Economic Development News

Monday, July 14, 2025

Rivanna Futures Quarterly Newsletter

Welcome to the Rivanna Futures Brief, Albemarle County’s periodic newsletter dedicated to sharing progress on the Rivanna Futures project. Rivanna Futures is a multi-year effort to develop the envisioned multi-sector Intelligence & National Security Innovation Acceleration Campus (INSAIC) next to Rivanna Station in northern Albemarle County.

This quarter, we are pleased to share the work that we have been focused on supporting these categories:  

• State Support
• Regional Collaboration
• Partner Engagement
• What's happening on the Property
• Strategic Planning

State Support

Our last briefing shared that Albemarle County was awarded $613,570 from a grant from GO Virginia to support engineering and design work on 50 acres of the 172-acre Light Industrial-zoned land. A preliminary site plan has been approved through the development review process. You can review the plan by clicking here.   

To advance the future extension of Boulders Road, staff have submitted an application to VDOT for an Economic Development Access Program (EDAP) grant, which if awarded, would fund the design work to extend Boulders Road approximately 1600 feet from its current terminus, providing access deeper into the property.  

We continue to collaborate with our state and federal partners to identify funding opportunities that will advance the project.  

Regional Collaboration

Growing the intelligence and national security innovation sector is not only a goal for Rivanna Futures, but for the Central Virginia region. Recent investments in this sector, as well as in the biotechnology and life sciences and digital technology sectors, are creating opportunities to amplify the impact. The Central Virginia Innovation Corridor Strategic Roadmap is an effort getting underway through support from GO Virginia and convened by the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development (CVPED), to create a strategic roadmap with a line-of-sight to new opportunities for economic growth. This effort is a collaboration between several partners, including the Counties of Albemarle, Greene, Fauquier, Orange, the City of Charlottesville, CvilleBioHub, the University of Virginia (UVA), UVA Foundation and Hourigan Construction. You can view the announcement here.  

The Innovation Corridor was a central point of discussion at the 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival, at the Civic Futures Track for the Innovation Economy: A Coalitional Model for Building the Region’s Future panel (watch here) and at the Technology Track for the Creating a Central Virginia Innovation Corridor panel. 

In June, CvilleBioHub hosted a session in its speaker series titled “Mission-Ready: How Life Sciences Companies Can Access and Thrive in the Defense Sector.” Panelists discussed the interface between intelligence and national security with biotechnology and life sciences and shared practical advice on how to successfully market technologies with dual-use potential to the federal government. The panel featured Sara Szmania of Signature Science, James Garrett of Luna Labs, and Brian Root of Noblis ESI, and was moderated by Andrew Sides, Program Manager Defense Affairs Committee.   



Thank you to all who have actively participated in these important engagements. Collaborative efforts across the region, like the ones mentioned above, play a vital role in driving thriving partnerships across the region.  



Partner Engagement

This spring, our team has engaged in productive interactions with local, regional and state partners. Each of these opportunities allows us to share the Rivanna Futures story, highlighting our current progress and future goals. The partnerships we continue to build are essential to the ongoing success of the project, providing valuable support and collaboration as we move forward together.  

(Pictured Above) In May, Delegate Amy Laufer facilitated a site visit for members of the General Assembly Military and Veterans Caucus (GAMVC), including Vice-Chair Delegate Reid (pictured) and Chair Bryce Reeves. Albemarle County has presented to the GAMVC over the past several legislative sessions to raise awareness of the opportunity at Rivanna Futures and highlight its significance to both the Commonwealth and the nation.

On the Property

The Albemarle Police and Fire Departments have continued utilizing the space for hands-on training, strengthening their emergency readiness and response capabilities. Their ongoing presence highlights the property's role as a valuable resource for public safety. 

Strategic Planning

The Rivanna Futures project is one of several economic development initiatives underway in Albemarle County. In January, Albemarle County initiated an update to the Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP) to set priorities for the next five years. The update process has included both data analysis, stakeholder feedback, and community input. The Board of Supervisors will meet jointly with the Economic Development Authority to consider the adoption of the new plan in August. Below are some key elements from the latest strategy draft – view more here – and Rivanna Futures and the broader intelligence and national security ecosystem will be a focal point for our future. 

Draft Mission Statement:  

 “The Mission of the Albemarle County Department of Economic Development is to strengthen and diversify the County’s tax base, support business scale-up and redevelopment, and expand career-ladder job opportunities - ensuring a vibrant, innovation economy that delivers lasting prosperity for all residents.”  

Draft Vision Statement:  

“Albemarle County – Rooted in Innovation. Open for Investment. Where bold ideas take root, businesses scale, and partnerships thrive – leading the way in Virginia’s next innovation economy.”  



Draft Goals:  

1. Lead in Intelligence & National Security 
2. Discover in Life Sciences 
3. Grown a Modern Agribusiness 
4. Empower Talent 
5. Compete for Investment 

Stay Informed 

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