FOR THE RECORD: June 2026

CENTRAL VIRGINIA

North Carolina-based McConnell Golf is planning a roughly $9 million investment to acquire and redevelop the 268-acre The Crossings Golf Club in Henrico County, turning the long-closed property into a public course capable of hosting major tournaments. The deal includes $6 million to
$7 million from the company to rebuild the course, and about $2 million from the Henrico Economic Development Authority and the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority for clubhouse and golf facility upgrades. The county will transfer the property for a nominal purchase price, about $1. McConnell is targeting a reopening of the course in fall 2027. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Dominion Energy Virginia on May 7 announced plans to build a multibillion-dollar 3,000-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas power plant in Cumberland County, part of the utility’s broader effort to meet rapidly growing power demand across the state. The proposed Cumberland Energy Center would be built on roughly 900 acres off Duncan Store Road and include two combined-cycle natural gas units designed to be capable of using hydrogen in the future. If approved by state and local regulators, Dominion plans to start construction in 2029 and have operations begin between 2033 and 2034. It will generate enough electricity to power 750,000 homes. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Florida-based defense contractor L3Harris Technologies announced on April 15 plans for a $1.27 billion expansion of its rocket motor production operations in Orange County that will more than double manufacturing space and create more than 350 jobs over five years. The company’s Virginia Advanced Propulsion Facilities will support production operations tied to multiple Department of Defense programs. A company spokesperson said dozens of new facilities totaling hundreds of thousands of square feet are planned as part of the expansion. However, a construction timeline was not provided. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

VCU Health on April 29 broke ground on a new $90 million medical facility in Richmond’s Diamond District that will expand access to the health system’s Pauley Heart Center. The 93,000-square-foot, two-story Pauley Heart Center Pavilion will sit on a 7-acre site on Sherwood Avenue, near VCU Health’s Brook Road Campus and the planned VCU Athletic Village, with nearby access to Interstates 64 and 95 and public transportation. The health system said the facility is expected to increase clinical capacity, meet growing patient demand and reduce wait times. The facility is scheduled to open in 2028. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

PEOPLE

After 20 years with Chesterfield County, including more than a decade leading the county’s economic development department, H. Garrett Hart III plans to retire on Jan. 1, 2027, according to an April 29 announcement. During Hart’s tenure, Chesterfield County won more than $12 billion in capital investment and created 10,000 jobs. Major deals secured under his leadership include the $1 billion Lego Group manufacturing facility under construction at Meadowville Technology Park and a $2.5 billion power plant project from Commonwealth Fusion Systems. Chesterfield officials will conduct a nationwide search for Hart’s successor. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

HCA Healthcare promoted Dr. Jennifer Bocker to chief medical officer for the health system’s Capital Division, effective May 1. Bocker succeeded Dr. Ray Makhoul, who retired in May. HCA’s Capital Division spans Virginia and New Hampshire, including 18 hospitals with more than 4,100 licensed beds. The division’s facilities treated nearly 4 million patients in 2025. Bocker previously served as associate chief medical officer for HCA Healthcare’s North Texas division, and she joined HCA in 2022 as chief medical officer of HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital and later moved up to division leadership. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

EASTERN VIRGINIA

FBI agents raided Virginia Democratic Sen. Louise Lucas‘ Portsmouth district office and nearby cannabis business in May. The Associated Press reported that the FBI was conducting a corruption investigation, according to a person familiar with the matter. However, Lucas said in a statement that the raid was an attempt to “intimidate and silence the voices who stand up to them.” Lucas was one of the state’s most vocal proponents of Virginia’s redistricting referendum in April. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Newport News has secured a $3 million GO Virginia grant to create a Mobility Innovation Center at Newport News-Williamsburg Airport. The project aims to transform the airport from a struggling commercial travel hub into a center for unmanned systems and aerospace development. Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones said the initiative reflects a new economic strategy rethinking how the airport is used. Collaborations with organizations like the Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable will support the effort. City officials say commercial flights have struggled being competitive, making diversification necessary. The initiative will require regional planning discussions later this year. (News3 WTKR)

