Manufacturing
- Workforce training program earns another No.1 ranking for Virginia
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership oversees the Talent Accelerator Program, which provides customized recruitment and training services at no cost to qualifying employers.
- Republican veteran Tony Sabio is on a ‘mission’ to win Virginia’s most Democratic United States House seat
Republican Tony Sabio is vying to replace Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Beyer in Virginia's 8th Congressional District race.
- Virginia Lawmakers Press for Tighter Oversight of Data Center Growth
A Virginia congressional proposal would give local governments more tools to manage data center growth, including clearer rules for electricity demand, water use and community impacts.
- Rob Wittman, Running Again in Virginia First Congressional District, Supports Trump’s $1.5 Trillion Defense Spending Budget
U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland, is backing President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense spending budget, as the nation marks its eighth month in a war with Iran that Trump launched without congressional approval.
- Virginia House and Senate Move to Speed Up Career and Technical Education Teachers
Virginia legislators are taking on a major issue to meet the growing demand for skilled workers: the shortage in career and technical education teachers.
- Data Center Bills Dominated This Year's General Assembly. Here's What Passed.
The rapid growth of Virginia’s data center industry was a key point of focus during the 2026 legislative session, as lawmakers sought to balance the sector’s benefits — including over $80 billion in state investments and thousands of jobs — against its enormous electricity and water needs, which are a growing concern for communities statewide. Legislators filed dozens of bills directly aimed at re
- Hemp businesses ask federal judge to block Virginia’s new THC cap
Seven Virginia hemp businesses are asking a federal judge to block new restrictions on consumable hemp products, arguing the changes will wipe out much of their inventory, trigger layoffs and force some companies to close when they take effect on Aug. 15. The lawsuit, filed July 31 in the U.S. District Court for the Western […]
- Virginia primary voters pick Mizusawa to face Warner, finalize key US House races
Virginians cast their ballots Tuesday in an unusually-timed primary that settled a statewide Republican contest for the U.S. Senate and determined several of Virginia’s most closely watched congressional matchups for the November election. Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Bert Mizusawa won the GOP’s nomination to challenge longtime Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Warner, while incumbents and […]
- Goochland residents rebuff data center developer Tract ahead of permit application
On Thursday evening, dozens of Goochland residents donned red t-shirts and held signs that spelled out their displeasure with the idea of multiple data centers being built in the county’s technology overlay district that butts up against Mosaic, a 55+ neighborhood that hosts over 500 homes. “We want to make sure that everyone understands that […]
- Transportation board OKs stricter oversight for economic development fund
The Commonwealth Transportation Board on Wednesday accepted regulation changes outlining how funds from the state’s Transportation Partnership Opportunity Fund will be allocated, giving state lawmakers additional time to review the proposals. Since 2005, the fund, a flexible economic development tool, has invested over $644 million as of Jan. 31 to support major projects, including transportation
- Prince William County Allocates Millions for High School Robotics and Virtual Reality Technologies
Prince William County public education officials have officially outlined a comprehensive budget strategy for fiscal year 2027 that prioritizes advanced technological infrastructure in local high schools. The newly proposed educational budget totals approximately $2.9 billion and represents a significant shift in long-term financial investments for the entire district. A central component of this
- Data centers want to build their own gas turbines. Would that skirt state renewable energy laws?
Virginia’s surging energy demands require more power generation infrastructure to be built, a slow process that’s delaying new data centers waiting to be connected to the grid. Dominion Energy, the state’s largest utility, has an estimated 70 gigawatts worth of projects in their queue that need more power sources online before they can link to […]
- State’s love affair with data centers is cooling
This post was originally published on this site.Data centers. Data centers. They are a necessity. We could benefit from data centers building in areas where there is a greater need, and doing more economic good, rather than rushing to build them at a jackrabbit’s pace. Virginia is home to one of the largest concentrations of […]
- Virginia nonprofit launches mobile tech education bus for underserved students
Two retired military cybersecurity experts in Virginia recently launched a bus service in Hampton Roads to raise awareness and educate students about technology, after receiving an unexpected state budget appropriation of $200,000. The cyber education bus is the latest way the nonprofit organization RFK Outreach will fulfill its goal to help children and teens learn […]
- Virginia’s romance with data centers has cooled, but nobody benefits if there’s a full breakup
Data centers. Can’t live with them. Can’t live without them. But we could do with data centers slowing their jackrabbit pace of reproduction in congested suburbs and, instead, building where they could fill a need and do more economic good. Our romance with data centers has cooled in Virginia, home to the world’s greatest concentration […]
- Here are 10 notable new Virginia laws that will take effect July 1
Hundreds of new Virginia laws will begin taking effect Wednesday, after Gov. Abigail Spanberger acted on more than 1,100 bills approved by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly earlier this year. Not every measure passed this year will be triggered into action all at once. Some policies will phase in over the coming months or years, while […]
- What’s in the water? What we know and don’t know about data center water discharge in Virginia
Data centers require a massive amount of water to cool their systems, which heat up as they process digital information through numerous computers and network servers. Systems that aren’t “closed loop” have to cycle out water that doesn’t evaporate. Most data centers in Virginia are permitted to discharge water into municipal wastewater systems, the same […]
- Valley Link Transmission Project: Proposed High-Voltage Lines Spark Debate Across Virginia and Beyond
A major infrastructure initiative known as Valley Link is advancing through planning stages to address growing electricity demand in the Mid-Atlantic region. Developed by Valley Link Transmission LLC—a joint venture of Dominion Energy, Transource (involving American Electric Power), and FirstEnergy—the project features 765kV transmission lines intended to enhance grid reliability. However, it has
- Virginia Legislature Advances Offshore Wind Workforce Training Initiative
The Virginia General Assembly has approved a new law intended to equip the state’s workforce with the skills necessary for the offshore wind industry. House Bill 67, which became law as Chapter 362, was signed by the governor and will take effect on July 1, 2026. The legislation focuses exclusively on developing training programs and […]
- Dominion just can’t kick its fossil fuel addiction
Flush with success after the SCC ignored legal deficiencies and approved the company’s plan for a large gas peaker plant in Chesterfield, Dominion Energy is pushing its luck with a proposal for a massively bigger gas combined-cycle plant. The 3,000 MW facility slated for Cumberland County would be Dominion’s biggest fossil fuel plant ever, the […]
- US employers created 178,000 new jobs in March, a huge increase from the February low.
