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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[...]
Va. unemployment rate dropped to 3.4% in November
In November, Virginia’s unemployment rate fell to 3.4%, 0.2 points below October’s rate, marking 18 straight months of declines, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. In November 2020, the jobless rate was 2.4 points higher than last month. The labor force increased by 2,706 to almost 4.26 million, and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 8,627 […]
Q&A: Quebec official discusses Va. trade mission
Quebec’s delegate general in New York, Martine Hébert, visited Virginia this week on a trip to strengthen economic relations between her province and the commonwealth. Appointed in August by Quebec Premier François Legault and based out of New York, Hébert is responsible for promoting the province’s economic interests in [...]
Northam proposes $150M for site readiness
When Mazda Toyota was looking to build a plant that would have brought 4,000 jobs and 1.6 billion in investment, Virginia was ruled out. Why? Because Virginia didn’t have a competitive project-ready site available. Huntsville, Alabama, landed the deal instead. Since 2016, Virginia has lost out on 42,000 direct jobs and [...]
Va. invests $722M in broadband expansion
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam this week announced a state investment of $722 million in grants toward expanding high-speed internet service in 70 localities across the commonwealth. The governor says the funding will help Virginia achieve 90% of its universal broadband access goal by 2024. “Broadband access impacts every facet o[...]
Northam proposes $2.1B in tax cuts for ‘working people’
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, who leaves office next month, proposed four tax cuts Tuesday, including eliminating Virginia’s 1.5% sales tax on groceries and providing an income tax cut for low- and middle-income Virginians. He also proposed one-time tax rebates — $250 for individuals and $500 for married couples — and e[...]
Coalfield Expressway could have $12.8B impact, study says
The cumulative economic impact of the Coalfields Expressway (CFX) during a 50-year span is estimated to be $12.8 billion in 2021 dollars, according to a study by Richmond-based Chmura Economics & Analytics presented Tuesday. The CFX is a proposed limited-access highway that would run through Southwest Virginia and southern West Virginia. It is designated as […]
What will Amazon HQ2 look like? Arlington planners weigh in.
Arlington County Planning Division’s Site Plan Review Committee will review the layout and architectural design for PenPlace, the proposed second phase of Amazon.com Inc.’s East Coast headquarters, as well as the proposed public space, in its Monday night meeting. Meeting documents show the proposed layout of the Pentagon Ci[...]
Youngkin promises biz-friendly climate for Va.
Talent, taxes and regulations, broadband access and energy are the top concerns for Virginia businesses, according to survey results gathered for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Blueprint Virginia 2030, an action plan for strengthening Virginia’s economy. And those are also priorities for Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin, he sai[...]
New Va. unemployment claims fall by 50%
The state’s new unemployment claims for the filing week ending Nov. 27 fell by about 50% from the previous week, while continued claims rose by more than 7,000 filings. The Virginia Employment Commission installed a new unemployment insurance system in November, and it missed two weeks of reports during that period. Accord[...]
Virginians bet record $427M on sports in October
Virginians bet $427 million in October, a new monthly record, according to data released Wednesday by the Virginia Lottery. Virginia sports bettors won $397 million that month, the lottery announced. Virginia has recorded $2.4 billion in wagering since the state legalized sports betting in mid-January, as well as $206 million in[...]
Altria can’t sell IQOS device in U.S. after ITC ruling stands
Henrico County-based Altria Group Inc. and former subsidiary New York-based Philip Morris International Inc. can no longer sell the IQOS tobacco heating device in the U.S. after the Biden administration’s 60-day administrative review process concluded Monday. On Sept. 29, the U.S. International Trade Commission determined th[...]
