Note from the President

Doug Smith, Alliance President & CEO

During his visit, Premier Malinauskas and his team were given an in-depth tour of HII to gain a better understanding of the skills development and workforce training necessary for the nuclear submarine program. This visit highlighted the strategic importance of the AUKUS pact, which is more than just a defense alliance; it's a transformative agreement that promises significant economic benefits for regions like Hampton Roads and South Australia.

Both regions share similarities in their economic landscapes, particularly in the areas of maritime and defense industries. With the U.S. focusing on decarbonizing, remilitarizing, and reshoring, we are poised for a prosperous future, leveraging these trends to drive economic development and enhance our regional capabilities.

Introducing the Regional Maritime Training System (RMTS)

Exciting developments are underway with the transformation of the Regional Maritime Training System (RMTS). This initiative, driven by the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, is set to advance Hampton Roads' maritime industry by addressing job vacancies, increasing training participation, and elevating the industry's profile. The RMTS has been rebranded with a bold new identity to reflect its vital role in our regional economy.

We are thrilled to share a video that showcases these changes and the positive impact the RMTS is poised to have. We encourage everyone to watch and share this exciting update. A link to the video and LinkedIn post may be found in the next section of this newsletter.

Business Appreciation Month: Engaging with Local Businesses

In celebration of Business Appreciation Month in May, the Hampton Roads Alliance, led by our Vice President of Business Retention and Expansion, Toi Hunter, conducted meetings with four existing Hampton Roads businesses. These visits were part of our ongoing effort to strengthen relationships and gather valuable insights to enhance our regional business ecosystem.

She was joined by our Diamond investor, the Port of Virginia, represented by Laura Swankler, Economic Development Manager / FTZ Administrator, and Lauren Foley, Mid-Atlantic Area Sales Manager. Together, they visited transportation, warehousing, and logistics companies in Suffolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Norfolk.

These visits were invaluable in gaining a deeper understanding of the logistics, warehousing, and transportation industries. The collaboration with the Port of Virginia and our local economic development partners was instrumental in making these meetings successful. We gained significant knowledge about business development and are grateful for the strengthened relationships and insights shared during these visits.

This past month has been marked by productive engagements and initiatives that highlight the strength and potential of our region. From hosting international dignitaries and unveiling transformative programs to deepening our connections with local businesses, the Alliance continues to drive forward our mission of economic development and regional cooperation. We look forward to building on this momentum in the months ahead.

Your ally in economic development,

Check out the Video

Regional Maritime Training System Gathering

More than 30 community, employment, and education partners all committed to the Regional Maritime Training System (RMTS) gathered on May 28. The RMTS plays a vital role in preparing a qualified workforce to support the maritime industry’s growth and meet the demands of the U.S. Navy’s Submarine fleet transformation. 

Several partners and speakers included: Shawn Avery (Hampton Roads Workforce Council), Matthew Zirkle (US Navy's Submarine Industrial Base), Katherine Dames (BlueForge Alliance), Douglas L. Smith (Hampton Roads Alliance), and more.

Inside Business Reveals Power List 2024 and Top 25

Inside Business has released its 2024 Power List! We'd like to congratulate all those who made the list of economic influencers in Hampton Roads, with a special shout out to our Alliance Investors:

Rivers Casino Portsmouth - Roy Corby

Amazon - Lindsay Berry Winter

The Port of Virginia - Stephen Edwards

The Miller Group- Jerry Miller

Dominion Energy - Kevin M. Carroll, Jerry R. Barnes and Michael B. Lewis

Sentara Health - Aubrey Lane, Dennis Matheis

Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters - Amy Sampson

South Australia Makes Play to Enter US Nuclear Submarine Supply Chain Ahead of AUKUS Build

South Australia's naval shipbuilding sector is moving to become more heavily involved in US nuclear submarine construction, well before work begins on AUKUS vessels.

The SA government said it had struck a deal with shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) — which builds Virginia-class submarines — that would potentially allow SA companies to enter supply chains for American nuclear-powered naval vessels.

Hampton Roads Shipbuilders Launch Program to Attract, Develop Workforce

Hampton Roads is already ground zero for Navy shipbuilding and ship repair, but the region must double down to support plans for a dramatic expansion of the fleet.

