Stephen Edwards, CEO and executive director of The Port of Virginia, spoke about the port's ambitious ongoing modernization efforts, Virginia's geographic export advantages, and the challenges of guiding essential logistics operations during a global pandemic.
From emerging technologies to high-profile hacks, safeguarding the world's computer networks is a major priority - and Virginia is at the forefront.
The most advanced Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) operations are fully automated systems that deliver the exact environmental conditions required by specific plants, including the optimum temperature, humidity, and light levels. CEA operations can grow large amounts of produce while using significantly less water and land and eliminating the need for certain pesticides and fertilizers. VEDP spoke with CEOs from major CEA companies on how technological advancements will affect the future of the agriculture industry in Virginia and beyond.
State and Corporate Leaders Promote Virginia as
Richmond - Representatives from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) and businesses across the Commonwealth recently attended CeBIT '97, one of the world's leading international trade shows for information technology and telecommunications held in Hannover, Germany. In 1997, more than 7,000 exhibitors from 60 countries played host to over 600,000 visitors from around the globe.
RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that MZM, Inc. has selected the City of Martinsville’s Clearview Shell Building for a database and information technology operation. Through a $4.4 million investment, the project will create 150 new jobs over three years, with an average annual salary more than double Martinsville’s prevailing wages. Virginia successfully competed with Washington, D.C. for the project. U.S. Congressman Virgil H. Goode, Jr. was instrumental in securing this project for Virginia.
SimpliSafe, a leading producer of self-installed home security systems, will expand operations in Henrico County. The company will establish a new customer security monitoring service center.
Targeted improvements have the already-thriving port prepared for the world's largest container ships.
RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., the nation's leading operator of single-price point dollar stores, will expand its corporate headquarters in Chesapeake by 75,000-square-feet. The expansion, which includes additional office space, a new data center, regional training facilities, and an auditorium, will create 100 new jobs. The project is in addition to the company’s current 120,000-square-foot headquarters facility and 400,000-square-foot distribution center in Chesapeake, both of which opened in 1997.
RICHMOND— Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Microsoft Corp. will invest $64 million to establish a new software development and R&D regional hub, which will create 1,500 new jobs. The company will occupy 400,000 square feet in the Reston Town Center in Fairfax County for its new location, anticipated to be ready for employees in summer 2021. The plans include a new retail space for engaging directly with customers. Governor Northam met with Microsoft on an economic development mission at its headquarters in Washington in 2019.
Growing the Cloud from Virginia
Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud, is continually growing its business and tech workforce to address demand. In 2017, AWS began a site selection search to find a new corporate campus on the East Coast devoted to its cloud computing services.
The requirements: top talent and accessibility to major metro areas.