Company behind Chesterfield indoor farm files for bankruptcy
Plenty Unlimited, a San Francisco-based agricultural technology company that counts tech billionaires Jeff Bezos and Eric Schmidt among its investors, has filed for bankruptcy but plans to continue operating its vertical strawberry farm in Chesterfield County throughout the restructuring, according to a company announcement. [...]
Va. looks to produce more ‘middle-skilled’ workers
When Tennessee-based Microporous officials visited Virginia in 2022 to scout locations for a new plant, Danville leaders took them to local public schools. That might seem like an unusual field trip, but choosing the right site for a manufacturing operation is not as simple as picking a plot of land anymore, says Julie Brown, vi[...]
Economic Development: Shovel-ready sites bring bigger projects to Va.
Site-readiness spending — a priority for Gov. Glenn Youngkin since he took office in 2022 — seemed to truly bear fruit in 2024, especially in Central and Southern Virginia. In Chesterfield County alone, Super Radiator Coils announced plans last year to expand its facility, creating 160 jobs, and Danish electrolyzer manufactu[...]
Derivatives exchange to add 33 jobs in Fairfax
Nodal Exchange, a derivatives exchange, will invest $300,000 to expand its Fairfax County operations, adding 33 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday. “Nodal Exchange’s expansion in Fairfax County demonstrates Virginia‘s ability to attract and retain global financial technology leaders,” Youngk[...]
Riverdale project moves forward in Roanoke
Work on the $50 million-plus Riverdale mixed-use redevelopment planned for more than 126 acres on the sprawling former campus of American Viscose, a rayon plant that closed in the late 1950s, is moving right along. Developer Ed Walker shared a lengthy written update on the project Jan. 24 that included a rendering of a 267-unit [...]
Norfolk focuses on cruise and entertainment tourism
The “city surrounded by water” — Norfolk — is going through “an evolution, putting in necessary investments to stay on top of the times” as a tourism destination, says Sean Washington, the city’s director of economic development. The city is expanding its cruise center to accommodate an influx of passengers yea[...]
Va. Chamber of Commerce reveals next president and CEO
Cathie J. Vick will be the new leader of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, starting April 1. The business advocacy organization with more than 30,000 members announced on Tuesday her appointment as president and CEO. Vick is currently vice president of corporate and government affairs at Transurban, one of the world’s larg[...]
Pharma company to invest $54.2M in Richmond R&D facility
Pharmaceutical company Haleon will invest $54.2 million to upgrade its research and development facility in Richmond and launch an internship program in partnership with state government and Virginia Commonwealth University, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. The physical upgrades at the facility, located at 1211 Sherwood Ave[...]
Proposed $8.8B+ Pittsylvania data center campus hits roadblock
So many Pittsylvania County residents turned out to voice their — predominantly opposed — opinions regarding a proposed $8.8 billion-plus data center campus and natural gas power plant that a county planning commission meeting ran about five hours Tuesday, ending around 11:40 p.m. As the meeting neared its end, Steven Gould,[...]