April 27, 2006– Three Newport News Companies Make Virginia’s Fantastic Fifty List – The Virginia Chamber of Commerce has named three Newport News companies to its “Fantastic Fifty” list for 2006. The list honors companies that have the highest revenue growth during the past four years. To be eligible, companies must have revenues of less than $100 million in its most recent year and have had revenues of at least $200,000 four years ago. The three companies making this year’s list were: Bay Electric Company (which also made last year’s Fantastic Fifty list), Foundation Engineering Science and International Communications Group. Bay Electric is a commercial contractor with 76 employees. Foundation Engineering Science provides environmental engineering services and has 32 employees. International Communications Group designs and manufactures satellite navigation equipment for the maritime and aerospace industries and has 25 employees.
April 7, 2006– City Center’s Mixed-Use District has Grand Opening – Shoppers thronged the new mixed-use district in City Center at Oyster Point as several national fashion retailers opened their doors. Among the retailers new to the Newport News market area are Ann Taylor Loft, Chico’s, Coldwater Creek, J Jill, Jos. A. Bank and Ten Thousand Villages. Talbot’s and Talbot’s Petites, which had already successfully established itself in this market, also has moved to City Center. Visit the City Center website for a full list of retailers and restaurants at City Center.
March 24, 2006 – Alion Science and Technology and C² Technologies Locate at City Center - Alion Science and Technology announced that it will open an office at City Center at Oyster Point where it will be a tenant at One City Center, a new office building in City Center’s mixed-use retail district. Alion is an employee-owned research and technology company with specialties in modeling and simulation, defense operations, wireless communications, information technology, naval architecture and marine engineering, industrial technology and environmental engineering. Alion will bring 50 new jobs to Newport News. Alion has been awarded a $48.5 million contract to provide modeling and simulation technologies to the US Joint Forces Command, which will be administered out of its City Center location. Alion is a Virginia company headquartered in McLean.Also locating at One City Center is C² Technologies. C² is an information technology company with specialties in distance learning, strategic human resource management and mission-critical support services. C² will occupy the entire second floor of One City Center and will bring 100 new jobs to Newport News. C² has been awarded a $346 million contract from TRADOC to supply distance learning services for the Army, including both classroom and online education. C² is also a Virginia company, with its headquarters in Vienna.
December 21, 2005– Wolseley North America Locates its Headquarters Operations in Newport News – Wolseley North America, an affiliate of Wolseley plc—the world’s largest distributor of plumbing supplies and other building materials—has announced the location of its headquarters operations in Newport News. Wolseley North America—with $14 billion in sales—manages Ferguson Enterprises, Stock Building Supply and Wolseley Canada. Ferguson Enterprises—the hemisphere’s largest distributor of plumbing supplies and the nation’s third largest distributor of HVAC equipment—with $7 billion in sales, is already headquartered in Newport News. Wolseley will create a corporate campus around Ferguson’s two existing corporate office buildings. The first Wolseley building will be 220,000 square feet. Wolseley has pledged to create at least 420 new jobs and invest at least $30 million within the next three years in return for state and local incentives valued at more than $5 million. Wolseley’s employment and investment in Newport News is expected to grow significantly over the next ten to fifteen years. Wolseley’s new corporate campus is located in a Virginia Enterprise Zone.
November 30, 2005– Northrop Grumman Newport News Awarded $1.9 Billion Contract – The Defense Department awarded Northrop Grumman Newport News a $1.9 billion contract for the three-year refueling and overhaul of the USS Carl Vinson nuclear aircraft carrier. Up to 2,500 shipyard employees will work on the ship. Northrop Grumman Newport News is Virginia’s largest manufacturer.
November 20, 2005– Warwick High School Graduate Wins Rhodes Scholarship – Maria Cecire, a 2001 graduate of Newport News’ International Baccalaureate program at Warwick High School, was named as a Rhodes Scholar. She was one of 32 winners of one of the world’s most prestigious academic scholarships. Ms. Cecire told reporters, “I feel like I’m lucky to have had such great preparation. At Warwick High School, I had some great teachers.” Ms. Cecire’s award is not only a testimony to her own academic talent and efforts, but also to the academic strength of the Newport News Public Schools.
November 9, 2005– Fort Eustis to be Home to U.S. Army’s Training and Doctrine Command – With the results of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process finalized, Fort Eustis in Newport News is slated to be the new home for the U.S. Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), raising the status of the base from a two-star to a four-star command. Also relocated to Fort Eustis will be the Army Contracting Agency (ACA) and the Eastern division of the Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM). With other changes being made at the base (a partial relocation of its Transportation School to Fort Lee in Petersburg and the relocation of a Surface Deployment and Distribution Command unit to Illinois), Fort Eustis will have a net gain of at least 1300 military and civilian positions. The BRAC recommendations will be implemented at Fort Eustis by 2011.
