BUSINESS APPRECIATION MONTH | |
May is Business Appreciation Month, and we’re proud to celebrate the incredible businesses that make Isle of Wight County such a special place to live, work, and grow. From home-based businesses and small family-owned shops to major employers, your creativity and commitment keep our community strong. Thank you for all that you do, today and every day!
| | Isle of Wight County Economic Development is joining with the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA), Virginia's only professional organization for economic developers, to mark National Economic Development Week from May 4-8, 2026, to celebrate the positive contributions economic development makes to localities and regions across the commonwealth. Economic Development is a team sport, and we salute the many local, state and regional partners we work with to create a vibrant and strong economy in Isle of Wight County and the region. | | SUMMERWIND VINEYARD:
Hampton Roads Chamber Small Business of the Year
for Western Hampton Roads | | |
Smithfield's own SummerWind Vineyard has been named the Hampton Roads Chamber’s 2026 Small Business of the Year for Western Hampton Roads and it couldn’t have gone to a more deserving family!
Owners Kim and Al Pugh, along with their daughter Meagan, have poured their hearts into creating not just a winery, but a warm and welcoming gathering place for the entire community.
If you haven’t visited yet, now is the perfect time to stop by, raise a glass, and celebrate this amazing achievement with them. Cheers to the Pugh/SummerWind family and to many more years of success!
| | |
The Economic Development team is delighted to share that Mr. Carroll E. Keen, Jr., owner of Keen’s Automotive Machine Shop and Chairman of the Economic Development Authority, was awarded the Community Builders Award from the Smithfield Union Lodge No. 18 (Freemasons) on Monday, April 20, 2026. The award is presented in recognition of outstanding service to the community and given with heartfelt gratitude for Mr. Keen’s significant efforts toward making the community a better place in which to live.
Congratulations, Mr. Keen!
| | NEW BUSINESS LICENSES: APRIL | | |
The Annual Regional Job Fair is back for its 5th year—bigger, stronger, and more competitive than ever! In partnership with the City of Hampton's Economic Empowerment and Family Resilience Department, this premier hiring event is designed to connect employers with a strong pipeline of qualified, job-ready talent in a high-impact, results-driven environment.
For employer registration and job seeker general admission, click here!
| | EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION NEEDED FROM BUSINESS OWNERS | |
If you own or manage a business, Isle of Wight County needs your updated emergency contact information! This information is kept confidential at the 911 center and is used only in emergency situations to contact you or a designated keyholder after hours or while your business is closed. Having accurate information on file allows emergency responders to act quickly, safely, and efficiently when responding to incidents at your location.
Please complete the form here
The information in this form helps the county better dispatch Police, Fire, and EMS in the event of an emergency after business hours.
| | |
STYROFOAM BAN REMINDER
All Food Vendors Must Comply by July 1, 2026
By July 1, 2026, all food vendors—including small restaurants, food trucks, and salad bars—can no longer use Styrofoam (EPS foam) containers. This is part of a statewide push to cut down on litter, protect wildlife, and use more eco-friendly options like paper, plant-based, or reusable containers. Large chain restaurants made the switch by July 1, 2025.
Note: Some local exemptions may be available for businesses in financial hardship, but those who don’t follow the rules could face a $50/day fine.
To learn more, visit the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality here!
| | |
WINDSOR PARCEL FOR SALE
71 E. Windsor Blvd.
A .714-acre commercial land parcel along Windsor Blvd. (U.S. Route 460) in the Town of Windsor is available for sale. This site offers flexibility for commercial and mixed-used concepts. Public water and sewer are available. Entrance is from the adjacent property and does not require a turn lane. Located in a Tourism Zone near an industrial park, existing retailers, restaurants, and the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad.
View the Property here!
For more information, contact Durwood Scott,
Principal Broker, at DurwoodScott1@gmail.com
| | |
Search the County's available properties database
for more commercial or industrial properties.
If you own or represent a commercial property in
Isle of Wight County that is available for sale or lease, please CONTACT US, and we will add it to our database.
| | SMITHFIELD MARITIME RENDEVOUS | | |
Celebrate all things maritime in Smithfield! As an affiliate Harbor of SAIL250, Visit Smithfield will be hosting a skipjack and work boat that will be available for tours, a boardwalk art show, music, food, historical presentations, educational programming, a touch tank, kid's activities, and tons of other special fun throughout downtown. Get to know Smithfield's history as a river port town, or learn about the pirate that lived in a house that still stands today. Mark your calendars now and book your hotel stay for the Smithfield Maritime Rendezvous, taking place June 12-14!
If you're interested in making your experience even more memorable, get tickets to exclusive additional events:
- Food Tour of restaurants in historic downtown
- Sunset cruise on the historic skipjack SIGSBEE
- Hands-on workboat experience on the MILDRED BELLE
Click here to purchase tickets!
| | | | |
