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| Back To Top | Expansions, Relocations & Launches   | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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German Firm to Invest $85 Million in Franklin County ROCKY MOUNT--McAirlaid's Vliesstoffe GmbH & Co. KG, a German manufacturer of non-woven composite materials for absorbency end uses, will invest $85 million to open its first United States manufacturing facility and headquarters in Franklin County's Commerce Center. The new facility, which will employ 160 people, will use the company's patented method to produce non-woven material without chemicals or glues. The materials, produced in an environmentally friendly manner, are used in a variety of products in the healthcare and medical/medical device, food and hygiene industries. More. Banker Steel Invests in Campbell County CAMPBELL COUNTY--Banker Steel Company, LLC, will invest $1 million to open a steel fabricating facility in Campbell County, creating 110 new jobs. The company currently employs 105 at its Lynchburg headquarters. Specializing in projects up to 10,000 tons, Banker Steel provides steel for bridges, parking garages, warehouses and commercial/industrial building construction. More. Visador to Build Vinyl Windows in Wise County ST. PAUL--Visador Holding Corporation will invest $1.1 million to expand its operations to a location in the Town of St. Paul in Wise County, resulting in 100 new jobs. The facility will fabricate the company's new construction vinyl window product line, and serve as a warehouse and distribution center. More. In Brief... NORFOLK--The Employment Guide has announced the opening of offices in state capitols Harrisburg, Pa., and Albany, N.Y., in response to low unemployment in these markets and the challenges employers have in attracting qualified candidates. More. ASHBURN--AeroAstro, Inc., a developer of microsatellite and nanosatellite systems, has opened an office in Albuquerque, N.M., to provide close-proximity support to many of its largest customers, including the Los Alamos and Sandia laboratories. More. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Waterside Raises $1.8 million NORFOLK--Waterside Capital Corp., a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC), has grossed $1.835 million through the sale of common stock. The company expects to use the proceeds to invest in new companies. Currently, Waterside maintains a portfolio of $32.5 million in loans and investments in 20 companies located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region. More. In Brief... ALEXANDRIA--Filnet, a 10-ear-old data integrity and information technology firm, has reported 1Q 2006 revenues up 76.1 percent from the same period in 2005. More. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Who's Winning Business... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Aimpoint Renews Rifle-Siting Contract CHANTILLY--Aimpoint, originator of electronic red dot-sighting technology, has secured a new contract with the U.S. Military for supply of 163,000 rifle sights. More than 500,000 Aimpoint sights are currently in use by U.S. Forces. Aimpoint sights are known for their fast target acquisition, rugged design and ability to function under extreme conditions. Said Vice President Brian Lisankie: "Our red dot technology simplifies marksmanship training, allows for fast and accurate target acquisition in any type of light, and can be used with all types of night vision equipment. The product's highly advanced electronics allows the sight to be powered for years by a single battery." More. Heads Up Guides Staker & Parson Overhaul RICHMOND-Heads Up Systems, LLC, a management consulting firm, has provided the tools, technology and methodology for Staker & Parson Companies, of Ogden, Utah, to improve its operational planning and decision-making abilities. The new system will enable Staker & Parson, a provider of rock products, concrete, asphalt, paving, and construction services, to optimize inventory levels, manufacturing requirements and sourcing alternatives. More. In Brief... FAIRFAX--ManTech International Corporation has been awarded previously unannounced contracts valued at more than $130 million during April 2006. More. FAIRFAX--SRA International, Inc., has won a competitive task order potentially worth $16.6 million over five years to provide technical services to the Department of the Army's Range Facility Management Support System. More. CHANTILLY--TechTeam Government Solutions has won a contract potentially worth $2.8 million over three years to provide IT services to the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). More. MARTINSVILLE-The Martinsville Speedway has signed up Goody's Headache Powder as a race title sponsor. More. FAIRFAX-webMethods, Inc., has provided selected components of its webMethods Fabric product suite to AMTRAK to serve as the foundation for an enhanced IT infrastructure. More. ARLINGTON-The Federal Network Systems unit of Verizon Business has upgraded the communications network for Argonne National Laboratory. More. HERNDON-Mantas, Inc., has been selected by First Curacao International Bank N.V. to provide the platform for its anti-money laundering and future compliance programs. More. LOVINGSTON--Oak Tree Systems, Inc., a software developer, has landed a contract with the San Bernardino City Unified School District to streamline employee training with on-line self-registration and account management. More. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Deal Makers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First Avenue, FiberTower to Merge MCLEAN-First Avenue Networks Inc., has agreed to merge with FiberTower Corporation, of San Francisco, in a transaction valued at $1.5 billion, creating one of the nation's largest providers of wireless transport services. FiberTower shareholders will wind up owning 51 percent of the new company, but First Avenue CEO Michael Gallagher will become CEO. Said Gallagher: "This merger is about accelerating business growth and minimizing the associated business risks. The market is aggressively implementing high-capacity applications, and wireless transport is ideal for backhauling these services. This deal puts us on the fast track to scale the combined company on a nationwide basis." More. Media General to Divest Four Stations Gannet Acquires Planet Discover MCLEAN-Media giant Gannett has acquired Planet Discover, a provider of local, integrated online search and advertising technology. Said Jack Williams, president of Gannett Digital: "Gannett truly understands the importance of local information, which is why Planet Discover is such a perfect fit for us. With this new relationship, we will move more emphatically into deep, robust local search for our 100-plus Web sites. This fits well with our mission: to be the go-to provider of must-have local news and information across all media." More. Global Internetworking Seals Deal with Aussies MCLEAN--Global Internetworking, Inc., a telecom services integrator, has inked a wholesale service agreement with Telstra Incorporated, the U.S. subsidiary of Australian-based Telstra Corporation Limited. The agreement provides greater global reach and coverage for GII's family of data transport services, which includes GII's international private line offerings and international Dedicated Internet Access. More. In Brief... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Innovations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Voxant Unveils Viral Syndication Network MCLEAN--Voxant, the first open distribution network for online news, has introduced its Viral Syndication Network, a new approach to distributing and monetizing news online. Through TheNewsRoom and its patent-pending NewsCubes, Voxant will enable news organizations to push licensed news content and advertising to an estimated 43 million Web sites and 30 million blogs that attract more than half of all Internet viewers. Said Voxant CEO Jeff Crigler: "Voxant's Viral Syndication Network solves a critical problem for traditional news broadcasters, publishers and advertisers as more and more news consumers turn to the Internet." Added Will Richmond, of Broadband Directions LLC: "For producers of high-quality news video, being able to reach these people through the myriad Web sites that they frequent is a business imperative." More. OnSite E-Discovery Unveils SecureDealRoom ALEXANDRIA--OnSite E-Discovery, an e-discovery and forensics firm serving law firms and corporations, has launched SecureDealRoom, a web-based secure data room service that allows law firms, bankers and businesses to quickly upload, share and collaborate on documents pertaining to litigation, mergers &, investor relations, investments and other high-stakes business deals. Said Executive Vice President Tom Strack: "We've seen a growing need among our customers for hosted secure data and deal rooms. They want to be relieved of the IT burden; they need instant implementation, they need anytime, anywhere secured access to their documents." More. AOL Launches AIM Phoneline Service DULLES--AOL has launched the AIM Phoneline service, a new offering that gives users a free, local phone number to receive unlimited incoming calls online as well as free online voicemail. Users can screen incoming calls with Caller ID, answer calls and talk as long as they'd like. Said John McKinley, president of AOL Digital Services: "Our research shows that the need for a separate and confidential phone number is becoming as important to consumers as the need for multiple email addresses." More. Elliott Should Be Singing, "With a Little Help From My Friends" RICHMOND--Cavalier Telephone, a regional provider of telecommunications services, set up phone banks to make it easy for supporters to call in votes for American Idol contestant Elliott Yamin. Cavalier set up group of phones at Bottom's Up Pizza and Melito's, where customers cast their votes quickly using the "ELLIOTT" speed dial keys marked on each phone. To increase the chances of getting calls completed, Cavalier engineered its network to allow some calls placed from the phone banks to travel along its fiber network to Northern Virginia or Philadelphia before going on to American Idol. Said Cavalier executive Andy Lobred: "Last week's events went better than expected and we estimate that over 12,000 calls were placed from the two locations." More. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Partnerships & Collaborations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Intersections, Control Risks Form Background Screening Venture CHANTILLY--Intersections Inc., a provider of identity management solutions, has formed a joint venture with Control Risks Group of the United Kingdom, an independent, specialist risk consultancy, to enter the rapidly growing background screening business. The joint venture will be called Screening International LLC. Said Intersections CEO Michael Stanfield: "Our systems and operational experience alongside Control Risks' deep and broad relationships create a strong and trustworthy screening partner for large international corporations to meet the growing needs for worldwide screening management." Added Chris Andrews, CEO of Screening International: "This venture provides greater servicing capacity and efficiency in the delivery of background screening products using the best available technology. With the increasing trend for business to recruit across operating markets and move staff between international locations, the need for high quality international background screening has never been greater." More. Gate Gourmet, FreshOne Sign Partnership Agreement