November 1, 2005– Iceland Seafood Merges with Icelandic USA; Company to Expand in Newport News – Iceland Seafood (Samband of Iceland) and Icelandic USA have merged to form the nation’s largest seafood processing company. With its corporate headquarters in Oakland Industrial Park in Newport News, Icelandic USA continues to expand. The company anticipates hiring more than 165 new workers and adding a second shift at its Newport News plant. From its Newport News headquarters, Icelandic USA also manages facilities in Norfolk, Virginia; Cambridge, Maryland; and Boston, Massachusetts. The company is located in a Virginia Enterprise Zone.
October 20, 2005– Bocelli Plays Newport News – Andrea Bocelli is just one of the world-class performers in the Ferguson Center for the Arts inaugural season. Bocelli enraptured a sell-out audience with a night of arias and popular Italian songs. Other performers appearing on the Ferguson schedule this season include Michael Crawford, Bruce Hornsby, The Parsons Dance Company, B.B. King, Judy Collins, David Copperfield, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Temptations, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, The Chieftains, the Miami City Ballet and Bill Cosby. Performances of Miss Saigon, Madame Butterfly, The Barber of Seville, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake are also among the more than three dozen events scheduled for this season.
September 30, 2005– Marva Maid Dairy to Expand in Newport News – Marva Maid Dairy will expand its presence in Newport News by investing $7 million in the Newport News plant by the end of 2007 to modernize and add to its equipment. It will also add several new positions at the plant. Marva Maid is a regional supplier of milk and other dairy products and is a division of the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association. Marva Maid Dairy is located in Copeland Industrial Park and is in a Virginia Enterprise Zone. Marva Maid also has distribution centers in Richmond, Virginia and in Northeastern North Carolina.
September 29, 2005– More Shops Coming to City Center – Harvey Lindsay Development announced the addition of two new national retail tenants for City Center—Maggie Moos, Medik’s Market and Ceriello Fine Foods. Maggie Moos is a specialty ice creamery based in Kansas City. Medik’s Market offers gourmet foods, organic products, award-winning baked goods, an upscale deli, a unique selection of wine and cheese and catering services. Ceriello Fine Foods in a New York City-based market known for its fresh packed home recipe sauces, butcher shop and gourmet gift baskets filled with the finest Italian specialties. Other national retailers opening at City Center in the spring, 2006 include Ann Taylor Loft, Chico’s, Coldwater Creek, Jos. A. Bank, Red Star Tavern, Talbots and Talbots Petites, and Ten Thousand Villages.
September 26, 2005– Newport News Named One of 100 Best Communities for Young People – America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth named Newport News and its neighboring city, Hampton, as one of America’s top 100 communities for young people. America’s Alliance was founded in 1997 after the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future and supports efforts by communities, individuals, corporations and organizations to improve the odds for children and youth. The “100 Best Communities” awards are given on the basis of a community’s innovative programs and efforts to address the particular challenges facing today’s youth.
September 7, 2005– Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters Opens New Surgery Center – Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters (CHKD), one of the nation’s most renowned pediatric hospitals, opened its $4 million same-day surgery center at its Oyster Point campus in Newport News. The surgery center will treat as many as 2.500 children annually. The center contains two operating suites and an aquatic therapy pool. This is a 14,000 square foot expansion of CHKD’s medical complex in Oyster Point. Specialties include general pediatrics, orthopedics, urology, gastroenterology, plastic surgery, and ear/nose and throat.
September 6, 2005– Kitchen Design Purchases Oakland Industrial Park Building – Kitchen Design has exercised its option to purchase the 64,000 square foot building it has been occupying through a capital lease in Oakland Industrial Park. The building was purchased from the Newport News Industrial Development Authority. Kitchen Design’s purchase reflects its continuing growth and financial strength. Kitchen Design manufactures kitchen cabinets and counter tops.
August 17, 2005– Printpack, Inc. Acquires PBM Plastics in Oakland Industrial Park – Printpack, Inc., which leases a 108,000 square foot manufacturing plant from the Newport News Industrial Development Authority in Oakland Industrial Park, has purchased the business assets and equipment of PBM Plastics, another Oakland manufacturer. Printpack is a manufacturer of specialty rigid containers in Oakland and PBM Plastics is a technology leader in the manufacturing of thin-wall, deep draw, thermoformed plastics and a leading supplier of baby bottle liners. Dennis M. Love, President of Printpack, stated, “PBM Plastics is an ideal addition to Printpack because it adds important customer relationships and melt-phase forming technology to our RampartTM division.” RampartTM is the world’s leading manufacturer of high barrier, co-extruded, and thermoformed containers. Its acquisition of PBM Plastics will strengthen both operations. Printpack will continue to operate both plants in Oakland Industrial Park.
