UNIS to add nearly 1M square feet near Port of Virginia
California-based third-party logistics company UNIS LLC plans to open two sites near the Port of Virginia next year, comprising nearly 1 million square feet. Industrial Realty Group LLC, which will construct the buildings, announced the project last week. It includes a 910,000-square-foot high volume, cross dock terminal in Suffolk and a 72,000-square-foot transload facility in […]
Port of Va. had $100B+ economic impact in FY21
Amid some of the toughest months of the pandemic, the Port of Virginia set cargo records, processing more than 3.2 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, and generating more than $100.1 billion in ancillary economic impact, according to the port’s fiscal 2021 economic impact repor[...]
Fifth District economy has moderate growth, Fed says
The Federal Reserve’s Fifth District (including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland) saw modest growth but was constrained by supply issues and labor shortages, according to the latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, released Wednesday. The Beige Book is published eight times pe[...]
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 [...]
Trucking on: How truckers are battling historic labor shortage
RICHMOND — From hand sanitizer and vaccines to groceries and toilet paper, truck drivers are trucking through the COVID-19 pandemic despite a historic labor shortage. Many industries moved workers home during the start of the pandemic, but truckers worked “to meet the needs of this country.” “The trucking industry has st[...]
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[...]
Hampton Roads launches maritime workforce, economic initiatives
The Hampton Roads Maritime Collaborative for Growth and Innovation (HRMC) and Old Dominion University announced two maritime initiatives Thursday with the goal of strengthening economic development in the region. ODU President Brian Hemphill announced the establishment of the ODU Maritime Consortium, which will grow the universi[...]
CMA CGM Group to acquire 90% stake in Los Angeles terminal
French shipping company CMA CGM Group, whose U.S. headquarters are in Norfolk, announced Wednesday that it has signed an agreement to acquire a 90% stake in the Fenix Marine Services (FMS) terminal in Los Angeles, based on an enterprise value of $2.3 billion. CMA CGM is funding the $1.8 billion acquisition from its own funds. [&[...]
Going cold turkey
To get a turkey on your Thanksgiving table this year, you may have to plan ahead. And even so, ham, pork tenderloin, chicken or even tofurkey might have to fill in as substitutes. Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods, the Richmond-based prepared food business spun off from the former regional grocery store chain, informed its customers Tue[...]
Manifest destiny
Taking on a new job during a pandemic could spell rough waters, particularly if the job relies on global commerce. But the past eight months largely have been smooth sailing for Stephen Edwards, the new CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority, which oversees the Port of Virginia. Edwards came onboard in January[...]
Eight Va. companies graduate from VEDP export program
Eight companies became the latest to graduate from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The VALET program helps Virginia companies use international exporting as a growth strategy. During the two-year program, businesses learn international sales plan development services through trainings from international service providers, […][...]
HII names new CIO for Newport News Shipbuilding
Jason K. Sutton has been promoted to chief information officer for Newport News Shipbuilding, parent company Huntington Ingalls Industries announced last week. Sutton, who joined the company in 2018 as director of operations integration and is currently program director for steel fabrication and assembly, will be responsible for[...]