RESTON--Gate Gourmet, Inc., the world's largest independent supplier of airline catering and logistics, has entered into a strategic alliance with FreshOne, LLC, of Plano, Tex. Gate Gourmet will prepare and package fresh sandwiches, salads and other ready-to-eat items for distribution by FreshOne to grocery, convenience and specialty retailers nationally. Said Gate Gourmet Executive Vice President Ron Howard: "This win-win partnership means new growth opportunities for both companies." More. ZyLAB Collaborates with Language Weaver VIENNA--ZyLAB, a developer of Information Access Solutions, has forged a strategic partnership with Language Weaver, Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif. ZyLAB will integrate Language Weaver's statistical machine translation software with ZyIMAGE, its Information Access Platform, for customers who require translation capabilities alongside advanced data archiving and information management functionalities. Users can search both the original text as well as the translated text, making it easier to find data they are seeking. More. Tridium Partners with C2 Facility Solutions RICHMOND-Tridium Inc., a developer of Internet-based control and automation infrastructure, has signed a development agreement with C2 Facility Solutions, of Louisville, Ky. Offering a combined solution, the two companies will give any company the ability to document assets "from the blue print to the balance sheet," applying maintenance management and cost budgeting to buildings and facilities. More. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | R&D / Intellectual Property | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Chmura Economics & Analytics |
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 Roanoke employment. . The chart displays employment growth for Roanoke MSA alongside growth in Virginia. Since 1991, employment growth in Roanoke has generally fallen below the state pace. However, for the year ending with the third quarter of 2005, only two state metro areas, Winchester and Northern Virginia, have increased employment at a faster pace. During that period, employment in Roanoke advanced by 2.8 percent ( 4,123 jobs) compared to a 2.5 percent ( 85,656) gain for the state. Employment trends in regional labor markets are often the best overall measure of economic performance. While statistics relating to output growth, such as real gross domestic (state) product, are considered the most comprehensive performance figures for states and the nation, these data are not available for localities. For the latest analytics on labor market and workforce trends across Virginia, click here, or call (804) 649-1107. Save Gas -- Invest in GPS Navigation RICHMOND-Circuit City, a national consumer electronics retailer, is pitching GPS (global positioning satellite) navigation devices as a tool to avoid wasting gasoline on summer road trips. Sixty-one percent of respondents to a Circuit City survey said they thought GPS navigation and turn-by-turn travel directions would help them avoid burning gasoline as a result of getting lost. The devices range from $300 to $2,000 in price. More. Asian-Owned Business Surge in Fairfax County FAIRFAX COUNTY--The U.S. Census Bureau has reported that 14,313 Asian-owned businesses operated in Fairfax County in 2002, a 34.7 percent increase since 1997 when the last count was taken. The Fairfax County increase is larger than the 24 percent national increase noted by the Census Bureau. The county accounts for about 47 percent of all the Asian-owned businesses in Virginia and 35.6 percent in the Washington area. More | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Media General Restructures Retirement Plans RICHMOND--Media General, Inc., an operator of newspapers and television stations across the Southeast, has restructured its retirement plans with the aim of reducing the volatility of future expenses while still providing employees with "meaningful and competitive retirement benefits." Initiatives include: freezing the service accrual in the defined-benefit plan but upping the company match in the 401(k) plan; adding a profit-sharing component to the 401(k); and establishing a retiree medical savings account. More. Meet the "Reel" George Washington MOUNT VERNON-Mount Vernon, historic home to President George Washington, has commenced construction of an orientation center at the tourist attraction in part of a $95 million campaign to restore the "Father of Our Country" to a place of honor and distinction in the United States. The program, underwritten by the Ford Motor Company Fund, will give visitors an overview of Mount Vernon while dispelling, by means of an "action-packed, 18-minute feature film" the elder statesman icon and introducing George Washington as a dynamic, fascinating hero. More. Berry Hill Plantation up for Auction SOUTH BOSTON-Berry Hill Plantation, an executive hotel and conference center set amidst 600 acres only 53 miles from Raleigh-Durham, has been offered for sale by auction. The current owners purchased the property in August 2002 from French-based AXA Group, which had renovated the facility in anticipation of using it as a North American corporate university and abandoned its plans after 9-11. The current investors purchased Berry Hill in August 2002 and reopened it as a resort. The complex features 92 guest rooms, including 4 suites; two mini mansions; a spa, swimming, tennis courts and other amenities; plus full videoconference and webcast capabilities. More. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back To Top | Commentary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Another Grandiose Plan Apparently, $120 million to renovate the state Capitol complex is not enough. The state Senate wants to spend another $400 million. More. |
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