Back to school
This fall, universities and colleges in Hampton Roads took baby steps forward as they reopened for the fall semester after shutting down in March during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Old Dominion University welcomed students back in late August with a combination of in-person and remote classes. Fall sports are canceled, and the […]
Under construction
Ohio Creek Watershed Norfolk A $112 million project intended to protect two historic neighborhoods, Grandy Village and Chesterfield Heights, from flooding, the watershed is expected to be complete by March 2023, according to Norfolk officials. Funding for the project comes from a $120.5 million U.S. Housing and Urban Development[...]
Hampton Roads Business Guide 2020
Welcome to the 2020 Hampton Roads Business Guide. This issue includes: Overview of Hampton Roads: Demographics for the second most populated region in the state. Executive Insights: Local business leaders weigh in on region’s economic future. Arts & Tourism: Will Norfolk and Portsmouth go all in for casinos? Plus: Loca[...]
Festivals hit pause
The Hampton Roads region is known for its popular festivals, from Virginia Beach’s Pungo Strawberry Festival and Suffolk Peanut Fest to the Virginia Arts Festival and the star-studded Something in the Water. “We’ve got more festivals than Nero had,” says Kurt Krause, president and CEO of VisitNorfolk. For Norfolk alone, tourism means more than $887 […]
New maritime collaborative taps executive director
Nancy Grden has been named the first executive director of Hampton Roads Maritime Collaborative for Growth & Innovation, which aims to expand the role maritime plays in the region’s economic development. Grden was most recently the associate vice president of Old Dominion University’s Institute for Innovation &am[...]
State to allocate $10M in block grants for COVID-19 recovery
The state government is earmarking more than $10 million in federally funded Community Development Block Grants (CBDG) for COVID-19 recovery projects across the commonwealth, including some small business assistance funds, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday. “Our administration remains committed to investing in rural communities during this unprecedented health crisis and as we work to rebuild […][...]
Norfolk inn sells for $1.65M
The Americas Best Value Inn Norfolk has sold for $1.65 million, commercial real estate brokerage firm Marcus & Millichap announced Friday. Built in 1959, the 62-room property sits on a one-acre lot at 1850 E. Little Creek Rd. in Norfolk. Maharishi Dayanand Investment Inc. sold the property to Parmeshwari LLC through a 1031[...]
Huntington Ingalls to establish unmanned systems center in Hampton
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that Newport News-based Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), the nation’s largest military shipbuilding company, will establish an unmanned systems center in Hampton, which will create more than 250 jobs. “Huntington Ingalls Industries is a national leader in advanced manufacturing, and this investment is a powerful testament to Virginia’s workers and business […][...]
Huntington Ingalls lands $355M Navy contract modification
The U.S. Navy awarded Newport News-based contractor Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) a potential $355 contract modification to help the branch prepare for an engineered overhaul of the USS Boise nuclear-powered submarine, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Monday. Under the contract modification, HII will provide early production efforts including planning, execution services, production and availability […][...]
Va. Beach Economic Development, 1701 Coworking select entrepreneurship program participants
Virginia Beach Economic Development and Virginia Beach-based 1701 Coworking announced Friday it has selected two participants for its three-month Entrepreneur-in Residence (EIR) program. Kate Johnson with Heritage Business Services and freelance educator Meghan Raftery were selected for the program, which provides training in hiring, strategic planning and other business practices. “The entrepreneurial spirit is alive […][...]
Hampton Roads to deploy first electric buses in Va.
Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday signed legislation that will bring zero-emission electric buses to Virginia as part of an initiative to change public transportation in Hampton Roads. Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Louise Lucas and Del. Alex Askew creates the first-ever dedicated Hampton Roads Regional Transit Program and Fund, which will be managed by the […]
VDOT OKs work to begin on $3.8B Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion
The Virginia Department of Transportation has issued its approval for the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel’s five-year, $3.8 billion expansion to proceed, VDOT announced Thursday. Hampton Roads Connector Partners (HRCP) received a notice to proceed for the project, allowing the builder to start interstate and tunnel work in the[...]