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Widening of Port of Virginia shipping channel is complete
The Port of Virginia’s shipping channel is now wide enough for two ultra-large container vessels to pass at the same time, concluding a significant part of the $450 million dredging project to make the port the widest and deepest harbor on the East Coast. According to the Friday announcement, the port expects to finish the[...]
Eastern Va. Big Deal: Prime location
Doug Smith isn’t surprised Amazon.com has extended its reach in Hampton Roads. The Hampton Roads Alliance president and CEO says Amazon’s expansion in the commonwealth has been a constant since the global e-commerce behemoth announced in 2018 that it would locate its East Coast corporate headquarters, Amazon HQ2, in [...]
Eastern Va. Year-in-Review: Striking a balance
Economic development directors often try to balance diversifying their community’s industries while playing to regional strengths. Sean Washington, Norfolk’s economic development director, believes his city found that balance in 2023. Norfolk has found growth around alternative energy, with Lambert’s Point bein[...]
Norfolk looks to renovate Scope, Chrysler Hall instead of building new arena
Norfolk no longer plans to build a new arena after Military Circle Mall is torn down, and instead is seriously considering renovating two city-owned venues downtown: the 53-year-old, 10,000-seat Scope Arena and the nearby 52-year-old Chrysler Hall, a 2,500-seat theater. “The participation of the public dollar that we would nee[...]
Biden executive order on Chinese cranes affects Port of Va.
President Joe Biden issued an executive order Wednesday addressing cybersecurity and espionage concerns over Chinese-made cranes in use at U.S. ports, including the Port of Virginia. Additionally, the Biden administration announced a plan to invest $20 billion on infrastructure security at U.S. ports, including support for domes[...]
Va. casinos report almost $53M in January revenue
January gaming revenues from Virginia’s three casinos totaled $52.86 million, according to Virginia Lottery data released Thursday. Virginia’s first casino, the Bristol Casino: Future Home of Hard Rock temporary facility, opened July 2022. The Virginia Lottery Board approved HR Bristol’s casino license in April[...]
NoVa, Hampton Roads housing markets show positive signs
The Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads housing markets showed encouraging signs in January, despite the seasonal slowdown. Northern Virginia In Northern Virginia, January closed home sales dipped 0.9% from January 2023, with 771 units sold last month, according to the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors. Homes sold faster[...]
Armada Hoffler to name Shawn Tibbetts as next CEO
Virginia Beach real estate investment trust Armada Hoffler expects to name Chief Operating Officer Shawn Tibbetts as its CEO next spring, when current CEO Louis Haddad plans to retire. Tibbetts has been promoted to president and will remain COO, Armada Hoffler announced Thursday. Tibbetts has been COO since he joined the company[...]
Va. Beach apartment complex sells for $36M
Dove Landing, a 318-unit apartment complex in Virginia Beach, has changed hands, Berkadia announced Jan. 31. Chesapeake-based Community Investment Group bought the property for $36 million from Enterprise Community Development, a nonprofit affordable housing provider in the mid-Atlantic, according to a news release from Berkadi[...]
Smithfield Foods hires two C-suite execs
Virginia-based Smithfield Foods named two C-suite executives Monday. The nation’s largest pork product manufacturer and hog producer has named Brendan Smith its chief marketing officer and Allyson Bouldon its chief ethics and compliance officer. Smith is returning to Smithfield Foods, having previously served as senior vic[...]
Va. Beach makes economic development head permanent
Charles E. “Chuck” Rigney Sr. has worked in economic development all over Hampton Roads; in Norfolk, Portsmouth and Hampton. Last February, he joined Virginia Beach’s economic development team as a business development administrator and since June 2023, he has been the department’s interim director. Now h[...]
Hampton Roads Exec Roundtable adds four board members
The newly formed Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable elected four new board members at its January meeting, the organization announced Monday. William “Bill” Murray, senior vice president of corporate affairs and communication for Richmond-based Dominion Energy; Towuanna Porter Brannon, president of Virginia Peninsula[...]