That’s the sense of industry leaders who have christened a new effort called “America Builds and Repairs Great Ships.” Among its goals: attract more workers to local shipyards and supply shops, possibly from outside Virginia, train them faster and serve as a resource for developing the shipbuilding/ship repair workforce of the near future.

A Passion for York County

Kristi Olsen-Hayes, Director of York County Economic and Tourism Development, is a York County native whose passion for her hometown has informed her career in the region’s economic development and tourism industry. CovaBiz recently asked her to share a bit about her background, her emphasis on strategic collaboration, and balancing Yorktown’s historic charm with economic development.

GO VA Region 5 Council Elects New Members

The GO VA Region 5 Council has elected three new visionary leaders: Steve Cook, Chief Innovation Officer at Hampton Roads Workforce Council; Mark Perryman, President & CEO of Norfolk Airport Authority; and Monique Adams, former Executive Director of 757 Angels. Congratulations to each of them. Their expertise and energy will drive economic growth and innovation across our region.

Coastal Virginia’s 150 Most Influential Leaders

For the second year CoVaBIZ is shining a spotlight on those individuals whose efforts in their respective fields of endeavor serve to elevate our region and add to its vitality. Rich in history and fortunate in its geography, Coastal Virginia is an important hub for the tourism and maritime industries, for military and defense interests, for major healthcare systems, for institutions of higher education and for the arts. Congratulations to all of our partners, friends, and colleagues in the community have been named to the list. We'd like to give a special shout out to the Alliance's own Douglas L. Smith and Jared Chalk!

Recycling Plant in Portsmouth Launches AI System to Sort Through Trash

Local officials gathered at Recycling and Disposal Solutions of Virginia for the grand opening of a new facility that extracts recyclables directly from bagged trash. For about two decades, Recycling and Disposal Solutions has processed recycling at its Portsmouth plant, while sending trash straight to the landfill. But now, RDS is sending trash just next door, where new artificial intelligence technology can help extract valuable recyclables directly from trash bags.

Exploring Innovation Hubs in Coastal Virginia

Innovation districts and corridors are altering the way we think about urban development and economic growth. They’re seen as a way to drive economic growth, attract talent and create a fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship. These hubs often receive support and investment from governments, private companies, and academic institutions enabling them to build infrastructure, provide funding for startups and promote collaboration between stakeholders.

Gas Exchange:

New Emissions Regs have Truckers Eyeing Alternate Fuels

Alternative fuels such as hydrogen and compressed natural gas are attracting interest from trucking companies as the federal government prepares to reduce emissions limits by 2027. The Environmental Protection Agency’s new rules on heavy-duty diesel engine standards starting with 2027 models includes stricter standards aimed at lowering air pollutant emissions.

Here's Why Views on the Economy are so Split, and What Experts Predict for 2024

Local opinions on the economy range from "stagnant" to "great." Here's why views on the economy are so split and what experts are predicting for the future.

FiberLight Expands with Globalinx in Virginia Beach, Enabling Network Connectivity on a Global Scale

Congratulations, Virginia Beach! FiberLight, LLC, a fiber infrastructure provider with more than 20 years of experience designing, building, and operating mission-critical, high-bandwidth networks, announced the expansion of its service offering with a Point of Presence at the Globalinx data center and cable landing station in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Hampton Roads Business Leaders, Stakeholders Address Child Care Gaps: ‘It’s Going to Take All of Us’

When Anna James worked as policy director for then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe, she always answered calls from her 2-year-old’s day care, even during meetings with the governor. James shared this experience as a panelist at an executive briefing on the economics of child care in Hampton Roads. The discussion highlighted the importance and challenges of accessible, affordable and quality early childhood education and services.

INVESTOR SPOTLIGHTS

Port of Virginia Details Major Expansion Projects, Including Becoming the Deepest Port on East Coast

The Port of Virginia plans to complete a number of massive infrastructure projects by mid-2027, including becoming the East Coast’s deepest port by August 2025, said Stephen Edwards, the Virginia Port Authority’s CEO and executive director.

ODU Receives $2M in Federal Funding to Support Cybersecurity for Offshore Wind Energy

Old Dominion University received $2 million in federal funding to support cybersecurity for offshore wind energy in Virginia. Half of the amount comes from fiscal year 2023 Congressionally Directed Spending secured by U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and awarded through the U.S. Department of Energy. The other $1 million is from the Systems Engineering Research Center, a University Affiliated Research Center of the Department of Defense. Old Dominion University is a part of the SERC network.  