Norfolk International Airport in April announced it has opened a three-gate Concourse A expansion and two new locally themed shops as part of its $1 billion capital improvement project. The 19,000-square-foot addition includes floor-to-ceiling airfield views, expanded restrooms, new dining options and an indoor pet relief area. American Airlines is already using the new gates, while Breeze Airways is expected to relocate to Concourse A to help improve passenger flow. Additional airport upgrades in the pipeline include terminal upgrades, a consolidated rental car facility, a new consolidated passenger security checkpoint and a new vehicular entrance. (The Virginian-Pilot)

Virginia Beach-based Groundworks plans to hire 5,000 employees nationwide over the next five years, including nearly 1,000 leadership roles, to help address the skilled trades workforce shortage. Founder Matt Malone said growing demand for foundation repair and stabilization services is driving the need for more trained workers. The skilled trade jobs offer between $20 and $30 an hour, with opportunities for rapid advancement and employee ownership. Earlier this year, the company distributed a $31 million dividend to nearly 5,000 employee owners. Groundworks has expanded to more than 84 locations across the U.S. and Canada since its founding in 2016. (The Virginian-Pilot)

PEOPLE

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation President and CEO Cliff Fleet retired on April 27, and former presidential candidate and longtime foundation board chair Carly Fiorina immediately succeeded him. Fleet has led the living history museum for the past six years and is departing during a significant time for Colonial Williamsburg as it celebrates its 100th anniversary and the United States’ 250th birthday this year. Fiorina, a business executive who led Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005, also is the national honorary chair of VA250, the state’s organization for the nation’s 250th anniversary commemoration. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

The Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners unanimously appointed interim Port of Virginia CEO Sarah J. McCoy to the post on a permanent basis effective May 6. McCoy, who has been with the authority since 2014, had served as interim CEO and executive director since January following the departure of former CEO Stephen Edwards, who left at the end of 2025 to become CEO of Hornblower Group. Before becoming interim CEO, McCoy served as the port’s general counsel from 2017 to 2022, then as its chief administrative officer. Virginia Secretary of Transportation Nick Donohue said McCoy’s appointment provides continuity for the port. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Arlington-based AvalonBay Communities is in early discussions about a potential merger with Chicago-based rival Equity Residential, Bloomberg reported in May, citing people familiar with the matter. The two companies are among the largest U.S. apartment REITs. If completed, the merger could reshape the U.S. apartment market, with the combined company controlling more than 180,000 units nationally. According to Bloomberg, the merger talks are described as preliminary and may not result in a transaction. Given the size of the potential merger, the deal would likely face antitrust scrutiny. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

A federal judge granted final approval in late April to Capital One Financial‘s revised $425 million class action settlement with customers who alleged the McLean bank and credit card giant deceptively paid lower interest rates on “360 Savings” accounts while offering higher rates on similarly named “360 Performance Savings” accounts. U.S. District Judge David Novak in Alexandria rejected an earlier proposed settlement that would have put $300 million toward restitution and $125 million toward raising the interest of those who continued to hold the 360 Savings accounts. Under the new settlement, Capital One will pay $425 million to a settlement fund and pay the same interest rate to both sets of account holders moving forward. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Denver data center developer EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure secured $1.5 billion in financing to build two data centers in Sterling, it announced in April. The company plans to build two single-tenant hyperscale data centers on campuses about two miles from each other, totaling
685,000 square feet. At full build-out, the data centers will be able to support a cumulative
114 megawatts of critical load. Both data centers are fully leased, and initial occupancy of the first building is scheduled for November, while the second building is set to be occupied in July 2027. EdgeCore declined to provide the projected total cost of the buildings or to identify the tenants. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

HawkEye 360 stock soared as much as 30% on its first day of trading in May on the New York Stock Exchange, indicating Wall Street’s appetite for dual-use defense firms remains strong. The Herndon-based satellite surveillance company raised $416 million, selling 16 million shares at $26 apiece. The company said it plans to use the proceeds from the IPO to reduce its debt load and complete a deferred payment for its purchase of Dallas signals intelligence firm Innovative Signal Analytics from December 2025. (Washington Business Journal)

Sterling real estate company JK Land Holdings is advancing plans to build a 117-acre industrial business park in Loudoun County, just outside the town limits of Purcellville. The Valley Commerce Center proposal calls for up to 986,000 square feet of industrial space, including 300,000 limited to warehousing and storage. The business led by CEO Chuck Kuhn owns the property through a limited liability corporation and seeks to rezone the site from low-density rural residential and limited agricultural business uses to an industrial park district. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

