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Rising to the challenges
Last summer, as I was eating dinner at a Norfolk bar with a group of my Lead Virginia classmates from far Southwest Virginia, one of them asked what decision makers in Richmond thought about their region. “Most of them don’t think about it at all,” I replied bluntly and not a little sadly. During my […]
Rising in the Southwest
Through decades of owning her own beauty salon and later a gift shop in downtown Abingdon, Cathy Lowe developed an interest in economic development. In 2006, she decided to run for town council and won — ultimately serving for 12 years, including six as vice mayor and two as mayor. Throughout her career, Lowe, who […]
Richmond, Capital One offering restaurant 101 seminar
The city of Richmond’s Office of Minority Business Development, in partnership with Capital One, will offer a free information session for current and prospective restaurant owners in April, covering topics such as setting menu prices, meeting city requirements and creating improvement plans. Award-winning Richmond chef, r[...]
RIR president to head Henrico sports/entertainment authority
Henrico County officials on Wednesday named longtime Richmond Raceway President Dennis Bickmeier to lead its new sports and entertainment authority. Bickmeier’s last day with the raceway, where he has led for more than a decade, is April 15. He will begin working in his new role on April 18. “With Dennis Bickmeier serving a[...]
College sports wagering bill wasn’t good bet
RICHMOND, Va. — Six Virginia men’s and women’s basketball teams made it into March Madness, but state law prevents fans and bettors from placing wagers on their favorite in-state college teams. Lawmakers attempted to change that law this session. Sen. Monty Mason, D-Williamsburg, introduced Senate Bill 576 that would a[...]
Action sports festival coming to Va. Beach
One of Canada’s largest action sporting events, the Jackalope Festival, will make its U.S. debut in Virginia Beach in June 2023, Mayor Bobby Dyer announced Wednesday at the annual State of the City address. “Get ready for Jackalope!” Dyer shouted enthusiastically before a crowd of about 1,000 people gathered at[...]
Va. transportation and rail director announces departure
Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation Director Jennifer Mitchell will leave her post March 18 as she plans to take a new federal government job, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office announced Friday. Jennifer DeBruhl, who has served as the department’s chief of public transportation for more than five years, [...]
Va. AG hiring staff to target unemployment fraud
Virginia’s attorney general on Thursday announced he has signed an agreement with the Virginia Employment Commission to hire more staff dedicated to investigating and prosecuting fraudulent unemployment claims, a problem that has cost the state more than $100 million since 2020, a report estimates. According to Attorney General Jason Miyares’ spokeswoman, Victoria LaCivita, his office […][...]
SCHEV funds internship programs at 3 Va. colleges
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) this week awarded $535,000 in funding to the University of Virginia, Old Dominion University and Marymount University for the Innovative Internship Fund and Program, also known as the Virginia Talent+ Opportunity Partnership. U.Va. and ODU will each receive $250,000 to connect employers with students and increase […]
Virginia ABC announces next Pappy lottery
Want a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon whiskey without paying hundreds, even thousands of dollars? The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority will serve up a shot at the popular whiskeys in an online lottery later this month. Virginia ABC customers will have the opportunity to enter online to win a chance to purchase f[...]
Fed still likely to raise rates, despite Russia-Ukraine conflict
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Thomas Barkin said Thursday that he hopes to bring interest rates up to pre-pandemic levels “relatively quickly,” while noting that it’s hard to predict the future effect of the geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the nation’s economy. Spe[...]
Youngkin signs bill to conform tax code
This year’s tax season may be a little less complicated for businesses that were granted Paycheck Protection Program loans and Rebuild Virginia grants during the pandemic. A bill that Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed into law Wednesday will ensure that the aid granted through those programs won’t be treated as taxable inco[...]
