Hershey announces $135M Augusta County expansion
The Hershey Co. will invest $135 million to expand its manufacturing operation in Augusta County, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. The 90,000-square-foot expansion of the Stuarts Draft facility will create 110 jobs. Hershey Chocolate of Virginia Inc. has operated in Augusta County for more than 30 years, employing more than[...]
Genworth Financial acquisition delayed again
The $2.7 billion acquisition of Henrico County-based Genworth Financial Inc. by China-based Oceanwide Holdings Group Co. Ltd. has been postponed — yet again — the companies announced Tuesday. The Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance reapproved the merger, and the companies agreed to a 15th waiver and agreement to each party’s right to terminate […]
Community colleges, businesses partner to get Virginians back to work
The Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready) announced Monday a program that will provide stipends for unemployed Virginians to attend community college programs in an effort to find new industry jobs and overcome coronavirus-related economic hardships. “We have people who need work and companies who need employees, so Virginia’s community colleges and employers are coming together […][...]
Dominion debuts first offshore wind farm in U.S. federal waters
After nearly a decade of planning, Richmond-based Dominion Energy Inc. is on the verge of harnessing offshore wind power following the installation this month of two turbines off the coast of Virginia Beach. Standing approximately 600 feet tall, the 12-megawatt turbines are the cornerstone of Dominion’s $300 million Coastal Vi[...]
United Way of Greater Charlottesville teams up with Va. 30 Day Fund
The United Way of Greater Charlottesville announced Monday it has partnered with the Virginia 30 Day Fund with a goal to disburse $100,000 in funding to local early education centers, family day homes and minority-owned businesses facing financial challenges due to COVID-19. The United Way has made an initial $24,000 seed grant [...]
New state program to provide rent, mortgage relief
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday the launch of a $50 million state program to provide relief for people facing eviction or foreclosure due to the pandemic. Federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is being directed to the Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP). “Expanding access to safe, affordable […]
Nearly 29K essential workers exposed to COVID-19
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) said Friday that, among its 1.3 million members, 238 front-line workers have died from COVID-19 and nearly 29,000 workers have been infected or exposed to the virus. UFCW represents more than 10,100 workers in Virginia’s grocery stores, meatpacking plants and other essential businesses. “With our country […]
Lumber company to invest $11M in Caroline County
Gatesville, North Carolina-based lumber company Ashton Lewis Lumber Co. will invest $11 million to establish a specialty Southern yellow pine sawmill in Ruther Glen (part of Caroline County), Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The company has also committed to sourcing 90% of its pine lumber purchases from Virginia forestland owners as part of the investment. […]
Virginia Business wins two national journalism awards
Virginia Business won two national journalism awards Thursday at The Alliance of Area Business Publishers’ (AABP) Editorial Excellence awards. The magazine placed gold in the “best feature” category for freelance writer Greg Weatherford’s November 2019 cover story, “The rise of the millennials,̶[...]
‘Our chance to restart and reinvent’
As part of its COVID-19 economic recovery initiative Project Rebound, the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce on Thursday released a blueprint outlining recovery action steps for the business community. Produced by Big Four accounting firm KPMG LLP, the “Blueprint for Economic Resiliency and Reinvention in the Great[...]
Loudoun County funds 400 additional small businesses
Loudoun County Economic Development on Tuesday randomly selected 400 local small businesses to each receive $5,000 COVID-19 Business Interruption Fund grants, totaling $2 million. The funding was allocated from the $36.1 million in federal funding to Loudoun County from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) A[...]
Reston security firm acquired by French company
Reston-based managed security firm Paladion will be acquired by Bezons, France-based information technology company Atos. A transaction amount was not disclosed. “We found with Paladion a mature team and advanced technology built to deliver outcomes and reduce customers risks,” Pierre Barnabé, Atos senior executive vice president and head of big data and cybersecurity, said in […]