For The Record October 2024
Central Virginia Fortune 500 company CarMax will be the naming sponsor for the Richmond Flying Squirrels‘ new ballpark starting with the 2026 season, the Double-A Minor League Baseball team announced Sept. 4. The Diamond’s replacement will be known as CarMax Park. Although Squirrels President and Managing Partner Lou DiBella said that the deal with CarMax […]
Manufacturer plans $5M expansion in Scott County
VFP, a manufacturer of enclosures used to protect critical infrastructure, will invest $5 million to expand its Scott County facility, a move expected to create 50 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. The expansion will allow VFP to respond to a growing data center market. “Virginia’s robust data center indust[...]
Health Wagon CEO’s pay gains attention
Once best known outside the region for its role in an annual Remote Area Medical pop-up clinic at the Wise County Fairgrounds, Southwest Virginia‘s Health Wagon has gained new notoriety — and lost state funding — over executive pay. After Cardinal News reported in May that Health Wagon President and CEO Teresa Gardner [...]
SWVA projects recommended for $10M in federal grants
Four Southwest Virginia economic development projects have been recommended to receive a cumulative $10 million in federal Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grants, Gov. Glenn Youngkin and U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, announced Monday. The projects are on sites where coal was mined prior to 1977, the yea[...]
Appalachian Community Capital to launch Green Bank
Appalachian Community Capital, the Christiansburg-based community development financial institution for the Appalachian Valley, plans to launch the Green Bank for Rural America with a $500 million award from the Environmental Protection Agency, it announced Friday. Focused on financing up to 2,000 new energy projects that could [...]
Va. casino gaming revenues total $59.3M in July
Casino gaming revenues for Virginia’s three casinos totaled $59.3 million in July, according to Virginia Lottery data released Thursday. Also, the $500 million HeadWaters Resort & Casino in Norfolk, which has been in a holding pattern for the past several months, could be moving forward. The Norfolk Architectural Revie[...]
Big deals
These economic development announcements were some of the largest in Virginia for 2023 and the first half of 2024: CENTRAL VIRGINIA Chesterfield County: In April, the offices of U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner and U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan announced that Danish electrolyzer manufacturer Topsoe plans to build a $400 milli[...]
U.S. 460 cell towers signal relief to businesses
Buchanan and Tazewell counties’ businesses will soon receive a needed signal boost, thanks to six cell towers under construction across the Route 460 corridor. The towers will increase wireless access along 20 miles of U.S. 460, from Red Ash in Tazewell to Vansant in Buchanan. It’s not a moment too soon, according to[...]
For The Record August 2024
CENTRAL VIRGINIA Tobacco giant Altria Group, headquartered in Henrico County, will be allowed to market four different menthol-flavored e-cigarettes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said June 21. The announcement came two months after the Biden administration controversially delayed a decision on banning menthol cigarette sales. Marketed under Altria’s NJOY brand, the products are the […][...]
Simmons Equipment announces $8.5M expansion into Russell County
Simmons Equipment, a specialty mining equipment manufacturer based in Tazewell County, plans to expand into neighboring Russell County, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. The company expects to invest $8.5 million into converting two buildings in Lebanon, an investment set to create 75 jobs, the governor’s office said. [...]
Bristol casino ups the ante for opening
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol’s development team has pushed back the opening of the permanent casino, previously expected in July, and will instead open the approximately $515 million permanent casino resort in late fall. The team — a joint venture between Hard Rock, Par Ventures President Clyde Stacy and The[...]
Va. casinos report $62.7M in May gaming revenues
May gaming revenues for Virginia’s three casinos totaled $62.7 million, according to Virginia Lottery data released June 14. Last month, the Bristol Casino: Future Home of Hard Rock temporary casino reported about $15.46 million in adjusted gaming revenues (wagers minus winnings), of which about $12.4 million came from its[...]