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In memoriam: Va. Gov. Linwood Holton
The iconic fall 1970 photo of Virginia Gov. Linwood Holton escorting his daughter Tayloe to majority-Black John F. Kennedy High School is the enduring image of the Republican governor’s term. “He was fiercely independent,” says A.E. Dick Howard, the University of Virginia law professor who led the 1970 campaign to ratify a[...]
2021 Political Roundtable: Surfing Va.’s red wave
The day after Election Day, Virginia Business’ six Political Roundtable panelists hashed out what they think the next year will be like in a Richmond where Republicans are roaring back to power. Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin, a first-time political candidate and multimillionaire former private equity CEO, defeated former Gov. Terr[...]
VEDP board taps interim president
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership Board of Directors’ executive committee voted unanimously on Nov. 17 to name Jason El Koubi interim president and CEO of the partnership, effective Jan. 1. VEDP’s executive vice president, El Koubi has been with the organization since July 2017. “We have succeeded b[...]
Stafford supervisor elected to head VACo
Stafford County Supervisor Meg Bohmke was elected the next president of the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) at the group’s annual conference in Norfolk on Nov. 16. Bohmke succeeds Fairfax County Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay and becomes the second president from Stafford to lead the association, following Ferris M. Bel[...]
Va. unemployment rate dropped to 3.6% in October
In October, Virginia’s unemployment rate fell to 3.6%, 0.2 points below September’s rate, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The state’s unemployment rate has declined for 17 months straight. In October 2020, the jobless rate was at 5.3%, 2.5 points higher than last month. The labor force increased by 5,918 to almost 4.26 million, and the number […]
Prince George County administrator headed to King William County
Prince George County Administrator Percy C. Ashcraft is leaving to take the same role in King William County, county board chairman Floyd Brown Jr. announced Monday. Ashcraft’s last day in Prince George will be Dec. 3 and he will start in his next role on Dec. 6. “As chairman, I am saddened by his announcement, […]
Va. expands Elizabeth River Tunnels toll relief program
The commonwealth of Virginia and Elizabeth River Crossings OpCo LLC have partnered to expand the Toll Relief Program, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday. Elizabeth River Crossings, partly owned by Spanish company Abertis Infraestructuras S.A, owns Elizabeth River Tunnels, and the program, which was established in 2016, will red[...]
Henrico expands development incentive program, amends tax credits
Henrico County announced this week it is creating a redevelopment incentive program for parts of the county that are in need of renovation. Henrico Investment Program was unanimously approved by the county board Tuesday, and the program is expected to launch in January. Incentives for development and reinvestment will be available for projects along parts […]
Operation Next expands to Hampton Roads
Operation Next, a federally backed advanced manufacturing workforce development program for military veterans and their spouses, has expanded to Hampton Roads. The Maritime Base Industrial Ecosystem (MIBE) will recruit service members and their spouses to enroll in the program and will guide them to attain portable and nationall[...]
Northam, state officials make European trade trip
Before handing over the keys to the Executive Mansion to Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is skipping town for one last overseas business trip. Northam is leading an international trade and marketing mission to Belgium, Spain and Germany this week with a delegation including Chief of Staff Clark Mercer, Sec[...]
Major companies pledge $1.5M for broadband expansion
Dominion Energy Inc., Meta Platforms Inc. — formerly Facebook — Glen Allen-based Primis Bank and Petersburg-based The Cameron Foundation have collectively pledged more than $1.5 million to expand broadband access across Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. The funding will contribute to efforts to extend service to 233,000 Virginians who lack access to broadband. “These […][...]
GOP delegates throw in hats for House speaker
Updated 8:30 p.m. Nov. 3 A few key delegates’ races have not yet been called, but with Republicans poised to regain majority control of the state House of Delegates, Southwest Virginia lawmaker Terry Kilgore has announced he will run for speaker if his party holds its seven-seat lead. Del. Todd Gilbert, the current House m[...]
