Chase City approves conversion of long-shuttered school
Chase City approves plan to convert the old Robert E. Lee Community Center into 25 apartments after a long debate and revised deal with a developer.
Shenandoah County takes long view on economic development
Shenandoah County hopes a $100,000 study is an early step toward welcoming new businesses and jobs. “We know that it takes time to develop property,” Jenna French, the county’s director of tourism and economic development, says. “We are planning for the future.” The county hired the Timmons Group to identify possib[...]
SWCC to expand workforce development programs
Southwest Virginia Community College in Cedar Bluff is expanding its workforce development programs this year with the help of three grants totaling $307,142 from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority. These grants will support the college’s existing automotive technology and workforce development scholarsh[...]
Danville-Pittsylvania authority invests in history
Using a $1.89 million loan from the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority, Danville and Pittsylvania County officials plan to purchase about 289 acres adjacent to the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill. Members of the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority (RIFA) unanimously agreed in January to[...]
Pharma hub workforce training wins $3.9 million grant
The talent pipeline for the Richmond-Petersburg region’s growing advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and biotech industries is getting a boost from a $3.9 million federal grant. Announced in mid-January, the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge grant was awarded to the Community College Wo[...]
Newport News aims for summer music festival
Newport News is preparing to launch a major music festival this year to boost tourism and support area businesses. Mayor Phillip Jones says the city is currently trying to attract national talent and is reviewing applications from people and organizations wanting to help organize, partner with and promote the festival. Although [...]
A second act for Roanoke’s Walker Machine and Foundry
Standing within hollering distance of the Roanoke River, Gregory Kaknes points toward an empty, 10,000-square-foot building. “That’s the bar and grill,” he says. He turns the other direction and motions toward a large expanse of land covered in concrete. “The apartments are over there. … There’s where we̵[...]
VCU receives approval to purchase Altria Richmond research facility
Virginia Commonwealth University received state approval this week to buy Altria Group’s 450,000-square-foot research building in downtown Richmond. The Altria Center for Research and Technology, which opened in 2007, sits on more than four acres at 600 E. Leigh St. and is assessed for $275 million. Discussions between off[...]
Virginia Beach-based Groundworks names new president, COO
Groundworks, a Virginia Beach-based foundation and water management solutions company, has promoted two senior executives to president and chief operating officer. Michael Mullican, who joined Groundworks over a year ago as chief financial officer, has been named president and retains his CFO title, and Jeffrey Martin, most rece[...]
Hooker Furnishings adds showroom dedicated to international audience
Martinsville-based Hooker Furnishings is demonstrating its commitment to serving a worldwide audience with the debut of its dedicated International Buyer Showroom at the upcoming High Point Market in North Carolina that will run April 26-30. Set apart from its flagship showroom, the dedicated 5,000-square-foot space is located [...]
Kaufman & Canoles names executive director
Chris Smythe has been named executive director of Kaufman & Canoles, the Norfolk-headquartered law firm announced Monday. In the role, Smythe will oversee the day-to-day operations of the firm and report directly to Jason R. Davis, its president and CEO. Previously, Smythe was president of Tycon Medical Systems, a Norfolk ho[...]
HII division awarded $182M Air Force contract
Huntington Ingalls Industries’ McLean-based Mission Technologies division was awarded a five-year, $182 million task order to provide logistics support for U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot training devices, HII announced Thursday. The contract involves HII and subcontractor Trident Military Systems performing engineering maintena[...]