Follow-ups

Virginia Business
August 2006

Hampton University has received software worth $58.9 million that will be used to prepare students for the modeling and simulation industry. The software is a gift from UGS, a provider of product life-cycle management software and services based in Plano, Texas. In its May issue cover story, Virginia Business examined the growth of the modeling and simulation industry in Hampton Roads.

The film and video industry had an economic impact of $221 million in Virginia last year, a 14 percent increase over 2004. Two major feature films were shot in the state during the year. “Mission Impossible III,” starring Tom Cruise, and “Flags of Our Fathers,” directed by Clint Eastwood. A story in January’s issue explored the growing competition Virginia faces in attracting film productions.

Verizon Virginia will begin offering cable television service in western Henrico County by mid-December. Verizon will compete with Comcast Metro Richmond and Cavalier Telephone. Henrico is the first locality in central Virginia to offer Verizon a cable TV franchise. A story in the July issue of Virginia Business looked at a new state law designed to accelerate competition for cable TV services.

The two-year $74 billion state budget approved by the General Assembly in June includes a provision eliminating Virginia’s tax on estates. Virginia Business reported on efforts to kill the “death tax” in its December 2005 issue.