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Roanoke County launches small business relief grants
The Roanoke County Economic Development Department announced Monday it has launched a $1 million small business grant program to help businesses suffering from COVID-19 closures in the county and the town of Vinton. The program is being funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and wil[...]
U.S. nonresidential construction spending dropped in May
Nonresidential construction spending in the U.S. dropped 0.9% during the month of May, the Associated Builders and Contractors announced Wednesday, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Spending totaled $812.5 billion for the month of May while private nonresidential spending dropped 2.4%. “Certain aspects of today’s data release are precisely what was anticipated, while other elements […][...]
Atlantic Coast Pipeline canceled
Despite a favorable recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Dominion Energy Inc. and Duke Energy Corp. announced Sunday that they are abandoning plans to build the controversial, long-delayed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The 600-mile, $8 billion-plus natural gas pipeline was supposed to run from West Virginia through Virginia to eastern N[...]
Fleetwood Homes launching $2.1M expansion in Rocky Mount
Homebuilding company Fleetwood Homes will invest $2.1 million to renovate and expand its Rocky Mount facility, creating 60 jobs in Franklin County, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. “Fleetwood Homes has been a valued employer in Virginia more than 50 years, and we are proud to see the company reinvest in Franklin County,” Northam said in […]
366K+ Virginians remain jobless
More than 366,000 Virginians are still unemployed following the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, and initial jobless claims rose by more than 6,000 last week. The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) announced Thursday that 906,734 people have filed initial unemployment claims since March 15. Nearly 32,000 Virginians filed initial claims last week, an increase of […]
The Branch Group CEO resigns
Roanoke-based construction company The Branch Group Inc. announced Wednesday that CEO Will Karbach has resigned. Ron Oakley, the current chairman of the board, will serve as interim CEO, effective immediately. Upon the announcement Wednesday afternoon, The Branch Group had not provided a reason for Karbach’s departure and [...]
Troutman Sanders completes merger with Pepper Hamilton
After postponing its original April 1 merger date due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Atlanta-based law firm Troutman Sanders LLP and Philadelphia-based Pepper Hamilton LLP announced Wednesday they have merged to become Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP (Troutman Pepper). Among Troutman Pepper’s 23 nationwide offices, the Richm[...]
Virginia 30 Day Fund makes 500th grant
The Virginia 30 Day Fund, a Charlottesville-based nonprofit, announced Wednesday it has disbursed 500 “lifelines” — or $3,000 forgivable loans — to small businesses in Virginia that have financially struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeded with $100,000 from tech entrepreneur Pete Snyder and his wife, Burson, the[...]
Northam bans congregating in bars as Phase Three starts
As Virginia enters Phase Three of the state’s Forward Virginia reopening plan on Wednesday, July 1, Gov. Ralph Northam announced that bar seating and congregating areas of restaurants will remain closed. Restaurants will be permitted to use non-bar seating in the bar area, so long as tables are at least six feet apart. Whi[...]
Northam recommends $4.2M in funding for SWVA projects
Gov. Ralph Northam on Tuesday recommended that more than $4.2 million in Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grants be distributed among 17 economic development projects in Southwest Virginia. ARC grants can be used toward infrastructure, entrepreneurship development and workforce development. Northam’s recommended allocations must be approved by the federal commission before being awarded later this year. […][...]
State directs $30M to health care providers struggling from pandemic
Amid the COVID-19 public health crisis, Gov. Ralph Northam on Tuesday approved an estimated $30 million in emergency support for primary care doctors, pediatricians and other health care providers who offer general health care services to Virginia Medicaid members, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) announced Tuesday. “By taking action to support these frontline […]
Virginia Employment Commission closes HQ due to COVID-19
The Virginia Employment Commission is temporarily closing its Richmond headquarters office after the fourth VEC employee in three months has tested positive for COVID-19, the VEC announced Tuesday. The closure affects 350 employees who work out of the Richmond office. VEC call centers and district offices have not been affected and will continue to process […]
