Universal Corp. to acquire dehydrated foods company for $170M
Richmond-based international tobacco leaf supply company Universal Corp. announced Tuesday it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Momence, Illinois-based dehydrated vegetable, fruit and herb processing company Silva International for $170 million in cash. Following the transaction, Silva will operate as part of Universal’s plant-based ingredients platform, which includes FruitSmart Inc. (which Universal acquired [&helli[...]
Virginians debate mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations
RICHMOND, Va. — Though the federal government is asking states to prepare for the possibility of a COVID-19 vaccine within months, some Virginians differ on whether the vaccine should be mandatory when it becomes available. Virginia Freedom Keepers, a nonprofit that advocates for medical freedom, gathered in Richmond this [...]
Dominion seeks to keep North Anna nuclear plant operating into 2060
Richmond-based Dominion Energy has filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to renew the operating license for its North Anna nuclear power station for an additional 20 years. In operation since 1978 and 1980, North Anna’s two reactor units are currently licensed to operate until 2038 and 2040. The renewal would have the reactor […]
Arlington tech company acquires Colo.-based firm
Arlington-based tech provider and consultancy Innovative Discovery LLC announced Thursday it has acquired Englewood, Colorado-based software company Integro. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Innovative Discovery, which is backed by private equity firm Silver Oak Services Partners, provides data management and risk mitigation services to law firms and corporations, while Integro provides information technology […][...]
Caesars officially signs on to develop Danville casino
By signing a legally binding development agreement Thursday for a resort casino at the former Dan River Mills industrial complex in Schoolfield, Caesars Entertainment Corp. has guaranteed a minimum of $5 million in gaming tax revenue each year the casino is in operation. Voters will decide in November whether the project will mo[...]
U.S. nonresidential construction spending fell in July
National nonresidential construction spending fell again in July by 1.2%, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. And ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu says next year is shaping up to be an especially harsh one for contractors. Spending totaled $809.1 billion for the month of […]
Kanye West does not qualify as a candidate in Va., court rules
A Richmond Circuit Court judge ruled Thursday afternoon that Kanye West is not a viable presidential candidate on Virginia’s ballots — although his name is on some that have already been printed. Judge Joi J. Taylor granted the injunction motion filed by two plaintiffs, Suffolk residents who said they were tricked into signing a form […]
McLean tech provider names cybersecurity director
McLean-based tech provider Saliense announced Wednesday it has hired Victor Florido as director of cybersecurity. With more than 18 years of experience, Florido was most recently the branch chief and senior cybersecurity adviser to the IT security services director of the General Services Administration. In his new role, he will[...]
Newport News federal contractor names director, innovative solutions
Newport News-based federal contractor and professional services company ITA International has promoted Lauren Campbell to director of innovative solutions, effective Aug. 20. Joining the company in 2017, Campbell previously served as program manager of small business innovation research (SBIR) where she oversaw SBIR technology. [...]
Loudoun County allocates additional $4.3M to small business grants
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has approved an additional $4.3 million in federal CARES Act funding to go to its COVID-19 Business Interruption Fund, which supports eligible small businesses impacted by the coronavirus with $5,000 grants. During the first three rounds of funding, Loudoun County disbursed $7.1 million to more than 1,000 businesses. “Even […]
Puritan Cleaners acquires HandCraft Cleaners
Richmond-based dry-cleaning business Puritan Cleaners has acquired HandCraft Cleaners, another Richmond-based, family-owned dry-cleaning company, the businesses announced Thursday. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “We are extremely pleased to welcome HandCraft Cleaners’ customers to the Puritan Cleaners family and are honored to have the opportunity to continue to provide them with convenient, superior service […][...]
Va. jobless claims during pandemic exceed Great Recession
While Virginia saw a slight decrease in the number of initial jobless claims last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday that the total number of initial claims filed since the beginning of the pandemic is greater than the combined totals filed during the 2007-09 Great Recession and the economic recession in [...]