July 14, 2005– Alpha Terminal Company Announces New Coal Terminal – Alpha Terminal Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. and a co-owner of Dominion Terminal Associates (DTA), announced a planned $20-25 million investment at the DTA facilities in Newport News. Alpha would build a new coal import facility. Final engineering is underway and all permits have been acquired. The new pier will allow DTA, which now can handle up to 22 million tons of coal exports, to take advantage of new sources of inexpensive, low-sulfur coal being mined internationally.
May 9, 2005– Warwick High School Named One of Nation's Best. Newsweek magazine announced its rankings of America’s best high schools and Warwick High School in Newport News was ranked number 62. Warwick High School joined the ranks of the nation’s 100 best high schools due to the number of students successfully taking Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes. Newsweek’s ranking is based on the number of AP and IB tests administered compared to the overall student body size. According to Newsweek, AP and IB participation rates are indicators of a school’s efforts to get students to excel and prepare for college. Warwick High School is Newport News’ magnet school for its IB program—the first offered in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
April 1, 2005– AppForge Opens Satellite Office in Newport News. AppForge, a wireless and mobile communications software company headquartered in Atlanta, GA, opened a software development office at the Applied Research Center in Newport News. AppForge develops custom, multi-platform applications for mobile phone and wireless communication devices. Gary Warren, AppForge’s CEO, has had positive experiences in Newport News heading up other companies. AppForge’s location at the Applied Research Center is temporary, until the company can move into new office space being constructed in City Center at Oyster Point. Ultimately, AppForge may have up to 50 software developers and executives at City Center.
March 8, 2005– Kitchen Design Expands at Oakland Industrial Park. Kitchen Design, a manufacturer of custom kitchen cabinets and counter tops, has expanded its production capacity through the purchase of the former Opton Building at Oakland Industrial Park. Kitchen Design, which employs more than 80 people, is purchasing the 64,000 square foot facility from the Newport News Industrial Development Authority through a capital lease. The new building will allow Kitchen Design to consolidate and expand its production and distribution activities while continuing to market its products through new offices and showroom being built in the City’s Oyster Point business park.
March 3, 2005– Northwest Mutual Invests $75 Million in City Center at Oyster Point. HL Development, the managing partner of Newport News Town Center, LLC—the private side of the City Center public-private partnership—announced that Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company has become an equity partner in the project. Northwest Mutual is investing $75 million to take an ownership share of the nearly completed phase one of the project and to provide capital for the construction of more than 200,000 square feet of retail and office space in City Center at Oyster Point. The City’s Economic Development Authority has already begun construction of an 885-car parking garage—the second in the project—to support the mixed-use phase, which will also include luxury condominiums.
February 2005– Northrop Grumman Newport News Makes $42 million Investment. As part of its ongoing capital investment program, Northrop Grumman Newport News took out building permits for more than $42 million of construction on a new pier and other facilities. Northrop Grumman Newport News (formerly Newport News Shipbuilding) employs 19,000—engineers, white collar and production workers—and is the only shipyard capable of building nuclear aircraft carriers (and one of only two capable of building nuclear submarines).
January 11, 2005– International Communications Group Expands in Oakland Industrial Park. International Communications Group, which manufactures communication equipment for the cruise ship and aviation industry, has purchased the former Evercel Building in Oakland Industrial Park. The company will make up to 40,000 square feet of the new International Communications Group Building available for lease. The company expects to add 10 new jobs immediately and to keep expanding.
December 29, 2004– Delta and AirTran Expand Service from Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. AirTran has added has added daily service to Tampa after adding a third daily flight to LaGuardia. This follows the addition by Delta subsidiary Comair of two non-stop flights from Newport News to Cincinnati. As the Airport closes in on one million passengers annually, it is making plans to build a parking garage to meet growing demand.
December 21, 2004– Marriott Hotel and Conference Center to Come to City Center at Oyster Point. A 256-room Marriott Hotel and Conference Center is under construction at City Center at Oyster Point. Overlooking City Center’s five-acre fountain plaza, the hotel will be owned by Armada Hoffler Development and the Conference Center will be owned by the City’s Economic Development Authority. Both the hotel and the conference center will be operated by Crestline Hotels and Resorts. The conference center will have a grand ballroom capable of seating more than 1,000 and a junior ballroom that will allow it to host simultaneous events. A spacious rotunda with a view of the fountains provides a stunning entrance and luxury pre-function space. The Marriott Hotel and Conference Center is scheduled to open in the summer of 2006.