QTS, one of two data center developer defendants in the initial Prince William Digital Gateway legal challenges, filed an eleventh-hour appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court in late April. Following the decision by Compass Datacenters earlier in the month to bow out from further appeals, QTS is pressing forward with a petition to the commonwealth’s highest court. The move came after two separate rulings voiding the massive data center project due to improper public notice. The two cases were heard together on appeal last year, and the state Court of Appeals upheld the August 2025 ruling on March 31. (InsideNoVa)

ROANOKE/LYNCHBURG/NEW RIVER VALLEY

Bedford’s Beale’s Beer reopened May 2 under new owner Vee Patel, drawing a crowd for its ribbon-cutting ceremony. The previous owner, Petersburg-based Waukeshaw Development, operated the brewery from 2017 to 2025. Dave McCormack, who heads Waukeshaw, said last year the company wanted to see Beale’s operated by someone local. Patel, whose company also operates Marshal’s Bar & Grill in Appomattox County, said he wants Beale’s reputation to grow throughout the state. He plans to launch new beers and expand distribution. (The News & Advance)

BWX Technologies, a Lynchburg-based manufacturer of nuclear components and fuel, announced May 7 that it won two U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program contracts worth more than $1.4 billion. The largest award, valued at $1.285 billion, supports material procurement for the program. The second contract, valued at $165 million, covers procurement of long-lead reactor system components and manufacturing work for Ford-class aircraft carriers. To date, BWXT has delivered more than 420 nuclear reactor cores to the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. A Fortune 1000 company, BWXT has about 10,000 employees. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Centra leaders and community partners on May 5 celebrated the completion of Centra Behavioral Health Hospital on Simons Run in Lynchburg, a facility designed to expand access to mental health care across the region. The 72-bed, 60,000-square-foot facility, developed with Tennessee-based Lifepoint Behavioral Health, is expected to open this summer and increase Centra’s behavioral health capacity by 25%. The facility is designed to provide care for a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety and substance use disorders. It will feature open, therapeutic spaces, group and individual treatment areas and an outdoor courtyard. The project is part of Centra’s multiyear modernization plan. (The News & Advance; news release)

Hollins University announced April 30 that it received a $10 million gift from alumna and Virginia Beach philanthropist Jane Parke Batten to support its need-based Hollins Opportunity for Promise through Education (HOPE) Scholarship program, which is designed for students with financial need. The donation, one of the largest in school history, will fund scholarships through the class of 2032. Launched in 2021, the HOPE program covers tuition, housing, meals and fees and offers success coaching, mentoring and opportunities such as internships, study abroad and research projects. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Roanoke regional and state leaders on May 6 celebrated the opening of RoVa Labs at Carilion Clinic, a $26 million biotechnology incubator aimed at growing the region’s biotech and life sciences sector. The 40,000-square-foot facility features private and open wet lab space, shared equipment, offices and huddle spaces and is expected to create 250 jobs within five years. Carilion Innovation, which develops and invests in ideas for inventions created by health system employees, and Roanoke-based The Tiny Cargo Co., which specializes in milk exosome manufacturing, will occupy part of the building. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2027 on the first phase of a project to widen nine miles of Interstate 81 in Roanoke County and Salem. On April 22, the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a $237.75 million contract to West Virginia-based Triton Construction for improvements along a 3.2-mile stretch between mile marker 133.8 and Exit 137. In the second phase, work to improve mile markers 131 to 133.8 is expected to begin in 2028. In the third phase, construction from Exit 128 to mile marker 131 is anticipated to begin in late 2027 or early 2028. (Cardinal News)