Prime for Development Amazon’s Footprint in Hampton Roads Grows

In the past year, Amazon.com continued its march across the commonwealth, announcing plans to build a 650,000-square-foot fulfillment center and a 219,000-square-foot delivery station in Virginia Beach, which are collectively expected to produce more than 1,000 jobs.

Steel Tubes Ready for Start of Virginia Beach Offshore Wind Farm Construction, Port Officials Say

The first batch of the enormous metal structures used as wind turbine bases in Dominion Energy’s offshore wind farm will soon be headed on a boat to the construction site off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia Port Authority officials said. There are 36 total at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal staging area. “This is now getting very real,” Stephen Edwards, Virginia Port Authority CEO and executive director, said about the offshore project during the meeting.

Centura College President On The Benefits Of Offshore Wind

Alliance Investor Centura College has been among the leading institutions preparing the Hampton Roads workforce for the emerging offshore wind industry. In a recent op-ed in the The Virginian Pilot, College President Joel English spoke about the benefits that the Dominion Energy Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind farm will have for the Commonwealth, including the creation of 1,100 jobs and more than $82 million in pay and benefits each year.

High School Seniors Sign For Careers at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding

HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division is welcoming more than three dozen graduating high school seniors to careers in shipbuilding. The shipyard held a signing day at The Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School and participated in the New Horizons Regional Education Centers (NHREC) Good Life Solution Program’s Career Selection Day.

Hampton Roads Workforce Council Launches Partnership to Boost Region’s Pool of Health Care Workers

The Hampton Roads Workforce Council aims to tackle health care staffing shortages through a new partnership funded by multiple grant partners. The council officially launched the Hampton Roads Partnership for Health Sciences — a collaboration of employers, educators and economic development professionals. Hampton Roads Workforce Council President and CEO Shawn Avery said the effort is about creating an ecosystem and coordination among the partners as they zero in on the industry’s needs, including mental health care.

Dominion Energy Achieves Another Major Milestone for Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind with Installation of the First Monopile Foundation

Dominion Energy announced that the first monopile foundation for the 2.6-gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project was installed approximately 29 miles off the Virginia Beach coast. The monopile was installed by the Orion, DEME Group's heavy lift vessel. Once complete in late 2026, CVOW will consist of 176 turbines that will generate enough clean, renewable energy to power up to 660,000 homes and is expected to generate fuel savings of $3 billion for customers during the first 10 years of operation.

Summer757 for College Students

Join Hampton Roads Workforce Councils’ Campus757's Summer757 program to make meaningful connections and build a supportive community this summer. Through a mix of social and professional networking events, discover all that our region has to offer. Employers can sign up their intern cohorts or students can self-enroll. All events are free for students!

Interns! Plan to join one of the kick-off events!

• June 21 at Tradition Brewing Company, Newport News 
• June 28 at PIXELS Pints & Bytes, Norfolk

Colby Mask, Business Intelligence Analyst Intern

The Hampton Roads Alliance is excited to welcome Colby Mask as one of our summer Business Intelligence Analyst Interns. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Colby brings a wealth of experience in grant writing and community research. Colby holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and GIS from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. A dedicated Tar Heel, he is currently pursuing his Master of Public Administration at UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Government. With a strong interest in local food systems and community development, Colby is eager to contribute to our mission and make a positive impact in the Hampton Roads community. Welcome, Colby!

 Layne Cole, Business Intelligence Analyst Intern

The Hampton Roads Alliance is thrilled to welcome Layne Cole as one of our summer Business Intelligence Analyst Interns. Layne comes to the Alliance from Roxboro, North Carolina, and brings his extensive background in performance management and budgeting to the team. Layne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics & International Studies, with concentrations in Human Rights Law & Political Science, from the University of North Carolina Asheville. Layne is currently pursuing his Master of Public Administration at UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Government. Layne is concentrating his studies in Economic and Community Development and will bring this knowledge to help further the mission of the Alliance. Welcome, Layne!

View as Webpage

Click here to sign up to receive the Hampton Roads Alliance newsletter.

Click here to submit a story to the Hampton Roads Alliance newsletter.

www.hamptonroadsalliance.com