Virginia
Virginia: At The Ready For Business
By Anne Cosgrove
From the September/October 2024 Issue
Site development across Virginia is in motion, with the state having introduced a targeted effort in 2022. This past July, Governor Glenn Youngkin awarded a total of $126 million in Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP) development grants for 23 sites across the Commonwealth. Administered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), this discretionary program partners with localities, utilities, and state agencies to fund infrastructure improvements that build operations-ready sites.
In addition to developing the project-ready sites, the VBRSP program assembles permits and approvals to make way for a smooth construction process. VBRSP identifies, assesses, and improves industrial sites with at least 100 contiguous, developable acres, or 50 acres in the western part of the Commonwealth and in areas with other qualifying conditions.
“Speed to market is a major consideration in site selection decisions, and the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program has helped Virginia increase its inventory of suitable sites for major projects,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick at the July announcement. “This round of the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program will enhance 23 sites across the Commonwealth, ensuring all of Virginia is positioned to fully capture economic development and job creation opportunities for years to come.”
Since the program’s inception in 2022, 45 sites have received funding, and to date, 3,720 direct jobs have been announced on sites that have received VBRSP grants. In 20224, 23 sites representing more than 10,000 acres of developable land are receiving funding.
“Virginia has worked strategically to create a diverse portfolio of project-ready sites to meet company needs in a variety of target sectors, and these grants are a primary reason why Virginia is recognized as a national leader in site development,” said Jason El Koubi, VEDP President and CEO. “I am incredibly proud of the results of the program’s efforts. This investment in Virginia’s infrastructure will continue to accelerate economic development in every region of the Commonwealth for years to come.”
VBRSP was developed by a team of state, regional, and local partners including VEDP, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, railroad representatives, utility representatives, civil engineers, and other government, business, and industry representatives.
Richmond Airport Handles Record Cargo
According to reported statistics, activities attributable to the Richmond International Airport (RIC) create nearly 16,000 jobs and contribute about $2.1 billion in annual economic activity. Commercial activity at RIC reflects operations by Allegiant, American, Breeze, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country (seasonal), United and their regional airline affiliates, as well as cargo operations by Amazon, DHL, FedEx, and UPS.
Over the past two and a half years, an average of 16 million pounds of cargo has moved through RIC each month. The May 2024 data reporting 20.3 million pounds was the most cargo through the facility since at least January 2014. Since January 2022, cargo moving through the airport has increased an average of 1% per month.
Canon Virginia Expands, Plenty Unlimited Opens
Canon Virginia, Inc., the global manufacturer of consumer and office products, will expand its manufacturing facility in the City of Newport News. The expansion will support Canon’s initiative to scale a method of isolating natural silk protein to create a solution with applications for multiple industries. Canon Virginia will retrain 30 employees to staff the new line, which is one of the company’s first ventures outside their longstanding core business of image-related products.
“This announcement brings great opportunity for Canon Virginia to continue our commitment to innovation, growth and development in Virginia,” said President & CEO of Canon Virginia, Inc. Shingo Shigeta.
“With this expansion, we will make silk protein a viable commercially scaled technology with broad application use in various segments,” continued Shigeta. “Virginia’s conducive business environment and the healthy business ecosystem has helped us achieve this goal—this is only possible through unwavering support from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Gov. Youngkin, VEDP, the City of Newport News, and the Hampton Roads Alliance.”
Canon Virginia, Inc., a subsidiary of Japanese corporation Canon Inc., serves as the Canon manufacturing, engineering, recycling and technical support center for the Americas. Canon Virginia produces products such as the new silk protein using advanced manufacturing methodologies while also serving as a factory service center providing customer service in the repair and refurbishment of Canon products. Canon Virginia’s manufacturing services extend to injection mold making, contract manufacturing, medical contract manufacturing and aftermarket services.
VEDP worked with the City of Newport News to secure the project and will support Canon Virginia’s retraining efforts through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. Gov. Youngkin also approved a performance-based grant of $350,000 from the Virginia Investment Performance Grant, an incentive that encourages continued capital investment by existing Virginia companies.
In Chesterfield, VA, Plenty Unlimited chose a site in 2022 for its indoor vertical farming operation. This fall, the company opened the new facility slated to produce more than four million pounds of strawberries annually by growing vertically on towers that are 30 feet tall. The Greater Richmond operation is the world’s first farm to grow indoor, vertically farmed berries at scale.
The Plenty Richmond Farm Campus is the largest indoor vertical farm campus in the world and a projected $300 million investment that is planned to bring more than 300 total jobs to Virginia.
The first set of strawberries from the farm is expected to be available in early 2025.
Check out all the latest news related to Virginia economic development, corporate relocation, corporate expansion and site selection.
Virginia
Virginia nonprofit Urban Baby Beginnings to receive $5K grant for Nexstar’s ’30 Days of Giving’
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Urban Baby Beginnings, a nonprofit dedicated to building Virginia’s maternal health hub system, has been recognized as a recipient of a $5,000 grant as part of 8News’ parent company, Nexstar’s “30 Days of Giving” initiative.
