Virginia Employment Commission closes HQ due to COVID-19
The Virginia Employment Commission is temporarily closing its Richmond headquarters office after the fourth VEC employee in three months has tested positive for COVID-19, the VEC announced Tuesday. The closure affects 350 employees who work out of the Richmond office. VEC call centers and district offices have not been affected and will continue to process […]
VCU, UCLA research could lead to better computer memory storage
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), released research findings Tuesday that could lead to more energy efficient memory storage for computers and other electronic devices. Magnets are used for computer memory due to their “up” or “down” polarity. The magnet[...]
Two Va. lawyers plead guilty in $200M extortion plot
Two Virginia lawyers have pleaded guilty to an extortion plot targeting a multinational chemicals company with demands for $200 million in “consulting fees,” according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release. Lawyers Timothy Litzenburg of Charlottesville, and Daniel Kincheloe of Glen Allen, both pleaded guilty June 19 in Charlottesville federal court. They face up […]
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[...]
Slight uptick in COVID-19 cases, deaths last week
Virginia saw a slight increase in COVID-19 cases last week, with the Virginia Department of Health reporting 3,724 new cases for the week ending June 29, up from 3,579 the previous week. The state reported 120 new deaths from the coronavirus during the same time period, bringing the state death toll for the pandemic to […]
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 […]
Richmond Airport CEO named secretary, treasurer of American Assoc. of Airport Executives
The Alexandria-based American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) announced Friday its 2020-21 leadership board, which includes Richmond International Airport President and CEO Perry Miller, who was tapped as the organization’s secretary and treasurer. Kelly Campbell, executive director of aviation at the Lubbock Pr[...]
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 […]