Virginia's Gateway Region

06/24/2026

Big news brewing in downtown Hopewell with the upcoming rebirth of a 1920s property!

A developer is investing $4 million to restore the historic State Planters Bank Building, with the Hopewell City set to become its first tenant. The project will create a one-stop location for city services while opening the door for additional office and retail uses downtown.

As Hopewell Economic Development Director Charles Bennett noted, "We're super excited that George Emerson has purchased the building and is doing this historic preservation project that will really position it for the next 100 years."

Read more from Richmond BizSense: https://ow.ly/AtcZ50Zfjuv

The project is restoring the old State Planters Bank Building, which includes an old bank space that's planned for a restaurant and an old post office space and upstairs offices that the city will lease.

06/23/2026

Networking and partnerships are at the heart of regional growth.

VGR's Amy Everett recently joined fellow business and community leaders at the Sussex VA Chamber's Coffee Connections breakfast, hosted at Schultz Lawnscapes. The networking event brought together leaders - including Dr. Phyllis Tolliver, vice chair of the Sussex County Board of Supervisors and a VGR board member, and Chamber President Jesse Hellyer - to strengthen relationships and share ideas.

Those connections help create opportunities that benefit communities across our region.

06/19/2026

A stronger The Port of Virginia means a stronger Virginia’s Gateway Region.

With completion of the Norfolk Harbor dredging project, Virginia now boasts the deepest commercial shipping channel on the East Coast, strengthening the infrastructure that supports manufacturers, logistics companies and agricultural producers across the state.

As an investor and partner in our region, the port helps keep our region - and the Commonwealth - connected and competitive. Together, we're stronger.

Read more: https://ow.ly/ETmk50ZeAy8

06/16/2026

Redeveloping underused properties into productive community assets is an important part of economic development, which is why Virginia’s Gateway Region hit the road last week to participate in the 2026 Virginia Brownfields Conference in Staunton.

Brownfields projects help communities unlock new opportunities for business growth, job creation and investment by returning sites to productive use.

📷 : Karen Weber, Brownfields coordinator with Virginia Department of Environmental Quality; Amy Everett, VGR; Charles Bennett, economic development and tourism ; and Meade Anderson, retired from DEQ.

06/12/2026

A major manufacturing win. Growing momentum. Strong partnerships.

Our June Gateway Connector looks at what it really takes to land projects like Jabil's new Prince George County facility and the 352 jobs it will create. You'll also find updates on , Carolina Structural Systems, small business investments, data center policy discussions and more.

Read the June newsletter: https://ow.ly/Z8fE50Zaaqt

06/11/2026

Manufacturing is changing rapidly, and staying connected to industry leaders is an important part of attracting future investment.

This week, VGR's Alex Wood traveled to Toronto for FABTECH Canada, one of North America's leading events for manufacturing and fabrication technologies. By building relationships and learning about the trends shaping the industry, we're helping position Virginia's Gateway Region for future jobs, investment and growth.

06/08/2026

Virginia Agriculture Week celebrates the state's largest private industry, which plays a big role in the economic vitality of Virginia’s Gateway Region.

Agriculture and forestry are more than part of our heritage. They are major economic drivers that support jobs, generate investment, fuel manufacturing and supply chains, and create opportunities in communities across our region.

At VGR, we're committed to supporting industries that help our communities grow, and agriculture remains a cornerstone of that mission. This week, join us in thanking the farmers, producers and forestry professionals whose work strengthens both our economy and our quality of life.

06/05/2026

Momentum becomes real when jobs start opening.🌟

Following last week's announcement that Jabil will invest $6.1 million and create 352 jobs in Prince George County, the company is now hiring as it prepares to begin production later this year.

This is exactly what economic development is about: creating opportunities for the people who live and work in Virginia's Gateway Region.

Learn more about Jabil, its plans for Prince George County and available career opportunities. Don't miss the video created with our partners at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and its Virginia Talent Accelerator Program.

🔗 https://careers.jabil.com/locations/prince-george.html

06/02/2026

We LOVE this tribute. 💙

Virginia’s Gateway Region is where we make things and move things, and this new LOVE sign in beautifully captures both our industrial strength and emerging workforce talent. Special appreciation to the welding students from Rowanty Technical Center who brought it to life.

🔗: https://ow.ly/VaFR50Z1bvz

The town of Alberta in Brunswick County has unveiled a brand new "love" sign, joining communities across the Commonwealth in celebrating what makes Virginia unique.

05/28/2026

Civic and business leaders gathered at Virginia State University in early May for an important conversation about the future of economic development in Virginia’s Gateway Region.

The discussion brought together regional voices to share feedback with Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-4th District) on how to better support entrepreneurs and small business owners across our communities. McClellan listened to every perspective, took notes and engaged thoughtfully on the challenges and opportunities facing our region.

Small businesses remain the backbone of the Gateway Region economy, and conversations like these help strengthen the partnerships needed to support long-term growth and opportunity. VGR Entrepreneur in Residence Tom Stanbury joined fellow regional leaders for the discussion.