Richmond riverfront amphitheater gets green light
Red Light Ventures LLC’s $30 million, 7,500-person riverfront amphitheater received a green light Monday from Richmond City Council, which approved a performance grant that paves the way for construction of the proposed music and performance venue to start as soon as this summer. With plans to host up to 35 major acts annu[...]
Norfolk City Council votes to purchase MacArthur Center
On Wednesday evening during a special meeting, Norfolk City Council members approved plans for the city to purchase the struggling MacArthur Center mall downtown for up to $18 million. The 23-acre MacArthur Center is owned by Wells Fargo & Co., which holds the mall following a loan default by the mall’s previous owner, C[...]
AWS reports it invested $51.9B in Va. from 2011-21
Amazon Web Services Inc. invested more than $51.9 billion in Virginia between 2011 and 2021, according to an economic impact statement released by the company Wednesday. That investment total includes capital and operational expenditures in Virginia, including Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince William counties, AWS said. During that s[...]
Maryland brewery plans expansion to Fauquier
Silver Spring, Maryland-based Silver Branch Brewing Co. will invest $3 million to open a location in Fauquier County, adding 38 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. The expansion is the second location for the brewery, which is growing its production. Virginia competed with Maryland for the project. “Silver Branch Brewi[...]
James City County farmland sells for $12M
A Houston-based industrial real estate company has purchased a 328-acre former farm in James City County for $12 million with plans to develop facilities for manufacturers, importers and warehousing and distribution companies. Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer and sales partners Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices RW Towne Realty [...]
Growing the talent pool
For tech worker Courtney Proffitt, summer 2020 was a transformative time. After roughly a decade away from her native Virginia, she found herself in an Airbnb rental on the outskirts of downtown Roanoke. “I was ready to try a new city after 10 years in Charleston,” recalls Proffitt, who earned her master’s degree from the [...]
Va. Beach economic development director to depart
Taylor V. Adams, Virginia Beach’s deputy city manager and director of economic development, confirmed Tuesday night he will be leaving Virginia Beach after eight years. He will become the next president and CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN), he said Wednesday. His last day is June 30. Last[...]
Auto parts manufacturer to expand in Emporia
Heyco Werk USA Inc., a subsidiary of Germany-based automotive parts manufacturer Heyco Group, plans to invest $5.4 million to expand its operations in Greenville County, adding 21 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday. The location produces precision plastic molder parts for the auto industry and other industrial markets.[...]
Amazon begins HQ2 move-in
Amazon.com Inc. is moving more than 8,000 employees into the first phase of HQ2, its $2.5 billion East Coast headquarters in Arlington’s emerging National Landing area, this week. The e-tailer plans to officially open HQ2’s first phase, Metropolitan Park (Met Park), in June and to complete its move-in by the end of t[...]
Potomac Yard-VT Metro station opens in Alexandria
In its heyday during World War II, Potomac Yard handled freight for six different railroads and employed 1,500 workers to keep trains moving, until it succumbed to economic pressures. On Friday, after decades of planning, the transformed former rail switching yard opened as Metro’s 98th station, serving the Yellow and Blue[...]
Shenandoah Valley SBDC names new director
Shenandoah Valley’s Small Business Development Center, based in Harrisonburg, has named Allison Dugan its newest director. Dugan started with the regional SBDC as a part-time program manager in 2014 and became a business adviser in 2015, adding the title of assistant director in 2019. She took on the leadership role May [...]
Air compressor maker plans $7.4M Norfolk expansion
Norfolk-based Bauer Compressors Inc., a subsidiary of Munich-based Bauer Kompressoren Group, will invest $7.4 million to expand its production capacity in Norfolk, creating an estimated 47 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday. The company will increase its capacity to produce hydrogen and natural gas compressors. “Bauer’s long-term success in the city of Norfolk reinforces the […][...]