Sign In
Free Newsletter
RBTC president leaves for new job
John Philips, president of the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council, has resigned from the post to join Pulaski County-based GALA North America as vice president, RBTC’s board announced Friday. His last day is March 31. Phillips, who holds degrees from Virginia Tech and Virginia Military Institute, joined RBTC in Septembe[...]
Health care AI company bringing U.S. HQ to Loudoun
Zasti Inc., a health care-related artificial intelligence technology company, is investing $5.9 million to establish its U.S. headquarters in Loudoun County, creating 60 jobs, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. Founded in 2017 in India, Zasti, which is Sanskrit for “prediction,” develops AI-based risk screening, predictive analytics and climate change solutions for the health care […][...]
757 economic recovery plan focuses on cooperation
At a Thursday news conference, Hampton Roads regional leaders unveiled a new economic recovery plan for the next two years that focuses on cooperation and resiliency. Hampton Roads Alliance President and CEO Doug Smith presented a report detailing multiple goals for the region to help it recover financially after the COVID-19 pa[...]
Tempur Sealy to invest $16.7M in Scott County manufacturing facility
Bedding product designer, manufacturer and distributor Tempur Sealy International Inc. will invest $16.7 million to expand its Scott County operation, creating 25 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. “Southwest Virginia has been an ideal base of operations for Tempur Sealy for nearly 20 years because of the region’s proximity to major interstates and access to […]
Prince William company to expand manufacturing of COVID-19 test products
Prince William County-based Ceres Nanosciences Inc. will increase manufacturing of its reagent product used in COVID-19 tests, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The project will create 50 jobs in engineering, advanced manufacturing and materials science during the next three years. “This expansion will enable Ceres Nanosciences to vastly increase production of its patented technology to […][...]
SW Va. aims to attract data centers via regional tax pact
As part of an effort to entice data centers to locate in the region, Southwest Virginia leaders announced Tuesday a joint agreement to set what will be Virginia’s lowest regional property tax rate on data center equipment. The localities comprising the Lonesome Pine Regional Industrial Facilities Authority — Dickenson, Lee, [...]
Richmond council clears way for $325M VCU Health project
Richmond City Council approved the sale of the city’s Public Safety Building on Monday, clearing the way for a $325 million VCU Health System medical office tower and multi-use project downtown. Council members unanimously approved the 3-acre property’s $3.5 million sale to Capital City Partners LLC, a collaboration [...]
Double play
Hampton Roads will be home to two Las Vegas-style casino complexes after Norfolk and Portsmouth voters overwhelmingly approved November 2020 referendums greenlighting the projects in their cities. The referendums passed with 64.4% of the vote in Norfolk and 66.7% in Portsmouth. The Pamunkey Indian Tribe is working with Tennessee[...]
Moving forward
In a difficult year haunted by the coronavirus pandemic, the Central Virginia region persevered — and in some cases made economic progress. Henrico County led all other localities with a blockbuster endorsement of a $2.3 billion project, GreenCity, that would promote environmental sustainability and bring a 17,000-seat arena t[...]
Chambers of commerce
STATEWIDE Asian American Chamber of Commerce Tysons (571) 633-9754 asian-americanchamber.org Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce Richmond (804) 344-1540 aabac.org Virginia Chamber of Commerce Richmond (804) 644-1607 vachamber.com Virginia Hispanic Chamber North Chesterfield (804) 378-4099 vahcc.com CENTRAL VIRGINIA Altavista Area Chamber of Commerce Altavista (434) 369-6665 altavistachamber.com Amelia C[...]
A slow climb back
After the pandemic hit in mid-March 2020, many industries hit pause on big decisions. But it didn’t take long for Virginia’s economic development departments to perk back up. In May 2020, Microsoft Corp. announced it would expand its presence in Reston Town Center by launching a software development and research hub, creatin[...]
‘As resilient as you get’
After sealing the deal on Amazon.com Inc.’s $2.5 billion East Coast HQ2 headquarters as Arlington’s economic development director in late 2018, Victor Hoskins took his talents to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) in August 2019. But instead of competing with his Northern Virginia neighbors when he t[...]