This post was originally published on this site.WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – American employers created 178,000 jobs in March, a surprising number after a dismal month of February. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.3%. The Labor Department announced Friday that the hiring of new employees was a positive sign after February’s loss of 133,000 positions. The […]
- Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces $6.2 Million in Growth and Opportunity Virginia Grants
Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced $6.2 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) grants for 10 projects that advance Virginia’s economic competitiveness through innovation, workforce development, and strategic industry growth. The awarded projects will leverage an additional $4 million in investment.
- Goochland County approves tech overlay district after hours of resident backlash
Goochland County, home to just over 28,000 residents and more than two hours south of Northern Virginia’s “Data Center Alley,” is the latest locality to face intense community pushback over plans to lure data center development to the area.
- Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces AstraZeneca Selects Albemarle County for $4.5 Billion Investment
International pharmaceutical leader will make its largest single investment in a facility to date, creating 600 direct jobs RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that AstraZeneca will invest $4.5 billion to establish two new manufacturing facilities in Albemarle County.
- Hitachi Energy invests $457 million to create 825 new jobs in Halifax County
Hitachi Energy plans to invest $457m and create 825 new jobs on its South Boston Campus in Halifax County. The company will be building more power grid components as the demand for electricity is increasing rapidly.
- AstraZeneca will build its largest manufacturing facility ever in Virginia, creating hundreds jobs thanks to the Republican Governor
AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical giant with a growing presence in Virginia’s life sciences industry, announced plans to build the largest drug-manufacturing facility in the entire world in Virginia. This will be the single largest investment in the history of the company. The U.K. biopharmaceutical firm said that the new facility would be a cornerstone in its […]
- Virginia takes steps to bring advanced nuclear reactor to Wise County
As Virginia wrestles with high energy demands and deadlines to switch to zero-carbon emission energy production, Gov. Glenn Youngkin last week announced funding to take the first steps towards building an advanced nuclear reactor in the southwest region of the state.
- Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces Delta Star Inc. Expands Lynchburg Manufacturing Facility
For Immediate Release: April 17, 2025 Contacts: Office of the Governor:Peter Finocchio, Peter.
- Youngkin defends federal job cuts, says Virginia’s economy is strong
Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday doubled down on the necessity of sweeping federal layoffs while attempting to reassure Virginians that the state’s economy is resilient.
- Evaporative Technologies Company to Expand in Virginia
For Immediate Release: June 18, 2024 Contacts: Office of the Governor: Christian Martinez, Christian.
- Carolina Structural Systems to Establish New Manufacturing Facility in Greensville County
Wood truss manufacturer to invest $5.5 million, creating 58 new jobs RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that Carolina Structural Systems, a manufacturer of custom wood trusses and other structural wood products, will invest $5.5 million to establish a new manufacturing facility in Greensville County. The company will construct a 40,000-square-foot facility in the […]
- International Mining Equipment Manufacturer to Expand in Virginia
Liebherr Mining Equipment investing $72.3 million to increase global mining truck production in the City of Newport News and the City of
- Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces August Economic Indicators Signal Continued Labor Market Strength
RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced an increase of just over 7,300 more employed Virginians in August, bringing the total to 226,954 more Virginians employed since January 2022.
- Kingspan Insulation Creates New Manufacturing Jobs in Frederick County
RICHMOND,VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that Kingspan Insulation LLC, a division of the Kingspan Group, the global leader in advanced insulation and innovative building solutions, will invest $27 million to expand its operation at 200 Kingspan Way in Frederick County. Kingspan Insulation LLC manufactures energy efficiency and moisture management products for the residential […]