Radford University chooses new president
Radford University’s eighth president will be Bret S. Danilowicz, who’s currently serving as the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Danilowicz, who starts his tenure at Radford on July 1, 2022, succeeds Brian O. Hemphill, who left in June to become p[...]
Construction begins on Hard Rock casino in Bristol
Construction has started on the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol’s temporary casino, with opening scheduled in the second quarter of 2022, Hard Rock International Inc. announced Thursday. Before its permanent casino is built, Hard Rock will build a 30,000-square-foot casino at the former Bristol Mall. It will feature 9[...]
Va. new unemployment claims drop 47%
Virginia’s new unemployment claims dropped by 47% last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday, following a drop of 50% in the week ending Nov. 27. For the filing week ending Dec. 4, Virginians filed 3,450 initial claims, a decrease of 3,096 from the week before. Continued claims totaled 14,598, an increase[...]
Investment group acquires self-storage complex in Va. Beach
Norfolk-based Cohen Investment Group, a commercial real estate investment company, has acquired Castleton Commerce Center, a 390,380-square-foot self-storage complex in Virginia Beach, from Prime Storage. The complex, at 2424 Castleton Commerce Way, is one of 11 storage properties Cohen Investment Group acquired through five acq[...]
Hollins University alumna makes $75M donation
Hollins University has received a $75 million donation from an anonymous alumna, the largest in its history and believed to be the largest private donation to a women’s college, the university announced Thursday. The gift will fund scholarships and undergraduate financial need. It will be given in $25 million increments to[...]
Lee Enterprises rejects Alden’s $144M purchase offer
Lee Enterprises Inc.’s board unanimously rejected Alden Global Capital’s $144 million buyout offer made last month, saying it “grossly undervalues” the company and its newspapers, which include 31 publications in Virginia. “The Alden proposal grossly undervalues Lee and fails to recognize the strength o[...]
VCU president to chair American Council on Education
Michael Rao, president of Virginia Commonwealth University, has been elected chair of the American Council on Education Board of Directors, the council announced Tuesday. Rao, VCU’s fifth president, has been at the helm of the university — and VCU Health System — since 2009. He was selected as ACE’s chair Tuesday[...]
Patrick County flooring company announces $9.3M expansion
Ten Oaks LLC, a manufacturer of residential hardwood floors, will invest $9.3 million in a sorting and stacking facility in Patrick County, creating 11 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The company was established in 2004 in the town of Stuart and was acquired in 2019 by Canadian company Boa-Franc. The new facility is located […]
ODU names ED of new bioelectronics center
Old Dominion University has named Gymama Slaughter the founding executive director of its Research Center for Bioelectronics, the university announced Monday. The new center, which opened July 1, allows ODU to increase its total sponsored research funding, advancing work on new cancer combinational therapy and non-invasive cance[...]
11-building office portfolio in Henrico sells for $87M
An 11-building office portfolio in Henrico County sold for $87 million, according to Henrico County property records. A partnership between New York-based Jack Sitt Real Estate LLC and Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based Gulf Islamic Investments LLC bought the portfolio on Dec. 1. Thalhimer did not disclose the seller. The propert[...]
What will Amazon HQ2 look like? Arlington planners weigh in.
Arlington County Planning Division’s Site Plan Review Committee will review the layout and architectural design for PenPlace, the proposed second phase of Amazon.com Inc.’s East Coast headquarters, as well as the proposed public space, in its Monday night meeting. Meeting documents show the proposed layout of the Pentagon Ci[...]
Mich. company acquires Roanoke steel distributor
Jackson, Michigan-based Alro Steel Corp. announced Monday it had acquired Roanoke-based Ace Steel Inc. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1992, Ace Steel is a steel distributor serving the Roanoke Valley. The transaction will help Alro provide improved service for cut-to-size metals and plastics, w[...]