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What can your business do to fight coronavirus?
After Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency in Virginia and closed schools for the next two weeks, businesses are understandably seeking guidance as they navigate how to continue working during the pandemic. Virginia Business spoke on Friday with Dr. Rebekah A. Sensenig, infectious disease specialist and syst[...]
Va. coronavirus cases jump to 30
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Virginia jumped to 30 Friday — up from 17 confirmed cases on Thursday, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Ten patients are hospitalized and there have been coronavirus-related deaths in Virginia. There are now seven cases in James City County, six cases in Fairfax County, [...]
Chambers of commerce
Virginia State Chamber of Commerce Richmond 804.644.1607 vachamber.com CENTRAL VIRGINIA Altavista Area Chamber of Commerce Altavista 434.369.6665 altavistachamber.com Amherst County Chamber of Commerce Amherst 434.946.0990 amherstvachamber.com Appomattox County Chamber of Commerce Appomattox 434.352.2621 appomattoxchamber.org Be[...]
Great expectations
There was perhaps no greater portent last year of Virginia’s rising fortunes than the news that the Old Dominion had regained its perch as the nation’s No. 1 state for business. After eight years, CNBC once again ranked Virginia No. 1 in its annual Top States for Business study. The business news network cited Virginia’s [[...]
The bigger they are …
After 31 years in business, LeClairRyan, the state’s fifth-largest law firm, announced in August 2019 that it would be shutting down. It filed for bankruptcy in September and entered liquidation proceedings a month later. The firm had faced financial and legal struggles, as well as the exodus of many of its associates and shar[...]
Record breakers
Individuals and family foundations spread the wealth in 2019, giving record amounts to Virginia universities but also assisting cancer patients, museums and out-of-work coal miners. In October, the University of Virginia announced a $100 million gift from David and Jane Walentas to help fund a new scholarship program for first-g[...]
Feeling stronger
In the year since Bon Secours Health System merged with Mercy Health, the Cincinnati-based hospital group has expanded its holdings in Virginia, where it now owns and operates 12 hospitals. In January, Bon Secours Mercy Health acquired three hospitals: the 300-bed Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg, the 105-bed So[...]
On the move
Mark Blanks, director, Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, Blacksburg As more drones take to the skies, Blanks leads MAAP, which has built a partnership with Google parent company Alphabet to develop an autonomous drone delivery industry. Google’s Project Wing is the nation’s first FAA-approved commercial delivery service using long-distance aerial drones. Wing has partnered with […][...]
Mergers and acquisitions
In 2019, banks continued to merge and consolidate, and some closed branches in Virginia’s rural counties and small towns, a trend expected to continue well into the 2020s. The big news of last year was the completion of the $66 billion merger of BB&T Corp. and SunTrust Banks Inc. in December, creating Charlotte, North Caro[...]
Revisionist history
Virginia’s tourism industry has long banked on its history — but this time there’s more context and acknowledgement of different facets of the commonwealth’s heritage. Last year, the commonwealth held observances marking the 400th anniversaries of the first elected legislative body in the New World and the arrival of the[...]
Shifting skylines
As several economic development officials have noted wryly over the past year, the construction crane appears to be Virginia’s new state bird. Labor shortages and expensive materials still impact the industry, but by and large, construction companies are busy across the commonwealth. In January, demolition started at the site [...]
Heavy hitters
With 21 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Virginia is home to many powerful and influential business leaders but naturally some are more involved in their communities and exert more pull in the state than others. This year’s list of Virginia’s most influential businesspeople ranges from defense contractors, bankers and he[...]
