12 Va. companies join VEDP’s export trade program
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) announced Wednesday that 12 companies were accepted into its two-year Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program, which helps companies work on international exporting growth strategies. The VALET program helps Virginia companies to establish domestic operations for exports and encourages using international exporting as a growth strategy. During the […][...]
Call center company to expand Martinsville, Stuart operations
Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based call center company The Results Cos. announced Friday it would add approximately 288 jobs to its Martinsville location and 118 to its Stuart location by the end of the year. All positions will be full-time job opportunities in the call centers with wages of $11.50 to $13.50 per hour, dependent upon location […]
Loudoun County allocates additional $4.3M to small business grants
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has approved an additional $4.3 million in federal CARES Act funding to go to its COVID-19 Business Interruption Fund, which supports eligible small businesses impacted by the coronavirus with $5,000 grants. During the first three rounds of funding, Loudoun County disbursed $7.1 million to more than 1,000 businesses. “Even […]
Fed says Fifth District economy continues to improve, but activity remains low
The economy of the Fifth District of the Federal Reserve (which includes Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland) has continued to improve in recent weeks, but activity has remained below pre-pandemic levels in most industries, according to the latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, released Wednesday. The Beige Book is published […]
Augusta County expands business relief fund
The Augusta County Economic Development Authority (EDA) announced Tuesday it has expanded its Disaster Recovery Grant Fund to allow businesses that have previously received Paycheck Protection Program loans (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to apply for grants of up to $15,000. “The expansion of our grant fund will allow additional Augusta County businesses […]
Staying strong
No one could have predicted 2020 would bring such dramatic changes. Civil unrest after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, coupled with a once-in-a-century pandemic, is accelerating social and economic changes around the country, including in the Richmond region. Once the capital of the Confederacy, Richmond began[...]
A tale of two authorities
The town of Front Royal is moving forward with its own economic development authority independent from its cooperative EDA with Warren County, which is still reeling under the weight of a high-profile embezzlement scandal. Front Royal is the only locality in the state with two EDAs. The move was granted earlier this year in legi[...]
A sense of possibility
Luiz DaSilva became the inaugural executive director of Virginia’s Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) in March, returning to Virginia Tech after two years in Ireland, where he served as the director of CONNECT, a telecommunications research center at Trinity College Dublin involving 35 companies and 250 researchers from 10 Ir[...]
Economic Development
TAYLOR ADAMS DIRECTOR, VIRGINIA BEACH DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VIRGINIA BEACH Under Adams’ leadership, Virginia Beach has seen several company expansions and relocations over the last year, even in the current economic crisis. In June and July alone, nine companies announced they would either locate facilities or expand in the city. Ranging from manufacturing and […]
Torc Robotics expanding, creating 350 jobs in Montgomery County
Torc Robotics plans to invest $8.5 million and create 350 jobs in Montgomery County, not far from its current operation in the Blacksburg Industrial Park, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The company produces self-driving vehicles and was started in 2005 by a group of Virginia Tech students who were on a robotics team together. In […]
Lidl US plans to add 50 stores nationwide
Lidl US, the Arlington-based grocery store chain, plans to open 50 stores by the end of next year on the East Coast, the company announced Tuesday. The expansion will bring its total number of stores in the United States to 150. Seven new stores will be in Virginia: Alexandria, Burke, Chantilly, Charlottesville, Falls Church, Manassas […]
Roanoke Regional Partnership executive director to retire
Beth Doughty, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, announced Monday she will retire after 22 years with the public-private economic development organization. She plans to leave in December. Roanoke Regional Partnership covers the counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Franklin and Roanoke, the town of Vinton and th[...]