SHENANDOAH VALLEY

Harrisonburg startup AeroNimble, which specializes in PT6 aircraft engine overhaul and blade component manufacturing, will invest more than $2.5 million to expand its operations in the city and create 51 jobs, Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s office announced in April. AeroNimble expects Blue Ridge Community College to serve as its largest source of new hires. The company worked with the college to set salary levels and hiring guidelines aimed at allowing qualifying graduates to move into entry-level positions after completing their programs. Starting salaries for those roles are listed at $62,000. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Frederick County officials and residents are debating Winchester Gateway, a proposed 72-acre data center campus near the historic Kernstown battlefield south of Winchester. The project would include three data center buildings up to 60 feet tall, a 45-foot electrical substation and cooling systems using up to 35,000 gallons of water daily. The county’s Historic Resources Advisory Board voted 7-1 to recommend denying the permit, citing concerns about impacts on Civil War battlefield views, noise, property values and precedent for future data centers. The matter will need approval from the Frederick Board of Supervisors. (The Winchester Star)

Harrisonburg City Council in late April delayed a decision on rezoning land for The Link, a proposed six-story mixed-use apartment complex downtown. The project would replace the Lindsey Funeral Home site and include up to 240 housing units and retail space. Residents packed the council chambers for the public hearing, with many opposing the rezoning from residential to central business district zoning. Council member Monica Robinson emphasized the long-term impact the project could have on Harrisonburg’s downtown character. Opponents urged council members to protect community interests. The council is expected to revisit the proposal as early as June 23. (WHSV-TV 3)

Shenandoah University in April announced plans to launch the Kathleen Quarles Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Program in 2028 after a major gift from longtime supporters Kathleen and William “Billy” Quarles. The program, housed in the Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing, aims to address a national shortage of anesthesia providers by training advanced practice nurses. The university declined to reveal the total cost of the gift. The Quarles family has supported the Winchester-based university’s initiatives and scholarships for more than 30 years. (News release)

Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s office announced in April that the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative, a Rockingham County-based turkey processor, plans to grow its operation, investing $113.9 million and adding 146 jobs. The cooperative will have the East Coast’s largest feed mill after the completion of the project, allowing the company to process 4.5 million more turkeys a year, up from 7 million annually to 11.5 million. The co-op also intends to purchase 2.4 million more bushels of corn and wheat from Virginia farms over the next three years, on top of the 1.4 million-bushel capacity it currently has. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

PEOPLE

Winchester-based Trex, a publicly traded composite decking and railing manufacturer, has promoted Zachary C. Lauer, previously senior vice president of supply chain and manufacturing, to senior vice president and chief operations officer. Lauer succeeds Adam D. Zambanini, who stepped into the role of president and CEO at Trex following the April 28 retirement of Bryan H. Fairbanks, who spent 23 years with the company. Lauer has more than two decades of experience in operations, supply chain and manufacturing leadership. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

SOUTHERN VIRGINIA

More than 100 employees at AeroFarms, an indoor vertical farming company in Pittsylvania County, appear likely to keep their jobs. Last year, AeroFarms notified the state government the facility would need to close by Dec. 19, 2025, because its largest investor had withdrawn support. At that time, AeroFarms listed 173 employees, including 127 Virginians. However, AeroFarms extended the potential closure date and kept the facility in operation. In an April 29 email, a company spokesman said AeroFarms was rescinding its notice to the state regarding the possible closure. A March notice from the company stated the facility’s workforce had dropped to 133 employees. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

Chase City officials and business leaders attended an April 24 groundbreaking for Chase City Lofts, a 17-unit apartment complex in the long-vacant Robert E. Lee building. The nearly $5 million project is a public-private partnership between the town of Chase City and Richmond-based Echelon Resources. The redevelopment is expected to take about a year. Built in 1931, the Lee building served as a school and later as a community center. Financing for the lofts partially came from a low-interest loan from the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, in partnership with the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority. (The Mecklenburg Sun)

Danville leaders on May 5 celebrated the groundbreaking of a $35 million Hyatt Studios Riverfront hotel, an extended-stay property aimed at supporting Southside Virginia’s growing economy. The four-story, 122-room hotel at 100 River St. will occupy a 55,000-square-foot site once owned by Dan River Inc., the former textile giant that anchored the city’s economy for decades. Construction is anticipated to take 16 to 18 months. The Hyatt Studios concept, described as properties designed for developers, was launched in 2023. (Danville Register & Bee)

On April 30, Microporous announced plans to begin construction in May on its $1.35 billion battery separator facility at the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill in Pittsylvania County. Additionally, the Tennessee-based portfolio company of Trent Capital Partners reported it has secured financing for the Virginia manufacturing project. The funding comes from Trent, a Florida-based venture capital firm, as well as Eagle Point Credit Management, a Connecticut-based investment manager, and Elda River Capital, a real assets investment firm with offices in offices in Houston, Illinois and London. (VirginiaBusiness.com)

