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A turnaround in fortunes
Transportation, manufacturing drive valley’s recovery
After taking a hit from the coronavirus, economic activity in the Shenandoah Valley recovered in the second half of 2020, powered by the transportation, manufacturing and food-processing sectors. “The valley really showed its resilience,” says Jay Langston, executive director of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, a regional economic development group serving Augusta, Bath, Highland, Page, Rockbridge,
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‘Miles of files’
After 16 years, FBI records complex opens in Frederick County
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After 16 years in the making, the $135 million FBI Central Records Complex opened in Frederick County in August 2020. The 225,000-square-foot facility off Millwood Pike (U.S. 50) is designed to archive billions of pages of FBI records — some dating back to the bureau’s earliest days — from its 56 field offices and other
Mary Baldwin names interim provost/chief academic officer
Tynisha Willingham is dean of university's education college
Published
Tynisha Willingham, dean of Mary Baldwin University’s College of Education, has been named the Staunton school’s interim provost and chief academic officer. She replaces Ty Buckman, who joined the Foundation of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture as its executive vice president this month. “I am delighted to lead and shape the academic enterprise
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Virginia, other states sue Augusta County company Nexus Services
Company 'preys on consumers' in ICE detention centers, state alleges
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Updated 3:30 p.m. Feb. 22 Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring joined Massachusetts and New York in suing Virginia-based bonding company Nexus Services Inc., alleging in the suit that its Libre by Nexus subsidiary “preys on consumers held in federal detention centers by offering to pay for consumers’ immigration bonds to secure their release.” In exchange
First Bank to acquire The Bank of Fincastle
Transaction to create bank with $1.2B in assets
Published
Strasburg-based First National Corp. (the bank holding company of First Bank) announced Thursday it will acquire The Bank of Fincastle. Financial terms of the transaction were not released, but the combined bank is expected to have approximately $1.2 billion in assets, $868 million in loans, $1 billion in deposits and 20 branch offices across Virginia.
Yorktown consulting firm sues SCHEV over VMI probe contract
Claims winning bidder was illegally favored in $1M audit of institute
Published
A Yorktown-based consultancy is suing the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the firm conducting an investigation into Virginia Military Institute’s racial attitudes and practices, a contract the plaintiff unsuccessfully bid on last year. In a civil suit filed Feb. 11 in Richmond Circuit Court, the Center for Applied Innovation LLC (CAI) seeks
Startup PPE manufacturer settles in Harrisonburg
Valley Guard Supply to invest $1M, create 45 jobs
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Startup manufacturing company Valley Guard Supply LLC will invest $1 million to establish a personal protective equipment manufacturing facility in Harrisonburg, creating 45 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The service-disabled, veteran-owned company produces three-ply disposable masks and plans to produce other safety and security gear, according to Northam’s statement. “Domestic manufacturers of personal protective
Northam named Appalachian Regional Commission states’ co-chair
Governor to help oversee the program that brings funding to the Appalachian region
Published
The Appalachian Regional Commission announced Wednesday its 13 governors have elected Gov. Ralph Northam to serve as ARC’s states’ co-chair for 2021. As co-chair, Northam will work with the federal co-chair to invest in economic growth and development across the 13-state Appalachian region. In fiscal year 2020, ARC, a federal-state partnership, has invested $161.8 million
Rockingham County gets a little sweeter
Smiley's Ice Cream announces $1.15M expansion
Published
Smiley’s Ice Cream will invest more than $1.15 million to build a new ice cream manufacturing facility and retail store in Rockingham County, creating eight jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The homemade-style ice cream producer will source an additional 18,000 gallons of Virginia-produced dairy and 2,500 pounds of Virginia-grown fruits during the next three
Shenandoah eyes old rail line as trail to prosperity
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Woodstock Mayor Jeremy McCleary has a vision. On a vacated railroad line that runs nearly 50 miles, from just outside Front Royal through Shenandoah County and down to the Rockingham County town of Broadway, McCleary envisions creating a trail for bicyclists, walkers and runners. The trail’s planned pathway wanders through Civil War battlefields, connecting to