Virginia Awards $2.5 Million in Grants: Logistics Projects and Business Development Sites Receive State Funding Support
Virginia Funds Logistics Training and Commercial Real Estate
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$100,000 Grant for Logistics and Robotics Training in Port Operations
Paul D. Camp Community College will receive a $100,000 grant to support training programs for port operations.
This project is one of 21 grants totaling $2.5 million recently announced by Governor Glenn Youngkin, aimed at promoting industrial and workforce development. It includes two logistics projects and six proposed commercial development sites.
Youngkin described the funding from Virginia’s Growth and Opportunity (GO Virginia) program as “strategic investments targeting opportunities identified by regions” to foster new business interactions between private and public sectors.
“These projects demonstrate the innovative partnerships that the GO Virginia initiative aims to cultivate, which are strengthening our workforce and propelling alliances forward in key industries,” he said at the October 1 grant announcement.
Commerce and Trade Secretary Caren Merrick predicted that state funding would remove barriers to opportunity and promote innovative collaborations.
The largest logistics grant ($250,000) will go to Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board to identify optimal locations for expanding employment in logistics, manufacturing, and transportation sectors. The board represents five cities (Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Waynesboro, and Winchester) and nine counties.
Another logistics grant ($100,000) will assist Paul D. Camp Community College in providing short- and long-term training for industrial and warehouse workers to use advanced technology equipment like robotics. The designated area includes Franklin and Suffolk cities, as well as Isle of Wight and Southampton counties, where logistics and robotic technologies can support target industries such as port operations, shipbuilding, maritime technology, advanced manufacturing, and aerospace.
“As automation in our region’s industry grows, employees must be prepared for the skills challenge,” said Corey McCray, president of the community college earlier this year.
Two $100,000 grants will go to Mount Rogers Regional Partnership and Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority respectively, to create shovel-ready commercial real estate sites.
Mount Rogers in southwest Virginia hopes to add at least 20 new sites ranging from 50 to 100 acres for future business locations. The Blue Ridge entity will invest state funds into Wildwood Commerce Park located in Virginia Galaxy, which directly connects to Interstate 77 and is within a 75-mile radius of I-81, I-74, and I-40. The site has 50 acres of developable land.
The city of Norton and four surrounding counties in far western Virginia will use a $99,500 grant to similarly develop immediately usable commercial real estate sites and evaluate ways to improve local power supply, particularly for data centers.
Greater Richmond Partnership received $87,500 to analyze new potential regional business clusters.
A $75,000 grant for science and technology innovation planning will go to Loudoun County and the city of Manassas. Amelia County Economic Development Authority will receive $21,000 to determine how newly acquired 134 acres can support future economic development.
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Source: Transport Topics