SoVah Health-Danville’s economic impact totaled nearly $71 million last year, the health care system reported in its annual report released the week of April 27. The report showed the facility spent more than $43.44 million on charity or uncompensated care. Nearly $27 million was paid in local and state taxes. Payroll for the facility’s 1,130 workers totaled close to $105 million in 2025. Sovah Health-Danville also reported $7.2 million in capital improvements last year. That spending included new beds, dialysis machines and robotic endoscopes. Sovah Health is an umbrella organization that also includes a facility in Martinsville. Both facilities are part of Tennessee-based Lifepoint Health. (Danville Register & Bee)

PEOPLE

Jay Dickens has been named chairman of the board of The Lester Group, a Martinsville-based building products firm, according to an April 29 announcement. He succeeds James O’Brien, who retired after more than a decade with the company. Dickens joined The Lester Group as president in 2018 and was named CEO in 2020. The Lester Group operates six building supply stores across Virginia, two Fortress Door manufacturing plants in Virginia and Georgia, and a Fortress Truss plant in Virginia. It also manages timberland and residential and commercial properties. (Cardinal News)

SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA

The Appalachian School of Law in Grundy is exploring a merger with Kentucky’s University of Pikeville amid financial struggles and low enrollment. University President Burton Webb confirmed in May that his board of trustees granted him permission to explore what an acquisition could look like for both institutions. Buchanan County recently approved $3.4 million to help keep the law school open after concerns it could close or relocate. Officials from both schools said the goal would be for the law school to remain in Grundy and emphasized a shared mission to support education and economic growth in Central Appalachia. (Cardinal News)

A new sightseeing attraction is now in Abingdon and Damascus. Experience Appalachia offers a heritage and cultural trolley tour. The tour travels through historic areas showcasing the region’s history and folklore. People also can rent the trolley for private tours and special events. Owner Scott Ramsey said the concept behind the business is to bolster tourism by showcasing the beauty of Appalachia. He wants to offer visitors something to do in addition to riding the Virginia Creeper Trail, a 34.3-mile rail-to-recreation trail that runs through Abingdon and Damascus and ends at Mount Rogers. (WCYB NBC 5)

A regional cooperative project is seeking funding to establish a 10-acre business development site near Glade Spring. In April, organizers presented the proposal to the GO Virginia Region One Council meeting — one of four potential funding sources for the $2.3 million project. The plan calls for developing 10 acres of a 24-acre parcel into a pad-ready industrial site. The site is eligible for federal U.S. Economic Development Administration funding because it lies within a region impacted by Hurricane Helene. Organizers requested about $60,000 from the Region One Council. The funds would be used to provide water and sewer service to the site. (Bristol Herald Courier)

A $25,000 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority to the Wise County Industrial Development Authority will help connect the historic Deen Building in St. Paul to public sewer service as part of an ongoing downtown revitalization project. The Town of St. Paul is contributing up to $20,000 toward the project. St. Paul Tomorrow, a community development organization, acquired the building in 2019 with the intention of redeveloping the property for future commercial use. The sewer connection is needed for the building to receive a certificate of occupancy. The Deen Building, a former general store, has been vacant since the 1970s. (News release)

In May, Wildwood Recovery Center posted ads to hire its first management personnel, an administrator and director of business development. These hires represent a significant milestone as the organization moves into the final phase of pre-opening operations ahead of a planned launch for the last half of 2026. Wildwood is a soon-to-open 112-bed residential substance use disorder treatment facility in Dickenson County. The project is a joint partnership between Momentum Management Solutions, the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors, Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority and Southwest Properties. (Bristol Herald Courier)

PEOPLE

In April, the American Concrete Pipe Association announced the appointment of John V. Rainero as the 119th chairman of its board. There are currently more than 400 plants operated by ACPA members in the United States and Canada. Rainero is vice president of construction and engineering at Bristol’s Permatile Concrete Products, a provider of concrete pipe and precast concrete solutions for municipalities, transportation departments, contractors, developers and other customers. Permatile was founded in 1964 by the Rainero family. (News release)