The Hampton Roads Alliance is pleased to celebrate the announcement of new projects at Fairwinds Landing which will transform the underutilized Lambert’s Point Dock cargo terminal into a hub for offshore wind energy, shipbuilding, and maritime logistics. Two major projects, an operations base for Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project and naval shipbuilding operations by Fairlead Integrated, have committed to leasing portions of the site, bringing with them over 700 new jobs and $140 million in capital investment.

The Hampton Roads Alliance announced today that the February unemployment rate in Hampton Roads has dropped to 3.2%, below the first quarter national average of 3.8%. "We've worked hard to create an environment that is conducive to economic growth and job creation, and this drop in the unemployment rate is a testament to the regions collective efforts." said Doug Smith, President & CEO.

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that than $1.4 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) grant awards are coming to Hampton Roads for a demonstration site for clean energy transition to green hydrogen. The cities of Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach will work with the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC) to scale-up the clean energy industry in Hampton Roads through green hydrogen production.

The Hampton Roads Alliance continues to evolve its mission and team to best leverage the incredible assets of this region. Today, the Alliance is pleased to announce the hiring of two outstanding new team members: Olivia O’Bry as Director of Operations and Ethan Crouson as Director of Business Intelligence.

ARDX®, a government healthcare management and technology consulting firm, will invest $2.4 million to relocate and expand in the City of Norfolk. ARDX will transfer operations to increase staffing and establish a new Division of Health Equity, which will improve access, quality, and outcomes of service delivery to the nation’s most vulnerable populations. The project will create at least 15 new jobs for the region.

Nakano Warehouse & Transportation Corp., a Tokyo-based transportation and warehousing company, will invest $14 million to establish a new warehouse and distribution facility in the city of Chesapeake in Greenbrier North Commerce Park. Virginia successfully competed with South Carolina for the project, which will create 25 new jobs. “The Hampton Roads Alliance is thrilled to join Chesapeake Economic Development and VEDP in welcoming Nakano to the region,” said Douglas L. Smith, President & CEO, Hampton Roads Alliance. “Hampton Roads’ strategic location and Chesapeake’s large cluster of international companies, and in particular Japanese firms, make Chesapeake the perfect choice for Nakano’s first East Coast location. Anchored by the Port of Virginia, the Hampton Roads distribution and logistics activities are growing at a record pace, and we have no doubt that Nakano will help continue that trajectory of success.”

The Hampton Roads Alliance continues to evolve its mission and team to best leverage the incredible assets of this region. Today, the Alliance is pleased to announce the hiring of two outstanding new team members: Jared Chalk as Chief Business Development Officer and Cliff Copley as Business Development Director. In addition, Steve Harrison, currently serving as Interim Chief Strategy Officer, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer.

Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, one of the largest vertically integrated coffee companies in North America, will invest $29.1 million to consolidate and expand operations at its roasting facility in the City of Suffolk, creating 79 new jobs. Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA is among the nation's largest coffee roasters, with nationally recognized retail brands including Hills Bros.®, Chock full o'Nuts®, Segafredo Zanetti®, Kauai Coffee®, MJB®, and Chase & Sanborn®. In its state-of-the art manufacturing facility in Suffolk, the company produces proprietary and private label coffee, tea, and drink mix for customers in all retail and food service channels throughout North America and around the world.

 High Liner Foods, Newport News, a leading North American value-added frozen seafood company, is expanding and will continue to invest in modernizing its facility in Newport News with new equipment and product lines. Founded over 120 years ago in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, High Liner Foods’ retail branded products are sold throughout the United States and Canada under the High Liner, Fisher Boy, Mirabel, Sea Cuisine, and Catch of the Day labels, and are available in most grocery and club stores.

Mühlbauer Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Germany-based Mühlbauer Group and the world’s top producer of automated machinery designed to implement intelligent solutions, will invest $9 million to expand its operation in the City of Newport News. The company will make upgrades to its facility in Oakland Industrial Park and increase capacity by adding new production equipment. Virginia successfully competed with Oregon for the project, which will create 34 new jobs.

Certified Origins, an Italy-based company focused on providing fresh and authentic extra virgin olive oil, will invest $25 million to establish its first U.S. production facility in the City of Newport News to meet increased demand for its branded and private-label products. The company’s new operation in the Oakland Industrial Park will select and import high-quality extra virgin olive oils through The Port of Virginia to offer craft blends and tailored packaging solutions for local and global markets. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland for the project, which will create 30 new jobs.

Kamine Development Corporation and Nicollet Industries, LLC, green infrastructure and sustainable development leaders, will invest $267 million to establish a joint venture paperboard recycling and production facility, Celadon Development Corporation, at the Chesapeake Deepwater Terminal site in the City of Chesapeake, creating 210 new jobs for the region.