Va. Chamber of Commerce elects next chair
The Virginia Chamber of Commerce elected Fred D. Thompson Jr. its 2022 chair on Tuesday. Thompson is chief administrative officer and a business partner at Reston-based Thompson Hospitality Corp. “Fred has been a vital member of the Chamber’s board of directors and executive committee for several years and is a valued leader[...]
State awards $7M in grants to help with site readiness
Eleven commercial projects across the commonwealth will get a boost to help with site readiness, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. The Virginia Business Ready Site program, administered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, awarded $7 million in development grants. Having project-ready sites available has been a[...]
Recycling joint venture to create 210 jobs in Chesapeake
Two sustainable development companies — New Jersey-based Kamine Development Corp. and Minnesota-based Nicollet Industries LLC — will invest $267 million to establish a joint venture paperboard recycling and production facility in Chesapeake, a project expected to create 210 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. The 335,000-square-foot Celadon Development Corp. facility will be at the Chesapeake […][...]
NoVa Chamber and U.Va.’s Sorensen Institute partner to promote civics
The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service announced Tuesday their Advancing Civics partnership to encourage collaboration among business and government leaders. The Northern Virginia Chamber wants to prom[...]
Fifth District economy has moderate growth, Fed says
The Federal Reserve’s Fifth District (including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland) saw modest growth but was constrained by supply issues and labor shortages, according to the latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, released Wednesday. The Beige Book is published eight times pe[...]
IT firm set to bring 125 jobs to Richmond
A Fairfax County-based software consulting and managed services company, Intact Technology, is creating a second presence in the state with a location in Richmond, an expansion expected to create 125 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. According to Intact Technology CEO Jesse White, the company is exploring options in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom neighborhood. “Our application […][...]
Calif. aerospace company proposes Accomack County facility
Accomack County is a finalist for a proposed Rocket Lab USA Inc. facility, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. If the county is selected, Long Beach, California-based aerospace company Rocket Lab would develop a facility to support part production, assembly, integration and test operations to support the launch of its Neutron launch vehicle from the NASA […]
Richmond seeks developers for Diamond District
The city of Richmond issued a request for interest on Dec. 28, 2021, seeking developers for the 66.7-acre Diamond baseball stadium property it has dubbed the Diamond District. The city plans to demolish the stadium and construct a new multipurpose one that the Richmond Flying Squirrels will share with Virginia Commonwealth Unive[...]
Looking back
In November 2021, Gov. Ralph Northam sat down for an interview with Virginia Business, looking back at his eventful four-year term. This is a transcript of the full interview, part of which was used in the January 2022 cover story, “A dramatic shift.” The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Virginia Business: W[...]
Virginia named top business climate in U.S. by Business Facilities
Business Facilities magazine, a trade publication that focuses on corporate site selection and economic development, has named Virginia first in the nation for its overall business climate, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. The state joins fellow honorees Tennessee (recognized for best dealmaking) and Massachusetts, recognized for its workforce and educational system in Business Facilities’ annual […][...]
Plastics manufacturer to produce 300 jobs in Chesterfield
Starplast USA, a subsidiary of Israel-based plastic manufacturer Starplast, plans to invest $17.7 million in a new facility in Chesterfield County, creating 300 jobs over the next five years, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. “Starplast chose Chesterfield County for its new manufacturing operation because the geographic lo[...]
Merrick named as state’s next commerce secretary
Caren Merrick, the CEO of Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin’s nonprofit Virginia Ready Initiative, has been chosen to serve as Virginia’s next secretary of commerce and trade, Youngkin’s campaign announced Tuesday. Before leading VA Ready, a role in which she managed $10 million in public and private funding t[...]