Destination Farming
By Eric J. Wallace / Photo above courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation Agritourism in Virginia isn’t new: Farmers have used draws such as a pick-your-own orchard, corn mazes, or plots of Christmas trees to earn extra cash for more than a half-century. But the industry has seen tremendous evolution in the past 20 or so […]
The Aura of Farming
Coastal Virginia’s farming legacy makes for a heck of a weekend excursion By Ernie Smith / Photo above: Photo By Cecilia Bullis You probably knew about the peanuts. Maybe the cotton gins. But were you aware of the ostriches and alpacas? In Suffolk, Southampton, and Isle of Wight, agriculture rules the roost—and not just in […]
Instant Systems
by Eric J. Wallace If you aren’t a medical industry insider, you’ve probably never heard the name Instant Systems. Products from the Norfolk-based design and manufacturing company aren’t prominently displayed on pharmacy shelves or in hospitals. They don’t take center stage in TV or social media ads—yet Instant Systems has played a vital role in […]
Hampton Roads DevFest
by Ernie Smith Hampton Roads DevFest highlights the rise of AI—and the challenges of building a local tech community. If you found yourself at the Hampton Roads DevFest back in February, you likely spotted a couple key themes throughout the event. First, AI was everywhere, naturally. (A highlight was solutions architect Tim Banks explaining the […]
Garden of Tomorrow at Norfolk Botanical Garden
by Betsy DiJulio A “non-compliant bid” in response to an RFP may sound like a negative. At the very least, it is a big risk for the bidder, lest they be disqualified from the outset. But when Dills Architects presented an alternative proposal to the original brief for a new classroom with an adjoining dock […]
Perspectives from Around the Region: Skilled Trades
The skilled trades gap has become one of the most pressing workforce challenges facing our region’s economy. Critical sectors, from construction and maritime to healthcare, and advanced manufacturing, depend upon a steady pipeline of highly trained workers. To better understand the issue, we asked leaders from industry, education, and workforce development to weigh in on […]
From Sausages to Semiconductors
by Barrett Baker When looking at the Busch Vacuum Solutions logo, one might assume that the stacked “U”s it represent the vacuum pumps and systems the company builds at their American headquarters in Virginia Beach. However, they actually symbolize sausages, since the first vacuum pump built by the company’s founders was created for a meat […]
The Power of Place
by Betsy DiJulio / Photo above: Clark Nexen’s Raleigh Office Upfit Your company may not offer laundry service, a La Marzocco espresso machine, or a Lizzo concert on the grounds. But it turns out that doesn’t matter so much. Intentional design is what helps businesses attract and retain top talent, while fostering greater health, happiness, […]
The Manufacturing Industry Is Booming in Coastal Virginia
by Eric J. Wallace The Hampton Roads region has been a powerhouse manufacturing hub since the days of Captain John Smith and that status is getting a monster shot in the arm as the nation approaches its 250th birthday. Announcements around new facilities and expansions have dominated the recent business news cycle, coming in such rapid […]
An Investment in Rural Health Care
by Brandy Centolanza Smithfield and Isle of Wight County had more to celebrate than just the opening of a medical facility when the new Riverside Smithfield Hospital began treating patients in January. Residents of the rural community now have quicker and easier access to health care for the first time, which is promising in an […]