On June 14, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. announced that the Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation had recognized Urban Baby Beginnings as a recipient of a $5,000 grant.
This comes as part of the company’s month-long program recognizing and supporting nonprofit and charitable organizations serving communities across Nexstar’s nationwide footprint.
“30 Days of Giving” is an initiative driven by employees to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Nexstar’s founding in June 1996.
Here at 8News, assistant news director Katie Wells nominated the nonprofit, which is dedicated to ensuring women of childbearing age have access to high-quality, compassionate and culturally relevant maternal care.
Urban Baby Beginnings works to reduce adverse outcomes for families during the prenatal, postpartum and early childhood stages.
The organization’s hubs in Richmond, Norfolk, Newport News, Petersburg and Roanoke, as well as its telehealth platform, connect families with hospitals, providers and community-based organizations to ensure care is accessible and meets families’ medical and social needs.
8News reporter Madison Moore met with Stephanie Spencer, the nonprofit’s CEO and founder, who said that Urban Baby Beginnings’ mission goes far beyond health care — providing mental health support many mothers say they’re missing.
“The reality is most moms are looking for that sense of belonging, someone that can listen to them and help walk through their journey,” Spencer said.
Spencer explained that the funding will go directly back to the community, including an expansion of the nonprofit’s programs that provide diapers to families.
“[It] allows us to expand our access to our social support groups,” Spencer said. “It allows us to expand our access to our diapering programs. These things matter to our mothers.”
Following the organization’s recognition, Steve Blanchard, Vice President and General Manager of 8News, shared a statement with Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
“We are honored to support Urban Baby Beginnings through the Nexstar Charitable Foundation’s ‘30 Days of Giving’ campaign,” Blanchard said. “Our employees selected this organization because of the meaningful difference it makes in the lives of families throughout our community. At WRIC, serving our viewers includes not only telling stories that matter, but also supporting organizations that are creating positive change.”
To learn more about Urban Baby Beginnings, visit its website.
Virginia
Virginia Heat Wave: Richmond high temperatures near or above 100°. Heat index could exceed 110°.
RICHMOND, Va. — A big ridge of high pressure will lock into place over the next few days, keeping temperatures significantly above normal, creating a dangerous combination of heat and humidity.
Highs will be near or above 100° for at least Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and the heat index could exceed 110°.
An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect for most of the region Thursday and Friday. Click here for the latest heat alerts.
The highs will challenge records on multiple days. Due to the high heat index values, and the very warm overnight lows, this will be the biggest heat wave since July 2012.
A few isolated storms are possible Friday, especially north and northwest of Richmond.
There is a better chance of a few storms over the weekend.
Rain chances will increase for Monday and Tuesday, and this should allow highs to drop to near-normal levels.
The drought continues for the Commonwealth. Since last week, the severe (level 3 out of 5) and extreme (level 4 out of 5) drought areas have dropped by a few percent, with the area of moderate drought (level 2 out of 5) expanding.
(WTVR)
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WTVR 
Va. (WSET) — Adult adoptees in Virginia can now obtain copies of their original birth certificates under a new state law that took effect Wednesday, ending restrictions that had been in place for nearly 50 years.
House Bill 301 establishes a process allowing adult adoptees to request their original birth certificates from the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records. The law also allows birth parents to file a form indicating their preferred level of contact with adoptees.
The legislation marks a significant change in Virginia adoption law. Since 1976, most adoptees have been unable to access their original birth certificates, documents that are generally available to other adults in the commonwealth.
Del. Wendell Walker, R-Lynchburg, who served as chief co-patron of the measure after language from his earlier House Bill 664 was incorporated into the final legislation, said the new law concludes several years of legislative efforts.
“This is a day that many adoptees and families have waited years to see,” Walker said in a statement. “Today, Virginia restores a simple but meaningful right: the ability for adult adoptees to obtain their own original birth certificate.”
Walker thanked Del. Katrina Callsen, D-Charlottesville, for helping carry the legislation during the 2026 General Assembly session. He also recognized advocates, adoptees and families who supported the effort, including the Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance, a coalition that advocated for expanded access to original birth records.
Walker also reflected on someone much closer to home for us at ABC13: the late anchor Mark Spain, whom he credited with bringing the issue to his attention in 2022.
EARLIER: Why Virginia law makes it hard for adoptees to get information about their birth parents
Mark’s compassion and determination helped launch this effort,” Walker said. “While it is bittersweet that he is not here to see this day, his legacy lives on in the lives that will be impacted by this law.
Adult adoptees seeking their original birth certificates can submit requests through the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records by clicking this link.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for thousands of Virginians. For many adult adoptees, this law provides an opportunity to better understand their own story, their family history, and where they came from. I’m grateful to everyone who helped make this day possible,” Walker concluded.
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