December 9, 2004– Patrick Henry Retail Corridor Continues to Boom. The Patrick Henry Retail Corridor, acknowledged to be the hottest retail property in Hampton Roads, continues to boom as retail sales in Newport News push past $1.9 billion. Kohl’s will anchor 400,000 square feet of retail space now under construction at Jefferson Commons. Dicks’ Sporting Goods is one of the tenants announced for an expansion of Patrick Henry Mall. Newly announced restaurants include Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Cheeseburger In Paradise and Kelly’s Tavern, which will open in Port Warwick.
November 18, 2004– SAIC Announces 43 Jobs in Newport News. As part of 767 job announcement in Hampton Roads, Science Application Industries Corp. (SAIC), a San Diego-based information technology and engineering firm, will hire 43 personnel in Newport News.
September 2, 2004– Ferguson Center for the Arts Opens with Tony Bennett Performance. Christopher Newport University’s Ferguson Center for the Arts opened with a sold-out performance by Tony Bennett. The 500 seat Music and Theater Hall, as well as the 200-seat Studio Theater, will be a venue for jazz, dance and drama. The 1,700-seat Concert Hall is scheduled to open in September 2005. The Ferguson Center was designed by I. M. Pei and is located on Warwick Boulevard at the entrance to the CNU campus.
September 2, 2004– Ferguson Center for the Arts Opens with Tony Bennett Performance. Christopher Newport University’s Ferguson Center for the Arts opened with a sold-out performance by Tony Bennett. The 500 seat Music and Theater Hall, as well as the 200-seat Studio Theater, will be a venue for jazz, dance and drama. The 1,700-seat Concert Hall is scheduled to open in September 2005. The Ferguson Center was designed by I. M. Pei and is located on Warwick Boulevard at the entrance to the CNU campus.
June 25, 2004– Red Star Tavern Breaks Ground at City Center at Oyster Point. The Red Star Tavern, a lively, contemporary themed bar and grill, broke ground on a 6,500 square foot restaurant at City Center at Oyster Point. The Tavern, which overlooks City Center’s five-acre fountain plaza, is the first of several restaurants planned for a new Mixed Use District scheduled to break ground in the spring of 2005.
May 17, 2004– State-of-the-Art Pediatrics Center Opens in Oyster Point. Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters (CHKD) opened a new 43,000 square foot, $5 million medical center in Oyster Point of Newport News today, providing children and families on the Hampton Roads Peninsula with access to the finest pediatric care in “the medical equivalent of one-stop-shopping” according to CHKD President and CEO Jim Dahling. CHKD broke ground in January 2005 on a new 13,500 square foot day surgery center.
May 22, 2004– Dilon Technologies Marketing Gamma Ray Camera. Dilon Technologies has begun production of its new Dilon 6800 gamma ray camera capable of determining the malignancy of small breast tumors, thus avoiding the need for expensive and invasive biopsies. Dilon developed the technology working with scientists from Jefferson Lab in Newport News. Dilon developed and is producing the camera at the Newport News Economic Development Authority’s Applied Research Center.
January 2, 2004– Specialty Foods Group (SFG) Relocates Corporate Headquarters to Oyster Point in Newport News. Specialty Foods Group (SFG), a producer and distributor of famous brand foods, relocated its corporate headquarters to Newport News. It consolidated its administrative operations from locations in Chicago, Charlotte and Louisville to offices in the Bank of Williamsburg Building. SFG will bring up to 75 new, highly paid jobs to Oyster Point of Newport News, the central business district of the Hampton Roads Peninsula market.
July 30, 2003 – Siemens VDO Automotive announces major expansion at its Newport News facility. Siemens VDO Automotive announced that it would locate its new DEKA V and DEKA VII fuel injection system production lines at its plant in Newport News. Siemens VDO will invest $47.5 million in new machinery and plant upgrades during the next three years and add 107 new jobs to the 774 jobs already at the plant. Newport News successfully competed with Mexico and the Republic of China for the project. The quality and flexibility of the existing workforce and incentive packages offered by the City and the State were deciding factors for Siemens VDO. Siemens VDO will receive a $500,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund, a $1,000,000 Virginia Investment Partnership grant, Virginia Workforce Services grants and assistance, state Enterprise Zone incentives and more than $1,500,000 in grants from the Newport News Industrial Development Authority through its local Enterprise Zone program.
June 17, 2003 – Newport News is one of the top 10 best areas in the nation for employment according to a national survey released by Manpower, Inc. The Newport News-Williamsburg region had the eighth highest percentage of employers expecting to add workers from July to September 2003. 47% percent of the companies surveyed expected to hire workers, compared to only 20% nationwide. Manpower polls 16,000 employers in 460 markets.
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