June 2022

Monthly News from Hampton Roads

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Note from the President

Doug Smith, Alliance President & CEO

The core of a region’s economic growth lies with its existing businesses. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, existing businesses create close to 90% of new private-sector job gains. Thus, the Alliance’s partnership with our localities to support existing businesses as they consider scale-up and expansion is critical, and the results are there. For instance, in the past few months the Alliance was honored to support the cities of Newport News and Suffolk as they announced expansions of major businesses. Mühlbauer and High Liner Foods in Newport News and Massimo Zanetti Beverage in Suffolk recently announced their respective plans to expand their footprint at their current Hampton Roads locations. For all three companies, after evaluating costs and logistics strategies, Hampton Roads emerged as the best option for their growth. These announcements represent millions of dollars of new capital investment and over 100 new jobs for the region. Companies that have chosen to invest in Hampton Roads before understand the benefits of our region, and encouraging them to grow their existing footprint is the most effective way to create new jobs and spur capital investment. Conversations during company meetings help businesses understand their options and services available to them if they choose to expand in Hampton Roads yielding a win-win for the company and the region. We are grateful to our local partners and existing companies for allowing us to play a role in their success, and we look forward to supporting many more announcement in the coming months and years.

Your Ally in Economic Development,

High Liner Foods Continues to Invest in City of Newport News Operation

Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that High Liner Foods Incorporated (High Liner Foods), a leading North American value-added frozen seafood company, will continue to invest in modernizing its facility in Newport News with new equipment and product lines.

Mühlbauer Inc. Expands in Newport News, 32 New Jobs Expected

The manufacturing company will invest $9 million to expand its operations in Newport News, with 32 new positions expected to be created. Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced the news about Mühlbauer Inc., saying Virginia beat out Oregon for the project.

Youngkin Touts ‘Lab Schools’ at Franklin-Southampton Breakfast

Gov. Glenn Youngkin highlighted his plans for agriculture and education at the Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Breakfast with The Governor” event, held at the Cypress Cove Country Club in Southampton County the morning of June 9.

NASA Unveils Heat Shield That Could Help With Landings on Earth and Mars

On the campus of NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton sits the black, dome-shaped culmination of a $93 million project.

It’s a heat shield, about 20 feet in diameter, that one day could help to land cargo and crew missions on Mars or anywhere else that has an atmosphere.

Cavalier Hotel Distillery Tarnished Truth to Expand Canning Operations

The Virginia Beach Development Authority approved a $54,000 grant to help Tarnished Truth produce more of its Coastal Cocktails line in Virginia Beach. The money comes from the authority’s incentive program and is distributed to companies based on their capital investment in the community or the number of jobs they create.

Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA to Expand in Virginia, Creating 79 New Jobs

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, one of the largest vertically integrated coffee companies in North America, will invest $29.1 million to consolidate and expand operations at its roasting facility in the City of Suffolk. Virginia successfully competed with New Jersey for the project, which will create 79 new jobs.

Hampton Roads Alliance Highlights Focus on Offshore Wind Industry

The Williamsburg City Council held its work session on June 6 at the Stryker Center and on the agenda was an update from the Hampton Roads Alliance. The Alliance’s President & CEO Doug Smith presented information on the organization’s regional economic development efforts to council members. The main areas of focus include business attraction, business expansion, and business intelligence.

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VIKING Establishes Safety Hub for US Offshore Wind in Virginia

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has selected Norfolk, Virginia as the hub to support the safety needs of North America’s fast-emerging offshore wind sector. The leading safety solutions provider for the global maritime and offshore industries will coordinate delivery, service and lease agreements for sector-specific PPE and other gear from offices in Norfolk.

Virginia Offshore Wind Landing Celebrates First Anniversary with New Women of Offshore Wind Group

Last spring, the Hampton Roads Alliance partnered with the Virginia Department of Energy and Old Dominion University’s OpenSeas Technology Innovation Hub to launch the Virginia Offshore Wind Landing. The latest initiative taking place at the Landing is the founding of Women of Offshore Wind (WOW).

Investor Spotlights

ODU to Create School of Supply Chain, Logistics, and Maritime Operations

Old Dominion University will create a School of Supply Chain, Logistics, and Maritime Operations, reflecting its commitment to serving as a worldwide leader in maritime studies.

Granby Comet Soars in a New Program for College Interns

From the sky, there is no limit. 21-year-old Jaidan Williams, who is a cyber security major at Old Dominion University, is along for the ride at NASA Langley Research Center as a 2022 intern. Jaidan is part of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council’s Campus 757 program.

Riverside Health Breaks Ground on New Mental Health Emergency Department in Hampton

Riverside Health plans to open a first-in-the-region emergency room for those in a mental health crisis in 2023 that will be open around the clock. The facility is slated to be a one-story, 15,800 square-foot addition connected to Riverside Behavioral Health Center near the Sentara Careplex Hospital in Hampton. The price for the project was not released.

VA-Built Carriers Get Star Turn in New Top Gun Flick

Shipbuilders at Newport News Shipbuilding got to see some of their work on the big screen when they were treated to early viewings of “Top Gun: Maverick.” The latest film about Navy aviator Pete “Maverick” Mitchell features the aircraft carriers USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Theodore Roosevelt.