Northern Va. Year-in-Review: Back to the cookie jar
Data centers continued to dominate, define and, in some cases, shape the arc of Northern Virginia’s 2023 economic story. Amazon Web Services cleared its hurdle in Stafford County, and although Prince William County’s controversial Digital Gateway project faced major public backlash, supervisors ultimately voted to approve th[...]
Southern Va. Big Deal: Shattering records
Poland-based Press Glass, a flat-glass fabricator for the commercial construction industry, will gain a competitive edge when it breaks ground on a $155.2 million expansion of its Ridgeway plant in the second quarter. It’s the single largest investment by a business in Henry County’s history, topping packaging manufacturer C[...]
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 being developed [...]
Amentum secures $591.6M Navy contract
Chantilly-based federal contractor Amentum Services has won a $591.6 million contract from the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to support eligible allied naval forces, the company announced Tuesday. Under the contract from the NAVSEA International Fleet Support Program Office, Amentum will provide life-cycle support and [...]
Charlottesville’s Astraea acquired by Fla. satellite company
Astraea, a Charlottesville-based geospatial analytics firm, has been acquired by Nuview, a Florida-based company developing a satellite imaging constellation, the companies announced Tuesday. Financial terms of the deal were not available. Founded as a for-profit benefit corporation in 2016, Astraea applies data science and artificial intelligence to analyze imaging and sensor data gathered from Earth-observing […][...]
Former Va. ABC chief joins Hunton Andrews Kurth
Travis Hill, former CEO of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority and former Virginia deputy secretary of agriculture and forestry, has joined Richmond-based law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth, Virginia’s second-largest law firm announced Tuesday. Hill is a counsel for the firm’s Global Economic Development, Co[...]
Atlantic Union acquisition of American National approved
Richmond-based Atlantic Union Bank’s parent company announced Monday that the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors has approved its acquisition of Danville-based American National Bankshares, holding company of American National Bank and Trust. The Fed’s signoff was the last regulatory approval needed for the m[...]
United Way of SWVA spins off workforce programs
The United Way of Southwest Virginia is spinning off its workforce development programs by establishing a new nonprofit, EO, to oversee them, UWSWVA announced Feb. 20. EO, which stands for Endless Opportunity, is also Latin for “go.” The new nonprofit will manage what has been the UWSWVA’s $10 million portfolio of [...]
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[...]
Dominion to sell 50% interest in Va. Beach offshore wind farm for $3B
Dominion Energy announced Thursday it has reached an agreement with investment firm Stonepeak to sell a 50% noncontrolling stake in the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind commercial project off the Virginia Beach coast for nearly $3 billion. If the sale is approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission and the North Carolina [...]
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[...]
GMU report: Arena project would produce 5,400+ affordable housing units
Updated Feb. 22, 2024 A study conducted by George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis found that the proposed $2 billion Alexandria sports arena and entertainment district supported by Gov. Glenn Youngkin would create more than 5,400 workforce-affordable housing units, far exceeding the city’s goals. The [...]