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[...]
Republicans win down-ticket statewide races, possible House majority
Like the top of the ticket, Virginia’s attorney general and lieutenant governor races were close, but Republicans were ultimately victorious. The party appeared headed to regain control of the Virginia House of Delegates, but The Associated Press said Wednesday morning that several races were too close to call. However, th[...]
Youngkin wins tight governor’s race, defeating McAuliffe
After a nine-figure avalanche of TV commercials, slick mailers and high-powered political rallies, The Associated Press declared Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin as Virginia’s 74th governor Wednesday, leading a Republican sweep of statewide offices and the party’s possible regain of control in the House of Delegat[...]
AT&T wins $182M contract with USAID
Oakton-based AT&T Public Sector and its FirstNet public safety wireless communications platform won a 10-year, $182 million task order from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), if all options are exercised, the company announced Tuesday. The agreement was awarded via the General Service Administration’s Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract. USAID leads the government’s international development [...]
Virginia ABC names first chief transformation officer
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority has named Elizabeth Chu its first chief transformation officer, the authority announced Wednesday. Chu will guide Virginia ABC’s transformative efforts to ensure priorities and objectives are met, overseeing project management and business transformation, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion, according to a news release from the state ABC. […][...]
Shenandoah Community Capital Fund to get $1M as part of federal program
The Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF) will receive $1 million in American Rescue Plan funding as part of the Community Navigator Pilot Program, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced Thursday. The program is an initiative meant to reduce barriers that small businesses, especially those owned by veterans, women, people from rural communities and communities of […]
Va. governor’s race coming down to the wire
One week out from Election Day, the Virginia governor’s race remains very close, according to two polls released this week. Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic nominee, has small leads over Republican challenger Glenn Youngkin that are within the surveys’ margins of error. Released Wednesday morning, Christop[...]
Va. health and human resources secretary departs for new Seattle post
Updated 5:45 p.m., Oct. 22 Dr. Daniel Carey has stepped down as the state’s secretary of health and human resources to become chief medical officer for one of the nation’s largest medical groups, based in Washington state. A deputy secretary, Dr. Vanessa Walker Harris, has been appointed to replace him as Virginia&[...]
Va. unemployment rate dropped to 3.8% in September
In September, Virginia’s unemployment rate fell to 3.8%, 0.2 points below August’s rate, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The state’s unemployment rate has declined for 16 months straight. In September 2020, the jobless rate was at 6.6%, 2.8 points higher than last month. The labor force decreased by 3,859 to 4.2 million, but the number […]