The DuPont plant at 5401 Jefferson Davis Highway. (Courtesy WTVR CBS 6)
DuPont to invest $75M in Chesterfield site
DuPont announced it will modernize and expand its manufacturing and technology presence in Chesterfield County, the company’s largest manufacturing site. The global provider of technology-based materials and ingredients said it would invest more than $75 million in the Spruance site, creating approximately 60 new jobs in the next several years, according to a release.
Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Chesterfield County and the Port of Virginia to secure the project. Gov. Ralph Northam approved a $250,000 grant from the state’s Opportunity Fund to assist Chesterfield with the project. Northam also approved a $1 million performance-based incentive grant from the Virginia Investment Performance program.
DuPont is eligible to receive sales and use tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment, as well as benefits from the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program.
The company also qualifies for a Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit for new, full-time jobs created, and a Research and Development Expenses Tax Credit for qualifying R&D expenses. Funding and services to support DuPont employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
City Council to vote on Salvation Army HQ site; short-term home rental regs to be continued
The Salvation Army has the former Eternity Church building in Northside under contract for an undisclosed price. (BizSense file photo)
Richmond City Council meets in regular session Monday at 6 p.m. Business on the regular agenda includes a special-use request that would allow The Salvation Army to move its Central Virginia headquarters to 1900 Chamberlayne Ave.
Also on the agenda, David Johannas and property owner Ronald Nixon seek a rezoning to allow up to 18 apartments at 1000 W. Franklin St., as part of an infill development planned between two existing buildings along Franklin near Harrison Street.
A public hearing on proposed rules for short-term residential rentals in the city is slated to be continued to council’s Jan. 27 meeting to allow for an amendment to the document. Related to that topic, Mark Baker with Baker Development Resources seeks a special-use permit to convert a building at 18 W. Franklin St. into a five-unit short-term-rental tourist home.
Full meeting agenda available here.
RRHA awarded federal grants, hires communications director
Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority was awarded $35,633 in federal funding to assist homeless veterans. The funding was awarded through a collaborative program between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
RRHA is one of 12 housing authorities in Virginia to receive a portion of more than $883,000 allocated. The funds will be used to provide an additional five housing units for veterans within RRHA’s service territory. To date, RRHA has placed 80 veterans through its Housing Choice Voucher Program, and 15 veterans are currently obtaining housing.
In December, RRHA was awarded over $491,000 from HUD to award 60 vouchers to qualifying non-elderly residents with disabilities. Also that month, the authority hired Angela Fountain as communications and public relations director. Fountain was previously senior public information manager for the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities for 13 years.
Powhatan administrator resigns at board’s request
Powhatan County Administrator Ted Voorhees resigned at the request of the Board of Supervisors, effective Jan. 6.
In a release, the county said: “In the November election, the citizens of Powhatan made it clear they wanted a change of leadership for the County. As part of that transition, the newly elected Powhatan Board of Supervisors has requested and accepted” Voorhees’ resignation.
Assistant County Administrator Bret Schardein is serving as interim county administrator until a replacement is hired.
Chesterfield hires three department directors
Chesterfield County announced the hiring of three new department directors: Andrea Peeks, budget and management director; Donald “Brent” Epps Jr., transportation director; and Khara Durden, internal audit director effective Feb. 10.
Peeks is a Midlothian resident who most recently worked as budget and performance reporting manager for Virginia Retirement System. Epps is a lifelong Chesterfield resident and previously served as assistant director of the county’s transportation department. Durden joined Chesterfield County government in 2017 in her current role as technology audit manager.
The DuPont plant at 5401 Jefferson Davis Highway. (Courtesy WTVR CBS 6)
DuPont to invest $75M in Chesterfield site
DuPont announced it will modernize and expand its manufacturing and technology presence in Chesterfield County, the company’s largest manufacturing site. The global provider of technology-based materials and ingredients said it would invest more than $75 million in the Spruance site, creating approximately 60 new jobs in the next several years, according to a release.
Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Chesterfield County and the Port of Virginia to secure the project. Gov. Ralph Northam approved a $250,000 grant from the state’s Opportunity Fund to assist Chesterfield with the project. Northam also approved a $1 million performance-based incentive grant from the Virginia Investment Performance program.
DuPont is eligible to receive sales and use tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment, as well as benefits from the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program.
The company also qualifies for a Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit for new, full-time jobs created, and a Research and Development Expenses Tax Credit for qualifying R&D expenses. Funding and services to support DuPont employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
City Council to vote on Salvation Army HQ site; short-term home rental regs to be continued
The Salvation Army has the former Eternity Church building in Northside under contract for an undisclosed price. (BizSense file photo)
Richmond City Council meets in regular session Monday at 6 p.m. Business on the regular agenda includes a special-use request that would allow The Salvation Army to move its Central Virginia headquarters to 1900 Chamberlayne Ave.
Also on the agenda, David Johannas and property owner Ronald Nixon seek a rezoning to allow up to 18 apartments at 1000 W. Franklin St., as part of an infill development planned between two existing buildings along Franklin near Harrison Street.
A public hearing on proposed rules for short-term residential rentals in the city is slated to be continued to council’s Jan. 27 meeting to allow for an amendment to the document. Related to that topic, Mark Baker with Baker Development Resources seeks a special-use permit to convert a building at 18 W. Franklin St. into a five-unit short-term-rental tourist home.
Full meeting agenda available here.
RRHA awarded federal grants, hires communications director
Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority was awarded $35,633 in federal funding to assist homeless veterans. The funding was awarded through a collaborative program between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
RRHA is one of 12 housing authorities in Virginia to receive a portion of more than $883,000 allocated. The funds will be used to provide an additional five housing units for veterans within RRHA’s service territory. To date, RRHA has placed 80 veterans through its Housing Choice Voucher Program, and 15 veterans are currently obtaining housing.
In December, RRHA was awarded over $491,000 from HUD to award 60 vouchers to qualifying non-elderly residents with disabilities. Also that month, the authority hired Angela Fountain as communications and public relations director. Fountain was previously senior public information manager for the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities for 13 years.
Powhatan administrator resigns at board’s request
Powhatan County Administrator Ted Voorhees resigned at the request of the Board of Supervisors, effective Jan. 6.
In a release, the county said: “In the November election, the citizens of Powhatan made it clear they wanted a change of leadership for the County. As part of that transition, the newly elected Powhatan Board of Supervisors has requested and accepted” Voorhees’ resignation.
Assistant County Administrator Bret Schardein is serving as interim county administrator until a replacement is hired.
Chesterfield hires three department directors
Chesterfield County announced the hiring of three new department directors: Andrea Peeks, budget and management director; Donald “Brent” Epps Jr., transportation director; and Khara Durden, internal audit director effective Feb. 10.
Peeks is a Midlothian resident who most recently worked as budget and performance reporting manager for Virginia Retirement System. Epps is a lifelong Chesterfield resident and previously served as assistant director of the county’s transportation department. Durden joined Chesterfield County government in 2017 in her current role as technology audit manager.