80k+ Virginians filed jobless claims last week
More than 80,000 Virginians filed initial claims for unemployment last week, down nearly 21% from the previous week, according to a news release issued Thursday by Virginia Unemployment Commission. During the week that ended April 18, Virginia saw 82,729 workers file for unemployment, bringing the most recent five-week total for[...]
Virginia now has 10,600+ COVID-19 cases
Forty-seven days after COVID-19 was first found in Virginia, the state’s confirmed coronavirus cases have jumped over the 10,000 mark. The Virginia Department of Health reported Thursday that the commonwealth has 10,627 confirmed COVID-19 cases and an additional 371 probable cases. The report represents an increase of 672 [...]
Protesters bring the noise, demand to reopen Virginia
RICHMOND, Va. — Horns blared and flags waved from vehicle windows as hundreds of Virginians converged Wednesday on Capitol Square to protest restrictions implemented by Gov. Ralph Northam during the COVID-19 pandemic. Protesters reiterated the message of similar demonstrations taking place in state capitals across the coun[...]
Perspecta Labs wins $14.5M Army contract
Chantilly-based government contractor Perspecta Inc. announced Wednesday that its research arm, Perspecta Labs, has landed a $14.5 million U.S. Army contract to use machine learning to develop a suite of capabilities for the Army to protect against cyberattacks. The project was awarded by the Army’s Combat Capabilities Develop[...]
Axios receives $5M in PPP funding
Arlington-based digital media company Axios Media Inc. announced Wednesday it received nearly $5 million in funding from the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the $349 federal relief fund that ran out of funding on April 16 after 13 days due to overwhelming demand from small businesses [...]
Loudoun County announces $1M small-business relief fund
UPDATED FRIDAY, APRIL 24: The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors allocated an additional $250,000 to its existing $1 million COVID-19 Business Interruption Fund on Thursday, aimed at helping small businesses in the county that have been harmed by the COVID-19 crisis. The board allocated an extra $105,000 for businesses with 3-50 employees, $110,000 for businesses […]
Danville Community college names public relations, marketing director
Danville Community College has hired Faith O’Neil as its director of public relations and marketing. O’Neil was most recently the senior manager of customer development and marketing at Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital. During her career, she has specialized in crisis communications, media relations and strategic planning[...]
Virginia Tech develops in-house COVID-19 testing
Virginia Tech researchers announced Wednesday they have developed in-house COVID-19 testing kits and lab processing services to assist Southwest Virginia health departments with patient testing. Test results can be returned to the health departments as soon as same day. The initiative is being led by Dr. Michael Friedlander, Te[...]
Charlottesville Chamber launches local economic recovery initiative
The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday announced the launch of Project Rebound, a local economic recovery initiative to address the COVID-19 economic crisis. The project, hosted by The Chamber and economic offices at the University of Virginia, Albemarle County and the city of Charlottesville, aims to bring together local businesses to discuss challenges […]
Offshore wind components headed from Europe
Richmond-based Dominion Energy Inc. and Denmark-based Ørsted A/S announced Tuesday that major components of its $300 million Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) pilot project are being shipped to North America — which is on-schedule, despite the pandemic. Major components for the two, massive 6-megawatt Siemens Gamesa offsh[...]
The Hilb Group acquires book of business from payroll services company
Henrico County-based insurance company The Hilb Group LLC (THG) announced Tuesday the acquisition of a book of business from Cleveland-based payroll services company CBIZ Inc. The transaction was effective April 1. THG also hired CBIZ’s business unit president Peter Tarmey as a producer at THG. Tarmey is currently based in C[...]
Facebook opens applications for Va. small business grants Wednesday
Facebook Inc. announced Tuesday that it will begin taking applications for its small business grant program in Virginia on Wednesday, April 22. The social media giant opened the program to more than 30,000 businesses in more than 30 countries, including the United States, totaling $100 million. Thirty-one businesses in the Richmond region will receive a […]