will invest $6.4 million to establish its first U.S. operation in Danville, creating 45 jobs, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday.

The company, which will operate in the U.S. as Making Everything Possible LLC, will locate in the Cyber Park industrial technology park jointly owned by the city of Danville and Pittsylvania County. While the new facility is under construction, MEP will occupy approximately 5,500 square feet at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville.

Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for the project.

“Virginia’s manufacturing industry is large and diverse, and we are excited to partner with MEP Ltd. as the company opens its first U.S. operation in the commonwealth,” Northam said in a statement. “Danville-Pittsylvania County has developed an inventory of business-ready sites and training programs to ensure a strong pipeline of skilled workers, enabling Southern Virginia to attract global businesses like MEP.”

Founded in 1972 and headquartered in the United Kingdom, MEP Ltd. has $3.2 million in global sales.

“Following extensive research regarding the best location in the U.S. for MEP Ltd.’s continued expansion, we are delighted to choose Danville as our base for Making Everything Possible LLC,” said Phil Hart, executive chair of MEP Ltd. and president of Making Everything Possible LLC. “The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research is a very particular draw for us, as the approach to encouraging the growth of STEM skills and diversity has been a major reason for our decision.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Danville, Pittsylvania County, the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority, Invest Southern Virginia and the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance to secure the project for Virginia. Northam approved a $135,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist the project. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $270,000 from the Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund for the project. Funding, and services to support the company’s job creation will be provided through VEDP’s Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

Wytheville’s Two-Way Radio acquired by S.C. company

Two-Way Radio Inc., a Wytheville-based provider of communications systems and devices for public safety and industrial clients, has been acquired by Spartanburg, South Carolina-based Mobile Communications America Inc. (MCA).

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Both companies are Motorola dealers.

Founded in 1948, Two-Way serves clients in Southwest Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky. The acquisition marks MCA’s entrance into the Virginia and West Virginia markets.

Two-Way Radio owner Deborah Terry, whose grandfather founded the company, said in a statement, “Becoming part of the MCA family will enable continued growth and product advancements. We look forward to leveraging the resources and capabilities that this partnership will provide. It is exciting to consider how this will benefit our employees and our customers, both of which have always been our top priority.”

MCA CEO Vince Foody said, “We are excited to welcome Two-Way to MCA. Two-Way has over 60 years of experience servicing not only the commonwealth of Virginia, but West Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina as well. Their outstanding reputation and customer service strengthen our ability to better serve the region.”

Norfolk Southern taps new labor relations VP

Norfolk Southern is promoting Jason Morris to vice president labor relations, the Norfolk-based Fortune 500 railroad corporation announced Monday.

Morris, the company’s assistant vice president safety and environmental, will succeed Scott Weaver, who is retiring Oct. 1 from the company after 32 years of service. Morris will report to Annie Adams, executive vice president and chief transformation officer.

“Jason is an innovative and collaborative leader who will forge strong partnerships between management and labor in his new role,” Adams said. “As head of our safety and environmental team, he built a track record of bringing management and our craft workforce together to improve safety performance and culture.”

Morris joined Norfolk Southern’s legal department in 2010 and later served as system director safety for the corporation’s safety and environmental department. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, the University of Virginia School of Law, and the Executive Development Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Weaver began his career with Norfolk Southern in 1989 as a labor relations specialist and was named vice president labor relations in 2012.

“Scott’s understanding of our business and ability to build relationships earned him the respect of colleagues, labor leadership and peers across our industry,” Adams said.

Dewberry acquires Alabama engineering firm

Fairfax-based professional services firm Dewberry has acquired Birmingham, Alabama-based Edmonds Engineering.

A mechanical, electrical and plumbing design and facilities engineering company, Edmonds has 75 employees and five offices in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

The new subsidiary will be branded as Dewberry | Edmonds and will continue operating under its existing leadership. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Edmonds Engineering has a large footprint in the Southeast, and a strong reputation as an MEP firm in several market segments, including health care, education, laboratories, municipal, industrial, commercial  and federal,” Dewberry CEO Donald E. Stone Jr. said in a statement.

Edmonds Engineering CEO Dan Blackman said, “Our immediate comradery and strategic alignment are two of the many reasons why Edmonds Engineering is excited to join Dewberry. This will allow us to provide resources from a national firm with expertise across the U.S. and encompassing many markets and services.”