Wawa plans massive expansion in western Virginia
Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain Wawa plans to massively expand in the western side of Virginia, potentially investing $450 million and opening 60 stores along Interstate 81 within the next decade. This week, Wawa held groundbreaking events to celebrate the official start of construction on a store in Lynchburg at 1403[...]
Supply chain co. plans $10M expansion in Pulaski
The Patton Logistics Group, a U.S. supply chain company, plans to expand with a $10 million, 100,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility in Pulaski County, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday. This is the company’s second expansion in four years in Pulaski County and will allow Patton Logistics Group to expa[...]
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[...]
Lynchburg’s BWXT unveils Innovation Campus
On Wednesday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, federal and state officials and executives, engineers and employees of Lynchburg-based BWX Technologies gathered to celebrate the official opening of the nuclear company’s new Innovation Campus. “The IQ level in this room is really high,” Youngkin joked. Set on 11 acres in Campbell Co[...]
Cooling equipment manufacturer plans $29.9M expansion in Botetourt
Munters, an air treatment and climate control solutions company with its global headquarters in Sweden, plans to invest $29.95 million on a 200,000-square-foot expansion of its HVAC manufacturing facility in Botetourt County, according to a Tuesday announcement by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The new manufacturing facility, which will b[...]
Trump Town owner found not guilty of assault, indecent exposure
A judge Monday found Donald “Whitey” Taylor, owner of Boones Mill’s Trump Town retail store, not guilty of misdemeanor charges of indecent exposure and assaulting three store employees. “It was very rewarding,” Taylor said of the verdict. “These ladies were just looking for money.” Requests for comment from the[...]
Verge rebrands to Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance
Verge, a collective of organizations dedicated to tech-based economic development in the Roanoke and New River valleys, announced a rebrand Tuesday, an effort that includes a new website, logo and a new name — the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance (RBIA). Previously, Verge, which has roots dating back to 2013, used “Roa[...]
Timmons Group opens Roanoke office
Timmons Group has opened an office on Norfolk Avenue in Roanoke, according to a Thursday announcement by the engineering, design and technology services firm, which has headquarters in Chesterfield County. Timmons has 20 offices, including the new Roanoke office and its headquarters, located across Virginia, North Carolina, Mary[...]
Roanoke/New River Year-in-Review: 2024 was about laying groundwork
Not every year can be 2023. That’s the verdict from economic development watchers in a wide stretch of Virginia, ranging from Lynchburg west through Roanoke and Salem to the New River Valley. In 2023, this region experienced a burst of business announcements with a total investment of at least $387 million and expectations[...]
Roanoke/New River Big Deal: Framatome expands for a small modular future
The future is small, modular and very bright, according to Framatome, the nuclear energy company that is one of Lynchburg’s largest employers. A presence in the city since the 1980s, Framatome broke ground in April 2024 on a $49.4 million, multi-year expansion and renovation at its Mill Ridge Road facility, one of the comp[...]
BWXT wins $2.1B in U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program contracts
The U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program has awarded BWX Technologies contracts totaling about $2.1 billion, the Lynchburg-based nuclear components and fuel supplier manufacturer announced Wednesday. The contract involves nuclear reactor component manufacturing and material procurement for Columbia and Virginia class submarines[...]
Riverdale project moves forward in Roanoke
Work on the $50 million-plus Riverdale mixed-use redevelopment planned for more than 126 acres on the sprawling former campus of American Viscose, a rayon plant that closed in the late 1950s, is moving right along. Developer Ed Walker shared a lengthy written update on the project Jan. 24 that included a rendering of a 267-unit [...]